Fairfield Mirror 09/22/2021

THE MIRR R Independent student newspaper

Week of September 22, 2021

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Vol. 47 Iss. 1

Students Voice Mixed Emotions about First Year Housing

By Max Berryman Contributing Writer

The Mirror / Kyler Erezuma

Presidential Ball is an annual event hosted by the Fairfield University Student Association on the lawn of Bellarmine Hall to kick off the school year. The event will be held this year with some restrictions due to COVID.

Presidential Ball Makes Return to Campus

date the new increase as part of Fairfield University’s master plan, “Fairfield 2020, The Way Forward,” which launched in 2015.

In 2019, The Barnyard Manor townhouses were opened to house 200 more upperclassmen students, a new section of Barnyard Manor was opened this semester to house even more students.

It’s important to note that back in 2018, when this decision was being made, there was a significant amount of push back from the community due to the need to destroy the historic building of the 19th century Sturges farm.

One Fairfield resident emailed the Town Plan and Zoning Commission in October of 2019 asking, “Why do they [Fairfield University] need to tear down part of the town’s history for new dorms? And, more importantly, why aren’t they putting money toward maintaining the dorms of North Ben-

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Quick Center to Host Literary Salon

shared that she is “excited about my final Pres Ball. I’m glad that even with COVID restrictions, I can still celebrate with my friends.”

FUSA emphasized the importance of safety when returning to the traditional in-person events Fairfield students experienced pre-pandemic.

“Of course this can only be done with proper consideration of our students’ health and safety which is why certain expectations for our goers have been implemented.”

To achieve this, in a statement from FUSA to The Mirror, they stated that “there were many meetings throughout the summer with Fairfield administration, regarding COVID-19 guidelines, campus and student safety and the ways in which we could host this event with the health of our campus community in mind.”

As was aforementioned, there will be two Presidential Ball events on Friday to give students in all grades an opportunity to experience the event.

The initial capacity as decided in conjunction between FUSA and the University administration was 1,000 students per event.

“A capacity of 1,000 is what everyone felt comfortable with due to the size of our tent, ability for social distancing and our transition into our first large event over the past year and a half.”

However, on Sept. 20,

students who were unable to purchase tickets and were placed on a waitlist were notified that 250 more tickets will be added to each event increasing the total student-attendance per event to 1,250 students each.

Though ticket sales are completed now, there were several complications leading up to the original sale.

Originally, tickets were meant to go on sale for both events on Sept. 9 at 8:00 p.m., however, the website hosting the ticket sales, UniversityTickets, crashed at the time sales opened.

FUSA suspended ticket sales as of 8:15 p.m. that night due to the site crashing.

Shortly after, FUSA reached out to students via email alerting them of this suspension.

In an email sent by FUSA to students on Sept. 16, FUSA explained the site crash.

“While the explanation is complicated, essentially our ticket system data is connected to the same student data that our University uses,” the email stated.

“There was a disconnect between the data feed and the company’s IP address.

This caused some student profiles to be non-existent, while causing others to receive errors regarding ticket types and profiles,” the email continued.

News

Opinion

Vine

Sports

View a photo of one of the converted triples.

Student reacts to issues with Pres. Ball ticket sales.

Our Editor in Chief discusses the magic of local town events.

Fairfield’s women’s soccer team has remained undefeated through their last five games.

Page 16

By Madison Gallo Head News Editor

The much-anticipated fall event hosted by the Fairfield University Student Association, The Presidential Ball, will return this weekend after not happening last year due to health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pres Ball, as it has been termed by students, is set to take place this Friday, September 24 on the lawn of Bellarmine Hall.

To accommodate the ongoing pandemic, the event will actually be two events.

The classes of 2025 and 2024 will have an earlier event from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. while classes of 2023 and 2022 will have a later event from 10 p.m. until midnight.

The Presidential Ball was founded in 2003 and “serves as a kickoff for the fall semester where students have the opportunity to meet and interact with our University President,” according to the FUSA website.

Students have been able to take pictures with the president and their spouse, dance, and snack on hors d’oeuvres on Bellarmine Lawn.

One of FUSA President Tyler Heffern ‘22 and Vice President Cailyn Fiori ‘22 campaign platforms was a safe return to in-person campus events.

Senior Jasmine Nguy

INSIDE

The Office of Residence Life has undergone a lot of strain since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With in-person events back in residence halls and high vaccination rates on campus, things are changing for students’ new homes away from home.

The sense of community from just walking outside is refreshing as many students are now heading to classes and other events or clubs in-person.

Although masks are still worn indoors, just being able to be in a friend’s room in another building is new for those who have been on campus for a year already.

Things are starting to return to normal again, but a new problem has emerged for the people in Residence Life and a portion of the incoming Class of 2025: a lack of housing.

New buildings are being built each year to accommo-

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Page 5

By Madeline West Assistant News Editor In fall 2021 the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts will be hosting The Literary Salon as the virtual ‘book club hour’ for Fairfield University in association with Meryl Moss.

“Appreciating the diverse interests of our Open MINDS Institute class programs, we want to create special conversations with fellow book habituates and seekers of ideas,” says Philip Eliasoph Ph.D, program director and professor of art history.

Through the new virtual book club, the Open MINDS Institute conversations will be sparked.

Meryl Moss is the founder and president of Meryl Moss Media and has worked with various authors branding their books through “media media exposure, speaking engagements, social media, influencer introductions, creative marketing initiatives and solutions.”

While not every author is a New York Times bestseller, the Meryl Moss Media Group was the first to create BookTrib which gives authors a platform and a voice to be heard and read. The website also matches readers with those au-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Page 8

thors who align with their interests.

In an interview with Moss she was asked several questions about the upcoming events.

When asked how the idea for the literary salon came about Moss answered that “the Quick Center interviewed a client of mine who was an alum, Frank Figliuzzi the author of “The FBI Way”.

This connected her to the Quick Center and to Fairfield University as a whole.

Moss then mentioned that she and Eliasoph joked about how they had never crossed paths since she lives in the next town over from Fairfield, Westport. Thus, having this event at the Quick center made sense for collaboration.

From there Moss reflected on her career. “[I have represented] authors for all these years and I’ve always wanted to see if we could do something with Fairfield. This was the moment where it all came together.”

Each event is held virtually over Zoom and highlights

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News

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Page 2

“So many books, so many authors, just not enough time” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Cover of the book that will be discussed the first salon.

a different author every time.

For instance, the first book salon hour features Annie Murphy Paul, author of “The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain” on Sept. 21.

Moss says that she goes about picking authors by keeping the interests of “The Quick Center and the world at large in terms of what people are interested in” and says she chooses “things [she] knows will be embraced.”

When asked what type of community she thinks Fairfield is, Moss explained, “I think it is a sophisticated community” and has chosen authors in accordance with.

“Our first event, although she’s not a household name she’s somebody that I thought people would find very interesting to listen to,” Moss states.

She emphasized that “The idea here is to bring people well regarded authors who might not be household names because there are so many that are so talented.”

Moss continues, “There’s so many books, so many authors, just not enough time”.

In closing the interview Moss was asked what she is most excited about, and said she is “Excited about partnering with

Photo Courtesy of @Meryl_Moss

Photo of Meryl Moss and author R.L Stine.

Fairfield University and the Quick however she suggests those who Center most of all” as well as, attend familiarize themselves “seeing what people think and with the author before attending. getting to know the professors The Literary Salon is free, that are going to be interview- but registration is required. People ing the authors with me. Just the can register for the event on the whole community aspect of it” Quick Center website.

Moss believes that this will be an entertaining event —

FUSA Increases Pres. Ball Capacity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Additionally, FUSA credited the large numbers of students attempting to access the site at the same time as a potential cause of the site crashing.

Ticket sales went live for the second time on Sept.

16 at 8:00 p.m. for the Class of 2025 and 2024. On Sept. 18 at 11:00 a.m. tickets went live for the Class of 2023 and 2022.

