THE MIRROR Student newspaper
Week of October 9, 2013
www.fairfieldmirror.com @fairfieldmirror The Fairfield Mirror
Vol. 38, 39, Iss. 23 6
Brawl update By Robert Joyce Crime Beat Reporter
Colin Bell/The Mirror
Stags go homeless for a night By Danica Ceballos Executive Editor Most Fairfield students wake up in the morning in their comfortable beds, complete with a foam mattress pad and cozy sheets. They slowly get up, make some breakfast and coffee and maybe turn on the television while relaxing on the couch before beginning a hectic day. Though most Fairfield students don’t wake up to the rumbling of a trash truck, the cold hard cement ground stabbing into their back, a flimsy cardboard box as their only shelter and the morning air chilling the tip of their nose, that is exactly
what 10 Fairfield students experienced on Oct. 3. “It was incredibly hard to fall asleep. I can honestly say there is no comfortable position when you are trying to sleep in a box,” said Molly Camp ’16. “I tried to fall asleep around 12:30, and I would say I got a total of two to three hours of sleep,” In an effort to raise awareness for homelessness, the Students for Social Justice club set up a homeless village of cardboard boxes just outside the Oak Room on Thursday night. All students were invited to sleep outside for the night to be in
solidarity with the homeless. While 10 students slept out until 5:45 a.m., 16 students came and went throughout the evening to show support for the cause. Moderator and campus minister Jocelyn E. Collen acknowledged the student participants, saying, “All of the S4SJ students had classes all day on Thursday and had classes and assignments due on Friday. Yet, they took time to stand in solidarity with the poor.” Sophomore Sarah Almeida explained why she wanted to sleep out, saying, “Living on a college campus, especially in Fairfield, we don’t see
people that don’t have homes everyday, so I think it’s important to make students aware that this is such a big problem.” While the Homeless Village was moved last year to the Oak Room from the traffic circle, due to weather conditions, the club found that they were able to interact with more students walking back and forth from the library. Camp explained that most students were genuinely interested in what the club was doing; some passersby, however, were not as
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New information has been received regarding the incident on Sunday, Sept. 22, where multiple parties were involved in a violent outbreak in Dolan Hall, resulting in three arrests, several injuries and extensive property damage. According to a statement from two of the students involved in - but not arrested after - the Dolan brawl, they received violations for Fairfield’s alcohol policy, for which they pled “responsible.” The two also received violations for breaching the fighting policy as well as the disorderly or disruptive conduct/under the influence policy, for which they pled “not responsible.” Despite the pleas of “not responsible,” the Office of the Dean of Students found them responsible for all violations, and they were placed on disciplinary probation until May 31, 2014. It was confirmed by Frank Ficko, associate director of public safety, that a golf club was allegedly used in the altercation, and was confiscated by Fairfield Police at the scene of the incident. Francis McGoldrick was dismissed from Fairfield as a result of the incident, according to sources close to McGoldrick. He declined to comment on the incident after being contacted multiple times by The Mirror. Junior J. Brendan McGlew wrote a letter to the editor which appeared in last week’s issue of The Mirror. McGlew said that the part of the incident that was most unsettling was “the press’ connection with this story.” He claimed that he was “not present during the event that was mentioned by the press,” and that he did what he “believed to have been right, which was to try and protect everyone and help break up the fight.”
Bells ring for victims By Jessica Delahunt Contributing Writer
INSIDE
On the evening of Sept. 24, Fairfield residents gathered under the gazebo at Sherman Green to recognize victims of domestic violence with a candlelight vigil. “We need to give women the strength to say enough is enough,” said State Attorney Judy Stevens. The event, organized by the Bridgeport Center of Women and Families, united a variety of speakers, including local politicians, law enforcement officers and students, toward one cause: empowering victims of domestic violence to come forward and seek justice for the
NEWS:
crimes committed against them. Every 15 seconds, the clear
We need to give women the strength to say enough is enough. - Judy Stevens, Attorney for the State of Connecticut sound of a bell rang out over the ceremony, reminding the crowd that
Charges dropped in NYE assault case
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domestic violence occurs every 15 seconds in the United States. Other numbers presented by Deborah Greenwood, CEO of the Center, were just as staggering: One out of every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. During the first three months of this year, 90 children were orphaned due to domestic homicide. More than three women die of domestic violence every day. “That’s just way too many,” said Greenwood. “One life is too many.” According to Stevens, a significant hurdle in responding to
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OPINION:
The blurred lines about sex
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Story on page 16. Alyssa Amabile/The Mirror
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Lar Lubovitch creates impressive choreography
Schneider says sell Chris Johnson
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News
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
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Community gathers for vigil CONT. FROM PG. 1 issues of domestic violence is the fact that many cases go unreported. While sometimes the victims are too frightened to report the crimes and are wary of implicating their abusers, other cases are not reported simply because victims are unsure of how to do so. “The hardest thing for a person that has been abused to do is to walk through a door and ask for help,” Stevens said. In recent months, the Bridgeport Center for Women and Families has taken strides to alleviate these concerns. The center has recently begun its transformation into The Center for Family Justice, the first of its kind in the state. While victim services such as child care, counseling, education and case management will still be offered, the center will now team up with local police, prosecutors and social services to ensure that the needs of victims can be met in one location. “The frustration of dealing with the current system often causes the abused to give up in fear and
frustration, recanting the facts and often returning to the abuse,” said Stevens in an earlier press release. As darkness slowly fell over the gazebo, purple glow sticks were dispersed throughout the crowd, illuminating the faces of audience members with the official color of domestic violence awareness. Students from several local schools stepped forward to voice their support as the evening continued. Fairfield Ludlowe High School’s a cappella choir treated the crowd to a rendition of “Stand By Me.” Members of the Fairfield Warde High School organization RAFT, or Raising Abuse Awareness For Teens, presented a banner emblazoned with the phrase “no excuse for abuse,” signed by their fellow peers. The students then joined forces to read the list of the 20 Connecticut residents who died from domestic violence incidents in the past year alone. The individuals on the list, including Nancy Lanza, mother of Sandy Hook elementary school gunman Adam Lanza, died at the hands of their fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, boyfriends or girlfriends.
Contributed by Sarah Lubarsky
Colin Seavey, a Fairfield resident who attended the event with his daughter in tow, asserted that domestic violence could occur anywhere. “People think it won’t happen in a small town like Fairfield. But it can, and we need to watch out for it,” he said.
Sacred Heart University seniors Jill Steinhauer and Joy Vandermark attended the event as well. “A lot of people don’t speak up when stuff like this happens to them. It’s important to be aware of, especially for women,” said Steinhauer. “Volunteer. Advocate. Donate
money. Do whatever you can,” said Greenwood, stressing that each supporter of the cause makes a difference. “We need an army,” she added, looking out over the crowd. “How do you build an army? One by one.”
Contributed by Sarah Lubarsky
Fairfield discusses women’s role in the church By Enxhi Myslymi Associate News Editor
From 50 years ago to today, women’s role in the church has changed drastically, according to Dr. Teresa Berger, professor of liturgical studies at Yale Divinity School. “My own journey would have been impossible for my mother or grandmother to take,” said Berger. “There was an increasing diversity of women’s lives [that] was part of larger cultural changes. “We witnessed a profound expansion of liturgical practices … new forms of ministry, women in pastoral leadership,” Berger added. Berger was the guest speaker at the 13th Annual Anne Drummey O’Callaghan lecture on Oct. 2 at the Regina A. Quick Center, which was or-
ganized by Fairfield’s Center for Catholic Studies and the O’Callaghan family. “Dr. Berger is a patient and beloved teacher,” said Michelle Towster, administrative coordinator in the Center for Catholic Studies and a former student of Berger’s. “I can attest to the warm generosity she brings to the class.” Berger explained that the changes for women in the church began with a combination of three documents in 1963: the “Sacrosanctum Concilium” — a constitution for the Second Vatican Council; Pope John XXIII’s “Pacem in Terris” Encyclical — establishing universal peace in truth, justice and charity; and the “Inter Mirifica” — a decree on the media of social communications, according to the Vatican’s site.
The documents revealed that the “aspirations of women for full participation in the church [were] one of the signs of the time,” Berger said. Formerly from Germany, Berger’s work includes intersecting her disciplines of liturgical studies and constructive theology with gender theory, according to Yale’s faculty site. She wrote “Gender Difference and the Making of Liturgical History” in 2011 that was published in Ashgate series Liturgy, Worship and Society. Berger also received the Herbert Haag Prize for freedom in the Church in 2003, according to the site. Wednesday’s talk honored Anne Drummey O’Callaghan of Norwalk, who was interested in church history and women’s role in the church, according to a press release. She was a
catechist and advocated for those who were intellectually disabled. O’Callaghan was the director of religious education at St. Jerome and St. Joseph, two parishes in Norwalk. She was also the chair of Bridgeport Religious Educators, the press release stated. Discussing cyberspace, Berger focused on how the Internet is changing the Catholic religion. “Once again there is a broad cultural change,” Berger said. “The spectrum is broad from website of parish to faith-based community online, and yes there is even a patron saint of the Internet.” Considering the expanse of the Internet, there has been an increase in the “amount of freedoms of voices,” she said. However, this can bring either
“information or misinformation.” Ultimately, women need to focus on the “power of interpretation” in terms of liturgical studies and practicing Catholicism, Berger explained. “If my look back has revealed anything,” she added, “it’s that there is no longer one way of being Catholic … in the 21st century. There are many different and divergent ways of living our faith.” The talk captured the audience, including Jenna Walsh ‘17. “I thought it was pretty interesting with the history of women in the church and how it’s changing,” she said. Freshman Aimee Donohue said, “It was interesting to look at religion through a female perspective because I never thought about it quite in those terms.”
