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Week of March 17, 2021
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Vol. 46 Iss. 16
Changes Made to Weekly COVID Testing
The Mirror / Tristan Cruz
In an email sent out at the end of last week, Fairfield University Dean of Students William Johnson announced several changes would be made to the weekly testing protocol in response to complaints from the university community. One of these changes includes public safety officers and other security personnel overseeing the flow of the line.
This change to testing has come after Johnson received complaints from students about the long lines outside of the testing center. “Last Tuesday I saw the line for testing stretching behind the Rec Plex all the way to the rear of Alumni Hall,” he said. “This in addition to emails I received from students about the line for testing affecting their ability to get to class on time led me to believe the issue needed to be addressed.” The new protocol hopes to limit the busyness and make testing more efficient through the modifications. Associate Director of Public Safety Frank Ficko commented on the issue and stated the need for change was because “We’ve noted that there are times when the lines back up into the parking lot behind
the Gym and [Recreation Center], hindering traffic flow and creating an unsafe condition. Though we want to keep the lines moving as quickly as possible, doing so safely takes precedent. As we are increasing the number of people for Covid testing, contract security has been hired to help control pedestrian and vehicle traffic.” The changes include priority being given to students who arrive to be tested within 30 minutes of their scheduled test time, proof of an appointment before entering the testing site, and two lines for testing separating “those who arrive on time and as scheduled” and those who without an appointment will have to “go into the other potentially longer line.” Additionally, there will be a new presence of Public Safety and other security measures to help di-
News
Opinion
Vine
Learn about how commuters have been affected during COVID.
Residence Life’s expansion of gender neutral housing has a large impact on the LGBTQ+ community here at Fairfield.
Learn everything there is to know about the history of Saint Patrick’s Day!
Fairfield University has started the #CapalboStrong pushup challenge in support of Charlie Capalbo ‘22.
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By Madeline West Assistant News Editor
INSIDE
This weekend marked a change in testing protocol at Fairfield. March 14 was the first day the new protocol was in place in response to complaints from students and faculty who participate in the weekly testing. The changes were announced on March 12 in an email students received from the Fairfield University Dean of Students, William Johnson. As of the Spring 2021 semester students and administration have been getting tested once a week, every week. There were weekly emails sent out to members of the Fairfield University community to sign up for various times to be tested on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
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rect and oversee the new processes as well as ensure social distancing. Proof of appointment can be accessed through confirmation and reminder emails as well as reminder text messages sent ahead of the scheduled appointments. Sophomore Tess Morissey had a positive response to the changes that have been made. “I feel like the testing process has definitely become more hectic this past week so I am glad that they are putting in place new changes,” she said “At the end of the day it is an amazing opportunity to get tested every week and it is extremely comforting to know that the testing site is there if students need it,” said Morissey. Another student, Jacalyn Pugliese ‘23, felt similar. Pugliese said,“I think the new changes are good because
sometimes I will plan my testing on the way to class so knowing I won’t be late is very reassuring,” Pugliese said. “I’m glad the school is continuing to weekly test all of us because it is very reassuring.” Students should continue to comply with CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety measures and mask wearing. If students show any symptoms of COVID-19 they should immediately contact the Student Health Center for evaluation. Currently there are 22 active cases on campus. Weekly testing is set to continue for the remainder of the semester to ensure the health and safety of members of the University are the utmost importance. If there are any questions about the new testing modifications students should contact the Office of the Dean of Students.
Sports
News
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
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“Foot the Bill” Provides Fairfield’s Comedy Club COVID Relief By Molly Lamendola Editor-in-Chief There’s a belief that good comedy can only be found in New York City. Those glowing marquees and huge audiences of the Radio City Music Hall, lines wrapped around the block and a buzz in the air. But, surprisingly, that dark bar, glowing stage and overwhelming laughs can be found just on Post Road. You might miss it when driving by, making endless loops around that oxbow island where Donut Inn, McDonald’s and Señor Salsa sits. But, it’s right there, hidden away in the lobby of the Circle Hotel. Just where it’s been since 2017 when owner Joe Gerics moved to Connecticut. Gerics is a stand-up comedian, and though he was involved in the New York City comedy scene, when he moved to Stamford he was unable to find anywhere locally to perform. Luckily, a long-time friend of his, Ed Gormbley, offered
for comedy, “The crowds have always been amazing, the converted lobby and folding chairs gave us an underdog vibe, but the comics we brought in were top-notch and we’ve been rocking it ever since,” remarked Gerics. Since then, the comedy club has become an integral part of the community. They often work with schools, nonprofits and other small businesses in the area, donating tickets for performances. “People really seem to enjoy our shows and value our presence there and it really means a lot to see that in action,” Gerics says, “Especially over the past year when people were in dire need of an outlet.” But, as with everything, the club was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For a venue that brings in up to 150 comics each year, the shutdown last year was devastating. All regular shows were canceled and though many have been vaccinated and the world seems to
Photo contributed by Guy Stanley Philoche
Guy Stanley Philoche assisted the Fairfield Comedy Club in the launch of their limited edition shoe design. the lobby of the hotel to Gerics. For some strange reason, Gerics says, it became a perfect spot
The footwear can be purchased at https://www.vans.com/footthebill while supplies last.
slowly be opening up, the comedy club is still not fully operational. The club and the many comedians are still un-
able to perform and thus remain in a dire financial strait. Luckily for them, Vans, which is a shoe manufacturing company, began the “Foot the Bill” initiative to help small businesses across the country fundraise during the pandemic and help offset any damages shut-downs have caused. They allow each participating small business to design a shoe and t-shirt which is then offered for sale on their website. With the help of internationally acclaimed artist, Guy Stanley Philoche, the Fairfield Comedy Club is launching its own limited edition shoe design. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taken so much from us, so when [Gerics] reached out and asked me to partner with him to create a shoe design for Vans that would support local comedians who have lost their jobs, I pulled out my paintbrush and went to work” Philoche said. “Artists supporting artists has always been my mantra, and as an artist who struggled to get to where I am, I understand the value of giving back to my community. It is an honor to be a part of this initiative.” Gerics went on to say, “Vans has always been one of my favorite footwear brands and when I found out about their “Foot the Bill” initiative, I knew Fairfield Comedy Club had to be a part of it.” If you want to help you have to act fast. Only up to 1,000 pairs of shoes will be produced, with 100% of the proceeds going to comedians in need. A purchase will give comedians some of the earnings that they lost due to the pandemic and the lack of work for the past year. But, Gerics reiterates that it will also, “Bring awareness to an industry that has struggled to stay afloat and an art form that many of us miss terribly.” Philoche continues by pushing the importance of everyone not just focusing on them, but on every small business in the Fairfield religion, “especially during a time like this where many are struggling. “ He continues to say, “It’s as simple as heading to your town’s local farmer’s market or buying a piece of jewelry from your local boutique. You never know who may be struggling and how important that one purchase may be.” The footwear can be purchased at https://www.vans.com/ footthebill while supplies last.
Photo contributed by Vans Foot the Bill
Photo contributed by Vans Foot the Bill
Purchases can be made at https://www.vans.com/footthebill while supplies last.
Photo contributed by Joe Gerics
Joe Gerics, owner of the Fairfield comedy club, performing stand-up pre-COVID.
News
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
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COVID Highlights Issues for Commuters Compiled by Madeline West Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.
3/10 3:15 p.m. The Rec Plex fire door on the second floor was found damaged. DPS urges anyone with any information to contact them. 3/13 12:55 a.m. An officer observed two individuals taking the traffic cones from the Barlow Gate. The students were identified and the cones were returned. 3/13 11:02 a.m. Women’s volleyball reported theft and items stolen from their locker room in Alumni Hall. 3/14 10:32 p.m.
By Max Berryman Contributing Writer
The pandemic which sent the country into lockdown now over a year ago left Fairfield University with a great challenge. Plans had to be established to alter the school year to the new normal we would be living through. Almost a year after the virus began to spread students continue to settle into this new routine until life after COVID-19 becomes a reality. Although plenty of students on campus have gone through their own experiences, commuter students have experienced unique situations which have gone under the radar for some time now. Commuting makes more sense now than ever before as new coronavirus cases appear everyday in Connecticut and surrounding states. Physical health was a new factor for stu-
dents to consider when deciding if they would live on campus this school year. Sophomore Katherine Samonek, one of this year’s commuter peer assistants, spoke about how COVID has affected this year for many of the 250 or so commuter students. “The biggest thing I noticed is the greater sense of community with each other,” she says, “but not with the campus as a whole.” Commuters report on campus every week for COVID testing just like all students, faculty and staff do, yet are unable to enter residence halls. This precaution is understandable, but still affects the presence that commuters brought to campus in years past. Samonek, and her CPA partner Emily Pappas ‘21, have continued hosting events over Zoom for commuters, but have seen a lower turnout than years past. These turnout rates
are not just consistent in commuter programs, but also with the general student population on campus as well. Elise Allum, a first year student who commutes onto campus, describes her experience with the school year so far. “It’s difficult to get us more involved and acclimated,” she says, “especially when you don’t have the day to day life like many others on campus do.” The circumstances surrounding COVID have brought many issues to light surrounding the commuter experience. The people that represent the commuter population are trying to resolve some of these problems. The lounge dedicated to the commuters has been stated by many to be too small for the growing population. Especially with restrictions on where commuters can go, the lounge isn’t big enough and more
resources and space will be needed for that area. Another issue that has persisted even prior to COVID is the cost of the parking passes for commuters. For the past two years, the prices have been raised by $30 from the $120 price in 2018. With many classes in an online or hybrid format, and COVID restrictions persisting, commuters are coming to campus less frequently than in years past, yet still need a pass. In reaction to these prices, the CPAs and members of FUSA gathered around 1,000 signatures for a petition to lower the price for next year. Samonek also wishes to see more dialogue between commuters and administration so that many of the potential issues can be resolved before they start. “The current situation is looking bright,” she says, “and dialogue is continuing to happen.”
There was an elevator rescue in the BCC. A passenger was stuck on the third floor, but was freed by DPS. The repair company was notified. 3/14 12:18 a.m. Narcotics were found in a townhouse unit resulting in a narcotic possession violation. All peripherals were confiscated.