Initially, tickets for the Class of 2025 and 2024’s Pres Ball event sold out. Students who were unable to get tickets were placed on a waitlist.

They then were given first priority to buy tickets once the capacity of the event was expanded.

The Class of 2022 and 2023’s Pres Ball event did not sell out the night tickets went live, but later did so. Students in those years also had the opportunity to purchase tickets once the event’s capacity expanded.

“We realize that not all students that have a desire to attend will get to due to the reduced capacity,” FUSA said in a statement to The Mirror.

“Students that are unable to secure a ticket are welcome to add themselves to our Presidential Ball waitlists.”

FUSA reached out to those students who

were on waitlists directly about purchasing tickets.

In regards to the increase in the capacity of the event, FUSA said that they met with representatives from the Health Center, the Office of Student Engagement and the Department of Public Safety to determine the capacity limit.

At the end of these meetings, it was decided that the University would not allow more than 1,000 students to attend each event under the condition that the capacity limit would be revisited within the week of the event and based on vaccination levels and the infection rate of the campus community, a different decision might be made.

The follow-up meeting, which took place on Sept. 20, led to the addition of 250 more persons allowed per event shift.

Due to the vaccination rate being over 92 percent throughout campus and the “very low infection rate” on campus, this addition was able to be made.

Since the event was unable to be held last year, the Presidential Ball this year will be the first one for over half of the students on campus.

“We are most excited to introduce this wonderful tradition to them and put on larger campus gatherings that students missed out on in the last year and a half,” FUSA said.

The Mirror Archives

The Mirror / Kyler Erezuma

The Mirror Archives

News

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Page 3

Compiled by Madeline West Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.

9/7

9/10

9/11

2:07 a.m.

1:47 a.m.

2:36 a.m.

A student refused to identify at a checkpoint and fled on

Two students in Regis Lot presented fake IDs to public

A non-student was identified in a townhouse. The

foot. Student was caught and identified and was referred

safety when questioned by DPS. They were referred to

non-student was escorted off campus and the host was

to student conduct

Student Conduct.

referred to student conduct for COVID19 violations.

7:21 p.m

9:15 p.m.

Male was causing disturbance and yelling obscenities on

RAs discovered drug parapheniala at 47 Mahan Road.

9/14

a campus basketball court. Identified as a non-student

All the residents of the apartment were referred to

11:43 p.m.

who was uncooperative with DPS and a criminal

student conduct.

Nine individuals were found in the tents on West

trespass warning was issued.

10:10 p.m.

Langguth in possession of narcotics paraphernalia. All

In Faber Hall a non-student was found in a dorm room.

paraphernalia was collected and destroyed, and the nine

9/9

He was escorted off campus and the host was referred to

students were referred to student conduct.

12:43 a.m.

student conduct for COVID19 violations.

9/15

Four individuals outside Meditz Hall were found to be

10:15 p.m

4:07 p.m.

in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. It was

While responding to a fire alarm officers found alcohol

Sacred Heart Administration came to DPS to report

confiscated and destroyed and they were referred to the

parapheniala and drinking games inside Campion Hall.

criminal trespassing by a Fairfield student on the

dean of students.

There was one student who was referred to student

campus of Sacred Heart.

conduct.

9/17

there is any information students are urged to contact

1:10 a.m.

DPS.

A vehicle was turned away and then observed at the

9/18

Barlow Gate dropping someone off. The car drove away

2:05 a.m.

and the person left was identified as a non-student. He

An 18-year-old student was discovered to be intoxicated

Editors Madison Gallo, Head News Madeline West, Assistant News Peyton Perry, Opinion Brooke Lathe, Vine Thomas Coppola, Sports Tristan Cruz, Coffee Break

was escorted off of campus and the vehicle was later

and in possession of a bottle of jagermeister and five Bud

identified as belonging to a Fairfield Prep student.

Lights. Alcohol was disposed of and the student was

1:26 a.m.

referred to student conduct.

Loyola Hall RAs reported flooding in the second floor

9:55 p.m.

southside bathroom. The flood was because sinks had

University neighbors reported a party in one of the

Staff Photographer Kyler Erezuma

been ripped out of the wall. This issue is still under

off campus residents. Upon DPS arrival a large group

investigation.

of individuals were seen fleeing from the area. Inside

2:20 a.m.

approximately 100 students were found. Student residing

In the tents in West Langguth four university students

was referred to the dean of students for COVID-19

were discovered with narcotics paraphernalia and

violations.

marijuana. One student claimed full ownership of all

9/20

and was referred to student conduct.

2:17 p.m.

2:22 p.m.

A student reported a car was vandalized while

A resident of Barnyard Manor reported her white

parked outside the townhouses. CCTV footage is

Honda was struck while parked. This incident happened

under review. Students with any information are

between 8:15 p.m 9/15/ 21 and 8:30 a.m. on 9/16/21. If

urged to contact DPS.

THE MIRROR Incorporated 1977

Molly Lamendola, Editor-in-Chief Julia Lanzillotta, Executive Editor Sheila McCombs, Managing Editor Tobenna Ugwu, Managing Editor

Business Department Email: info@fairfieldmirror.com Tristan Cruz, Chief Financial Officer Advisor Tommy Xie 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

News

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Page 4

Need for Converted Triples Bring Questions Of What’s Next for Fairfield Housing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

son Road [the current townhouses]?”

Fairfield pushed the construction But, ing

through and was complete.

the problem of lack of housstill impacts the university.

To combat this, locations on campus typically just for upperclassmen students have been used to house underclassmen. Sophomores, who are usually placed in the quad dorms (42 Langguth Hall, Faber Hall, 70 McCormick Road and Loyola Hall) or in the Village (Kostka and Claver) have been placed in apartment style buildings of 47 Mahan Road and Meditz Hall).

Even with this shift, the need for converted triples emerged for First-Year students this year.

Meredith Smith, associate dean of students and director of the Office of Residence Life, provided some clarity on the situation.

“From a Residence Life standpoint, we had more students accepted than we expected,” she states. “It was a little bit of a surprise, but not uncommon.”

Looking back on her first year working at Fairfield nearly 11 years ago, Smith recounted a separate occasion where they had to convert triples for incoming students. This information speaks more towards Fairfield’s tendency to grow as a school rather than it being the fault of certain offices on campus.

As far back as 2011, the rate of full time undergraduates at Fairfield has grown. 10 years ago, there were around 3,400 full time undergraduate students and today there are about 4,300.

This year, nearly 16 percent of first years living on campus are in rooms converted from the standard doubles to triples to make room for everyone. All first year residence halls, Gonzaga Hall, Loyola Hall, Jouges Hall, Regis Hall and Campion Hall, have converted triples spread throughout.

Over the summer, students had the ability to opt into a triple, but none could opt out unless they provided a medical reason. As a way to alleviate this situation, students currently living in triples received $750 off the room and board charges, and if a student has not been “detripled” by Oct. 12, they will receive another $750 off.

“If the student was “detripled,” they would still keep that second $750 credit,” Smith begins. “We want to honor that commitment as a way of saying, ‘Hey, we understand that this is an inconvenience.’”

Sophomore Pedro Garcia, a resi-

dent assistant in Jogues Hall, notes that his building has 20 triples all throughout.

When asked if he has seen a positive experience from this, he said, “Even if they do like their roommates, the confined living space makes everything difficult.”

Sophomore Maria Betancur, a New Student Leader running a First Year Experience class on campus, has heard a small amount of positive feedback, but the same fact Garcia discussed still remains. “I’ve had students living in a triple look on the positive side and tell me, ‘Two new friends is better than one’.”