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
News
South Side Café planned for 42 Bellarmine By Robert Hagstrom Assistant News Editor
In hopes of providing students with further late night programming to combat Fairfield’s drinking culture, the University will open the South Side Café in 42 Bellarmine Road. The café house will be called South Side Café, which will serve as an additional late night program for students. The idea of starting a café house came in late May from Kamala Kiem, assistant dean of students and director of student programs and leadership development, along with Deidre Bennett who is in charge of digital design and printing. The South Side Café is also being supported by various campus partners and officials, including Residence Life. In his email to student leaders, Eric Lynch ‘14, the lead program strategist for South Side Café, said it will provide students with a fun, relaxing environment. Lynch said: “The idea is for this space to be cozy, private, chill and fun. We are thinking that it will have some funky antique furniture, beanbag chairs, comfortable throw pillows and thrifty lamps and area rugs. We want to fill the space with student artwork and dim the lights to set an atmosphere,” He also said a pattern was seen in the student withdrawal surveys, which indicated that the drinking culture contributed to students leaving the university. In addition to students who didn’t want to par-
ticipate in the drinking culture, the survey also showed that the late night programming didn’t interest them. “Students left because they couldn’t find late night programing that suited their interests,” said Lynch. “There was a pattern of student responses that suggested the drinking culture was a major factor in withdrawing from the university,” he added. This contributed to the creation of South Side Café. The idea of the café house is for students to take advantage of a destressing environment. Instead of participating in other late night programming or the drinking culture, students can come to the café house. Freshman Ryan Brady said: “I think it’s a good idea. It provides another option instead of going out drinking.” Colleen Wilson ‘11, the supervisor for Fairfield @ Night, said that many of the elements in the café will also revolve around music. The South Side Café, according to Lynch, will have additional activities that students can choose to take part in. “I definitely hope that students will take advantage of being together in a very unique setting,” said Wilson. “We hope it provides an alternative to the drinking culture on campus and becomes the new fun thing to do.” Even though Bellarmine is farther than most locations, Lynch felt that the space “provided us with the atmosphere we were looking for.”
Tebben Gill Lopez/The Mirror
The South Side Café program will use a shuttle system to take students to and from Bellarmine Hall on Saturday nights. The Café will be open almost
weekly throughout the semester. The dates that it will run are Oct. 19, Nov. 2, 16, 23 and Dec. 7, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. “It provides students another
alternative to weekend nightlife,” said Nicole Gallucci ’15. “It will be a good place to catch up with your friends and it’s more convenient than going off campus.”
Students for Social Justice sleep outside of their comfort zone CONT. FROM PAGE 1
respectful. According to Camp, her least favorite part of the night was when “a guy scream[ed], ‘What? Do you need a dollar or something?’” Leading up to the event, the club posted cardboard signs around campus on Thursday displaying facts about homelessness. “Fortytwo percent of homeless people are kids,” read one. “Thirty-nine percent of the homeless population is under 18 years old,” stated another. Though only a small number of people participated in the Homeless Village, many were impacted by the signs placed around the Barone Campus Center and the Quad. Junior Kyle Wegner said, “It helped me, once again, to realize the hard truth about homelessness and how so many people are affected by it.” Junior Kristen Seeto added, “It’s important to remember that just because you have a roof over your head, not everyone does. At least we can make people think, even for one second, what it might be like to live like this, and I think that’s really important.” Senior Laura Stakey was one of the main organizers this year. As a third-year participant, she described the importance of the event, especially at this point in the semester by saying, “It puts things into perspective. Our schedules are getting busier now and you just think ‘Oh yeah, I’m really busy. I’m really
Danica Ceballos/The Mirror
stressed,’ but people have to do this all the time.” She added, “You get so used to your own problems that it reminds
us that there are people out there with a lot worse problems and people that we can help.”
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
Crime Beat
News
Compiled by Robert Joyce. Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.
Thursday, 10/3 4:32 p.m. – A university banner was reported stolen from outside Claver Hall. The incident is under investigation. Friday, 10/4 1:18 a.m. – RAs in Regis Hall reported a third-floor stairwell window smashed by what appeared to be a rock thrown from the inside. The incident is under investigation. 9:44 p.m. – Two minors were referred to student conduct after being discovered in possession of Poland Spring water bottles containing alcohol. 10:30 p.m. – An underage student was observed consuming alcohol at the rear deck of a Townhouse in 15 block. The student was referred to student conduct. Saturday, 10/5 12:22 a.m. – While patrolling outside Townhouse 5 block, DPS officers heard shouting, which led to the discovery of students trying to get an uninvited former student to leave their Townhouse. The former student was issued a criminal trespass warning. 1:36 a.m. – Criminal mischief occurred when a DPS car was reported vandalized. The vehicle was keyed while responding to a call in Regis Hall. The incident is under investigation. 2:52 a.m. – The Regis Hall Quad-side swipe door was reported vandalized to the extent that it could not be secured. The incident is under investigation. 9:11 p.m. – RAs reported a broken window in Claver Hall. The vandals were reportedly seen running away towards Kostka Hall.
For complete list, make sure to check out fairfieldmirror.com
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Loan Le, Editor-in-Chief Danica Ceballos, Executive Editor Luigi DiMeglio, Managing Editor Editors Salvatore Trifilio, News Dylan Dembin, The Vine Leigh Tauss, Opinion Molly Leidig, Coffee Break Jennifer Calhoun, Sports Enxhi Myslymi, Associate News Robert Hagstrom, Assistant News Robert Joyce, Crime Beat Reporter Shauna Mitchell, Chief Copy Editor Tebben Gill Lopez, Visual Art Director Online Brian Arpie, Web Manager Thomas Shea, Multimedia Manager Margaret Andrew, Online Editor Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Brian Cleary, CFO Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com
Charges against Mara dropped By Robert Joyce Crime Beat Reporter State prosecutors announced in Bridgeport Superior Court on Friday, Oct. 4, that all charges have been dropped against John Mara ‘13, regarding his alleged involvement in an assault, which occurred in the Fairfield Beach neighborhood this January. Mara was allegedly involved in an assault at a New Year’s Eve party at a home on Fairfield Beach Road, where
a bottle was smashed over the head of fellow Fairfield student, Philip Blackman ‘13. Blackman could have died from his injures had he not been treated immediately. Police said that in an arrest affidavit, a witness, college student Luke Kazmierczak, identified Mara as the assailant, yet failed to initially pick out Mara from a photo lineup of six men. Kazmierczak later identified Mara from an updated photo, according to the Associated Press.
Mara was arrested by Fairfield Police in February, and was charged with first-degree assault and breach of peace, and posted a $150,000 bail. John Smirga, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Fairfield, said that the charges against Mara were dropped as a result of other witnesses coming forward and indicating a third person who talked about committing the assault. According to the AP, the case is under investigation but no one else has been charged.
Blackman says he has no recollection of the assault. Doctors told Blackman that his injuries were so severe that if he did not receive emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain, he could have died, according to AP. John Mara is a nephew of John Mara, owner of the New York Giants, and a cousin to actresses Rooney and Kate Mara. He lives in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and has since graduated from Fairfield.
Mass changes to an FYE event By Kristen Filicia Contributing Writer
The First Year Experience Program recently offered two new events at the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola after mass in order for students to receive credit for the program. All first-year students are required to get FYE credit. “The entire church in America and the first world generally has seen significant decreases in mass attendance over the last thirty or more years,” said Fr. Paul Holland, S.J. In response to this year’s attendance, Holland, who is in his first year at Campus Ministry, guessed that there was an increase with the addition of FYE
events. Senior Arturo Jaras Watt said, “The use of FYE credits, quite simply, is a form of extrinsic motivation and psychologists know that extrinsic motivation can canalize intrinsic motivation. “The FYE office should think carefully about how they use this tool for student engagement,” Watts added. The Campus Ministry FirstYear Welcome on Sept. 8 was the first event, and all first-year students were invited to join after the 6 and 9 p.m. masses for pizza and conversation. According to details for the second event, the Sept. 15 Mass of the Holy Spirit is “Fairfield’s tradition for kicking off the aca-
In the world: - According to a senior White House official, President Barack Obama will nominate Janet Yellen as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. If confirmed, she will be the first woman in the position’s 100-year history. - Rumors of Egypt losing military aid from the United States after their coup and the turmoil that followed have been deemed false by the White House. - According to a BBC report, at least nine have been killed, and 50 injured in a clothing factory fire near the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. - British newspapers’ proposal for regulation through a royal charter covering the press have been rejected by the Privy Council - a cross-party governmental advisory body - according to the culture secretary. - The European parliament has voted down a proposal to regulate electronic cigarettes as “medicinal” but has instead voted to ban menthol cigarettes. - President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, told BBC News Night that “the Taliban are welcome to participate in elections, as all Afghans are.” - At least 22 people have been killed across the Iraqi capital during a series of explosions on Oct. 7, according to Baghdad police. - A second team of experts is being sent to Damascus, Lebanon, to expand the efforts by the United Nations to demolish Syria’s 1,000-ton chemical arsenal, according to The New York Times. - The European Union wants to increase patrols in Mediterranean waters after hundreds of African migrants died last week near Sicily, according to The New York Times. - Turkey lifted a 90-year-old ban on public employees wearing Islamic head scarves in state offices, according to The Wall Street Journal. - Although national security leaks by Edward Snowden were reported by British news outlet The Guardian, British Spy Chief has called the leaks a “gift” for terrorists, according to Reuters. - The Taliban said they would attack Malala Yousafzai, who survived a terrorist assassination, again because she attacked Islam, according to the AFP.
demic year and is core to the Jesuit, Ignatian values from which the University was established. The Mass of the Holy Spirit is open to all, regardless of affiliation or belief.” Fairfield has been a Jesuit institution since it was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942. It was first established as an allboys institution that required the students to attend mass daily. Years later, on-campus mass became a choice, and attendance slowly began to dwindle. Many students had mixed opinions about the new incentives for attending events held in the Egan Chapel following mass. Freshman Julia Yacker said, “It seems like a quick and easy
thing to do to get credit.” She also said she does not usually attend mass when she is at home, but would consider attending these events. Holland said Campus Ministry supports the FYE additions since FYE seeks to provide a foundational understanding of the Fairfield experience and to empower students to take advantage of all Fairfield has to offer. Mass at Fairfield has not been mandatory for many years, but this year, as social events continue to follow, there may be a little extra motivation for attendance. The next religious event listed for FYE credit is the annual Advent Lessons and Carols Mass on Dec. 15.