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Molly Lamendola, Editor-in-Chief Sheila McCombs, Executive Editor Julia Lanzillotta, Managing Editor Editors Madison Gallo, Head News Madeline West, Assistant News Peyton Perry, Opinion Brooke Lathe, Vine Julia Lanzillotta, Sports Thomas Coppola, Assistant Sports Tristan Cruz, Coffee Break Business Department Email: info@fairfieldmirror.com Lila Condon, Chief Financial Officer
Advisor Matt Tullis Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com
The Mirror is the recognized student newspaper of Fairfield University. Opinions and ideas expressed herein are those of the individual student authors, and not those of the Fairfield University or its Board of Trustees
The Mirror / Madeline West
The Commuter Lounge is located in the Lower Level of the Barone Campus Center. The COVID pandemic has brought light to many of the issues facing commuters at Fairfield.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES *GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO READ MORE* Read about the most recent Open Visions Forum on Tara Westover, author of “Educated” by Andrew Murphy
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News
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
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Fairfield’s Frank Figliuzzi’s FBI Journey By Molly Lamendola Editor-in-Chief When Frank Figliuzzi graduated from Fairfield University in 1984, he knew he was destined to be an agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Actually, he had known since he was just 11 years old when he sent a letter to the head of the Connecticut FBI branch to ask about job opportunities. “I’ll never forget that,” Figliuzzi said, “He said, here’s what you need to do, here’s some information, get back to us in about 15 years.” In the meantime, he attended Fairfield, majored in English literature and was a Resident Assistant in what is now Jogues Hall. Then, in his second year at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Figliuzzi made good on his sent letter. He laughed, going on to say he never realized how incredibly competitive becoming an FBI agent was. “I was like, well, okay, when I was 11, this guy told me this is what you should do.” But, he spent the summer before his last year of law school interning at the FBI’s headquarters in the District of Columbia and found it to be a life changing experience, “I found it really cool to come to work everyday that summer at FBI headquarters, all the flags flying over the building, I’m like, this is incredible.” It’s an opportunity he hopes more Fairfield students will take advantage of. After that, he was hooked. He applied to be a special agent while finishing up his final year of law school and then went right into the FBI Academy. He then started to have a real “adventure ride of an FBI career” that lasted for 25 years before he retired as the Head of Counterintelligence. In this role he directed all espionage investigations across the
government. Figliuzzi said, “That’s a fancy way of saying I was the chief spy-catcher for the United States.” He was part of countless interesting cases, many that made front page news, and only some of which he could tell his family about. One of his most memorable is the first anthrax murder in the United States, which then also became the largest hazarderous materials crime scene in the history of the FBI. But, even with this career and the stories he had to tell, he was never looking to write a book, “I was never going to be the guy that wrote the book about his FBI career, I just didn’t want to do that,” Figliuzzi said. The Trump Administration’s four years in the White House changed that. It was Figliuzzi’s displeasure at what he says was the Trump Administration’s “buero-bashing” that pushed him to write and then publish, “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence.” To counteract the Trump Administration’s attempts to discredit the organization. “The FBI is not perfect, this book does not claim the FBI is perfect, but rather the book says the FBI should be held up as a model of leadership excellence,” he says, going on to say that his book explains both ‘the why’ and the application of the FBI’s model in your own life. To explain this further, he uses what he calls “The Seven C’s”, the concepts of Code, Conservancy, Clarity, Consequences, Compassion, Credibility and Consistency that structure the book. They are the Bureau’s process of preserving and protecting its values, in a condensed form. He goes on to say he knows that there are exceptions to this rule, and sees men like James Comey and Peter Strzok, as just that; excep-
tions. But largely, the FBI provides a leadership model for everyone to apply to their own lives and career. His focus on these values started first at home, but as a Fairfield alumni, his experience on campus helped structure these beliefs. “The Jesuit education really emphasized that without values and a moral foundation of beliefs, you really don’t have much going for you,” he said. Figliuzzi specifically recalls a class he took at Fairfield on morality and law, with Rev. Vincent Burns, S.J. Burns was both a Jesuit and a lawyer, and thus taught the class on how our laws are based on a system of morality. “It’s society saying we’re enforcing these morals,” Figliuzzi said, ”That’s what we believe in.” His philosophy classes also helped push him to ask those larger questions of “Why are we here? What do we stand for? What’s the purpose of life?” But when talking about his most memorable Fairfield experience, he can’t help but bring up his wife. A proud pair of “Stag Mates,” they met during their senior year and she graduated with a nursing degree in 1984. “I remember day one of orientation and one of the Jesuit’s gets up in front of us and he looks around with all these fresh faces looking at him and he goes look to your left and look to your right. Some of you are going to end up getting married to each other” Figliuzzi said. He continued to say he just sat there disagreeing and waiting patiently to hear about his class schedule. He laughs when he tells me that the Jesuit turned out to be right. “It’s real!” He says, “36 years later, it’s still real.” If you want to find out more about Frank Figliuzzi’s time in the FBI and his book, he will be presenting “It
Can’t Happen Here? – Assessing the Threat of Domestic Extremist Groups’’ virtually through the Open VISIONS: Expresso Series in affiliation with the
Office of Alumni Affairs on Mar. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Students can attend for free, but tickets must be reserved on the Regina A. Quick Center’s website.
Fairfield alumni Frank Figliuzzi ‘84 published book “The FBI Way.”
Campus Ministry Addresses Food Insecurity Issues on Campus By Andrew Murphy Staff Writer
In recent years, food insecurity has affected both college students and Fairfield University students, specifically, at an increasing rate. Fairfield University Campus Minister Katie Byrnes responded to this issue by organizing a food pantry for student use. “Since I came to Fairfield five years ago, I have seen a rise in student need,” said Brynes.” College students are the fastest growing group joining the ranks of the ‘food insecure’ or those who are unsure about where their next meal is coming from.” The Campus Ministry Food Pantry resides in the lower level of the Egan Chapel of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and is accessible Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Fall 2019, the food pantry opened and donations for the pantry began flooding in thanks to a drive held at a university basketball game. Faculty and staff also contributed many items to help launch this initiative, which is something that Brynes deems as an essential service for the student body. “Hunger is a major issue we address in our service portfolio and it made sense to turn that lens on our own campus,” she remarked. “Being hungry is a major deterrent to learning so it makes sense to help alleviate all barriers to that.”
The pantry receives its supply from both donations as well as through a grant from Stop & Shop. Commuters, beach residents and students living on-campus have all benefited from this food pantry so far. However, the issue of hunger amongst the student body nonetheless persists. Dean of Students William Johnson believes that the university needs to improve its approach towards this matter.
“
Jesus didn’t ask them if they could afford to buy food, and he didn’t teach them to to fish or offer them ‘tough love.’” - Katie Byrnes Ideally, students do not wait to hear about the food pantry, but they receive the necessary attention to alleviate their problems with hunger without having to pursue a solution on their own. “We definitely need to do a better job in this area,” said Johnson. He cited that the Student Support and Relief Fund has succeeded in connecting students seeking assistance to the services offered by the pantry.
This service, he adds, has particularly assisted students with food insecurity during the pandemic. Before the food pantry, Campus Ministry provided students with access to free snacks or leftover food from various campus events. However, snacks or hodgepodges of leftovers fail to provide adequate nourishment for students suffering from this serious issue, so the pantry emerged as a necessary measure for the University to take. “We have been monitoring students who have expressed a lack of access to a reliable source of food for several years now,” said Johnson. “The food pantry is an outgrowth of that endeavor” said Johnson. Byrnes emphasized how feeding the hungry is an essential Jesuit value. In fact, she stressed that feeding the hungry multitude is the only miracle recorded in all four of the New Testament Gospels. “Jesus didn’t ask them if they could afford to buy food, and he didn’t teach them to fish or offer them ‘tough love,’” said Brynes. “He saw the need, and he helped them. That’s the work we are called to!” Any student dealing with hunger or food insecurity should reach out to Katie Brynes directly (kbrynes@fairfield.edu). For those seeking to donate to the pantry, non-perishable items can be dropped off at Campus Ministry, in the lower level of the Egan Chapel.
Photo contributed by Katie Byrnes
The Campus Ministry food pantry was created in response to the rise in food insecurity at Fairfield. More broadly, Campus Ministry addresses hunger in their service portfolio outside of the issues on campus.
Opinion
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
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Editor Peyton Perry » peyton.perry@student.fairfield.edu
Residence Life's Small Action has Large Impact on Students By Kaitlyn Drake Staff Writer
Despite its status as a traditional Jesuit institution and the Princeton Review’s ranking of Fairfield in the top 20 most conservative college student bodies in America, Fairfield University’s mission statement declares their intended goal is to create “socially aware and morally responsible persons'' through a “liberal education.” The administration, contrary to assumption, has made great advancements towards achieving this mission with gender inclusive housing. They have surpassed the vague Title IX requirements, which state that there must be some form of housing for gender-noncomforming students. Title IX requirements do not state a requirement on the amount of spaces designated for gender-noncomforming students, but Fairfield has more than one and is working on integrating them into the community. As well as this, gender-noncomforming students can choose their roommates, just like everyone else, and have the same rights as any other student. Even though there are a few hurdles to conquer in the next few years for Fairfield to become a more inclusive space, gender inclusive housing is one of the few aspects of the University that follows in the footsteps of its more progressive counterparts. There are currently five buildings that support gender inclusive housing, including two first year buildings, two sophomore buildings and one junior/senior building.Through communication with the Office of Residence Life, I have found that another building will include gender neutral housing for both sophomores and first years, which further broadens the horizons for those who prefer gender inclusive housing. I personally feel that Fairfield has been making some impressive strides towards a more gender inclusive campus, even though some of the student body may not completely reflect these values due to their conservative leanings and religious values. As a resident assistant, I am acutely aware of the living situations of residents. I cannot pick where I live next semester, but I have been fortunate enough to be placed in 70 McCormick Hall, which, for the past few years, has been home to the sophomore Service For Justice Leadership Residential College. This social justice oriented group has been moved to 42 Langguth Road, but I am positive the energy of the socially aware residents will carry over throughout the next year. One reason for this is the addition of a gender inclusive restroom on the fourth floor in McCormick. I have the pleasure of knowing the students who campaigned for this, and hopefully, they will be overjoyed to know that that same floor will also support gender inclusive
Creative Commons/ Fairfield University
housing next year. Though I will not be the RA for this floor, I am excited to be a part of a community that supports gender inclusivity and open up conversations between residents who may not know much about the non-binary or LGBTQ+ community. Gender neutral housing presents a wide array of opportunities for students. The most obvious is that people who are nonbinary, meaning that they do not identify as male or female, will be able to live in a safe place with whomever they choose instead of assignments based on sex. This makes nonbinary people feel cared for and safer on campus, which is a feeling that everyone deserve to have. It also allows for a variety of people to foster conversations about the nonbinary community and learn more about how to support their fellow dormmate. It is absolutely imperative that Fairfield ensures the safety of all students, regardless of the general student body’s conservative leanings and the religious values of Catholicism.