The transition period for first years is already difficult, but some students have notKyler Erezuma/The Mirror ed that they now have A photo taken outside of Loyola Hall, a building used to house both first-year and sophomore students with a to learn to adapt their few converted triples. schedules around mulbly be needed, but many questions remain. building has 20 triples all throughout. tiple people and learn When asked if he has seen a posihow to live that way and feel comfortable. How big would it be? What kind of housing First-year Anna McDonnell, a stu- would it provide and for what grade? Where tive experience from this, he said, “Even if dent who lives in a Gonzaga triple, gave sim- does Fairfield even have room to build it? they do like their roommates, the confined ilar comments on the situation. “I’m used to First years on campus may see triples now, living space makes everything difficult.”

Maria Betancur ‘24, a New Student being able to come home from school and but there’s a good possibility they’ll get to relax in my room,” she states. “Now, it’s even see the start of some new buildings and Leader running a First Year Experience class more busy with people moving in and out renovations.for everyone. All first year res- on campus, has heard a small amount of than it would have been with one person.” idence halls, Gonzaga Hall, Loyola Hall, positive feedback, but the same fact Garcia She continues saying, “Having to- Jouges Hall, Regis Hall and Campion Hall, discussed still remains. “I’ve had students tal privacy is increasingly more difficult now have converted triples spread throughout. living in a triple look on the positive side and Over the summer, stu- tell me, ‘Two new friends is better than one’.” with two roommates rather than one. I have to The transition period for first go somewhere like the Mezzanine to get com- dents had the ability to opt into a triplete alone time. The size of the space is also ple, but none could opt out unless years is already difficult, but now students have to learn to adapt their schedvery draining to maneuver around already.” they provided a medical reason.

As a way to alleviate this situation, ules around multiple people and learn Residence Life will continue to work towards getting out as many students currently living in triples received how to live that way and feel comfortable.

Anna McDonnell ‘25, a student students in triples as they can man- $750 off the room and board charges, and if age. Luckily, the housing experience a student has not been “detripled” by Octo- who lives in a Gonzaga trple, gave similar for Fairfield can only go up from here. ber 12th, they will receive another $750 off. comments on the situation. “I’m used to “If the student was “detripled,” being able to come home from school and As far as the future goes, it always they would still keep that second $750 cred- relax in my room,” she states. “Now, it’s even seems like Fairfield is building something new. Most recently, Fairfield has built the it,” Smith begins. “We want to honor that more busy with people moving in and out gaming lab in the Rec-Plex and is still con- commitment as a way of saying, ‘Hey, we than it would have been with one person.”

She continues saying, “Having tostructing the Arena and Convocation Center understand that this is an inconvenience.’”

Pedro Garcia ‘24, a resident as- tal privacy is increasingly more difficult now where the basketball teams will be playing.

A new residence hall will inevita- sistant in Jogues Hall, notes that his with two roommates rather than one. I have to go somewhere like the Mezzanine to get complete alone time. The size of the space is also very draining to maneuver around already.”

For older students, many can think back to their first year where they would have time to themselves if a roommate went to shower or go do laundry. Those couple of minutes can be so valuable and many students in triples can’t benefit from that time.

Residence Life will continue to work towards getting out as many students in triples as they can manage. Luckily, the housing experience for Fairfield can only go up from here.

As far as the future goes, it always seems like Fairfield is building something new.

Most recently, Fairfield has built the gaming lab in the Rec-Plex and is still constructing the Arena and Convocation Center where the basketball teams will be playing.

A new residence hall will inevitably be needed, but many questions remain.

How big would it be?

What kind of housing would it provide and for what grade?

Where does Fairfield even have room to build it?

First years on campus may last to see the start of some of these new buildings and renovation.

Kyler Erezuma/The Mirror

A photo of a converted triple room in Gonzaga Hall, used for first-year students.

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Opinion

Page 5

Editor Peyton Perry » peyton.perry@student.fairfield.edu

Student Disappointed in FUSA's Slow Response to Pres Ball Ticket Sales Issue

By Peyton Perry Opinion Editor After viewing the tentative plan and partaking in the online ticketing process for the 2021 Presidential Ball on Thursday, Sept. 16, it is safe to say that myself, as well as many others, are a bit disappointed.

I want to thank our Fairfield University Student Association for their efforts in conducting such a largely admired event, undergoing obstacles and working hard to be there for us students. This does not go unnoticed and it is both challenging and nearly impossible to determine which way of going about things will yield the most success.

That being said, as a student I feel as though it is partially my responsibility to address some of the faults that arose, leaving myself and many other students disheartened at no fault of our own efforts.

Before attending Fairfield University last fall, as a hopeful but slightly disappointed first year student in the midst of starting her biggest transition in a time of grave uncertainty, I found myself encaptivated by the notion of the Presidential Ball at Fairfield. Looking up pictures of smiling faces shining under the glistening lights on Bellarmine Lawn

both excited me and illuminated desire. Knowing I wouldn’t be pursuing soccer or any other sport in college and the mere absence of Greek life on campus, learning of this campus-wide inclusive dance had me absolutely ecstatic!

Not that I am good by any means, but I do love to dance! There is something about the loud music seamlessly drowning out any past worries that may have existed previous to the night that is quite incredible. Where else could you belt out “Dancing Queen” by ABBA at the top of your lungs with a complete group of strangers?

Coming as a first year and being harshly thrown into the reality of a pandemic, any hopes for the 2020 Presidential Ball dissipated fairly briskly. I knew our safety as students would not be secured at such an event, and I shifted my hopes to my sophomore year thinking this would be when I would finally be able to feel the overwhelming joy of a dance once again.

Well, now as a sophomore student who just underwent the ticketing process for the 2021 Presidential Ball, I can say this is not the case.

My disappointment does not come from the fact that tickets sold out before I could purchase one

Photo Courtesy of @FUSA on Facebook

for my year level, rather it comes from the realization that for me and many students, purchasing a ticket before others was impossible due to a faulty system. The whole online ticketing process was one of luck, rather than timeliness or effort, which was not what was indicated to students prior.

Students were notified by FUSA via email earlier on Thursday that ticket sales would begin at 8:00 p.m. on a first-come first-served basis. There was not anything about what took place that was first-come or first-serve, however.

Eager to buy tickets and be able to attend a dance again after two and a half years, I waited on my laptop from 7:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. when the sales started. Tracking it down to the second, my friends and I made sure to click on the link at precisely 8:00 p.m. and not a second after. (Call us extreme, but we really wanted these tickets!) Immediately after clicking the link, we were sent into a waiting room unaware of the chaos that was about to ensue.

As cell phones began to blow up between students, it quickly became realized campus-wide that something was wrong. Students who had clicked on the link on time were stuck in waiting rooms, only for the majority to be told by the online system that tickets were “unavailable for their user type.” Other students, like myself, waited long periods of time only to get out of the checking out process and be told they have already exceeded the amount of tickets to buy; this was another glitch to the online system.

What struck as the most frustrating, however, was the hearing of students being able to buy their ticket after signing on nearly thirty minutes after 8:00 p.m. This is when it became clear to me that this had nothing to do with efforts in purchasing my ticket first, but rather one of fluke. Tickets were being said to be “unavailable” to certain students before they were sold out. I, myself, sat on the computer refreshing and signing in all the way until approximately quarter past 9:00 p.m. when they actually did sell out.

My disappointment in FUSA comes from their acknowledgment of this faulty system through student emails and communication that took place instantaneously and their failure to take responsibility. Rather than address the issue, it seems as

Photo Courtesy of FUSA's Facebook

though the general response to students was that they were unaware of why our computers were delivering such a message. There was no urgency to pause ticket sales and establish a just way of selling tickets to students. I mean at this point, you might as well have doled out tickets using a lottery system.

It appears that they saw tickets being sold to the individuals who were able to by fluke, and accepted that as being okay. Meanwhile, those of us who stayed on our computers for the full hour trying to solve computer problems brought upon by the faulty online system presented were left with no other option or alternative way to exert our efforts into purchasing tickets successfully. It was a no win situation for a significant number of students.