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
Opinion
Opinion
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Editor
Consent is not enough: aspire for enthusiasm By Danica Ceballos Executive Editor
It’s Friday night and you and your girlfriends are ready for a great time. After a rough week of stressful nights studying and long days filled with less than intellectually stimulating classes, you cannot wait for happy hour. After a great dinner and drinks with the girls, you continue your night with some cocktails and fun before heading out to the bar. As you’re dancing with the girls, you see a cute guy across the room. You start dancing and have a great time. Flash forward two hours. Somehow you ended up in his bed, lights off and having a little too much fun. Before you know it, he pulls out a condom. You hesitate for a minute, think about how long it’s been since you’ve done this before and figure, why not? This is consent. Not rape, consent. Not a crime … technically no one has done anything wrong. You were fully conscious and so was he. But when you wake up the next morning laying next to this guy whose last name you can’t even remember, you wonder why you said yes in the first place. Now consider option number two. The beginning of the story is still the same. You’re at the bar, dancing the night away. As you lean up against the bar, you bump into someone and turn to see it’s the guy you’ve
Editorial Board Seek the truth Loan Le Editor-in-Chief Danica Ceballos Executive Editor Luigi DiMeglio Managing Editor
been crushing on since sophomore year. You can feel your heart beating faster and you start over-thinking everything you say and do. When he offers you a beer, you think, “Um, yes. I could use any kind of liquid courage at this point.” The conversation goes well and you’re having an awesome time. As the lights come on, he grabs your hand and asks you to come back with him. You agree, obviously, because you’ve only been dreaming of being alone with him for … like ever. After more light-hearted conversation and flirting, you find yourself hooking up with him. You still have butterflies in your stomach and can feel his heart racing too. When he wants to go a little farther, you don’t hesitate. This time, you know. You know this is something you’ve always considered in the back of your mind. You know that when you see him again in The Stag, your heart will still skip a beat. You know with confidence that this is something you want to do. This is enthusiasm. Society has made consent and enthusiasm one and the same. Clearly, they are not. They have different implications, different consequences and an array of feelings and emotions attached to each. In the college culture, there is this unspoken idea of “blurred lines” in regards to sexual activity. Take, for
example Robin Thicke’s song, which encourages sexual activity regardless of the situation: “I hate these blurred lines. I know you want it. … But you're a good girl. The way you grab me, must wanna get nasty. Go ahead, get at me.” Like most Fairfield students, I am just as guilty as anyone of blasting this song on the radio and singing and dancing to it at The Grape, but what are we really promoting? Why are so many of our popular songs degrading toward women? These lyrics make the first situation of consent seem completely common, completely okay and even completely desired. Let’s be honest: It’s not. Consent can be filled with hours of discussions with friends, regretful tears and sometimes, a confused sense of self. It wasn’t thought out or considered before. From a guy’s perspective, I’m sure they disagree with me by this point, doubting that girls are lying in bed with them thinking, “Hmmm, do I really want to do this?” Let me clear this up for you. No, we don’t do this. Well, at least all of the women I’ve talked to don’t. I’m sure there are some out there who have the capacity to think this deeply in the heat of the moment, but I sure don’t. Anyway, girls all have lists. Sorry, boys, but it’s true. We have our guys that we would hook up with. We
Many people live in a world that is governed by sensationalism. Why is it so easy for people to accept what’s given to them? It could be because of ignorance. Not enough information is given to allow them to make their own decisions, or they choose, for whatever reason, to live in their own misinformed bubble. Sometimes it’s pressure, where people go with the majority and do not believe they have the power to go against the flow. In today's society, it could be the consequences of social media. We are so used to scrolling
through our news feed and Twitter feed. If information doesn't pop up in front of us instantaneously, we rarely go searching for more. But, more deadly, we are human: Emotions become our flaw and they take years to control. But we don’t have to fall under the spell of hyperbolized headlines. When outlets report on events, it’s because the topic of discussion is not a rumor, but a subject that is newsworthy to the consumers. While this may be the journalistic ideal, there is no doubt that some media outlets will provide skewed coverage.
have our crushes, and we even have those boys who we think are so adorable and would make the best husbands but who we couldn’t imagine even holding hands with. "Consent is really too low a bar. Hold out for enthusiasm," tweeted author Rachel Vail as a recap of her son’s college orientation. This tweet has been widely circulated as part of a campaign to create awareness of the college culture of consent versus enthusiasm. I’ve retweeted it, and I think you should too. Girls, I’m sure you would rather enthusiastically agree to sexual participation. And guys, trust me when I say you want your girl to be enthusiastic. The repercussions are much less severe and much more enjoyable. In the past, college students have been warned about rape with the anti-date rape slogan, “No means no.” The idea of consent versus enthusiasm takes that slogan to the next level. Rather than simply receiving a “yes” in regards to sexual activity, this campaign identifies the need for enthusiasm and desire. The slogan is outdated and it’s about time to start raising our standards. Persephone Magazine writer Elfity explained, “The idea of enthusiastic consent is quite simple. In a nutshell, it advocates for enthusiastic agreement to sexual activity, rather than passive agreement. … To give enthusiastic consent isn’t exactly to It is also the public’s responsibility to question what they hear, see and read. They must seek out a variety of media outlets in order to get a full spectrum of events going on. Like America Ferrera said in a recent Open Visions Forum, people should get out there, get involved and constantly ask questions. It is our responsibility to seek information and to learn more. It is equally important – if not more – for the journalists to gain the trust of their readership. This creates a relationship where the
scream that you want it at the top of your lungs; it’s more that an unsure or hesitant yes is not enthusiastic consent, and needs to be considered.” The need for enthusiasm challenges the rape culture. It creates a need to communicate boundaries between partners. It also ensures that a simple yes is not a good enough answer and that there must be a mutual desire to participate. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, “approximately two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone known to the victim. Seventy-three percent of sexual assaults were perpetrated by a non-stranger, and thirty-eight percent of rapists are a friend or acquaintance.” With such high numbers, a more defined line is required to determine when sexual activities are okay. By eagerly claiming that the sexual activity is permitted, both partners make a conscious decision that will, hopefully, not be regretted in the morning. Consent versus enthusiasm factors in feelings that will come after the deed is done, rather than focusing on living in the moment. I don’t want to simply consent to anything. Not my dinner, not my spring break plans, not my major and certainly not my sex life. I want to decide what I do, when I do it and whom I do it with. Consent isn’t good enough for me. I choose enthusiasm, all the way. truth is reported and the consumers are confident in what they are receiving. The coverage in this paper two weeks ago regarding a violent incident in Dolan Hall was based on official information provided by law enforcement. As more information is pressed for, we get closer to answering questions for our consumers. When people jump to conclusions, steal our papers from the stands and throw them away or wrongly accuse our staff of poor reporting, the relationship that is necessary for the truth to find its way to the surface is injured.
Opinion
Trial by media is unjust By Lisa Fischer Contributing Writer
There is a dangerous movement taking hold in the media industry. News outlets, hungry for content to satisfy the 24-hour news cycle, have been exploiting the due process of many individuals charged with committing crimes that have been deemed newsworthy. This trend is commonly known as “trial by media,” and its effects on defendants and the general public may be doing an injustice to the intended objectivity of the United States judiciary process. The Constitution states that the supposed offender has the right to a speedy and public trial. However, the defendant also has the right to an impartial jury. Constantly bombarding the public with news stories and information about these defendants (that may not be entirely accurate) has the potential to subconsciously persuade a member of the “impartial” jury and endanger a defendant’s chance at freedom. In 1966, the Supreme Court ruled that a trial may be closed, but only after the defendant has sufficiently proven that the coverage is detracting from the fairness of a court ruling. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Miriam Carey was treated like a serious threat during the heightened coverage of her brief chase with police in Washington D.C., as news outlets reported that there was a shooter at the Capitol. After being shot to death by authorities, she was found to be unarmed and suffering from psychosis brought on by postpartum depression. Jodi Arias was found guilty earlier this year of murdering her exboyfriend, Travis Alexander. Arias’ trial was considered a media circus
as she gave out television interviews and had a third party tweet from her account while she was imprisoned. Although she was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, the penalty phase of the process was declared a mistrial and now Arias’ lawyers are trying to bar television coverage of the retrial. Arias’ story functioned as a real life soap opera for the general public. Although, the idea that there is an entertainment factor in the de- cision of whether
or not someone receives the death penalty makes a mockery of the judicial system and gives the media unnecessary influence in strictly legal matters. George Zimmerman, accused of murdering an African-American teen, Trayvon Martin, while he was on neighborhood watch, was found innocent as the jury ruled his actions as a matter of self-defense. Although Zimmerman is a blameless man in the eyes of the state, the media coverage of his trial exhibited an extreme bias in favor of Martin, which led to an enraged public when Zimmerman was ultimately acquitted. Zimmerman was forced to go into hiding shortly after being declared a free man as a result of excess media cov-
erage. When The Mirror and a variety of other news outlets released a story about the altercation in Dolan Hall, the stories were meant to be objective. Regardless, the outlets’ respective audiences may have subconsciously formed an unjust opinion of the individuals involved. Ideally, the coverage would have no bearing on the decision of a board or a judge to take action against these students. However, the fact that this incident was made a story at all had the potential to influence the level of punishment that was bestowed upon the affected parties. Miriam Carey did not get the chance to have a formal trial, yet her reputation was shattered as a result of news coverage during the event. Carey’s loved ones were not alerted by Wa s h i n g ton D.C. police, but instead were told by reporters to turn on the TV. Her sisters learned about the fatal shooting from broadcast journalists who chose to ignore the authorities’ mistreatment of a mentally unstable mother. Subsequently, the media was reluctant to admit fault on their own part, perpetuating the negative image of Carey that they provided for public reference. Trial by media is a thoughtless way to fulfill the requirements of a gossip-based news cycle. Whether or not an accused person is guilty of a crime is a decision that should be reached by an impartial group of citizens, and the practice of trial by media makes such a collection of individuals nearly impossible to find.
Sick of spinoffs By Meaghan Conlon Contributing Writer A television show spinoff is like getting a gift from that prankster friend of yours — you’re excited but weary; you’re getting a gift, but is it a good gift? The problem with television show spinoffs is that while they sound appealing (you get to see your favorite characters, there’s a brand new storyline, etc.), more often than not they disappoint the audience. Rarely do TV show spinoffs live up to viewer expectation. Sure, "Torchwood" has done relatively well, but "Jersey Shore" has managed to produce three spinoffs — "The Pauly D Project," "The Show with Vinny," and "Snooki & JWoww" — do we really need all these “different” shows about fake, orange-skinned Italians? Recently, a "Walking Dead" spinoff was confirmed, while talk of a "Breaking Bad" spinoff is “in the works." There are even rumors of a "Dexter" spinoff; with the show coming to a close after its eighth season, is a spinoff series really necessary? I can’t imagine any other scenarios that haven’t already been exhausted by writers and not seen by audienc-
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es. Which begs the question: Why? Why do studios continue to produce offshoots of a show? Is it because they think that the new series is guaranteed a strong fan base due to the viewer loyalty of the previous show? Do they not have any new or creative ideas for new pilots? Or are these studios too unwilling to risk a failure of a completely new show? With a spinoff of a pre-existing show, there is the probability that a large percentage of the original show’s fanbase will watch the premiere; whether or not they continue to watch the show depends on if the pilot matched or exceeded the audience’s expectations. These spinoffs are, for the most part, unnecessary and a corporate ploy to make more money off a thriving television series — "Once Upon A Time" is only into its second season and an offshoot, "Once Upon A Time in Wonderland," is set to premiere this year. I think we could use a little more diversity in the television shows we watch; there’s enough "CSI" and "Law and Order," I’d like something a little more unique and substantial. Studios need to take a risk — produce a show that will differ them from
other channels rather than copy yet another overused idea. Get creative, and stop producing all these spinoff series; make your viewers remember the greatness of the original show, not the follow-up that ruined it.