Creative Commons/ Colorado School of Mines
Gender inclusive housing has also been an attempt to decrease sexual assault among LGBTQ+ students. This population is more affected by sexual violence than their heterosexual counterparts, and gender inclusive housing would allow for a more inclusive living space, therefore decreasing the rate of sexual violence. Since Fairfield is not as LGBTQ+ friendly as other Connecticut universities, this is a huge stride towards inclusivity and allyship towards their LGBTQ+ students. I think that LGBTQ+ rights on campus are becoming more of a priority than they once were. Just this year, a group of students changed the fourth floor bathroom in 70 McCormick Road from a women’s restroom to a gender inclusive restroom. There are organizations on campus to support LGBTQ+ students, including the Fairfield University Gender & Sexuality Alliance and the Prevention and Resource Office. I cannot write enough about how amazing the professors are here - for the most part, all of the professors that I have come across are allies to the community and incorporate inclusivity into their work. Despite the bad reputation of the students (which, in many cases, they prove to be true), there are a lot of students who are allies to the community and want to see justice for their LGBTQ+ friends and colleagues. Life is hard for nonbinary and transgender people at Fairfield: there’s no questioning that. The Office of Residence Life’s new addition of a gender inclusive floor on 70 McCormick Road is a small action, but it has a huge impact on students who do not identify within the cisgender binary. Though it is definitely overdue, this is still a great way for students to learn more about peers outside their gender and for nonbinary and transgender people to get access to the housing they need. Hopefully, this will expand to more buildings, especially for upperclassmen (Meditz Hall, Kostka Hall,and Claver Hall could easily incorporate gender inclusive floors and spaces within the buildings), and we can see an increase in gender inclusive housing everywhere.
Fairfield University Does an Outstanding Job of Hosting All-Inclusive Events for Students By Peyton Perry Opinion Editor
Photo contributed by Peyton Perry
One of my favorite things about Fairfield University is the care and immense efforts towards socializing us students and providing means of sheer fun! No matter what the month, weather, or day of the week, there are always activities hosted by university organizations such as the Fairfield University Student Association, Fairfield At Night, Residence Life, coalition groups and so on, that strive to interconnect individuals through creativity and entertainment. As a student of Fairfield University, this surely makes days filled with homework and a multitude of tasks, a little bit more bearable! Attending these events has always been, for me, something to look forward to in my day and to bring a smile to my face! Seeing other students, faculty members, moderators and RA’s working vigorously together to throw fun events that target a variety of interests amongst students, is something that truly warms the heart and does not go unnoticed. This past week alone, I had the immense pleasure of participating in both the Shamrockin’ Tie Dye event put on by FUSA, as well as the Cowboy Hat Decorating event, which were both held in the lower level of the John A. Barone Campus Center. Here, I witnessed a (socially distanced) gathering of smiling students exchanging laughs, individuals releasing their creativity through strategic means of dec-
oration, students sharing supplies as they began to run low at the end of two successful events, and a community flourish before my eyes (Plus, I got to leave with a new colorfully tie-dyed T-shirt and a quirky Saint Patrick’s Day hat!). Although these two events were my personal favorites thus far, there are a multitude of other events that can be found on campus and through Life@Fairfield. For instance, although I have not yet been able to attend myself, I have heard from a large amount of my friends that the new ice skating rink, which will be up and running until the end of April, is a hit! This ice skating rink can be found on the Campion basketball courts and, at night, can be seen lit up with shimmering lights and cheerful students skating away under the stars. This ice skating rink has also been incorporated into the Stags Under the Stars event, which is held on different days for all class-years and encompasses a night full of “ice skating, curling, food trucks, hot chocolate, games and music!” I am excited to be attending this event on March 18 for my own class-year of 2024, as I know it will surely be yet another memorable experience with my friends here at Fairfield! Steering away from the creative events that pertain to merely activities and socializing, there are also events held that correlate to other interests (something I find extremely important and admirable!). For example, the Stags Go Move Challenge is an event that is running from March 1- March 31. The event is broken up into six categories of the four class-years, as well as graduate students and part-time students. Stags can sign up either as individuals or teams, and track their minutes spent being active each day. This is a great event for athletes here at Fairfield, as it adds a competitive spark to their time at the Fairfield RecPlex and allows for even more motivation! Teams of individuals work to support one another as they gain their minutes and individuals push themselves beyond measure. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about commuter students, remote students or merely those uncomfortable with gathering in general due to Covid-19, and neither has Fairfield! Fairfield University does an impeccable job hosting a large amount of events that are held online and are inclusive of all students, regardless of living situations. Trivia Night events at the Levee for students to attend
in-person through Life@Fairfield are also held on Zoom for students to tune-in and take part in! Other virtual events that have been held thus far by the University include a virtual Escape Room held on Zoom, virtual Bingo with prizes, 25 Words or Less, Game Night and so much more. Fairfield University has a wide-range of events on multiple platforms that are inclusive to the interests of all students and cultivate an atmosphere of companionship and fun. The University does an astounding job of hosting these events and I cannot nearly give enough recognition and credit to all of them through this short article. I know my friends and I will be attending many more of these events throughout our years here and I can only highly recommend that other students do so too!
Photo contributed by Peyton Perry
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THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
Opinion
It is a Human Duty to Discover Balance Between Self Preservation and Self Destruction By Tomas Di Leo Contributing Writer I’d like to begin this article with a short story about two close friends talking on a calm winter’s night. It had been a difficult day for both men. Exhausted from a hard day’s labor, they decided to grace each other with their company. Despite thousands of miles riddled with mountains, marshes and lakes, the two friends journeyed to meet each other’s side. After a brief rekindling of their spirits, both men agreed to accompany each other on a grand journey to the edge of the known world. They collected wood, bronze and resin and with their combined effort constructed a ship whose sails would be filled on the calmest of nights and whose bow could split any wave. As cold ocean waves lapped across the length of the ship, both men could not help but reminisce. They spoke of memories and times passed, which brought with them joy culminating in feelings of slight desolation. The freezing ocean’s silence was broken by sounds of heavy laughter and delight, but soon returned back to a deaf-
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ening silence. As the shining shores of meadows and the towering pines of forests filled the scenery of their journey, one of the men was troubled by his thoughts. As he peered over the edge of the ship, his gaze was met with a clear reflection of his face; his expression was one filled with pain and confusion. The weight of his thoughts were heavier than steel and his body could no longer bear the load stored within his mind; he called upon his friend. As both men sat across from each other and as seawater sprinkled itself upon their faces, the troubled friend queried his companion, “You know of me as a man of strength and honor, and I as a man of principle and love”. The friend responded with, “Without a doubt you are all four of those things, why must you reiterate it so?”. The troubled friend answered, “In the past I had lived a life of self-destruction, of martyrdom”. He continued, “For the greater good of my people I sacrificed myself and, in turn, I was able to restore harmony”. His friend beseeched, “A noblest of actions, yet why are you so troubled my friend?”. The troubled friend answered, “I find myself in a new time, a time where I must not sacrifice my body and spirit for good.” Pursuing this thought he spoke again, “How can I be so strong in the slaughter for others and yet so weak for myself?”. His friend, contemplating the question begged of him, stood up and slowly paced to the bow of the ship. As the moonlight reflected off his shimmering armor and looming mountains filled his vision, he answered his troubled friend: “You have found strength in sacrifice, now you must find strength in preservation”. Self-destructive and self-preserving behaviors are at constant odds in the human heart; should I do something for someone else or should I focus on myself? We are constantly trying to balance our life between these two principles. Some of us
find a balance between the two, others can only watch as they are consumed by one. However, neither behavior is inherently good or inherently bad. To seek to sacrifice yourself as an altruistic act for others can be an amazing feat of determination and humbleness. But it can also spiral into a vicious cycle of destruction. To focus on one’s individual journey of self-growth and understanding can be an extremely instructive and nurturing act. But it can also lead a person to become detached for the world around them, forcing them to view the world only as they see it. Personally, these two acts are at constant odds within myself. I feel as though I am an inherently selfish person that at times allows himself to become completely absorbed into his own reality. While I strive for and seek balance, it is an arduous process that I have yet to master fully. In reality the relationship between these two actions resembles a spectrum that varies depending on the person it is related to. Some of us may be more willing than others to engage in altruistic acts. We at times may find that this spectrum also varies day to day. Some days we feel that selfishness is required for the betterment of our situation. Other days, we may see the importance in relinquishing self-gain for the benefit of others. It can change with mood, the person/people you are engaging with, and it will surely change with you as you grow as an individual. In truth, this spectrum is so variable and is so reliant on the individual that it is almost impossible to concretely explain it. As such, our spectrums are at the mercy of life and circumstance. It is a complicated problem that will surely never be solved. But it is not our duty to solve the mystery of this spectrum, instead it is our duty to discover balance within it. Do not be afraid to be kind or selfish but fear the extent of your kindness and selfishness.