As I mentioned earlier, FUSA has an incredibly tough task in throwing this event and I can understand why perhaps the towel was thrown in when this fault of the company UniversityTickets came to shine during the already second attempt of ticket sales. I am, however, still dispirited by the lack of taking action to ensure ticket sales were conducted fairly for all students.

The online ticketing system for the 2021 Presidential Ball was misrepresented by the notion of first-come first-serve basis, when in reality a raffle would have had the same effect on students.

This is something that has left myself and a lot of students upset and is something that should be considered deeply by FUSA and strived to never be repeated again.

After a Challenging Year, Back to School Has Never Felt Better

By Pedro Garcia Contributing Writer

When it comes to a lot of elements in life, I find that people often gravitate towards impulse rather than reality. We’ll eat unhealthier foods because they taste better, put off chores to do something fun or perhaps buy an overpriced ticket to a concert or theme park. Regardless of the value of the task, it’s safe to say that people make decisions based on how it makes them feel more than anything else. In other words, we only have one life to live, so it’s all about the experience.

The same could definitely be said for the college student. While the decision on whether or not to go to a college rests on factors such as functionality and finances, the decision to stay at a college oftentimes rests on the experience — have I enjoyed the atmosphere that this university has had to offer me?

This applies to pretty much everything; the people, the food, and most pertinently, the academic and extracurricular experience being offered. A student’s day-to-day experience is critical to their overall enjoyment of not just the school itself, but their overall perception of college education as a whole.

And how could it not be? With college marking such a swift and drastic transition from life at home to on-campus responsibilities and self-discovery, it is vital that an institution of higher education gets this right.

Unfortunately, this past educational year was conducted under, as everyone has heard time and time again, unprecedented times. In those unprecedented times, many sacrifices had to be made. The social distancing guidelines, reduced capacity, mask mandates and many other safety measures, saw universities across the country af-

fected in a way they never could have imagined.

This pandemic greatly disrupted operations from the University's standpoint, but for incoming students (including myself), the most substantial diminishments were to the college experience — the feeling of being on campus. Even as a first-generation student, I remember having

options made meeting fellow students essentially nonexistent.

This of course carried right into the way the school operated on an academic level, with online Zoom classes going as far as impairing the entire classroom dynamic. There was little to no way for students to get to know their professors

Creative Commons/ Flickr

a certain expectation of what to expect from college life, only to be blindsided by the ramifications that a pandemic would have on those expectations.

As early as the opening weekend before classes began, I remember having quite a difficult time cultivating any meaningful connections with fellow students due to the strict guidelines.

Despite considering myself to be a social, outgoing person, having no in-person engagement

and fellow classmates, which completely vacuumed up all the cooperative, communal feeling that often comes with studying for a quiz, asking questions about homework assignments, and so forth.

While Zoom classes were not without their convenient moments, there was a general malaise that fell over every single class, with it all sometimes feeling more like a chore than an actual engaging educational experience. None

of this falls on professors either; the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the way college felt on a day-to-day level.

Flash forward to a vaccine rollout and a flattening of the curve, and here we are — back to school for what has so far shaped up to be an immensely greater experience. Classes are back and fully in-person, which is something that can not be underestimated for its worth. For the first time since early 2020, it is so refreshing to finally be in a classroom surrounded by familiar faces on a week-to-week basis, all collectively building a learning environment.

Whether it be the slight stress of an exam or a compelling professor whose presence lights up a room, all of the different little details that come with in-person classes far outweigh the simplicity and disconnected feeling that came with Zoom classes.

Speaking of connection, many of the great social elements that occur outside the classroom have returned as well. Between the University bringing back exciting outdoor activities like Quadfest and the Activities Fair, as well as clubs being back to normal operations, it’s clear that the student body is excited to be back in the swing of things.

Not only is it motivating, but in many ways it is also fulfilling, to finally see Fairfield University’s campus bustling with energy and activity. The mask mandate may still be in place, but at its core, the feeling that comes with being at college has never felt better. In just these first couple weeks, I can safely say that I have had a more meaningful time than pretty much the entirety of my first year of college during the pandemic. I’m sure everything will only get better as time goes on.

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THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Opinion

Constraining Students into Small Classrooms Reveals University's COVID-19 Policy Inconsistencies

By Julia Lanzillotta Executive Editor

The Fairfield University community was approximately 91% vaccinated against COVID-19 as of September 17, when these statistics were last updated online.

I appreciate the fact that Fairfield feels comfortable enough with this generally high percentage to not mandate vaccinations, but the remaining nine percent is certainly looming in my mind.

Although professors are not given lists naming unvaccinated students on their roster, they are given a percentage of students in each of their courses who are vaccinated. This number has been worthy of comments and discussion in many of my classes, generating mixed opinions.

I feel rather safe in class, since all of my instructors are extremely diligent with enforcing mask mandates. I am comfortable wearing a mask, as it has been the status quo for the past year and a half now, however I do feel frustrated with the amount of students who are packed into small classrooms.

Just last academic year, classroom capacities were reduced to a fraction of what they are now. These changes were justified by COVID-19 precautions, yet according to the New York Times, on Sept. 7, 2021 (the first day of classes) there were 337 new COVID-19 cases in Fairfield County alone. On that same date in 2020, there

were zero new cases in the county.

This suggests that Fairfield University has altered their policies based on their desire to return back to ‘normal,’ rather than on what is safest for their students.

Though I wish that all students at Fairfield University would get vaccinated for the sake of myself and all of Fairfield University, I take greater issue with how the University has forced its students to return to the classroom with absolutely no regard for social distancing.

This problem has been exacerbated as each incoming class at the university is larger than the one before, yet our learning spaces are the same size that they have always been.

Beyond the public health complication that this claustrophobic environment fosters, Fairfield’s hypocrisy is the most glaring issue here. If anything, they should be more cautious than in past semesters in terms of the precautionary measures that they are choosing to take.

Now more than ever Zoom class should be an option for students because without it, students may feel compelled to come to class even if they are not feeling well for fear of missing important notes or lectures.

Those who suffer the brunt of this poor planning on an administrative level are the vaccinated, who have done all they can do to protect themselves, and still are made vulnerable due to shortcomings from the school.

With less than one week of classes behind me, I have received two emails from the school notifying me of positive cases within my class sections. These emails let me know that since

mon.

It would be wrong of me to speculate that these positive cases were fully among the unvaccinated population, however I cannot help but

Creative Commons/ Fairfield University

I was fully vaccinated, I “should receive a Covid-19 test” at the Rec Plex Field House and that it was “strongly recommended, but not required.”

In contrast, the protocol for unvaccinated students was more stringent, mandating them to take two tests throughout the week.

I believe that this strong suggestion for vaccinated students should become a mandate.

With the Coronavirus variants circulating, breakthrough cases are becoming more com-

think that those unprotected individuals contributed in some way to these case surges, and mandatory testing in some capacity seem like a good idea.

To an extent, I blame my unvaccinated peers for the continued obstacles that I need to face at Fairfield, but I do believe that the accountability falls on the University to make decisions that advocate for the best interest of the student body as a whole.

Student Praises The Tully for Vast Improvement from Last Year

By Matthew Adamski Contributing Writer

The Tully Dining Commons is probably the most iconic site on campus. Even a stranger could step on campus and know where it is and what it’s got. Let me tell you, this year the Tully has outdone itself.

I am in the class of 2024, among the ones that remember the not so gilded era of the Tully’s dining options, where seemingly everything was encased in clear plastic containers.

There was popcorn chicken for every meal, the fries were dry and the tables were closed off from eating every other week. It definitely did

Kyler Erezuma/The Mirror

Editorial Board "Drag: Igniting Confidence and Acceptance! " Molly Lamendola Editor-in-Chief

Anyone who knows me knows I’ve gotten incredibly into drag queens in the last month. I was telling someone new this little factoid, just saying “I just got into it” and my friend, one of the co-managing editors of The Mirror, Tobenna Ugwu, unhelpfully jumped in with “It’s literally been a few weeks. She went on one lunch and now has tickets to things.”