Who am I to judge?
Pope of progress ByJaney Holland Contributing Writer
While Pope Francis is certainly a troublemaker, he is also acting as the face of a much-needed change in the Catholic religion. In an interview for America Magazine, Pope Francis proved he is acting as the face of that change regarding homosexuality. Forward-thinking Catholics have been begging for change for years. According to Christian Post, church attendance is at record lows around the world, especially among young people. While not promising any sweeping policy changes, Pope Francis laments the church’s “obsession” with moral teachings about homosexuality. He says that the church should be more focused on charity and helping those in need. Francis stated, “The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials.” This quote was a follow-up on his statement that he feels that the church should not “interfere” with gay people. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Francis stated. As society is becoming more accepting of gay people, the Catholic Church truly is outdated in their stance on the topic. On Oct. 21, New Jersey will be the 14th state in America to issue same-sex marriage licenses. As students at Fairfield, we are
all familiar with Jesuit values and have heard the phrase “cura personalis” more than once. Care of the whole person is what the Jesuits are all about – viewing someone for their entire self, not just one part of who they are. Therefore, should we be surprised that a Jesuit pope is taking this brave stance on gay rights in the church? No. “When God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person? We must always consider the person,” said Francis, spoken like a true Jesuit, perfectly exemplifying “cura personalis.” I live in a small town in New Jersey where people are obsessed with lacrosse and Sperrys, notorious for not being accepting of gay people. When one of my friends from my town came out this year, people were supportive and embraced him. Why can this be so widely accepted, but not in the Catholic Church? This is what Pope Francis is trying to get at. A pope of this stature is what the Catholic Church has been desperately needing. Some argue that the pope is solely making these remarks in order to coax people into staying Catholic, but I believe that the pope is speaking out on this issue because he is a good man who sees the need for Catholics to be less judgmental and more compassionate — like Jesus was.
The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by email to info@fairfieldmirror.com or Box AA. All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or online. The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical error. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information not exceeding 500 words.
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arts, entertainment, features Editor Dylan Dembin: vine@fairfieldmirror.com
Lar Lubovitch's "Crisis Variations" makes chaos look beautiful. Photo by Paula Lobo
LIFE THROUGH
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
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Lubovitch illuminates human nature
Katarzyna Skarpetowska and Brian McGinnis perform a solo in "Crisis Variations" in a previous dance show. Photo by Paula Lobo
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By Loan Le Editor-in-Chief
ar Lubovitch choreographs based on human quality. It is his aim, as he said in a postshow interview at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, to evoke a sensation, not a story, out of his viewers. But the audience, as humans, may construct stories to make sense of what they witness on stage – and what they saw was breathtaking. A playful choreography opened the Oct. 4 show, featuring characters who attempted to find their path in life, only to be discouraged as the dance progressed. The following duets focused on relationships between a man and woman: one that is mutually strong, like a bull fighting a bull, while the other a game of cat and mouse in a curtains-lifted display of emotional and physical abuse. The concluding piece provided an amusing take on the word “crisis.” The company opened the night with “Transparent Things,” set to Claude Debussy’s “String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 10.” According to the program, Lubovitch drew inspiration from Pablo Picasso’s “Family of Saltimbanques,” a painting that shows characters looking off into the
distance, pensive, and living a “fragile existence.” Lubovitch compared these subjects to his dancers, who also choose to embrace unsure lives in the name of art. In one segment of this dance, the tempo slowed and with it the dancers’ movement. Attila Joey Csiki, who opened the dance, sunk to the floor and went still, as if life had gone from him. The lights transitioned to emit a blue, ethereal background. Csiki’s friends witnessed him downtrodden and like a domino effect, his friends adopted the same sullen disposition. They became more rooted to the ground as opposed to their springy, carefree leaps at the beginning of the dance. A quiet ambience settled among the dancers, and there, with the ending, a universal downside was exposed: dance as “an art that only exists when it is actually happening,” as the program said. As impressive as the first dance was, the duets and concluding dances were far more compelling. In “Vez,” a reimagined version of Lubovitch’s “Fandango” choreography from 1989 that is set to Randall Woolf ’s “Vez,” there were moments when partners Nicole Corea and Clifton Brown would not touch, but the sensual and sexual chemistry between
them could not be more evident. This is the power of dance: its ability to connect participants through how the body moves and not just through bodily contact. But when Corea and Brown did touch, they often intertwined their bodies around each other, becoming one. “Vez” proved to be a sparring and combative conversation between two dancers – both sides determined to win. “The Time Before The Time After,” choreographed in 1971, made its return as the second-to-last performance of the night. Seconds into the dance, with a spotlight fixed on partners Reed Luplau and Katarzyna Skarpetowska, the audience sensed tension just about to boil over. Luplau stood posed, a hand about to strike Skarpetowska. Then, Igor Stravinsky’s “Concertino for String Quartet” picked up and a dance was set in motion. Skarpetowska initially maintained a strong presence, bounding away from her partner, only to be stopped by Luplau’s vice-like grip on her wrist or his hand pulling her back by the hair. At its core, this dance narrated a life of inescapable violent intimacy. In a particular phase of the dance, the music tempo slowed down and
Skarpetowska’s fighting will went with it. The audience knew that the dancer depended on her lover, but what also became clear was that Luplau was nothing without her. His ability to exert dominance depended on his prey; with sharp twists and pivots and unyielding extensions, Luplau gained his power by depleting Skarpetowska’s. By the end, she gave in and slid down to the floor, back onto her knees, subservient, and Luplau gathered her into a possessive embrace, devoid of comfort. The experience came across as voyeuristic, with the audience witnessing a gripping occurrence, instigated by Skarpetowska and Luplau’s magnetic movement onstage. The most disconcerting and high-energy choreography could be found in the closing piece, “Crisis Variations.” Once again, the company brought back all of its dancers. Lubovitch revealed in a post-show Q-and-A that the music, which usually inspires his choreography, took a backseat role. He only taught his dancers the moves and rhythm he expected, and then the dancers heard the commissioned music score a day before premiering in 2011. The purpose of this last-minute change? He wanted to maintain a sense of chaos and confusion – and he
certainly succeeded. The dancers’ movements appeared halting and seemingly accidental, their bodies lurching back and forth, like cars stuck in spasmodic traffic. Skarpetowska took on another principal role, oftentimes allowing herself to be a ragdoll, carried and dragged across the stage by dancer Brian McGinnis. While the storyline for this piece was unclear - done surely on purpose by Lubovitch - the audience could feel the sensation of chaos. With Friday night’s performances, Lubovitch proves that he still has a vision, even into his 50th year of choreography, and that his dance company, now in its 45th year, remains determined to help him construct it. It is also not necessarily a bad thing that dance is a fleeting art, with an impact that can only be experienced live. It means that each choreographed performance can exalt itself as new and powerful. For now, Lubovitch and his dancers manage to extend the life of dance until the company’s next performance. The company will continue to celebrate its 45th anniversary with performances at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave. and 19th Street, from Oct. 8 to 13 and Oct. 15 to 20.
The Amistad Rebellion: A history from below By Ashley Paholski Contributing Writer
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Marcus Rediker, an esteemed historian.
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ave you seen Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama “Amistad”? Are you familiar with the history of the Amistad Rebellion of 1839? Regardless of your individual responses to these questions, Marcus Rediker, professor of history at University of Pittsburgh and college
peer of Fr. Jeffrey Von Arx, S.J., was on campus to share his evaluation of the Amistad Rebellion after writing “The Amistad Rebellion: An Atlantic Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom,” with students and faculty despite their varying backgrounds on the event. For the non-history majors, the Amistad Rebellion was when 53 slaves, 49 men and four children were kidnapped from Sierra Leone and placed
on a slave ship heading to Cuba. The slaves on board banded together to kill the captain, as well as many of the crew members, desiring to return to Sierra Leone. The ship was found by United States maritime security forces and the slaves were placed in the New Haven jail, later tried by the Supreme Court, supported by John Quincy Adams READ REBELLION ON PAGE
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Best Bites: Pane e Bene
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Closed Monday Tuesday – Thursday: Noon to 10 p.m. Bar closes at 1 a.m. Friday: Noon to 11 p.m. Bar closes at 1 a.m. Saturday: 5 to 11 p.m. Bar closes at 1 a.m. Sunday: 5 to 9 p.m. Bar closes at 11 p.m.
$$$ out of $$$$ ***** out of *****
1620 Post Road East gorgonzola.
By Nicholas O'Connell Food Columnist
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f you are a fan of authentic Italian food and the classic white tablecloth atmosphere that often comes with it, Pane e Bene is your new spot. It is incognito from the street and I have managed to drive past it several times and consequently had to turn around. Nonetheless, once inside, the large windows and relaxing scene manage to clear the mind. But getting down to what you need to know: The food is tremendous. Pasta is housemade and identical in taste and texture to the pasta in Italy. Oftentimes I find myself caught off guard when approached by the old school Italian owner, Angelo. You will feel like you are in Italy. Keep in mind that half orders are available for the ultra-ambitious who want to order the whole menu. And definitely make a reservation … the space fills up!
Recommended First Course: Con La Romano: Romaine lettuce, gorgonzola, walnuts, pears and balsamic vinaigrette. This course is crisp and refreshing. The pears add a nice sweetness that cuts the sharp
Recommended Pasta: Gnocchetti Verdi Al Tartufo: Freshly made gnocchi in a black truffle cream sauce. This is easily in the top five gnocchi dishes I’ve had. It’s rich and full of flavor… you will mop it up with bread until the bowl is clean. Ravioli Di Ricotta e Spinach Al Limoncello: Freshly made ricotta and spinach ravioli in a limoncello cream sauce. It is a slightly sweet dish that has a great ratio of ricotta and spinach.
Recommended Main Course: Petto Di Pollo Capricciosa: Pounded and breaded chicken breast topped with fresh arugula, tomato and mozzarella salad. This is a very large portion but is very light for an entrée.