Biden's Betrayal to Promises Shown in Case of Stimulus Checks By Colin Townsend Contributing Writer
Like any “good” politician, there is a duality to Joe Biden; a disconnect between what he tells voters, and what he actually does. When he declared during the Democratic primary that he had “the most progressive record” of any of his peers—a group which not only included his own political gadfly, Elizabeth Warren, but also the amendment king himself, Bernie Sanders—his long-running record of racial animus and austerity said otherwise. Fortunately, there is one group to whom Joe Biden, and most of his compatriots Democrat and Republican alike, would not lie: big-ticket donors. Addressing a room of elite donors at the ritzy Carlyle Hotel, then-candidate Biden uttered words which would negate, even more thoroughly than his record, his claim to progressivism: “nothing will fundamentally change.” This admission was largely ignored by mainstream media outlets, many of which have since praised the president for his handling of COVID-19 while hailing cabinet picks like Neera Tanden as gracious gifts to the left. This positive press has not gone unnoticed by the public; Biden currently enjoys 90 percent favorability among Democrats and 53.8 percent favorability among all voters, according to YouGov. This popularity, however, is wholly unearned. In short time, Joe Biden and his Democratic Party have turned their backs on all their promises, and their voters. Nowhere is this betrayal clearer than in the case of the stimulus checks. Democrats won both Senate seats in the Georgia special election by promising “immediate” $2,000 checks, a material hook which galvanized voters who typically stayed home. Yet, Georgians, and the rest of the country, have been short-changed. Shortly after securing a slight majority in the Senate, Democrats quietly shifted from talk of $2,000 checks to $1,400 checks, taking the convoluted stance that in concert with the earlier $600 payment issued by President Trump, the total would amount to $2,000 (clear and sim- ple, right?). And
Editorial Board Time to Open Elementary and Middle Schools! Sheila McCombs Executive Editor
as for their immediacy I ask, have you received your check yet? While perhaps the most obvious example, the check debacle is by no means the only, or even worst, abuse of American trust regarding the recently passed stimulus bill. On the rare occasions during the primary that Biden was critiqued for lacking progressive policy measures, he would rebuke citing his support for a fifteen dollar minimum wage, in accordance with Fight for Fifteen, a near-decade old campaign to raise the federal minimum wage from an insulting $7.25 an hour to a still underwhelming $15. Putting aside, for a moment, the fact that the nine years between the start of ‘Fight for Fifteen’ and today means inflation eating into the gains that would be made by its passing, Biden had the golden opportunity to put our wages where his mouth is, and just refused to do so. Democrats had the chance to pass the minimum wage hike through budget reconciliation, a rare process whereby a measure could pass without the threat of filibuster. Assuming Biden, a creature of the Senate, could twist the arms of right-wing Democrats, Vice President Harris could act as the tie-breaking vote and begin the process of raising wages for millions, without Republican support. Opportunities like this don’t come up often, yet Biden and Harris refused to take it, citing as their excuse objections from the Senate Parliamentarian, an unelected official acting in an advisory capacity who could easily be ignored. Consequently, the wage hike was removed from the omnibus package and introduced in the Senate as a stand-alone bill. Eight Democrats voted it down, despite support for a $15 minimum wage being part of their 2020 party platform. Worse still, Delaware Democrat Chris Coons, considered Biden’s voice in the Senate, sits among the defectors, suggesting Biden refused to appeal to even his closest allies. This is simply unacceptable. Biden’s alleged desires to be a transformative president and central campaign promise of a “return to normalcy” are at odds. Even at this early date, it is clear the
There have been a multitude of topics in the news about COVID-19 and school closures, and no shortages of opinions either. Lately I have been reading and thinking about young kids and what impact this prolonged period of distanced learning is going to have on their education overall. As an aspiring teacher and current education student here at Fairfield, this topic has been deeply discussed in all of my education classes since last spring. The effects of this long-term schooling are going to be more dramatic than we can even imagine, and for that reason, elementary and middle schools need to reopen for in-person instruction as soon as possible. There is no doubt in my mind that prolonged school closures will have long term effects on children, especially those in elementary schools and those in special education programs. These groups are the most vulnerable to falling behind. Students learning to read and write, for example, need constant feedback in order to learn the skills needed to decode words as well as the constant supervision of repetition of form in order to build muscle memory. Even things like the social skills that young
latter has won. But we cannot afford to accept normalcy. Normalcy led to a nation that stockpiles weapons, but refused to do the same for ventilators, despite warnings from virologists. Normalcy meant an inconceivable transfer of wealth from the working people to the ultrawealthy following the ’08 Recession. Normalcy means anywhere from 40,000 to 60,000 Americans dying on a “good year” due to a lack of healthcare. Normalcy has meant the proliferation of never-ending wars for profit. Normalcy has meant a commitment to, at best, tepid environmental reform (with occasional stints of all-out climate change denial) while the planet veers towards ecological collapse. If ever there was a time for a new Franklin D. Roosevelt, it’s now. But that’s not Joe Biden. And for all the credit that FDR deserves, the story of the New Deal lost in a great man approach to US history is that of the laborers and organizers who fought government and Capital, often physically, to form a new, pro-worker consensus. The fight for a better world will not be, and has never been, won at the ballot box. If we truly want to “build back better,” the onus is on us, not politicians. So get out there and make some noise.
kids learn in schools are now being missed during online schooling, and there is no measurement for this kind of thing. There has been the loss of all of the in-person experiences, not just in the class, but even in after school activities and clubs that kids need in order to grow. We will never know how students have been affected by these times and by the moments that have been stolen from them. Many parents and teachers have no idea how to connect with students and make them excited about learning again in a year of educational fatigue. As a student myself, I can completely understand how most students are feeling exhausted from a year of looking at screens in order to learn. These moments are so necessary for the skills that students need for the rest of their education, and without these foundational skills, who knows how they will be able to succeed. What makes me bring this up is the shocking amount of schools that remain unopened. In the public school system of New York City, one of the biggest in the country, only 15 percent of students are back doing some kind of in-person learning. This is despite the fact most studies have shown
Creative Commons/ KSAT 12 that students of the elementary school age are able to be in school without there being an increase in COVID-19 cases in the area. To me, this means that the small risk that reopening schools would cause is worth it, considering the reward that the students would receive. In a study by the New York Times, it was found that pedestrians focused on public health largely agree that opening elementary and middle schools have no great risk to the public. I think that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. I think that the students, and most teachers feel the same in terms of needing some kind of interaction in order to keep learning and being productive. As a college student, I have been able to witness how hybrid learning can work and allow students the in-person experiences that we are all craving by now. I was in many classes last semester that had at least some kind of in-person experience and it made all the difference. To know that my professors knew me, and that I could connect with people in my class for the first time was such an amazing feeling. I think that schools need to open safely as soon as possible!
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
The Vine
By Matthew Adamski Contributing Writer Saint Patrick’s day is on March 17 and is a holiday that dyes so much food green, it puts Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham” to shame. It is a feast day for the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, who is credited with playing a major part in Christianizing pagan Ireland. It is a day filled with cultural, green icons and an array of food, but where did these traditions start? Let’s take another look at this holiday and all the traditions people continue to observe in order to make it special. The leprechaun and the shamrock are some of the most recognizable mascots for this holiday. When we look deeper into their background, they each have an interesting origin story! The leprechaun’s beginnings can be traced back to Irish mythology and folklore. The Celts had beliefs in magic, fairies and of course, Leprechauns. They were traditionally ill-tempered individuals whose Celtic name means, “small-bodied.” Famous for their habits of trickery, we associate them with a pot of gold, which they hid at one
end of the rainbow. They are usually depicted in a green suit and a ginger beard, as we often see them in modern times. The shamrock, too, has an even deeper and political past to it. In the days of Irish resis
in order to distinguish themselves and give a sign of national patriotism. In addition, it is said that St. Patrick used to portray the three corners of the shamrock as a representation of the Holy Trinity
ing a three-leaf clover. Moving onto food, traditionally in the US corned beef and cabbage are consumed. Bars are famous for offering hearty amounts of green beer.
Fairfield alumni, family and friends at the St. Patrick's March in 2014
tance to the English rule, this was a time when the British government was quelling Ireland's freedom, its roots and religion. As a way to demonstrate against the oppression, the Irish wore shamrock pins, buttons and labels
in Christian doctrine. He spread such teachings in the year 431 while on a mission to convert pagan Ireland towards the Christian Gospel. That is why today when the figure of St. Patrick is represented somewhere, he can be found hold-
By Brooke Lathe Vine Editor After Campion Hall was directed to go into an immediate quarantine on March 11, it has become clear that it can happen to any of us without warning. In order to make this transition as seamless and stressless as possible, here are a few personal tips I think will make this process a whole lot easier. First and foremost, make sure you have a box or cabinet filled with medicine and other healthcare necessities like tissues, a temperature thermometer, ice packs, heating pads and more. If you happen to get sick or start experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, doctors say the best at-home treatment is Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol. However, even without Coronavirus,
you may just find yourself in need of a pain reliever to subside any headaches from staring at a screen or possible stress due to outside factors. Furthermore, you might want to have supplements or foods that are high in vitamin D since you may not be getting enough for the next week or a couple of days. Lastly, a large supply of water to consistently hydrate your body will be essential to have, as it is another way to decrease possible COVID-19 symptoms. Without any friends or access to parts of campus besides your room, any form of entertainment will save you from slipping into boredom. With that being said, store a pile of interesting books somewhere in your
And to top it all off, green-colored desserts such as cakes and cookies fill the bellies of most party-goers. The Chicago River is even dyed green to commemorate this day! However, it wouldn’t be a real holiday if it didn’t have a parade.
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New York City is the host of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world. The first time this event took place was back in 1762, organized by Irish members of the British army stationed in the New York colony. Where Irish pride was stifled in Ireland under British rule, in the colony, they were able to celebrate their heritage along with other Irish immigrants who came to America. Eventually, as the official wave of Irish immigrants came in the 19th century, the parade was a welcome reminder of their home and heritage. The parade marches down 5th Avenue, and rightly so, passes Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The Archbishop of New York can be spotted standing on the front steps, watching as the parade moves by. Due to the pandemic, the parade will be canceled for the second year in a row. In 2020, this event was one of the first major public occasions that were shut down as a result of COVID-19, with all others following suit. Reminding us to find new ways to celebrate this holiday, such as by decking out in an all-green outfit, or by looking at the simple clover plant with a little more appreciation.
room if this time comes. Reading is time- ery, hummus or fruit from the Tully, while a basket of chips, popcorn and cookies sit consuming and a great brain activity. If you don’t like reading, I definitely under your bed. This will be a nice balanced recommend purchasing a streaming plat- mixture to help you feel healthy but also form if you don’t already have one. The give you the opportunity to pig out and try most popular applications are Netflix, Hulu, to make some of this lockdown time enjoyable. Disney+ or Amazon Prime. If you do end up showing symptoms, Since I own a Netflix account, some super interesting shows I’ve just watched re- you may also find microwavable soup, salcently include “The OA,” “Queen's Gambit” tines and ginger ale beneficial as well. Hopefully we will not need to endure and “Behind Her Eyes”. While I don’t have any other content any more dorm-wide quarantines. However, profiles to recommend additional shows, if this time does come, I hope this guide has there are many websites that rate which reminded you of some necessities to write down on your next grocery store list. films you should watch depending on which platform you have downloaded. If you don’t feel like paying those monthly subscriptions, some other forms of entertainment can include coloring books, card games with your roommate, paint by numbers and so much more. You may even want to take advantage of this time to focus on school, study, get your work done and boost your grades as the semester progresses. Finally, you’ll undoubtedly want to keep a lot of your favorite snacks tucked away for this occasion. Make sure you have an assortment of options though. A part of your fridge may be Photo Contributed by Royer's Flowers and Gifts filled with carrots, cel-
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THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
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students with this same sort of intensive stress relief with covid restrictions around campus? I spoke with the research and outreach librarian at the DiMennaNyselius Library, Mathew Blaine, about how the library has changed its anxiety relief strategies for students. Blaine explained that the library is still working with the University as well as state guidelines for health and safety, which ultimately inhibits the number of activities the library is able to give to students.