This, of course, is a slight exaggeration, but I did just recently discover the wonderful world of drag and drag queens. In just a month, I’ve seen nearly all the seasons of “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” in both the United States, the United Kingdom and all of the All-Stars seasons. I have tickets to a drag show on Halloween weekend and another show in April of 2022. I bought gold fabric and gold gogo boots for my slightly heretic Halloween costume, completely inspired by drag.

I am just one of those slightly obsessive personalities who get really into things quickly, and by the time you finish blinking, I’m on a plane to “Drag Queen School” in Sweden or have purchased multiple wigs at 4:00 a.m.

But... I think it’s where I get a lot of my charm (at least I hope?). No matter!

But, what I didn’t expect in my newfound interest, is this profound understanding of what drag queens truly teach us. Trying to avoid corniness and my friends rolling their eyes, drag queens teach us to have overwhelming self-confidence and a true sense of self.

not do much to contribute to the sense of community in the school or among classmates.

The Tully is now almost unrecognizable.

All the food wait stations are open. We have the deli, tex mex, the salad bar, the main courses and the pasta towards the back. It’s such a rich array and I feel as though I have plenty of options; there is always something to satisfy everyone’s palate.

The welcoming change for me is the use of real silverware on real plates. This new way of doing things makes it feel more dignified and home-like, rather than eating off of plastic.

For the price that students pay to go here, last year felt like we were paying a bit too much for the number of things that were wrapped and packed in plastic. Then students had to go out and venture through empty classrooms, benches outside or go back to their dorms to eat their cold meal in solitude. Therefore, having the Tully feel like a restaurant is a great improvement.

My only gripe would be how often the soda and vitamin water machines go “out of service.” I would also love to see an iced tea option as a beverage.

The Tully staff is extremely helpful; there have been many times where I needed something and they were there to assist me. That’s

As a senior at Fairfield University, I know how hard it is to truly find yourself here.

Fairfield touts the Jesuit values and claims that your four years here will develop you as a whole person, that you’ll graduate and truly know who you are. But, the typical fear of missing out runs deep through the University.

What makes people unique and what makes them special is hidden under layers of insecurities and a worry that their friend group will judge them.

I’m not saying I’m always able to rise above this feeling. I lived in Loyola Hall sophomore year and my roommate and I would watch the flood of kids run through the track on their way back from the townhouses. We’d sit and tell ourselves we’ll go next week because it’s the “typical college experience.”

It didn’t matter that we both hated townhouse parties and would rather take a very long walk off a very short cliff than stand in a townhouse basement packed like sardines.

There’s just something about watching other people “have fun” around you that makes you feel like you’re missing something. The endless scroll through dark snap stories with pounding EDM, as you lay in bed making you feel like you’re doing this whole college thing wrong; that there might be something wrong with you.

But, there comes a time in your life where you grow out of this feeling, or at least

exactly what I and other students appreciate. And that’s why I send the Tully staff a thousand thankyous.

I must say that I do miss the option of the Tully providing to-go containers. If students want to take meals back to their resident halls for later, they have to provide their own tupperware.

I bought some from Stop & Shop, but it was still a hassle of having to go out and buy it when the Tully could easily provide it on destination. But I digress, once you have your pack of tupperware, you can enjoy an afternoon predinner, post-lunch meal in your dorm to keep the studying flowing.

However one thing remains true after all is said and done - what makes the meal is the company.

After a long day of classes, homework, meetings, stress, caffeine and adrenaline, there is nothing I look forward to more than seeing my friends at a “mega-table” at the back corner of the Tully and taking the time to catch up and laugh.

This sense of community is what the Tully should symbolize to all that enter.

After you finish your meal and leave, not only should your belly be full, but your spirit should be reinvigorated as well.

I did. When that true deep, “I hate townhouse parties” actually overwhelmed my FOMO and I was able to start doing things I actually liked without fear of being judged by my peers. Like going to a production of Rocky Horror Picture show in full costume, or the Milford Apple Festival or drinking an entire box of Sunset Blush Franzia with my roommates.

I think it takes a lot of work to truly discover who you are and discover that you aren’t less of a person or less cool than all the “popular girls” at school. But, what always stops me from thinking “Oh, if I ask someone to go to the Apple Festival with me, will they think I’m weird?” or “What if someone sees me in the parking lot listening to Rain on Me?” is the thought of those darn drag queens.

I think that if grown men can tuck their business, put a dress and a wig on to dance in front of a room of 400 people, we can all discover who we truly are. We can have the confidence to text someone to go get lunch with us at a random spot downtown. We can dance the craziest, be the loudest laugh in a room, and truly grow into fabulously unique individuals we are, without fear of being judged. This is where we can truly look to drag queens. It doesn’t matter what or who they are on a dayto-day basis, they throw on a wig and some makeup and become the peak of confidence and acceptance. So just think of them every day and you’ll be fine.

September 22, 2021

Arts, Entertainment, Features Editor: Brooke Lathe

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

The Vine

By Molly Lamendola Editor-In-Chief

As I walked around with songs like “Island in the Sun” and “Upside Down” playing in the background, I wielded an egg sandwich from the amazing Snack Bar in one hand and balanced an apple cider donut and apple cider in the other. I peered around at all of the cute handmade Halloween decorations and families running around.

My sister and I were the lucky few who were able to score some apple cider donuts, as they were flying off of the shelves. So, in

faces and having the opportunity to get together with others is something that I won’t take for granted after a year like we’ve had.

What was especially missed here, as Harrington told me, was the fact that they made the difficult decision not to hold the festival last fall of 2020 due to COVID-19.

“Although it’s our major fundraiser of the year,” she said, “The health and safety of our St. Peter’s family and the community was more important!”

There’s always something special about small-town happenings. I’m talking about a neighborhood-wide celebration about some random resident that lived in your area in the 1800s, or lighting the Christmas tree in the town square, much like that scene from “New in Town” where they all get a day off from work to go ice fishing.

In an effort to look for this same sense of “home,” I sat on my laptop one warm September morning, searching for activities to partake in that was reminiscent of my hometown. I was completely overjoyed to stumble upon St. Peter’s Episcopal Church’s Apple Festival.

It’s been happening in Monroe, Conn., for over 65 years, as Elizabeth Harrington, a long-time volunteer at the festival, told me.

“The Apple Festival is all we’ve ever known!” she states, recounting how it started first as just a “Friday night parish spaghetti dinner with everyone coming back together on Saturday and having the craft fair” but since then it has quickly evolved.

Stretching over the first weekend after Labor Day, the Festival now includes over 50 craft and goods vendors. The St. Peter’s parishioners run a Snack Bar, sell apples, Photo Contributed by Grace Lamendola peaches, t-shirts, bags and apple-themed “knick-knacks” at Apple Central. They also Apple Central at St. Peter's Apple Festival in Monroe.

Because of the ongoing nature of the sell all the baked goods you could ever de- order for you to be able to snatch some of these amazing donuts, you have to arrive pandemic, health and safety precautions sire at the Country Kitchen.

Inspired by the possibility of having as early as you can; because when we left were at the center of every decision this year an apple cider donut at an Apple Festival, I around noon, there wasn’t a single apple ci- as well. The typical kid’s games and bounce houses were absent, in an effort to protect scooped up my sister and we drove over to der donut in sight.

But, even if you aren’t able to grab those children who weren’t old enough to get vacMonroe.

Cute doesn’t even begin to describe this delicious pastries, the feeling of community cinated. Leading up to the event, the festival festival. It looks like a scene out of Gilm- and friendly neighbors, that spread through- organizers also kept up to date with local ore Girls. A live musician sang songs that out the event made the trip all worth it. This and federal mask and vaccination policies could’ve been from the “Curious George” “togetherness” is something that was miss- and made changes to the event accordingly.

There was one thing always on the back ing during the pandemic. Seeing smiling movie or “Aquamarine.”

because it’s really nice to listen to and puts me in a good mood.