Recommended Dessert: Limoncello-ricotta cheesecake with an amoretti cookie crust: This dish has an outstanding presentation and is heavy and satis- One of Pane e Bene's artful dessert offerings, Limoncello-ricotta cheesecake. fying. Perfect finale. Contributed by Nicholas O'Connell
The Food Review:
By Andrew Hoover Wine Columnist
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Five Guys vs. Shake Shack By Joseph Marino Food Columnist
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urgers: The battle between two staples of the upscale fast food industry must begin with their burgers, so let’s get to the meat of this debate. Pun unequivocally intended. Five Guys will never sell you short, and their burgers are thick, juicy and they pile on the bacon and cheese. The standard bacon cheeseburger at Five Guys has two patties, two slices of cheese, and a whole bunch of bacon. If Five Guys has a big league burger, then let's call Shake Shack Pop Warner. There’s not much to the burgers at Shake Shack, and you can rip through one in two minutes if you really put your mind to it. Not that I’m speaking from experience, or anything. It’s really no contest as far as the burgers go. Edge: Five Guys. Fries: Both Five Guys and Shake Shack have good fries, but it all depends on what you want. Shake Shack has the simple, crispy, golden fritters that you know and love, simply seasoned with salt and neatly presented in a paper tray. Five Guys puts your fries in a soda cup and then another handful gets thrown into the bag for good measure. The hit at Five Guys are the Cajun fries. The seasoning gives a spicy, lively quality to what would otherwise be a rather
Contributed by Joe Marino
vanilla french fry. Who wins in this debate probably varies from person to person, so I’ll leave it up to you. Edge: Tie Drinks: There’s something about the pairing of a milkshake with a cheeseburger and fries that instills the vision of the perfect marriage. At Shake Shack, as the name implies, the milkshakes are as important as the burgers. Is it the best milkshake you’ll ever have? No. But it’s still pretty darn good for a fast food restaurant. At Five Guys, the absence of milkshakes is as noticeable as it is disappointing. Most Five Guys franchises have those touch-screen Coke machines that offer three-quarters of a million flavor combinations, but it raspberry Sprite just doesn’t touch the satisfaction of a strawberry milkshake. Edge: Shake Shack Bottom line: Think of Shake Shack as the Starbucks of the fast food industry. If you’re into being all hip and trendy, then Shake Shack is the place to be. But if you’re into stuffing your face with food and having to challenge yourself to down all of the food that you are given, Five Guys is your best bet. I err on the side of the latter. If only Five Guys would have the decency to give you the option of ordering a milkshake. But, because they don’t, there will always be a time every now and then that I’ll go to Shake Shack instead. Winner: Five Guys.
ou have a crumpled $10 bill in your pocket plus two singles, and you’re willing to sacrifice the 30-pack of Bud for a bottle of wine if you can find something that’s cheap and delicious. Tracking down a bottle that costs $10 or $12 and is tasty will not be a problem. Your main hitch as a newcomer to wine is that you have no idea how to approach the wine racks because your comfort zone is strictly limited to the beer fridge and maybe the Smirnoff section. But that’s a weak excuse to sidestep the wine aisles. So here’s your help. These tips will ensure that you enter the wine shop like a boss and pick the best wine that your shoestring budget can afford, allowing you to leave the store with your head held high, bottle in hand, and no regrets.
wine — from ripe and bold to light and subtle — and not every style will appeal to you. Many wine shops have printed cards called shelf talkers that hang beside each bottle. These cards are very informative as they often reveal notes about how the wine tastes. Read the cards until you find a wine with a note that sounds interesting to you. Behold the point system: Since middle school and possibly elementary school, you have known the 100-point scale. As you know, a 100 is better than a 90 and a 90 is better than an 85. Since the 1980s, the wine industry has also been trained to work with a similar scale. Professional wine critics judge wines on the 100-point scale, which helps you, the consumer, find a quality bottle of wine before purchasing it. For your convenience, wine shops often publish these scores on the shelf
The wine specialist is your friend: It may seem obvious, but the wine specialist working at your local wine shop is there for a reason: to help you find the best bottle for the amount of money you’re willing to drop. So why is it that many customers shy away from this resource? Instead of making shopping a cinch, these customers blindly amble around the aisles, pretending they know a thing or two about the subject when in reality they don’t even know what kind they enjoy. Don’t be like that. If you’re unsure about what’s good, be smart and ask for help. Utilize the shelf talkers: If you insist on being a maverick and skipping the wine specialist’s advice, don’t just grab any bottle that you can afford. There are many styles of
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talkers. It is doubtful that you will be able to find a wine that nears 100 points for $10. However, you will be easily be able to score a bottle that a critic has deemed 87 to 90 points, and as you know that is a very good to excellent grade. Ratings by critics and publications like Robert Parker, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast are the most credible. Try wines from these value-driven wine regions: There are certain wine regions that produce better value-driven wines than others. If you’re in the mood for a red wine, steer clear of wine regions like France’s Bordeaux (made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) and Burgundy (made from Pinot Noir), which are known for their ultra-steep price tags. Instead, choose countries like Australia for its Shiraz and Argentina for its Malbec. If you prefer white wines, consider a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. All of these are friendly wines at equally approachable prices.
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
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America Ferrera inspires millennial generation By Adavia Thornton Contributing Writer
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ctress and humanitarian, America Ferrera, said to the student-dominated audience at a recent Open Visions Forum that they should fight for their dreams and contribute to society. Before going on stage for the Eighth Annual Students Forum, sponsored by the Quick Center and FUSA, Ferrera attended an intimate meet-and-greet in the Black Box Theater. About 50 students waited patiently for Ferrera to enter the room. Heads turned to catch the first glimpse of Ferrera. Nervous and excited chatter began as students discussed the questions they wanted to ask her. Finally Ferrera entered the room. Students clapped and greeted her as she warmly smiled and took a seat. She started the conversation by talking about a recent goal that she just reached. Ferrera finally received her college diploma in the mail from the University of Southern California that morning. Ferrera received her degree in international studies. She gleamed with pride as she explained how it took her 10 years to finally complete her degree. Once her career started to take off with the popular show “Ugly Betty,” Ferrera had to take a leave of absence from school. During the meet-and-greet, Ferrera was asked how she used her career to begin her philanthropic work, such as her involvement as an ambas-
Seniors Jameel James, Loan Le and Lauren Liseth pose with America Ferrera and Dr. Philip Eliasoph after the Open Visions Forum. Christian Kaplan/Assistant Director of the Quick Center sador for the Save the Children organization. Ferrera explained that acting gave her a platform: an opportunity to explore her passion for educational and global issues. Her experience taking international relations courses in school and her opportunities as an actress came full circle and allowed her to speak out for what she believed in. Through her involvement with Save the Children, Ferrera helped raise $44,000 to build a school in Mali. “I wanted to use my platform as an actress to bring forth change in the world,” Ferrera said. As the questions continued to flow, Ferrera answered with thought-
ful and relatable answers. She shared with the students how her career is a representation of her life. “My career is an expression of my life, my experiences and understandings. ... It’s always on my mind to be giving with my life, and my stories, but only in ways that serve my growth as a person,” Ferrera said. “That’s why I went back to school, if I didn’t do it for myself it would be a waste of time.” Once the meet-and-greet ended, students filed into the auditorium of the Quick Center. They and other attendees filled almost every seat. Ferrera’s common theme throughout her speech was the importance of an education and being an active member in
the community. She expressed that while she was an undergraduate she felt very ignorant about what went on in the world outside of the United States. She admitted to tearing up in one particular class on a regular basis, because she felt like she was the only student who wasn’t aware of the global struggles being discussed. Ferrera said it challenged her to question her position in the world. She spoke to her professor after class one day and told him, “I love acting but it's so useless. I have to do something more meaningful; what do I do?” Ferrera said her professor responded by telling her: “Your work
is meaningful. You inspire young people who have similar backgrounds as yourself.” He was referring to his mentee of three years who was Latina like Ferrera. The mentee told him that after watching a movie Ferrera starred in, “Real Girls Have Curves,” she and her friends felt seen and represented for the first time. He went on to tell her, “Your movie changed the course of someone’s life.” Ferrera continued her speech by encouraging students to be active members in the community. “Take action in the community," she said. "This is your life; you can let people make decisions for your life or you can make them yourself.” Ferrera ended her speech by saying that she is blessed to be in the position she is in. “My story is not a fairy tale; fairy tales are easy to dismiss; they are strokes of luck. I believe every person should be able to dream wildly. You have to believe you are worthy of dreaming.” Ferrera finished by telling the audience members that their life and their voice matters. After the last remarks of her speech, three Fairfield students joined her on stage for a brief panel discussion. Seniors Jameel James, Loan Le and Lauren Liseth each took turns asking questions. Ferrera gave one last vital piece of inspiration: “Don’t waste energy hating yourself.” Ferrera challenged students to look past themselves and stand bravely, even if no one is standing beside them.
Amistad Rebellion: Viewing the event in historical context CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 and finally set free to return to Africa. Rediker opened his discussion of his recently published book by explaining what was missing from the Spielberg film, which was what Rediker called, “the history from below.” The history belongs to the African slaves who shaped the rebellion, rather than the history from “above,” which focused solely on the victimized slaves being saved by John Quincy Adams and the court system. In order to bring this history out into the public, Rediker said, “I had to put the rebellion back at the heart of the story, to show that without this courageous act, John Quincy Adams would not have anyone to defend in court.” As Rediker began his own journey of uncovering information about the slaves involved in the Amistad rebellion he first looked at who the people were. Although there wasn’t an abundance of information in favor of the slaves’ point of view, there was a plethora of information about how the slaves came across to the public eye. While the leaders of the slave rebellion were held in jail, the public
would pay to walk through the cells and talk to them, documenting any information they received on paper and in art. It was through these sources that Rediker could analyze the history “from below.” He explained, “I discovered a key piece of information, that two thirds of the Africans aboard the ship were Mende.” The Mende Africans are the largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone and the Mende trained their men to be warriors. This proved very convenient as the children aboard the slave ship were not chained, but rather free to roam and came across sugar knives, which were used to cut sugar cane, but eventually used by the warriors as weapons of liberation. “The male warriors were part of the Poro society, which was a secret society that created social discipline, punished crime and made declarations of war,” said Rediker. To understand that the slaves were part of the Poro society and were Mende warriors revealed the key factors in their ability to organize and unite in order to rebel. These are the key factors that history taken from “above” fails to recognize. Sophomore Leland Bergen, said, “His explanations of the history he
A classic illustration of the famous Amistad Rebellion. found made the material more real,” compared of course to typical historical accounts we read about from the “powerful people’s” perspective. The evidence and story of the Mende warriors finding their weapons of liberation was quite amazing for Alexandra Niccole ’17. “My favorite part of the lecture was when he mentioned how the children found the sugar cane knives,” she said. “It explained how the men got what they needed to initiate the slave rebellion.” In piecing these historical elements together for the creation of his book, Rediker also mentioned his trip to Sierra Leone, where he visited a village that he identified as the home of two Amistad Africans. As tradition in the Mende society, he spoke with the elders to see what information they could share with
him about the Amistad Rebellion. After hashing out several details and throwing around names of the slaves, the elders began to identify with one of the slaves who was renamed Johnny, as when he returned to Sierra Leone he spoke broken English, which lead to his earning of a nickname. “After hearing the elders tell different stories about the Johnny they heard about, the oldest member of the group said, ‘Johnny was my grandfather,’” stated Rediker. As a visitor, Rediker has brought a spiritual ancestor home to the Mende people and was in turn able to uncover more details from the point of view of the Mende people, about the Amistad Rebellion. Sophomore Taylor Rosello said, “It was truly eye-opening and intriguing to hear his story,” referring to Rediker’s explanation of the re-
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search he conducted in Sierra Leone. Rediker’s book goes more indepth on the actual history he uncovered, but his presence in the Fairfield community allowed the students and faculty to understand this unique approach to outlining a history that is hidden somewhere “below.” Rediker concluded, “If you want to find history from below, to see how people shaped the modern world, you have to look at sources in a new way and be creative in search for sources." This discussion not only explained the motive behind “The Amistad Rebellion: An Atlantic Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom,” but it gave history a whole new meaning, especially when the history comes from the perspective of the victims, better known as the “people below.”