As of right now, the library is offering study supply kits, which are made up of index cards, highlighters, extra pens, notebooks, and even earplugs for students to have more silence while studying. Blaine also added that coloring books and crossword puzzles will still be made available to students. The library, as of right now, looks like they are a host of great studying tools and stress relief items that can help students relax and ease tension while cramming for midterms. Blaine also added that there are future
By Sydney Weis Contributing Writer With each semester of college, in the midst of the classic balancing act of social life and classwork, comes the dreaded midterm season. Whether it be exams or wildly complex projects, each student feels at least some amount of stress during this point in the semester. The pressure to study for an exam for hours on end or work till the sun comes up to perfect that research paper can create fear for students. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, concern and anxiety levels for students feel higher than usual in a “normal” school year. In the past, Fairfield University has always had fun stress-relieving activities in the library to pull students away from their laptops and breathe. I can remember essential oils, puppies, drawing activities, and endless amounts of stress balls. However, is the school still providing
By Madison Gallo Contributing Writer Housing selection is fast approaching, and due to COVID-19, many first-year students have not been able to venture into the other buildings and view the different choices available for next year. To help rising sophomores out, here is a rundown of all the housing options! Res College Housing: The Residential College program gives students the chance to connect their academic interests more closely with their personal lives by integrating the two in the program. Students will have the opportunity to have a mentor and take certain classes specific to the res college program they are registered in. 42 Langguth Road Let’s be real; you probably applied to the Res College Program to live in this building. Langguth is like the friend everyone wants to be — so nice and so pretty. The only downsides are that you are still living in the quad, and there is a good chance that your window will be directly across from a Gonzaga Hall dorm room. However, this building is in a good location when walking to class. You can just roll out of bed for your course and get a little bit of extra sleep… unless you’re a business major, then this building might not be the most convenient for you. Non-Residential College Housing: Unlike the Residential College Program, it is not required that students living in any of the listed housing options take any specific classes or participate in any program-specific retreats. Within the Non-Residential College Housing are two options: Traditional Hall and Suite-Style options Traditional Hall Options: 70 McCormick Road I like to think of this building as a Jogues
Photo Contributed by Fairfield University
plans for stress relief during finals that are still ‘up in the air.’ “In our planning, we are mindful of the level of Zoom and virtual event fatigue and are exploring possible in-person events, activities and services. Possible in-person offerings could include outdoor visits from [emotional support dogs] Dakota & Bailey, free coffee and tea in the café and converting our theatre space into a meditation space,” stated Blaine. Along with the library-friendly activities for students, the library is also working with Counseling and Psychological Services, the Writing Center and the Office of Student Engagement to allow students to have a safe space to talk or receive help with their work. The midterm and final season is not all semester, but there are still services offered every day by the library to help students feel less intimidated or stressed by their workload. There are 24/7 chat services with librarians, as well as scheduled one on one Zoom appointments. Both libraries and academic commons partners are readily available to help students with research questions and other concerns! Blaine recommends that students reach out to the Mathematics Center and Writing Center, where students are able to have one on one time with tutors. Check out the librarian-curated study playlists on Spotify, and remember there are resources for beating the stress of midterms!
Fairfield University's DiMenna-Nyselius Library.
2.0. Besides the fact it is so far from every other sophomore housing building, it is actually really nice on the inside. The high ceilings and hardwood floors are a significant step above any of the first-year residence halls, but you still will have to deal with communal bathrooms. It is located deep in the quad, so if you don’t want to be intermingling with younger students as a sophomore, this building might not be for you. Loyola Hall Loyola Hall is definitely nobody’s first choice for housing, but it does have its upsides. It has a pretty good location because it is close to the academic buildings and the dining hall. Also, if you go through the Barone Campus Center, it isn’t that far of a walk to the other side of campus where the other sophomores live. That is basically the extent of its upsides because just like 70 McCormick Road, it is still located in the freshman quad. On top of that, Loyola will also still house freshmen and living here means you won’t escape the communal bathrooms. Suite-style Options: The village provides students with suitestyle housing opportunities. Housing options within the village include Kostka Hall, Claver Hall, and Faber Hall. Kostka Hall This building has the most confusing floor plan and smaller rooms compared to other buildings. The hallway walls are blue and orange, which is also kind of an eyesore, but then again, Kostka is the only building in the village with a laundry room. This is a massive bonus for the building. Another redeemer for Kostka is the lounges that are located on each floor of the building, which is really nice. If you don’t like working in your room or don’t feel like walking to the library, these rooms are perfect
for studying or hanging out with friends. Claver Hall I must admit that I will be a little biased when it comes to Claver because I currently live here. Claver has a unique setup where one room is much larger than the room attached to it, while the other room has a much larger closet. Although Claver doesn’t have a laundry room, Kostka is not that far away, so it is pretty easy to walk over with your dirty clothes basket. It’s more annoying than anything if you do laundry when it’s raining or snowing, so instead, I suggest checking the weather app before lugging your bags across the village. Faber Hall Faber is like its own little island. It is super far away from the rest of the sophomore buildings and kind of looks like a nursing home. However, it’s still not a bad option for housing.
Faber is known for having quads which means the space consists of one big room with four beds. While this can be fun to hang out with your friends constantly, it gets a bit draining when you want some alone time. Then, instead of having just one person to worry about, you have the stress of three other people. Roommate selection for the Class of 2024 for both Residential College and Non-Residential College Housing opens on March 24 at 9:00 a.m. and closes on March 31 at 4:00 p.m. Pick times will be posted on April 7 at 4:00 p.m., and housing selection will start on April 7 at 9:00 a.m. More information about the housing process can be found in the on-campus lottery booklet as well as continual details regarding each housing option on the school’s website.
Photo Contributed by Fairfield University
Fairfield University's Faber Hall will be one housing options for rising sophmores.
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
The Vine
By Tatiana Ryan Contributing Writer The warmer weather and spring season are thankfully upon us once again! With the sun shining and the temperature climbing up, it’s the perfect time for feel-good songs to make you enjoy your days a little bit more. Whether it be walking across campus or getting ready in the morning, here is a compiled list of songs to add to your springtime playlists for fun vibes only.
“Good Days” by SZA:
No feel-good song list made in 2021 leaves out the song “Good Days''. Despite being released on Christmas, the brand-new SZA song gives off the ultimate soulful start to a great day. A song all about moving on from your toxic ex that took too much from you, SZA takes it back with this fresh take on independence starting with, “Good day in my mind, safe to take a step out”.
“Rich Girl” by Hall & Oates:
The Hall & Oates classic from 1977 provides an unbelievable, must sing-along tune. It’s perfect for when you need a pickme-up melody. Even though this track was actually written about the wealthy male son of a fast-food chain, understandably, “Rich Girl” sounded better than “Rich Guy”.
“Walking in the Wind” by One Direction:
This bonus track off the band’s 2015 album, “Made in the A.M.” makes everyone who hears wonder why it was a bonus track. The band experimented a lot with different sounds and melodies on their last album and this track really stands out among the others. The meaning is up for interpretation but can be taken as a celebration for when you are now better off with somebody
than when you started. It is an acknowledgment that goodbyes can be bittersweet and leave you better just for knowing them.
“FourFiveSeconds” by Rihanna, Paul McCartney and Kanye West:
It shouldn’t be so surprising that “FourFiveSeconds” is really as good as it is. It is, after all, the collaborative creation of three of the most prominent music artists around. This surprising release between Rihanna, Paul McCartney and Kanye West took 2015 by storm with its unapologetic lyrics, minimalist instrumentation and truly enjoyable beat.
“Dreams of Mickey Mantle” by Bleachers:
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from Hozier’s debut album. This tune tells the story of a man who has been mesmerized and mystified by the love of a woman. The song depicts a sought-after romance with Bonnie-and-Clyde-level adventures, backyard gardens and the change that love brings even if it isn’t perfect. The ultimate song to roll-down-the-windows for on a summer day, singing out “We’ll name our children Jackie and Wilson, raise them on rhythm and blues”.
“Half Light II (No Celebration)” by Arcade Fire: This track from Arcade Fire’s third
album, “The Suburbs” celebrates moving on and moving away from your childhood home. Though somber in thought, the song rather takes the approach of growth as an inevitable process to be better and is meant for you to put on at full-volume and scream at the top of your lungs. Go outside, go for a drive, enjoy this beautiful weather and celebrate the fact that you have made it through this year. With midterms coming-and-going and another semester underway, put on whatever songs make you feel your best, and take that time to enjoy your days!
In the first track off the bands’ seminal sophomore album, “Gone Now”, “Dreams of Mickey Mantle” depicts the in-between state between wakefulness and slumber. Beginning the concept album with a song that combines themes from different songs and lyrics off the album with a hopeful quality present throughout. A song so simple in its transcendence that makes you think twice about the line, “All the hope I had when I was young/I hope I wasn’t wrong”.
“This Kiss” by Faith Hill:
An all-time country classic from Hill’s third album, “Faith”. This feel-good love song came out in 1998 and added onto the decade of immaculate country tracks from female artists and remains one of Faith Hill’s best. Who else could sing phrases like “centrifugal motion” and “perpetual bliss” and still have it be one of the most sing-along country anthems?
“Jackie and Wilson” by Hozier:
One of the most underrated love songs to come out in recent years is the third track
By Brooke Lathe Vine Editor For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an extensive list hidden in my notes app on my phone. It reads all of the things I want to see, experience and accomplish before I die. Some may think it’s a bit morbid, but to me, it is merely just my bucket list. I feel like most people have a good sense of what activities they want to take part in someday or even set a goal for themselves to achieve at some point in their lives. Well, I do too. I just make sure to document it. Especially during a year filled with quarantines and ghost towns, I find it motivating to look through a list filled with such promise. While my original iPhone notes page is about five thumb scrolls long, here are my top ten future moments I want to share with you and hopefully invoke some inspiration! Jumping out of a plane seems absolutely ridiculous. I mean, just imagine telling someone with no knowledge of sky diving that you willingly leapt out of a perfectly working airplane. It just doesn’t seem like the smartest thing, to say the least. But at the same time, it’s like a rite of passage in life. Even though I’m afraid of heights and would probably chicken out mid-flight, this will always be something I want to say I had the courage to do. Swimming with sharks; also, a brainless decision. However, cage diving seems like it would give you the ultimate sense of invincibility and would just be an overall badass story to tell. After watching “47 Meters Down,” I might need to take some time to work up the courage, though. Another activity where I will unquestionably feel indestructible is riding as a passenger on a motorcycle. The only thing that makes me a little bit reluctant to ride is knowing I will have to lean
SZA's 'Good Days' Cover.