In order to get to know fellow students through what songs they like, I asked a few Stags that I had spotted, what they were listening to.

When I approached Emily Martocci ’24, she was listening to “Happier Than Ever,” by Billie Eilish. She feels that the lyrics allow her to have an easy time letting out concealed emotions, as do most people once listen to Eilish’s tune.

Katie Faber ’22, who just transferred here from Stonehill College in Massachusetts, loves country music. So when I stopped and asked her what she was listening to, the song “Buy Dirt” by Jordan Davis and Luke Bryan was a no-brainer. She mentioned how the song is very humbling and never fails to put her in a good mood, a much-needed pick me up during the first few weeks of classes.

of their minds, and that was if the volunteers, crafters and vendors would still be willing to come back during this public health crisis.

“We were, however, optimistic that people would come!” She told me that they were so excited and just couldn’t wait for things to go back to normal.

The festival seemed to go off without a hitch. I attended Saturday morning, Sep. 11, arriving just around 10:00 a.m. The warm September weather was just enough to keep me temperate in my jeans and argyle sweater.

Walking around, I was met with a huge crowd of excited volunteers in forest green tee shirts. Picnic tables were set in the center, and an elderly man donning his green volunteer shirt eagerly cleaned the tables for new customers, greeting each one with a warm reassurance of cleanliness.

“Saturday was not just exhausting, but also heartwarming and soul fulfilling,” Harrington said, mentioning the perfect weather.

She went on to say that she loved watching her family work side by side at Apple Central. Her daughter showed her grandmother all the “credit card technology” and her son had a perfect built-in math lesson weighing all the apples.

“I saw friends from church that I hadn’t in over a year and a half, watched little ones sitting on shoulders trying to figure out how to take the first bite of candy apple, heard people laughing, excited to be ‘normal again’ and I couldn’t help but dance from place to place to the great music that was playing both on the green and in my heart!” she said.

And, after finally attending my first Apple Festival, I can understand why it is so special to its patrons. I left with a bag of warm apple cider donuts, an apple crisp and overwhelming excitement for the fall season to come.

seemingly positive, alluding to an assumption that as a whole, Fairfield University is more optimistic than ever

By Heather Kenney Contributing Writer Fairfield University students are finally back to attending in-person classes, which means the long commute across campus and the need for noisecanceling headphones are back in full swing. It’s no surprise that each student has a different taste in music, as there are thousands of genres to choose from nowadays.

With that being said, it might be a good thing for students that have longer walks to class. It gives everyone the opportunity to put in their headphones and fill the audial void with songs that they have never heard before, friend recommendations, new radio hits, or of course, their favorite songs.

I do this myself, whether it’s a walk to the Media Center from my dorm hall or only to the John A. Barone Campus Center. Personally, my favorite song at the moment has to be “Heaven and Back,” by Chase Atlantic. I like this song

Page 8

Another student I asked was Mary Sullivan ’24. As she was walking around campus, she was listening to “Beautiful People,” by Ed Sheeran. She enjoys this song because of how catchy the lyrics are, along with the good meaning behind them.

The last person I stopped on the campus sidewalk was Rose Manson ‘24, from Massachusetts. She was listening to “The Business,” by Tiësto. She states, “It’s one of my favorite songs because it reminds me of when I would go out with my friends from back home during the summer.”

Clearly, these five songs are very diverse, showing that our Fairfield Stags love all kinds of music. And while it might be a reach, all of the songs were

Chase Atlantic's album cover.

about sensing back its normalcy.

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THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

The Vine

By Liana Giacobbe Contributing Writer The Seagrape: A Fairfield Tradition that Stands the Test of Time The start of a new school year generates a great deal of emotions: excitement to see friends, anxiety about the start of classes and

Photo Courtesy of @Theseagrape Instagram

By Erica Schindler Contributing Writer The start of a new school year brings lots of new opportunities, including the chance to join clubs and organizations. With over 100 clubs, Fairfield students have a wide variety of options. Here are a few hidden gems: Book Club: If you have a love for reading and want to discuss books with other students, Fairfield University’s Book Club is the place for you.

The club, which will soon begin meeting every two weeks, provides students with a chance to talk about books in a fun and relaxed environment.

“This is just for enjoyment,” Book Club Co-President Grace Foltin, ‘24 said. “...it’s very chill and it’s not another class.”

Each month, club members will meet and decide together which book to read as a group. Last year’s Book Club picks included “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi.

The Book Club will provide the agreed-upon book to members at no

a general curiosity about what the year is to bring. While it is safe to say that the past few years have been far from normal for college students, with the pandemic and all of the change and regulations that it has brought about, there are some Fairfield University traditions that have stood the test of time: one of the most famous being the Seagrape Cafe. Located at 1144 Reef Road and just a short walk from Lantern Point, the home of many Fairfield seniors, the Seagrape has been acclaimed for its charm by Fairfield students for decades. Many of the seniors who live off-campus on the beach have made some of their fondest memories within the walls of the cozy college bar.

Senior, Alexa Sanducci, regards it fondly as “one of those places where if you just go with your friends on any night you’ll have a good time.”

There is never a shortage of entertainment and excitement occurring at ‘The Grape,’ as it is so lovingly referred to. It has served as a hotspot for college students since it opened its doors in 1982, attracting crowds from both Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University. Though the weekends would certainly feel incomplete without witnessing crowds of students awaiting entry to the Seagrape, preparing to have a blast with their friends and keep the spirit of Stag Country alive, it is not a place solely for young adults. As

cost. Members will then spend two weeks reading up to the midpoint of the book and meet again to discuss.

After two more weeks, the club will convene again “...after those two weeks, we talk about the whole book in general. And it’s really just a conversation,” Foltin said.

Students interested in joining Book Club can search for the club on Life@Fairfield and select “join” to be added to a mailing list to hear about upcoming meetings.

Every Voice Coalition: Every Voice Coalition is a student-run national organization fighting for sexual violence survivors at colleges across the country. Every Voice at Fairfield works to make everyone on campus safe and comfortable.

The club held its first meeting of the year on Thursday, September 16, where members got to know each other and club guidelines focusing on respect were set.

At future meetings, Every Voice hopes to bring in speakers from groups such as the Black Student Union, GSA and the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport, Conn. “...We’re talking with the social

work department and we’re hoping to team up with some other department and just bring in all perspectives because sexual violence is very much an intersectional issue…” Vice President Christina Carucci said.

In addition to their bi-weekly meetings here at Fairfield, Every Voice Coalition worked over the summer to pass the Connecticut Every Voice Bill.

This law established a statewide amnesty policy for student survivors of sexual assault as well as a twiceannual anonymous survey to gather student data on sexual assault. “...basically if someone experiences an event of sexual violence under the influence, they are not held accountable for being under the influence at all, that doesn’t have any effect on them whatsoever,” Carucci said.

Every Voice at Fairfield meets every other week in NHS Room 404

stated on their website, “The Seagrape is the local’s pub. The tourist’s summer hangout. The college kid’s meeting place.”

While it is definitely acclaimed to be an astounding spot by locals, the Seagrape also has its hold on people who are merely passing through the town of Fairfield. Its charm is impossible to ignore, between its delectable finger foods and vast drink options, as well as its endless sources of music entertainment. While there are seemingly endless ways to describe the magic of the Seagrape, there is little that can be done to accurately convey its wonder without actually stepping foot inside.

To quote their website, “It’s just a feeling you get when you walk in the door. A feeling that you’ve been here before...that this is YOUR place”.

The Seagrape is simply the type of location that you must experience in all its glory to fully appreciate. Take a lesson from the college kids and locals alike who simply can’t get enough of this eclectic Reef Road spot, and stop by to see what it’s all about!

from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Students who want to join the organization can request to be added to the email list on Life@Fairfield.

Arthur’s Club: For many nursing home residents, the COVID-19 pandemic brought on isolation and loneliness.