The Mirror | Week of October 9, 2013
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iPick, YouListen
'Band Together'
Artist: Relient K Title: “If I Could Take You Home” Off their most recent album “Collapsible Lung,” “If I Could Take You Home” is a musthave on your iPod/mp3. This is the perfect album that takes you back to your carefree summer days. The song is alternative pop-rock that will be sure to get you off your feet. Lyrically it explores the typical crush. We have all had that one person who we feel is out of our league.
"Band Together" pose for a picture.
By Adavia Thornton Contributing Writer
Artist: HIM Title: “Tears on Tape” HIM recently released their album “Tears on Tape,” which is a “hats-off to all of the songs that made us who we are,” according to frontman Ville Valo. The track is about life, love and the power of music. Many bands such as Black Sabbath and Kiss that influenced the members of HIM are shown their respect in this album. HIM is the only Finnish band to achieve gold album status in the United States. Their sound is so unique as it combines rock, metal, alternative and so much more.
By Charles DeFilippo Contributing Writer
Artist: Cables & Confessions Title: “Palmer Street”
Artist: The Moxy Title: “Panic Room” (acoustic version)
Cables & Confessions is a local acoustic and indie rock group out of Monroe, Conn. “Palmer Street” is a track off their debut (self-recorded) album “Divergent Boundaries.” The group is passionate about their music, which shows in the quality of their music. “Palmer Street” begins with a soft acoustic guitar intro and is followed by a catchy melody. I am a big supporter of local music and it is always great when people share and support local talent. Check out Cables & Confessions and one of my favorite tracks “Palmer Street.”
The pop-rock group from West Chester, Penn., is a group to look out for. This song is catchy and a blast to listen to. It is a fun, upbeat acoustic track that you will be singing for days. The female vocalist sings about breaking away and being able to stand on her own. It’s the kind of band you discover at a small bar or nightclub and can't stop listening to.
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I
f you walk behind the Metro North train station, past Archie Moore’s, a yoga studio and a small art studio, you will come across a red building. Across from this small, vibrant theater you will see “FTC” painted like subway car letters on a brick wall. You have come across an important gem among the Fairfield County community. Fairfield Theater Company rests in the heart of downtown Fairfield and is considered a space that brings the community together. FTC is one of the top regional music theater companies in the country. Executive producer Andy Kadison described FTC as bringing a wide breadth of artist into one intimate room. On Saturday, Oct. 5, FTC presented a benefit rock concert for the non-profit organization, The Pilot House. “Band Together” was the feature act of the night. Kadison describes “Band Together” as a group of musicians that work to bring music back to the people. “Band Together” encourages musicians to walk in the way of their intention, give back to the community and let their music do good. The group of musicians were each hand-picked and represented different bands, but joined forces to cover rock hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s. A little new school music found its way onto the set list with none other than “Rolling in The Deep” by Adele. Some covers they chose
Contributed by Adavia Thornton
were popular songs by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Tina Turner. Through the intimate atmosphere, colorful lights and energetic performers, the children who represented The Pilot House lit up the theater with their smiles and enthusiasm. They clapped, danced and blew kisses to the band while they performed. The Pilot House is an organization that provides programs and resources for families raising children who have developmental disabilities. The Pilot House programs promote skill-building, selfconfidence, self-expression and, most important, fun with friends. “Coming to ‘Band Together’ makes you proud to be apart of the community. The Pilot House kids look forward to it year around; we bring our daughters every year,” says the Ohlin family. Their daughter danced around backstage with head phones over her ears and pretended to play the drums with imaginary drum sticks. When asked who her favorite singer was she said “I love Michael Jackson!” “This is the primary fundraiser for the Pilot House, we are so happy to be a part of it,” concluded the Ohlin family. “Can you imagine this is going on in downtown Fairfied?” said lead drummer Theirry Arpino. The entire theater was clapping and singing and enjoying the music but, most of all, admiring the children who found their way on stage at the end of the night. They were the true rock stars.
Is music changing for better or for worse? By Patrick Kiernan Contributing Writer
W
Jay-Z showing his dapper side. Contributed Photo
Britney Spears on the red carpet. Contributed Photo
ho else is tired of hearing “Blurred Lines” and “We Can’t Stop”? So many songs that are currently played on the radio receive criticism for being overplayed and seeming so different from the sounds of a previous generation known as the late 1990s and early 2000s. So, let’s start by looking at the two most iconic pop figures of each decade. In this past era of music, pop star Britney Spears emerged onto the scene by dressing up as a schoolgirl in short skirts. Recently, Miley Cyrus has displayed a new type of pop star which is characterized by rebellion, controversy and riding around on wrecking balls while wearing a minimal amount of clothes. Why the drastic change in music and appearance? The answer is simple: People get bored of the same thing over the years and musicians understand how to erase that boredom. Ten or so years ago, the music which Britney Spears put across seemed so revolutionary and new to listeners. They had never heard anything as awe-inspiring as “… Baby One More Time” or “Oops … I Did It Again.” The music that Spears put out during this generation of music
established the norm for pop music for the next decade. What Miley Cyrus is doing is simply raising the bar. While Spears might have seemed innovative in her prime, Cyrus is doing everything in her power to be twice as controversial and overwhelming. While dressing in short schoolgirl skirts was provocative in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cyrus has shown us that singing about “twerking” and “molly” while wearing the oddest and smallest of outfits can be twice as effective in addressing the media and attracting listeners. As upsetting as this may be to parents of young girls and fans of older pop music, she has successfully set a new norm for the genre and established herself as a new generational pop idol. Some of the most notable music features of the late 1990s and early 2000s were the boy bands: *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees and the list goes on. What happened to groups like these? They are still available for your listening pleasure, but usually hail from other countries. Bands such as One Direction and The Wanted provide similar music taste to the aforementioned boy bands and add a foreign flavor to it. Considering their young age, it will
be interesting to see if these new boy bands crash and burn because of internal conflicts like the boy bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s did. One more genre of music which has seen a dramatic change over the past decade is hip-hop. What happened to the Jay-Z who used to rap about the “Hard Knock Life” he had in the projects and 50 Cent who would rap about “How to Rob” and the “Many Men” he lost to street violence? The hip-hop music of this previous generation was characterized by living in the projects and the struggles of growing up in such an environment. Jay-Z hails from the Marcy House Projects in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was a drug dealer turned rapper. 50 Cent is from Queens, N.Y., and was also a drug dealer whose mother overdosed. The poverty-stricken environments where these two were raised and the encounters they faced are reflected in their music and categorized hip-hop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. In modern hip-hop music, this has radically changed. Many rappers from that era have earned enough money to see success in life and had the ability to leave the projects, preferring to make music about that rather than
gang violence and poverty. On JayZ’s newest album, “Magna Carta … Holy Grail,” he raps about “Picasso Baby” and wearing “Tom Ford” designer clothing. 50 Cent barely even raps anymore because he is now an entrepreneur and actor. Similar rap music is seen with newer artists such as Big Sean and 2 Chainz. Raised in Detroit, Mich., and having attended good schools, Big Sean is often seen wearing designer clothes and reflects this in songs of his such as “Guap” and “Mula,” rapping about the money he now makes. 2 Chainz, a former scholarship basketball player at Alabama State University who posted a 4.0 GPA, also likes to dress and make songs in a way that reflects the money he makes. So, this mentality of rapping about money has overcome the previous mentality of rapping about one’s hardships being raised around poverty or violence. Between pop, boy bands and hip-hop, music has undergone a drastic change in the previous decade. Pop is headlined by rebellion and controversy, boy bands by foreign flavor and hip-hop by money. As much as you may or may not like this, it is the constant for the current generation and subject to change in later years.
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
Coffee Break
COFFEE BREAK
Molly’s Cocktail MOLLY LEIDIG
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Editor
Dan’s Beer
Coffee Break Editor
There is something so beautifully enticing about a warm mug filled with rich black coffee following my alarm every morning. It truly is the “best part of waking up.” Coffee has become a phenomenon these days, making no fall outfit complete without a Starbucks or Dunkin Donut’s novelty in hand. However, not all self-proclaimed coffee lovers are created equal. We have the lover, the poser and what I like to call the two-sipper. The coffee lover, which I would consider myself, is the individual that genuinely enjoys coffee. I drink coffee simply for one reason: because I like it. I don’t drink it to stay awake, I don’t drink it to look cool and I don’t load it down with pounds of milk in sugar to mask the idea that the liquid I’m drinking is even coffee. I have been drinking coffee since I was about 10 years old. In those days it was loaded down with sugar and cream, but my use has dwindled over the years to 2 packets of Sugar in the Raw and a splash of cream to make my perfect concoction. The poser is most likely the coffee drinker that annoys people the most. The poser is the person that simply cannot step their big toe into Starbucks without tweeting or instagramming. These are the people that mask the flavor of their coffee with milk and sugar so you can hardly recognize its even coffee. Posers also tend to go for the most non-coffee-like option on the menu – things like Frappuccinos, Dunkaccinos and flavored lattes tend to be their favorite. The bottom line: these people wouldn’t be so annoying if they would just stop trying to convince themselves they like coffee. I don’t like marinara sauce, so I just don’t eat it. I’m still breathing. The two-sipper is the individual who carries around a coffee cup to classes all day and never drinks it. The two-sipper is all about the image of drinking
coffee. That person who shows up 5 minutes late to every class with their Starbucks in hand, because they just “had to have it,” and then at the end of class there is nothing missing from their cup? That’s the twosipper. Probably one of the most perplexing things about the two-sipper, in my opinion, is all that wasted money. All those wasted $5 Starbucks drinks could really add up to something nice. Coffee consumption has become an obsession in American culture. People have become so fixated on their daily cup of joe that it is starting to get very annoying. If you are a true coffee lover, just drink your coffee and move on with your day.