into turns, but the scene in “Nerve” will always make me long for my own bridge moment. Exploring the underwater universe has been a constant point on my list. While I have luckily experienced the beauty of snorkeling, I have yet to go scuba diving. I think the open water freaks me out some, but the view would definitely be worth any fear I bear. For many people, the northern lights may seem like a common sight in more rural areas of the world, but I have never had the privilege of seeing them. Gazing up at the vibrant colors moving throughout the night sky, would be a dream come true. Hopefully, I will be able to view them someday. Certain movies always have a cliche scene that is silly or unoriginal like camping out on a beach overnight, but I don’t care. I would love to set up a tent, talk around a warm fire and fall asleep to the close crashing waves. I can already vividly imagine doing this in the summer with my cousins and brother, so I know I just have to make this core memory a reality. While I have visited some really breathtaking and cool places like San Francisco, New York City, Disney World and more, I have yet to travel outside of the United States of America. It might make a large dent in the bank, but I truly feel like it would be more than worth it. I honestly don’t care where I go in the world whether it’s Italy, France, Greece or the Bahamas. I just want to go somewhere with my loved ones and experience different cultures. Once when I was a kid, I saw a television program talk about a hot air balloon event where hundreds of people gathered in a field and flew up into the blue sky. I was in disbelief from the videos they showed viewing the landscapes and extremely jealous of the giddy riders. From then on, I’ve always wanted to try it out myself. To say my brother and I are huge “Kitchen Nightmares” fans would be an understatement. Throughout the first quarantine, we binged every episode within a few days. We have always loved
Gordon Ramsay’s rude and hilarious remarks, and it is our dream to eat at one of his restaurants someday. Not only will we probably have the best meal of our lives, but hopefully meet the same man that has gotten us to laugh harder than anyone ever before. My ultimate career goal would have to be publishing a book or a script. Currently, my dream job would be to work as a screenplay writer and produce a brilliant show or film like many Netflix originals I have watched. So getting something published like this in my name would ultimately accomplish the last bullet point on my note page. These are only a few things from my well-thought-out checklist, and will undoubtedly be accompanied by some more as time goes on. I know a handful may seem small or foolish, but I truly want to take part in each of these activities at least once. After all, we only live once, so we might as well the most out of it.
Pexels/Scuba diving
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THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
The Vine
Umbrella:
I don’t follow this advice at all, and I regret it all the freaking time! Maybe you’re a super prepared person, who’s got it all figured out, but my coat doesn’t have a hood. So, I’m always stuck with that weird damp frizzy hair after a quick run to class. Honestly, springtime in Fairfield can be so temperamental. So if you don’t have an umbrella, look around for something with a hood like a rain jacket or a poncho. That, or dig around in your backpack for the notebook you use the least and just hold that above your beautifully styled hair.
No Light Jackets:
Maybe this is controversial, but I don’t see the point in those middle ground winter coats built for that spring/fall weather. I think it’s simply a rite of passage into the season to either wear your down-filled winter coat and stifle. Or chose to wear nothing in an attempt to trick spring into coming sooner and thus just shiver on your walk back to your dorm. I do have this old huge jean jacket I bought at a thrift store somewhere like 9 or 10 years ago, and now it’s perfect. Old worn denim, like a men’s extra-large, and I just throw it over every outfit. I used to like it because I felt like Hailey James in “One Tree Hill” with Nathan’s jacket, but now I just like it because it’s soft.
By Molly Lamendola Editor in Chief
Get a Blazer:
There are always a few indications for me that spring is on the horizon. It may be the grass turning greener, the melting ponds or the ducks and rabbits up and awake with the sun out. Sometimes it could be people leaving winter jackets at home and driving around with their windows down. Or, it might be my roommate ordering an extensive collection of bathing suits and strutting through the apartment. But, whatever it is, spring is definitely almost here. With that comes odd weather patterns and a confusing selection of clothes for you to choose from. And while I would no way describe myself as a “fashionista,” I would say I have some sort of style. I desire to simply have the same aesthetic as if Olivia Pope was the manager of the Rolling Stones. Continually, I do have a few fashion expert roommates, so let’s try walking through some tips and tricks together. Hopefully, I can help you in some way!
If you’re an active member of my Instagram followers or just have interacted with me before, you know I love a good blazer. I think it’s fun, cool and it fits right into my business casual wheelhouse. But I honestly think a blazer is a great purchase, especially during summer internship application time. You can throw it over basically anything, and you’ll look professional. I personally love a basic turtleneck under a bold colored blazer. But as the weather warms up, I start to play around with the old, cool graphic tees. It makes me look distinctly, not like I watch Antiques Roadshow for fun, but it gives me a youthful glow I need.
Pexels/Sunglasses
is honestly a pain to start shaving my legs again, but the dress look makes up for it.
Sunglasses:
I’m really quite blind, so I can’t play around with all the fun sunglasses at Marshalls or Francesca’s, but for all of my 20/20 folks and contact users, I don’t know why you’re not. I’m talking about the need for us all to leave behind the RayBan look or just those black basic ones and stretch out into that ridiculous late 90s style. With those tinted rose color heart-shaped things or vibrant kelly green squares. I’m a true believer in the advice, “Life’s too short for boring sunglasses,” so hop to choosing some exciting ones.
Have Fun, Be Fun, Live Your Life:
As always, my biggest fashion advice is to be yourself and wear what makes you happy. There’s never any reason not to wear something because you feel you might be judged for not fitting into what’s in trend. I’m going to be honest with you; the whole “trend” thing is made up. It’s always the people going against the trend, wearing what they want with their head held high and brimming with confidence, who get noticed. So, when choosing what to wear this spring, I urge you to wear whatever you want.
Dress and Sweater:
A super cute combo that makes me feel kind of like I teach school, but not in a bad way. Starting in the spring, I like to start warming up my summer clothes by getting them out and then just using layers. I’ll throw a sleeveless dress on with a cardigan or blazer and feel super cute out and about. It
By Tyler Zikias Flm Columnist Man, I really wanted to like “Cherry.” Tom Holland is a great actor, and I have loved Anthony and Joe Russos’ work since their days on “Community.” Right on the heels of “Avengers: Endgame,” the Russos release one of the most incomprehensible, scatter-brained and just confusing films in recent memory. I feel like the only way to describe “Cherry” is a car wreck that you can’t look away from, but definitely wince at more than once. I usually preface a film with an introduction before diving into my thoughts, but this movie is so bewildering from start to finish, that I have no idea where to start. With directors as skilled as the Russos who could do no wrong in the Marvel Universe, I expected the storytelling to at least be competent. However, if this is what happens to the Russos after the Marvel leash has been cut, I don’t think I’m going to look forward to any of their films again. They make many bizarre choices in bringing “Cherry” to the screen, and they are rarely effective in enhancing the experience. The most shocking choice made is Tom Holland poses for the 'Cherry' movie poster. undoubtedly the over-
Pexels/Umbrella
stylized, self-indulgent cinematography that infects just about every shot of the film. It looks great, don’t get me wrong, but it fits so poorly in this story. And while it is striking at times, the film beats you over the head with very long lenses, distracting color choices and unnecessary camera movement. It just felt like the Russos wanted to create the boldest and different film after making Marvel movies for the past five years, and it just doesn’t work. These shots are trying to develop a hyper-fantasy world in a movie about the real subject matter. The cinematography only distracts viewers from every emotional beat that the film is trying to build. Going off of that, the world of “Cherry” is just so weird. The Russos make many strange choices when it comes to characters or certain landmarks in the world of the film. Only a few side characters have real names, whereas others have nicknames that are only referred to as such, including “Cherry” (Tom Holland) or “Pills and Coke” (Jack Reynor). Other minor characters like the doctor or sergeant that Cherry speaks to have name tags labeled, “Whomever.” Even the banks have outlandish names that try to make a point, like “Capitalist One” or “The Bank.” As far as I know, these choices don’t add anything to the film, and if there is a message that they are trying to get across, this isn’t enough. wOn the subject of meaning, I don’t even understand the purpose of this movie. The first 40 minutes are a romantic drama following Cherry and Emily (Ciara Bravo) during their relationship’s highs and lows. Then the film moves into a war film that portrays Cherry’s experiences in the army and the horrors of war. When he comes back suffering from PTSD, he becomes a drug addict and starts robbing banks. There is a way to make this narrative work, but the Russos try to cram too many patterns and themes throughout the film that everything sinks below the surface and doesn’t make sense. The focus never leaves Cherry’s perspective, but with all the extra distraction, the world seems to act as a barrier between the viewer and the lead. While I wouldn’t call him the film’s saving grace, Tom Holland certainly grounds the film. Unlike everything he has done before, his performance manages to have strong dramatic moments both by himself and with his costars. My issue here is that I don’t quite buy him in this role. Holland is a very quick and charismatic actor, so playing someone who is painfully underwritten and unlikable through the majority of the film doesn’t help his case. He is good in the movie, but at times it just doesn’t seem like he fits the character. “Cherry” is a film sunk by the bold choices from its directors. It is effortlessly watchable because of how many insane decisions are made, but these choices rarely land. I don’t even know how to go about recommending this. All I know is that it definitely wasn’t for me. Grade: D
THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
Coffee Break
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COFFEE BREAK Editor: Tristan Cruz tristan.cruz@student.fairfield.edu
The Coffee Break Team has put together a word search consisting of different DC Comics Characters! Be sure to check back for more next week! If you would like to submit ideas for games and different word searches, DM us @FairfieldMirror on Twitter!
• • • • • • • • • •
Batwoman The Flash Arsenal Bane Deadshot James Gordon Brainiac Green Arrow Deathstroke Doctor Fate
• • • • • • • • • •
Batman Joker Superman Harley Quinn Aquaman Green Arrow Catwoman Shazam Hawkman Cyborg
Creative Commons / Flickr Puzzlemaker / Discovery Education
Top 5 Ways To Be Guaranteed A Write-In By Nathan Schmidt If you’re preparing for the fall 2021 semester, you may have your eye on some competitive courses. But how can you be sure to get into that perfect Anthropology for Dummies course when so many other students want the same thing? The answer is to ask the professor for a write-in. Follow any of these tips in your email to the professor, and you’ll have that Sports Movie Studies course on your fall schedule in no time. 5. Invent something you need it for For juniors and seniors, it can be hard to find the right space for everything in your schedule. So if there’s a course you really want but can’t find room for, just make a show of needing it for that minor in American Studies you totally wanted this whole time! This tactic also works for core courses that might be offered later, except that you’re too unmotivated to take all upper-levels in the fall. 4. Tell a professor they deserve tenure According to Google, 75.5% of college faculty members are off the tenure track. Seize on the secret economic depression of your professors by telling them you think they should earn tenure thanks to their course. (Note: Avoid mentioning your annual tuition. They will not like how it is larger than their annual salary.) 3. Skim something the professor published Your course of choice may be with one of the several professors at Fairfield who have authored books in their fields. Try reading Amazon reviews for the book, or if that’s too much work, find a rental movie on a similar topic and watch that instead! Your future professor will be awed by your keen interest in their area of expertise. 2. Drink a dose of Felix Felicis The magical potion known as Felix Felicis, although vanishingly rare and difficult to acquire outside of wizarding Britain, imbues the drinker with supernatural good luck. Before you send off your email, grab a can of that lucky stuff and shotgun it like your life depends on it. You’ll be amazed at how many colors you can hear, but also at the speed with which the professor rolls out your red carpet. 1. Lurk just outside of their office all day You don’t need to worry about office hours. The principle is what matters. Pitch a tent, pour some coffee and wait in the hallway directly outside the professor’s office day and night until they finally acknowledge your protest. If they invite you inside or call DPS, you’ve already won by forcing the issue. The course will be yours. I hope these items are useful to all of you in planning for the fall semester! The faculty members won’t know what hit them, unless they also read Stagnation, in which case I apologize and it’s not my fault.