DANIEL STEIMEL No one cares about your coffee. If you have ever instagrammed or thought about instagramming a picture of your coffee you are wrong. No one cares about the seasonal coffee that just got back on the menu or about how excited you are for it. Half the people that order those ridiculously priced drinks are doing it so they can walk around with a Starbucks cup while they take two sips out of it. I was just in a class for an hour and fifteen minutes, and a girl in my class had an iced coffee that she took three small sips out of. If she really enjoyed drinking it that much she would have finished it in the hour and fifteen minutes that she had it.
Editor’s note:
His Beer, Her Cocktail wants to give students on campus a chance to voice their opinions on specific issues. The goal of the column is to get people talking and debating. If you would like to be featured in the column, contact info@fairfieldmirror.com.
Contributing Writer
I just don’t understand how when you order one of those ridiculous drinks you don’t feel like you’re fresh out of “Zoolander” when they order Orange Mocha Frappuccinos. You know what happened to the people that ordered Orange Mocha Frappuccinos? They died in a gas fight. Just remember that next time you want to order anything with the words “Mocha” or “Frappuccino.” A lot of people that I’ve talked to say that they like coffee, which makes absolutely no sense to me. Those who choose to drink coffee usually drown it in milk and sugar, which makes it bearable but that isn’t really coffee. Some people actually drink coffee for a purpose and I understand that, but it’s not like it makes that much of a difference. You might think it does, you might convince yourself it does, but it doesn’t. Get up, splash some cold water on your face, and get on with your morning. People who say, “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee” are basically justifying being terribly rude because they didn’t get their pick-me-up yet. Just because you’re tired doesn’t mean you can be impolite and otherwise useless. I get hungry in the morning but you don’t hear me saying “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my breakfast”. Caffeine is a drug; you don’t hear other people that do drugs say, “Don’t talk to me until I’ve smoked my crack.” I don’t really know anyone that does crack, so I can’t tell you if that’s true or not. The only thing worse than the people who drink coffee in the morning are the people that drink 5-hour Energy. I’m not sure if anyone actually does that but it’s definitely possible. If you’re going to drink coffee then just do it. Don’t shove it in someone’s face, don’t tweet about it, and don’t get into a gas fight with Ben Stiller and his male model friends.
Ask Miss Molly
Dear Miss Molly, I woke up last Saturday with the worst hangover of my life. What can I do to avoid post-night out pain? Sincerely, Hopelessly Hungover Dear Hopelessly Hungover,
Quite possibly the worst feeling in the world is opening your eyes at 8 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday morning and the room is spinning, your head feels like its going to explode and your stomach is in knots. At this point, chugging that bottle of water next to your bed is useless and you’re pretty much destined for a day of accomplishing nothing but sleep. Preventing a hangover is all about what you do the night before. At the beginning of the night, pick your drink of the choice for the night and stick to it. Mixing all different kinds of alcohol is a recipe for hangover disaster. If you’re really trying to avoid a hangover, it is better to chose beer over liquor, as liquor has more alcohol per volume. But, if you’re not a beer lover and would rather not give up your vodka cranberry or red wine, just make sure you’re sipping water throughout the night.
Hydration and food is a huge part of hangover prevention. If you think for one second skipping dinner before a night out is a smart idea, you are sadly mistaken. Food acts like a sponge soaking up the alcohol you consume, and without any food in your stomach, there is nothing to soak it up. Eating something after drinking is important as well. Most times by the time people return from a night out, its 1 a.m. at the earliest, and a good 5 hours at least since their last meal. I’m not saying you have to eat an entire Domino’s pizza, even having something as small as a banana and a bottle of water can do the trick. Whatever you do, make sure you down at least one bottle of water. I’m sure you already know this, but alcohol leaves you dehydrated, so you need to replace as much liquid back to your body as possible. Dehydration is what causes hangovers. Although you may not feel thirsty, your body needs water after a night of drinking. Even if you follow all these directions, if you have 10 or more drinks throughout the night, odds are you might be destined for a hangover no matter what you do. I know the boy at the bar offering you a free tequila shot is tempting, but you’ll thank yourself in the morning if you say no. Love Always, Miss Molly
Sudoku Level: Easy
Answers in next week’s issue.
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
Weekly 4x5
Because they like to talk ...
Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor
Jennifer Calhoun, James Taylor, Thomas Shea and Connor Kelley
Christopher Columbus ... hero or villain?
Rugby celebrated their 50th anniversary. Thoughts on the achievement?
Hawaii's Carissa Moore won the world surfing crown. Think you could hack it as a surfer?
If Ben and Jerry's were to make a flavor in your honor, what would be in it?
If you were in an old Disney Channel Original Movie, who would you be and why?
How could you deny the heroism of the man who made the first two "Harry Potter" movies, "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Home Alone" and "Night at the Museum"?
50 years is a long time, and it was really incredible seeing so many alumni back to cheer on Fairfield Rugby. Definitely a unique and exciting experience.
Well I was afraid of waves until I was like 10, so I don't think surfing is really in the cards for me. The only reason I'd want to be a professional surfer is to introduce my roommate to the love of her life.
My name doesn't really lend itself to something like "Cherry Garcia" unless it's like hen or pen and I'm not so sure those are flavors I'd want to put my name on.
I'd want to be one of the people in "Alley Cat Strike" because I have tried that move where they spin the ball down the lane to hit the split pins and it doesn't work in real life! :'''''(
Is this even plausibly in the balance?! You can't have a man discover a territory and make the natives a slave of their own land!
... Anyway, I had a great sandwich at the Stag yesterday.
Funny you should ask me about this. As many people know, I'm a keen surfer and avid follower of ('World Surfing'?) World Surfing. Yep, that's right, I know things. Kelly Slater, she's unbeliveable.
Whatever it is, it's an instant mood changer. Bitter, but you're obsessed, with a thin layer at the bottom that tastes of acceptance. Cry me a river, hungover 'oh-I-need-a-boyfriendfor-cold-winters' girl.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame would be a physically realistic comparison. . I've been carrying too many people on my back for way too long and it's taken its toll unfortunately.
Sure, this guy brings Syphillis back to Europe and he gets a holiday named after him. I bring head lice to my 6th birthday and everyone gets mad at me and kicks me out of Chuck E. Cheese. Ridiculous.
50 is pretty impressive. There are times I don't think I'm going to make it to 25. The morning after Oktoberfest, I didn't think I was going to make it to 22.
I mean I have seen "Chairman of the Board" more than anyone in history, so yeah I think so. For those who don't know, that's a terrible '90s movie starring Carrot Top. Watch it now.
I'm lactose intolerant, so hopefully they'll give me the cow that the ice cream was going to come from. Steak and eggs for days, son.
I would say "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century", but I'm not sure I'm good enough to be in that one. I may have to settle for "Zenon the Zequel," which sadly did happen and we all let it happen.
I would like to say the extra recovery day we get each year is worth the genocide, but everyone uses it as an excuse to go home like a bunch of softies, so he's a villain all the way.
Impressive longevity. However, in my humble opinion, the celebration was easily just an excuse for the alumni to relive their glory days down at The Seagrape Cafe. But who can blame them?
Me, from good 'ole Connecticut? I think I'll stay in school.
Fireball. We'd have copyright issues of course, but they would eventually be resolved.
Stitch from "Lilo and Stitch." I'm all about the family, man. I'd also like to be able to lift 3,000 times my own weight, but not a feather more.
Visual approximation by Luigi DiMeglio
James Taylor The Heel
Hero.
Thomas Shea Multimedia Manager
Connor Kelley The Hammer
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Page 14
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
Schneider Says:
In Week 5, crazy games lead to big fantasy points By Mattew Schneider Sports Columnist
Tebben Gill Lopez/The Mirror
An interesting Week 5 has come and gone, taking with it one of the best games I have ever seen. The game featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos was very fun to watch. It was an epic quarterback duel between Peyton Manning and Tony Romo that ended with the Broncos kicking a field goal as time expired, securing the win. During the game, Wes Welker caught his seventh touchdown of the year, coming close to approaching his career high of nine. Considering that was only week five he is poised to have a career year. If anybody is
crazy enough to trade him in your league (especially if you are in a Points Per Reception league), you should pounce on it. The Kansas City Chiefs have defied the odds this year, going 5-0 after only winning two games last year. Their defense, which is usually quite bad, has done very well this year. They have forced turnovers in every single game, and scored at least 10 fantasy points every game in my league. Somehow, the Chiefs’ defense/special teams isn’t owned in 100 percent of ESPN or Yahoo leagues, so I would put in a waiver claim for them as soon as you can. Josh Freeman hasn’t exactly been fantasy-relevant over the past few years, but a change of scenery may change that. He was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday morning, and signed a deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. The Vikings have struggled to start this year, but a new quarterback may change their fortunes. Freeman will be given the opportunity to compete for the starting spot with incumbent Christian Ponder, and may win the starting job outright. There is a possibility that he could develop into a bye-week replacement quarterback, but I wouldn’t recommend picking him up
right away. Instead, I would suggest keeping an eye on him to see how he fares, and then act accordingly. Is Chris Johnson poised to make a comeback to fantasy relevance in Tennessee? Don’t buy it. There has been a lot of buzz lately about the former 2,006-yard rusher, and I have had many people ask me if they think he is worth making a trade for, since he has performed reasonably well this year. I think that he will burn out quickly, and that his supposed relevance is just an illusion. If anybody tries to trade him to you, as somebody did to me, I would suggest that you decline. I just don’t think the risk is worth it. Finally, a receiver that has flown under the radar this year, and quietly performed well, is Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins. Although he hasn’t put up spectacular numbers by any means, he is a great slot receiver who catches lots of passes each game. This can make him a valuable PPR player, which positions him as a good sleeper in my opinion (assuming you are in a PPR league). Keep an eye on him, and add him if you are in need of a bye-week replacement receiver. That’s all for now, I’ll be back next Wednesday with more fantasy tips and advice.
Creative Commons Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss is a player to keep your eye on.
AN INTIMATE SOLO/ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE BY
CITIZEN COPE
UMPHREY’S MCGEE
T H U R
10/17
WITH THE LONDON SOULS
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10/19 MELVIN SEALS & JGB
ORGONE
MELANIE MARTINEZ
THE ALTERNATE ROUTES
OCTOBER 13
OCTOBER 17
NOVEMBER 3
NOVEMBER 2
SISTER SPARROW & THE DIRTY BIRDS
MARC BROUSSARD
RED WANTING BLUE
PASSAFIRE AND BALLYHOO!
DECEMBER 13 & 14
OCTOBER 29
OCTOBER 20
OCTOBER 31
Fairfield Theatre Company 70 Sanford Street Fairfield, CT 06824
Get out. Come together.
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Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2013
Rugby Celebrates 50 Years CONTINUED FROM PG. 16 players, where they could suit up and play once more on the field they once competed on as collegiate athletes. Just before noon, ceremonies were held on the field to honor and thank all those who had set up the event and played for Fairfield rugby, which is the oldest club sport at Fairfield. Among the tributes was one for Lt. Hans Grauert, who was killed in Vietnam. Chris Grauert, the brother of Hans who played rugby for Fairfield and graduated in 1968, spoke at the ceremony. “It feels terrific to see guys I haven’t seen in forty years, to meet guys I had only heard of … to remember the guys who we knew and played with
who are no longer with us, to have them recognized and celebrated, it’s really a little difficult to describe,” said Bill Connolly Jr. ’69, a rugby alum who cochaired the event with Dr. Schlichting. “It’s wonderful.” Connolly Jr. said that there is a special feeling among everyone involved in rugby that comes from the battles they face together on and off the pitch. “We did a lot of stuff for ourselves in the beginning, and that sort of just created the camaraderie that is different,” said Connolly Jr. “If you didn’t have your buddy’s back, or you weren’t his friend and you didn’t really enjoy spending time with him, you could not have been part of it, and I think that’s why we’re so close today.”
The day concluded with a special gala on Bellarmine lawn for all the returning and current players, with special guests and presentations. As for the game itself, the Red Ruggers wish it had gone as well as all the rest of the day’s events. Marist struck first with a try 25 minutes into the first half, putting them up 5-0. Fairfield would dominate most of the next 50 minutes of the match, scoring in the 37th minute to tie the game at 5, and then getting a converted try just three minutes later, putting the Red Ruggers up 12-5 going into halftime. Fairfield would extend its lead to 17-5 in the second half, their largest lead of the match. But Marist refused to go away, as their try in the 71st minute cut the lead to just seven with nine
minutes remaining. After a few Fairfield substitutions, Marist continued to attack and in the final minute, they took the ball away from Fairfield on the fivemeter line and dove for the try to bring Marist within two. Marist had to have a successful conversion in order to tie the game, and even with the large crowd of a few hundred people doing all they could to distract the Marist player, he put it right between the uprights to end the game at 17 apiece. “Marist is a good team, they just took advantage of us being lazy,” said Euroy Smith ’14. “We played a hell of a 75 minutes, we just got lazy at the end.” Despite not getting the result they were hoping for, Smith said playing in front of the large crowd was something
very special. “I absolutely loved it. I had a couple guys on the sideline yelling my name, telling me to give them a hug on the sideline,” said Smith. “It’s great that all these guys are out here, shows how much they care.” The outcome didn’t dampen the mood of those in the crowd either, as most were too caught up catching up with old friends to get down about the score. “These people have been my friends for 40 years. It really is beyond the game,” said Schlichting. “Even if you don’t see somebody for a period of time, you just connect and smile. Some guy came by and said, ‘How’s it goin’ Kurt?’, and I know who he is. That’s fun.”
Men's soccer ties MAAC opener Thomas Shea/The Mirror
Women's Rugby wins big By Patrick Kiernan Contributing Writer In the final match of the Reunion Weekend celebrating the 50th anniversary of Fairfield University Rugby this past Saturday, the ladies notched a significant win against the visiting Hofstra team. With a vast number of Fairfield alumni in attendance, this Fairfield team did not upset and gave pride to the longest lasting club in Fairfield history. After watching the men’s rugby team tie Marist College at a score of 17-17, the women put on quite a performance for the spectators. After an even-paced first half, the ladies emerged in the second period and enjoyed themselves a victory of 37-17. By doing so, they showed excellent chemistry and made the Fairfield alumni very proud to see the rugby team, for which they once played, find continued success. The Lady Red Ruggers had an exciting day planned out before their game even happened. The morning of Saturday, Oct. 5, they met around 500 Fairfield alumni who previously played rugby over their years as students. These people played in a few alumni games planned out for both the men and women. At 11:30 a.m., the ladies had the chance to meet some alumni at the official Anniversary Ceremony, such as Dr. Kurt Schlichting ’70 and Bill Connolly Jr. ’69. Before the Lady Red Ruggers’ game started, there was a massive
amount of excitement and euphoria surrounding Lt. Hans Grauert Memorial Field. The chant held before the game by the women was very exhilarating and helped them succeed early on in this contest. Just two minutes into the first half, the ladies scored on a try to give them a 5-0 lead. In the preceding minutes of the half, consistent defense was shown by both teams. Shortly after the first try for Fairfield, they found themselves near scoring again. However, tenacious defense from the Hofstra team denied them any points. Luckily, the Lady Red Ruggers were able to capitalize on one of these drives and score on another try to extend their lead to 10-0. From this point on to the end of the first half, things seemed a bit disorderly for the ladies. Just two minutes after the last try by Fairfield, Hofstra scored on a very strong offensive drive to change to score to 10-5, seeing them being down by just one score. Nearing the end of the first half, the Hofstra girls found themselves scoring on another try and nailed the conversion kick to gain the lead at a score of 12-10. Both of these scores from Hofstra showed great integrity from its offense. Before the first half ended, the Lady Red Ruggers scored on a try of their own to get the lead back. From this point on, the offense seemed unstoppable for Fairfield. The ladies were able to score another 22 points
throughout the game while Hofstra could only garner up one try. By scoring on another five tries and getting a conversion kick, the ladies soared throughout the second half of this contest as they won at a score of 37-17 and saw their record improve to 2-2 on the season. Winning a significant game like this was very important for Fairfield’s playoff hopes considering that they are now the fourth team in the Southern Division. Hofstra, a school which is in the same division as Fairfield, has now fallen from that fourth spot as its record drops to 1-3. If the Lady Red Ruggers can stay in this place for the remainder of the season, they will advance to the playoffs and play the number one team in their division. Currently, that is Stony Brook University. That would pose a very tough matchup for the Lady Red Ruggers who got shutout by Stony Brook at a score of 51-0 just last week on Sept. 29. The next test for Fairfield University Women’s Rugby will come at Molloy College. This is another school that is in the Southern Division with Fairfield and presents itself as a threat to the school’s playoff hopes. However, the morale the Lady Red Ruggers now possess after an exhilarating win against Hofstra shall give them a huge confidence boost for the rest of the season and hopefully the postseason as well.
Contributed Photo Daniel Shaw tackles the ball in a game in a previous season
By Jesse Erickson Contributing Writer In their first MAAC play game of the season, men’s soccer was not able to pick up a win or a loss. The team walked away with a tie of 1-1 against Monmouth University on Saturday night in double overtime. Fairfield, overall 3-2-2, was looking to help their coach, Carl Rees, pick up his 100th win as a MAAC coach. However, Monmouth, 1-5-3, only helped Rees add another tie to his overall record as a coach. Played evenly but competitively in the first half, both teams struggled to find the net. Fairfield and Monmouth ended the half only taking one shot on goal each, with Fairfield’s lone shot coming from Martin Lindgren ‘17 in the 21st minute. In the second half, the game was turned around by both teams. As the teams upped the intensity, Monmouth began to take more shots on goal and outshot Fairfield by two. However, Fairfield was the first team to put a score on the board in the fifty-seventh minute. In a penalty kick, Jon Clements ‘14 scored the only goal for the Stags that evening. The goal was just enough to put the team ahead. As the game proceeded on, the Stags defense, led by George Newton ‘16, played impeccably to keep the team ahead. And it had
almost seemed that Fairfield would pick up a win for Coach Rees, but Monmouth continued to put the pressure on. In the seventy first minute, with only about twenty minutes left, Monmouth’s Dave Nigro scored off of a shot from a corner kick. In the next twenty minutes, the score remained tied and the fouls from both sides continued. Although both teams played aggressively taking a total of six shots in the last twenty minutes, the Stags couldn’t get ahead to get the win. Forcing the game to go into overtime, Lindgren took the first shot two minutes in but the shot was rejected by Monmouth. That shot would be the only that the Stags would take in the overtime period, but it was one more than Monmouth. As the overtime dwindled down, the score remained tied. Exhausted, Fairfield and Monmouth headed into the second double over time. In the second double overtime, neither team was awarded the opportunity to make a shot on goal. And after 110 minutes, both Fairfield and Monmouth walked off of the field without a win. Fairfield was looking to get a win in their first MAAC division game, but overall, the tie gave them a point in MAAC play. This week the Stags will travel to Manhattan to take on Manhattan College.
SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Jennifer Calhoun » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
Week of October 9, 2013 Cartoons by Tebben Gill Lopez. Photos by Thomas Shea and Alyssa Amabile
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Fair fi By Thomas Shea Mulitmedia Manager Fifty years of Fairfield graduates returned to campus on Saturday, reminiscing about and celebrating the only thing they all hold in common: Fairfield rugby. At Grauert Field, the Fairfield University Men’s Rugby and Friends of Fairfield Rugby held their 50th Reunion Celebration this past weekend, with events held throughout the weekend.
“It’s an unbelievable event because this is the largest gathering of alumni connected with a particular sport in Fairfield’s history,” said Dr. Kurt Schlichting ‘70, a sociology/ anthropology professor at Fairfield who played rugby during his four years at Fairfield, and helped put together the event. “It’s quite an accomplishment.” The festivities started on Friday afternoon, when current members of the team and former players got together for some career networking, where they could discuss their
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industries and professions, and what opportunities they had to offer. “It’s just terrific. We had a team of alumni who volunteered to put this together and we met for the first time a year ago,” said Schlichting. “Everybody’s contributed, and you can’t have a major event like this with one or two people—you need a team of people.” Saturday kicked off with a few alumni games for the returning READ
50 YEARS ON PAGE 15
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