SPORTS Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
Sports Editors: Julia Lanzillotta and Tommy Coppola >> julia.lanzillotta@student.fairfield.edu >> thomas.coppola@student.fairfield.edu
Opinion: Fairfield Athletics Should Allow Fans On Campus By Julia Lanzillotta Managing Editor As things slowly start to vaguely resemble the way they were pre-pandemic, I can’t help but think, ‘When will campus life feel like it did?’ For me, a huge part of my college experience has been going to athletic events, and I really am missing the feeling of cheering on the Stags in the stands, or from the press box of Rafferty Stadium. Sports have come back in full swing on campus, with schedules full and fields humming with the sound of excited players and coaches. The only thing that’s missing now is the student section. On March 5, The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference released a statement regarding the attendance policy for 2020-2021 fall and spring sports. “Member schools will not sell tickets to the public for campus-based competitions for the remainder of the academic year including fall into spring and spring sports,” it read. This is unfortunate for students who had hoped to engage in the gameday environment, but is somewhat understandable given the circumstances. What I struggle with, however, is the fact that huge indoor arenas such as Madison Square Garden, the TD Garden, the Barclays Center and many more are allowing fans at a limited capacity, but outdoor facilities on our own campus are closed to students. These venues require that certain action be taken before the event, such as providing proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, filling out a health survey or taking temperatures at the door. I understand these precautions, and I feel as though if Fairfield University were to open their sporting events at a limited capacity using these precautions, these events would not pose a significant risk to the health and wellbeing of the school. I am aware that this decision was made by the MAAC, and not by Fairfield, however not all varsity sports at Fairfield are a part of this conference. Nonetheless, athletics declared that “The policy will also extend to Field Hockey, which competes in the Northeast Conference, and Men's Lacrosse, which competes in the Colonial Athletic Association,” on their website. The desire for consistency across all teams makes sense, but this consistency is not present throughout the MAAC’s attendance policies. The MAAC has made the decision “To allow two family members per student-athlete for the home team to attend all MAAC competition, subject to state, local, and institutional regulations exercised at the institution’s discretion.” What I cannot grasp is how family members who do not live on our campus, amongst these student-athletes, are allowed to attend these games, however students who get PCR tested weekly through the school are prohibited from doing so. As per the guidelines outlined for the Fairfield College Preparatory School and University sporting events, two family members per student-athlete are permitted on campus to watch
the game contingent on the fact that they follow certain procedures. I imagine that the families are elated and proud to be able to cheer on their studentathletes, and I am all for that, however the inconsistency of who is and who is not allowed to attend is baffling to me. “Family members will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival to campus. This verification will be shown at the main gate to provide access. Individuals who have been vaccinated will still need proof of a negative test. Any viral covid-19 test is allowed.” That last sentence is the key, since it does not prohibit rapid tests from being used as their proof of a negative test. According to health.harvard.edu, “False negative results tend to occur more often with antigen tests than with molecular tests. This is why antigen tests are not favored by the FDA as a single test for active infection.” If anything, at least students can guarantee that their tests provided by the University are PCR’s. My argument here is not that families shouldn’t be allowed to attend, it is that if people from different cities, circles and walks of life do not pose a risk to the public health of Fairfield University given the many guidelines they must follow to attend sporting events, then why wouldn’t students, who should fulfill the same expectations, not be able to enjoy a game or a match safely as well?
In this week's issue... -
CONTINUE READING AT WWW.FAIRFIELDMIRROR.COM
Men's Soccer's Season Opening Shutout (Page 14) Men's Hoops Halted In Final Round (Page 15) Women's Basketball Stopped In Championships (Page 15) Fairfield University is #CapalboStrong (Page 16)
Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
Men's Soccer's Season Opening Shutout By Kayla Amelung Contributing Writer
The Fairfield University men’s soccer team had their season opener on March 11 after a 400-day long break. The Fairfield Stags travelled to Buffalo, NY to compete against the Canisius College Griffins. This is the first of their seven game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Team (MAAC) season. Despite the challenges the Stags had to face, Coach Rees did not allow it to affect the players and the season as a whole. “We are trying to focus on what we have rather than what we are missing. The challenges we have to make are flexible and adaptable. We have great focus and intensity during the training.”, said Coach Rees, of his team who have not been able to play on the field together for over a year. The Stags did not let these upsetting challenges play an important role on the way they played their first game of the season. They made sure to dominate on the field and represent their Stag community in the best way possible. The Stags and Griffins started off period one of the game with high intensity levels. Both teams were competing aggressively on the defensive end. The Griffins had their first yellow card called on midfielder Julius Schoner ‘23, 20 minutes into the game. The Stags were able to get many shot attempts throughout the first period. Yet, they were unsuccessful in netting any of them. The defensive strategies were really strong for both teams. The Stags goalkeeper Gordon Botterill ‘21 really got his work in on his side of the field. He saved two shot attempts within the first period. The Fairfield Stags were able to get up the field and end the last eight minutes of the first period with a goal. Midfielder Matt McGlinchey ‘21 assisted defender Cormac Pike ‘22 to a goal. This kept the Fairfield Stags fired up to stay
aggressive and keep their energy going for the next half of the game. The energy that the teams were displaying on the field surely brought the audience and the coaches a lot of happiness and relief. With everything going on in the world, being able to get back on the field with your team and coaching staff is something to definitely be grateful for. “You miss it more when you are gone. It is a great experience to play college sports and lucky to play in the facilities we have. They are happy to be together and renew friendships.” stated Coach Rees of the team on their opportunity to finally get back on the field. “We all are appreciative of what we have.” At 37 minutes and 30 seconds the Stags kept their one-point lead and they did not let it affect their mindset on the rest of the game. They continued to play their best on both ends of the field. The Griffins were keeping up with their defense and stayed aggressive throughout the second half. The Canisius Griffins defender, Ethan Grover ‘23 was hit with a red card 7 minutes into the second period. Grover was sent off the field for the remainder of the game, which did not stop either team from competing harder against one another. After 81 minutes and 35 seconds had passed, a walk-on athlete Alex Oliveira ‘23 scored his first collegiate goal. This got the whole team fired up with excitement. The Fairfield Stags led the rest of the game with a 2-0 score, holding off Canisius to secure a shutout. Coach Rees had some words on one of the most memorable moments of the seasonopener, “Alex Olivera scored his first college goal and joined the program as a walk-on. It was a fun experience to see him smash the goal in tonight. It was certainly memorable to see the players back together.” The Stags kept their defense going in order to not have any goals made by the Grif-
Weekly 4x5
fins. The Fairfield Stags outshot the Canisius Griffins by 13-5. The Fairfield men’s soccer team brought back home a win for their Fairfield community. Coach Rees did not have many worries for the game or season in general. He had a lot of confidence and faith in his team. He knew they would bring their all to the field. “I am not exactly nervous. There is always an anxiety leading up to these competitions. As
people say you always have butterflies, but you have to get the butterflies flying in formation,” Coach Rees stated regarding his nerves for the season. The Stags will be hosting Quinnipiac University on March 18 on Lessing Field at 1 p.m. The home opener will be broadcasted live by the Stags Sports Network. Make sure to show your support for the Stags soccer team by keeping up with the schedule and live streaming.
Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk
Your 2020-2021 4x5 Columnists:
Julia Lanzillotta, Tommy Coppola, Molly Lamendola and Sheila McCombs
Would you ever consider using Brady agreed to a 4-year the new “ice” rink on campus? extension with the Bucs. Is he stretching his career too long?
Is there an issue with the indeterminate COVID tests collected by Fairfield?
Do you think that a three-day pause was enough to control the breakout in Campion?
Which fall sport is the strangest to watch in the spring?
Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor
Maybe just for fun, but I am still waiting for Fairfield to build a real winter-sports facility.
100%. A lot of these issues would be solved if tests weren’t self-administered, in my opinion.
It makes no sense. If the quarantine period is 10 days, then realistically what is three days going to do?
Definitely volleyball. It’s bizarre watching them online when the sun is shining.
Tommy Coppola Assistant Sports Editor
I think I would prefer a real ice He’s one of the best athletes in rink on campus, but this will our generation for a reason. do for now. Four more years is nothing to him.
Yes. Although weekly testing is great, they might have bitten off a little more than they could chew.
Not at all…maybe the spread was slowed a little, but I doubt it had any long-term benefits to it.
Volleyball for sure. The last time they played was fall of 2019, so it’s been a very long time without it.
Yes lol. I’ve had three in a row.
I don’t think so, like everyone else said, I don’t know what benefit three days had.
Waterpolo.
Yes! What is the use of weekly testing if people get no results from the tests!
No! It doesn’t matter if you tested everyone because COVID could take 10 days to show up on a test!
Probably soccer for me because going to the men’s and women’s games are something I have always gone to during the fall semester!
Because we have witty things to say ...
Molly Lamendola Editor-in-Chief
Sheila McCombs Executive Editor
One Night Only. A Never Before Seen Performance… but I’d probably fall. No balance.
I don’t think I’m in a position to say, considering last season’s performance.
I’ve never seen a football match.
I feel the same as Lanz, give I want to say yes, mostly me DI hockey pls! But I would because I think that the sucgive it a try for fun one day! cess of last season was out of spite for the people who said Belichick was the reason Brady succeeded.
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of March 17, 2021
2021 MAAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Men's Hoops Halted in Championships By Zachary Stevens Contributing Writer
Photos Contributed by the Sports Information Desk
Senior guard Taj Benning accrued 47 points in the four games played at the MAAC tournament.
The Fairfield University men’s basketball team played in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament this past week at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Going into the tournament the Men’s basketball team had a record of 7-16 overall and 7-11 in conference play. The men’s first round game took place on March 9, where the Stags faced a Manhattan College squad they had just previously split with. Jesus Cruz ‘21, who had a
solid year for the Stags averaging 8.4 points a game, scored 16 points off the bench to lead the Stags to a thrilling 59-59 overtime win to advance to the Quarterfinals against Monmouth University. Heading into the Quarterfinal, Fairfield and Monmouth were unfamiliar with each other as they had not yet played against each other in the regular season. Unlike the night prior, the Stags looked comfortable and in control during most of the game, dominating the inside
with 44 rebounds compared to Monmouth’s 27. Taj Benning ‘21, a leading scorer for the Stags, had an amazing performance with 24 points to send the Stags to the Semi-Finals against third seed Saint Peter’s. Fairfield (10-16, 7-11 MAAC) and Saint Peter’s (14-11, 10-8 MAAC) previously split their series in February, which meant this game was anyone’s for the taking, no matter how different the records and conference positions were for the two teams. Benning, who had a stellar QuarterFinal performance, was held to zero points on 0-8 shooting. The Stags did not panic, holding the Peacocks to 35 percent shooting and turned to Caleb Green ‘22, Cruz ‘21, and Jake Wojcik ‘22, who each had more than 10 plus points in the game. The Stags were able to edge past a tough Saint Peter’s squad with a narrow win of 52-47, where Fairfield advanced to face Iona College in the MAAC Championship. The Stags looked to get revenge on Iona, as they were beaten in the MAAC Championship against the Gaels in 2018. Similar to Saint Peter’s, the Stags had previously split with Iona in the regular season and had all the momentum coming into the matchup. Although Iona was the favorite coming into the game, faithful Stags believed we had what it takes to go dancing. Unfortunately, the Stags were defeated
Photo Courtesy of MAACsports.com
60-51, where they struggled on offensive, shooting 30 percent from the field and only scoring 18 points in the first half. The Gaels also controlled the glass, out rebounding the Stags 38 to 30, who have a poor record of 2-9 when outrebounded by an opponent. Wojcik ‘22, had a strong sending off with 13 points and 8 rebounds, showcasing what the Junior has been doing all season. The Gaels were too much for the Stags to handle, as Coach Rick Pitino led Iona to their 12th MAAC Championship. Even though the Stags did not receive their automatic bid in March Madness, they still played with resilience and heart. Coach Jay Young was especially proud of his guys, explaining the work ethic his team has. “Every day I come to work, I love the university. I love the place and mostly I love these kids,” Fairfield coach Jay Young said. “They’ve given it everything that we’ve had this year. We didn't start well. There could have been a thousand reasons to pack it in and they never did. And this is just the result of them coming to practice every day with a great attitude.” The men’s basketball team should feel proud of the run they made and should be excited with what the future holds. With a talented coach, strong returning players, and new recruits the Stags should be a tough matchup for any team in the MAAC in next year's season.
Women's Basketball Stopped in Semifinals By Zachary Stevens Contributing Writer The Fairfield University women’s basketball team headed into the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with an overall record of 11-4 and 9-3 in conference play, putting them at fifth spot in the MAAC and a comfortable four seed in the MAAC tournament. The Stags received a first round bye and faced the fifth seed Manhattan College in an unfamiliar matchup, as the Stags and Jaspers did not play against each other in the regular season. The Stags and Jaspers met for the eleventh time in the MAAC Tournament and the first time since the early 2000s. The Stags held an even 5-5 record against the Jaspers in the tournament, meaning this was anyone’s game for the taking. The start of the game worked in favor of the Stags, as they held the Jaspers to 14 points in the fourth half, and allowed them to only score 40 points in the entire game. This has been an identity all year for the Stags, who rank second in defensive efficiency in the conference. Along with the defense pressure, the team’s scoring leader Lou Lopez-Senechal ‘22, had a big-time performance with 21 points and two steals, leading the Stags to the Semi-Final against the number one seed, the Marist
College Red Foxes. The women’s team was two games away from winning their fourth MAAC Championship and the program's first National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament bid since 2000. They first needed to get
past the top seed Red Foxes, who was a team that had only lost three games all year. The Semi-Final game was much different than the Quarter-Final the night before, as the Stags found themselves quickly down in the beginning of the game and did not gain a lead
once throughout. The Red Foxes, who are number one in offensive and defensive efficiency in the MAAC, punished the Stags on offensive and suffocated them on defense. This combination was too much for the Lady Stags to
Photos Contributed by the Sports Information Desk
The Fairfield University women's basketball team was eliminated in the semifinals to the Marist College, 66-50.
handle, and they were defeated 50-66 in a tough battle of two top teams in the conference. Although the Stags will not make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, they still have a lot of positives that came out of this season. They finished with a solid record overall of 11-5 and were one of the harder teams to beat in the conference. In terms of individual awards, Lopez-Senechal and Katie Armstrong ‘21 were both put on All-MAAC squads. Lopez-Senechal was named to the All-MAAC first team, as she was a top scorer in the conference and was the only unanimous player chosen to the squad. The France native also was second in (field goal and three point percentage), ensuring the Stags will have a star playing for them in next year's season. Armstrong ‘21, who is a graduate student, was named to the All-MAAC second team after a solid campaign and season. Armstrong ‘21 was a force to be reckoned with in the post, averaging 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, dominating her opponents inside. This was her final year as a Stag, and her contribution to both ends will be deeply missed. Additionally, Andrea Hernangomez ‘22 was named MAAC Sixth Player of the Year, becoming the second Stag of all-time to win the award.
@Fairfield Mirror Week of March 17, 2021
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SPORTS 16
Fairfield University Is #CapalboStrong By Julia Lanzillotta Managing Editor Charlie Capalbo is not just a member of the Fairfield community; he is a friend, a Fairfield Stag and a pillar of strength. His fight with cancer began back in 2017, and most recently he’s facing his third and most arduous diagnosis yet. There are many factors which make this third round unique from the two prior, one of which being COVID-19. Charlie described the experience as being a bit harder this time around since his friends aren’t able to come to Boston Children’s hospital where he is receiving treatment due to visitation restrictions. However, his friends have found ways of making it work by staying connected through facetiming, driving up and making signs for Charlie to look at out of his window. “It is tough to stay connected during these times,” said Charlie, so these gestures are important. Another circumstance which makes this bout different than those in the past has to do with his younger brother Will’s lifechanging bone marrow donation which was made in February of 2019. and his Charlie said that the transplant has made him feel stronger treatment feel more bearable. The Fairfield community has banded together behind Charlie hockey sticks in a number of ways. Made obvious by the numerous resting outside the doors of local homes, or the generous donations made to a Go Fund Me created to support the Capalbo family. The here at Fairfield most visible showing of unity, however, could arguably be University. UniThe outpouring of student support has caused the media versity to want to take it a step further, and create a social lenge takeover open for anyone to participate in. The Capalbo Chalwas started by Fairfield University to show Capalbo that he is anything but alone in this battle. The rules are simple: Accept the challenge within 22 hours, take a video doing 22 pushups, nominate two others and upload the video to Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Twenty-two is a nod to Capalbo’s age, and challenges everyone nominated to channel the strength that Capalbo has shown throughout this fight. Although this challenge was started without Capalbo’s knowledge, he wasn’t shocked that the school would do something like this. “I was surprised, but at the same time I wasn’t surprised just because of the mentality of the school and all of my friends. I wasn’t surprised that the school had my back and I was at a loss for words for what to say when I saw it,” said Capalbo about the Capalbo Challenge. He described how the inspiration and motivation that people get from him is something he feels is reciprocated. “It goes both ways,” Charlie said. “Watching them doing those 22 pushups for me and supporting me really helps me as well.” The challenge was kicked off by the Fairfield University club hockey team, in solidarity with their fellow hockey brother, and has reached a variety of groups spanning from sports like baseball, women’s soccer and rugby to groups on campus like the Inter-Residential Housing Association, the Fairfield University Student Association and the Catholic Student Association. Most notably,
President Mark R. Nemec PhD and his wife Suzy Nemec took part. “It just really shows that the entire school has my back and it’s a really special feeling when you’re in here and I still feel connected to everybody,” Charlie remarked about the Nemecs’ participation. “Fairfield U is an awesome school. They’re showing it now and they show it all the time.” Vinny Gadioma and Tobenna Ugwu, FUSA President and Vice President, respectively, nominated President Nemec on FUSA’s behalf. “We heard about the Capalbo Challenge through Instagram, and we thought participating would be a great way to show support for our fellow classmate. Charlie, all of us on FUSA are rooting for you, and we know you’ll pull through,” said Ugwu. Gadioma shared similar sentiments, saying, “The Capalbo Challenge is a great way for the Fairfield community to unite and show our support for Charlie. We hope Charlie knows that the Fairfield and FUSA community will always have his back.” “Fairfield University is proud to rally behind Charlie as he undergoes treatment. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and the entire Capalbo family,” read a statement made by the University. “The 22 push-up challenge has been a great way for our students and community to show Charlie through social media how Stag Country has come together to support #CapalboStrong.” In addition to the Capalbo Challenge, the school has showed up in as many ways as possible to send the message of togetherness to Charlie. Fairfield’s Students for St. Baldrick’s club has promised to dedicate this year’s Brave the Shave event, which will take place on March 27, to Charlie. All over campus, there are people dressed in “Capalbo Strong” hoodies and joggers, or donning freshly-shaved heads like their friend Charlie. This merchandise was launched by The Two Oh Three, a Connecticut local lifestyle brand which has partnered with Charlie to make a line featuring the logo of his charity organization, “Capalbo Crushes Cancer”. “We created a line of custom 203 x Capalbo Strong gear to help raise funds directly for Charlie's medical expenses,” said The Two Oh Three’s website. Charlie, his family and his girlfriend, Peyton Siegel, worked with the company’s founders Tory and Roscoe to customize the collection, with an updated logo. According to Charlie, the Westport business is experiencing a surge in orders unlike anything they’ve ever seen before.“It goes to show how supported I really am,” he said. Despite the uphill journey that Charlie has embarked upon, a hallmark of his fighting spirit is his remarkable positivity. He said, “It’s easy to drop your head a little bit, but when you see all of this positivity that everybody is putting forward and giving to me, it’s really hard to not take on that positivity and use it for yourself.” He feeds off of the positive energy around him, especially from family. “I always tell people laughing and smiling are two of the most important things, even on the worst days. That’s one thing my dad and I have always had, especially,” said Charlie. “The pushup challenge, my friends, random people buying our clothes- it shows how awesome the school is and how it's something I can't wait to come back to,” he said.
Photos Contributed by Charlie Capalbo
Pictured on the left is Charlie Capalbo and his girlfriend, Peyton Siegel. In the photo on the right is Charlie (left) and his younger brother and bone marrow donor, Will (right).