Fairfield University’s Arthur’s Club aims to combat this by providing nursing home residents with companionship and more.

Arthur’s Club was started by Liv Sarantopoulos (2021 Fairfield graduate) last year and is named after her grandfather.

Although the club has not been allowed in nursing homes due to the pandemic, members have found other ways to reach the seniors they hope to serve. “...we send them care packages, write them letters, [and] just make

Photo Courtesy of seagrapect.com

sure they’re not lonely,” club Vice President Morgan Hoffman, ‘23 said.

This year, the club plans to meet once every two to three weeks. Members will put together packages for the residents and drop them off at the nursing homes.

Club President Megan Hansen ‘23, says she hopes the club will be able to personally deliver the cards and packages in the future. “...the whole idea of the club is to just bring little pockets of joy to places that haven’t had it in a long time…”

Hansen said.

Those interested in joining Arthur’s Club can reach out to Hansen or Hoffman, or sign up at Life@Fairfield to hear about upcoming meetings.

Book Club, Every Voice Coalition and Arthur’s Club each provide students with unique experiences and chances to explore their interests.

No matter what interests you, there is something out there for everyone.

To join these clubs and more, visit Life@Fairfield and click "Organizations".

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

The Vine

By Sheila McCombs Executive Editor The Met Gala is back, and everything is once again right in the world. Every year the Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a fundraiser for their costume institute. The event is based around a themed exhibit and celebrities from all walks of entertainment attend in outrageously amazing outfits that work with the theme of the exhibit. The event, which has been held since 1948, is hosted by Vogue magazine, along with having multiple celebrity co-hosts.

Last year, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 and this year it was moved from its traditional date of the first Monday in May, to Sept. 13. I was thrilled to finally have it back, and it has been a hot topic of discussion.

Though I really want to get into the important part of the gala, the outfits, it’s important to first discuss the theme. This year it was, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” or as most people described it, just American fashion. The actual exhibit features different items from various historical periods and popular pieces from American designers.

One observation from just the attendance list, is that the guests were from a younger generation this year. Amanda Gorman, Billie Eilish, Timothee Chalamet and Naomi Osaka, were all in attendance and all under the age of 26. But, I will say that, in general, this year’s gala was one of the more lackluster events in comparison to recent years. My theory on why this is the case is because the theme lended itself too much to the average red carpet look.

It seemed as though some people felt they had succeeded in accomplishing the theme by just wearing something made by an American de-

By Tatiana Ryan Contributing Writer We are all finding ourselves in the transitional period between summer and fall. Some days, you may need an upbeat track filled with trumpets and electric guitars to get you out the door, and other days you might be searching for an introspective acoustic song to soundtrack your daily walk from the Townhouses to Canisius Hall. So whatever it is that you’re craving today, here is a mix of 2021 songs that has a little bit of everything you’ll love at one time or another.

“How Dare You Want More” by Bleachers Bleachers’ triumphant return with their third album, “Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night '' shows true stateof-the-art production on every track with “How Dare You Want More'' as the standout hit from the album. HDYWM features Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff ’s signature trumpets, an instrument that he fiddled with on the band’s sophomore album, “Gone Now,” and added them to this album’s fourth single as well. HDYWM has something running through it that makes you feel like nothing can go wrong while Antonoff sings, “Lonely wants to stay forever/ But tonight, we’re gonna do a little better.”

signer. I did love some of the looks but my all in all review of the event was that it was just fine.

So without you waiting any longer, here are my opinions on the best and worst looks of night.

Worst:

Channing Tatum: Starting from the bottom so we have room to improve, I have to start with one of my least favorite looks of the night.

The Met gala is usually a place where people wear outlandish outfits that they would never be able to wear on a normal red carpet. With that in mind, my least favorite thing is when men arrive at this event wearing a plain black tuxedo, and this is exactly what Channing did.

He showed up in an “average” black Versace Suit, and I was incredibly disappointed. I would much rather see guests try something risky, and have it fail, than just do something safe. This outfit is the total example of the bar being literally on the floor. Do more, Channing!

Addison Rae: Now this one was a harder pick for me, but in the end I found too many problems with the Tik Tok star’s outfit to not include it on my list. She wore a red, vintage Tom Ford evening gown. And I know when I say all of those words together it sounds like it should be amazing. However, this dress was just simply not made for Addison Rae. The fit of the dress looked off, and having on something that doesn’t fit at fashion’s biggest night is a no-go for me. To make things even worse, an almost identical dress was worn by Kourtney Kardashian this year for a christmas party. This event is supposed to be about new and upcoming fashion and people are supposed to wear something just for them. This is also another example of doing too little, by simply wearing run of the mill red carpet wear. Not a win for

“I’m Trying (Not Friends)” by Maisie Peters The 21-year-old singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom just released her debut album at the end of August filled with teen angst, somber winters and pop hits (some co-written with friend Ed Sheeran). “I’m Trying (Not Friends)” tells the story of still resenting an ex for how they treated you even after you’ve claimed to move on and be mature. This passive-aggressive track’s hyper-specific lyricism, insanely catchy melody and impeccable one-liners detail a summer-classic-must-add so you too can scream out the line, “It’s a low when even in my dreams, you still don’t want me there”.

“A Concert Six Months From Now” by FINNEAS The lead single to FINNEAS’s debut album “The Optimist,” “A Concert Six Months From Now” gives a somber sort of hope to confusing love that comes and goes, and then the world changes. His calming voice and delicate lyrics fit perfectly as we move into autumn. He even namedrops the seasonal classic “When Harry Met Sally '' and later sings, “We were never any good at being friends.”

“Justified” by Kacey Musgraves The second single off Musgraves’ much-

me.

Best:

Yara Shahidi: Yara Shahidi, activist and star of “Grown-ish,” stunned from head to toe in a sparkling Christian Dior gown. Her look was in tribute to the incredible fashion of American actress, Josephine Baker. She wore a more traditional 1920’s silhouette and a headpiece that emulated the time that Baker lived.

It worked well with the theme of the event, and fitted her body to perfection. I loved the idea behind this and the execution as well! 10/10 for sure!

Billie Eilish: The true winner of the night was one of the cohosts, Billie Eilish. When she stepped out onto the carpet my jaw hit the floor. In a stunning, and massive Oscar de La Renta ball gown in a shade of pale pink, she was a vision. It created one of those “gasp” moments that the carpet at the Met is famous for. Her hair and the cut of the dress showed homage to the one and only, Marilyn Monroe. It was just quintessentially American and it showed an updated take on a classic. I loved everything about it!

So, this Met gala is not the same as it has been in years past. Due to COVID-19, the gala was held in September instead of it’s usual occurrence in May. In addition to this, while the exhibits are usually one time only events, they are planning on intertwining themes for the first time ever.

This year’s gala exhibit, which involves American fashion, will connect to the next theme occuring in May 2022.

Yet, there are still multiple differ-

anticipated sophomore album, “starcrossed” hits hard to the theme of moving on after a vital chapter of your life.

Kacey Musgraves is making country music like nobody else right now, combining Johnny Cash’s influences with current pop undertones.

“Justified” is a perfect example of Musgraves’ hard-hitting songwriting skills which perfectly captures the conflicting emotions she felt after her divorce. Due to this, be ready to roll the windows down and belt out, “If I need just a little more time to deal with the fact that you should’ve treated me right/ I’m more than just a little justified”.

“Meet Me At Our Spot” by THE ANXIETY, Tyler Cole and Willow Willow Smith and Tyler Cole released this next summer classic through the group name “THE ANXIETY,” just like they had for their 2020 album.

Luckily, this song gained most of its popularity this summer over a popular phone app, TikTok. Smith’s impeccably distinct vocals match extremely well with Cole’s utterly cool runs, making for a perfect driving song as we enter into summer/fall purgatory.

“Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)” by Lorde Lorde’s much-anticipated third album, “Solar Power” did not disappoint

Page 10

ences between the two exhibits. The September exhibit, titled “In American: A Lexicon of Fashion,” is focused on taking older items from American fashion and connecting them to more modern pieces based on the emotions that they invoke. However, the May 2022 exhibit, titled “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” will use clothes to focus on the question of gender, race and class in American fashion.

Overall, this exhibit is a two-part showing.

When the 2022 gala opens on May 5, 2022, the two exhibits will be open at the same time until September 5, 2022. This is also something that has never been done. So even though we missed it this May, at least we are that much closer to the 2022 gala!

Photo Courtesy of @Billieeilish Instagram

with its beach day, perfect summer attitude. But while leaving behind much of the emotional turmoil of “Melodrama”, Lorde continued to include her retrospective childhood track that each album has contained so far.

“Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All)” brings hope and closure to her past self, and sounds like what could be a long-lost TLC track that answers the question: “what would you tell your 15-year-old self?”

“One Foot in Front of the Other”

by Griff On this title track from her debut album, 20-year-old Griff describes what it’s like to realize that emotions take longer to heal as you start getting older. She describes what it’s like to bounce back from anything when you’re a kid, but feels strange when you try to move on when you’re older because “Things just take longer to heal these days”. This upbeat, new wave of pop sound is making its mark on pop music and new-age songwriting.

“Happier

Than Ever” by Billie Eilish The success of Eilish’s title track from her sophomore album, “Happier Than Ever” came from a multitude of reasons. The first two-and-a-half minutes are Billie Eilish as we have known her: a delicate voice accompanied by a ukelele. The only striking part of this section of the song is the hook, “When I’m away from you, I’m happier than ever.”

At the 2:37 minute mark, the song transforms into a brutally honest, largerthan-life rock song. The first time we hear Eilish’s belt, the sharpness of the lyrics meet with the brashness of the bass, and the ultimate scream-it-out-ifyou-know-it ending that will be remembered for a long time.

Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts, get your steps in on those walks to class, and use these songs for every mood of the day for whatever it is that you need. Happy listening!

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

The Vine

By Theresa Morrissey Contributing Writer During the hours of the unknown I lay wake on the chest of my mother not a thought in my head It is a blue sky, the most crisp morning imagined The sky has brought no warning only a signal of delay The breeze blows by the tall skyscrapers, The winds will soon be troubled The air now needs to be sifted In the basement of the tower, bonds and trading stocks crashes down through the streets once again A light blue brooks brothers tie floats down to the concrete street, a place it has never rested before He took the hand of another sifting through this unfamiliar grey desert finding a way to cross the stream, a story we have heard before Togetherness now needs to carry the beaten briefcase across the Hudson A call home from school that I do not

understand, she is only eleven How can we, do we tell her?

A child plays with imaginary guns on my front lawn playing games now all too real Devastation and disbelief travels down to our towns dead end Our father who art in heaven, so gently come to a wife's side Warm souls flood our front door bringing grief and comfort to an undeclared widow of time From on top of the hill waits six of us, alone a Mother of five A two dollar broker walks to the door covered in grey soot and ash Today he wished he had worn his

By Thomas Senesac Contributing Writer The night sky was heavy with darkness, and revolved behind a thin, film layer of bright stars. The wind was soft, and panning down onto the rolling hills of campus, the golden lamps brought light to those sections of lawn that curved around the stone sidewalk, and vivid green mirages arose. Infront of Bellarmine Hall, at the nearest edge of one of those sections of lawn, in between the grass and its mirage, I sat alone on a wooden bench that stood below a hanging, maternal tree. My leg would not stop bouncing.

“If you have your tickets, step forward! Get out your tickets! You must have your tickets to gain admission!”

All the groups began to file between the red velvet stanchions with languid assurety; however, outside the dividing lines, the individuals waiting for more of their friends, stood leaning against the stone wall of Bellarmine. I entered the line between the two.

“Everyone please stay in a Single File Line, thank you.”

I don’t remember much about the crowd in line; just the ground. I did, however, know of the guy who was scanning everyone’s ticket; his name was Lars: he played rugby.

Photo Contributed by Kyler Erezuma

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galoshes for now his shoes have been dusted We see the sun setting on the city on the top of our hill ,We have been so blessed to be our lucky number seven In these times we have been so grateful It is the moments after the unknown that we cherish so greatly Today has changed.

The reflection of the sun is golden off the buildings we now do not see, blinding our soaked eyes What we have lost will not be forgotten but what still stands will prosper on in our warm hearts that you could come home

Pexels

“Hey what’s up” “Sup, man.”

He didn’t know my name. He scanned my ticket. Here was where the stanchions ended.

I walked into the purgatory caught between two worlds, the line and Bellarmine; and it was all there; colors were between those two gray doors. A woman in a red dress walked across the polished parquet floor to say ‘hi’ to her friends. People were happy. It seemed so far away though, something done in circles of conversation with their backs turned. Before I entered I went up to Lars again.

“Hey, Lars - uh, I forgot something in my dorm. I’ve gotta go grab it, actually” “Once I scan your ticket you can’t come back.”

“Sorry.”

I don’t remember seeing color on the walk back. I sat down on the wooden bench after asking my mom if it was alright if I came back home for a while, stay for the weekend. I told her I missed the dog.

Sitting there I only heard the rustle of the leaves from the hanging tree, which stirred my ears. They moved with the wind: towards the entrance of the gymnasium, a calm autumn breeze. Where lines of kids eagerly waited to enter, now the lines were empty. The only person left was Lars who was now sitting down at a large gray plastic table that made him seem lonely.

I finally got up, not knowing which direction to walk: back, or away, but what I did know was that the wind hypnotized me to stand and choose a direction. I stood up, with my body and mind telling me the direction of safety was away, back, back where I could find rest.

But another part of me, the part that only listens to the wind, told me to follow it. Leading me back to the division of worlds. I walked the path I had known so well, and arrived at the lines, meeting Lars, who was unhooking the red velvet rope from stanchions and putting them away.

“I told you man, once I scan your ticket. I can’t scan it again” I went to answer but, “GEORGE!” Cooper rushed up behind me and took away my heaviness by wrapping his arm around me.

“Now, why didn’t you tell me you were going to the Ball? Showing up fashionably late, I see - nice, I like it. Was that what you were going for? Oh, hey whatsup Lars,” “Your friend already scanned his ticket but he won’t-” “Don’t worry about it man, he’s with me. See, I’ve got another,” Cooper showed Lars another ticket. We moved right past him.

“Alright, enough of that, This is George by the way, Lars! I’m so glad to see you man, how you been, why didn’t you tell me you were coming to this?

I wouldn’t let you go to this alone.”

I didn’t respond. Cooper continued “Alright, come on, I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

Coffee Break

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Page 12

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

The Presidential Ball Bamboozle Nathan Silva, Contributing Writer

P r e s i d e n t i a l B a l l t i c k e t s w e n t o n s a l e o n S u n d a y, S e p t e m b e r 12 , a n d t h e t i c k e t i n g s i t e c r a s h e d a l m o s t i n s t a n t l y. E v e n t h o u g h t h e F a i r f i e l d U n i v e r s i t y S t u d e n t A s s o c i a t i o n p r o m i s e d a q u i c k r e s o l u t i o n , s t u d e n t s h a v e n ’ t b e e n t h i s u p s e t s i n c e t h e y t h r e w t r a s h a t F e t t y Wa p d u r i n g t h e 2 019 Fall Concert.

Pe r h a p s m o s t d i s g r u n t l e d a r e f i r s t ye a r s t u d e n t s w h o h ave o n ly h e a r d o f t h e e ve n t t h r o u g h u r b a n legend and were looking for ward to posting their experience to Instag ram with the caption “Belle of the Ball #rooomiees.”

“Now how are all of my friends from home going to know about my completely original college exp e r i e n c e ? ” s a i d a n u n n a m e d f i r s t y e a r. “ I ’ m t h r i v i n g . ” Even with the hiccup, students are undoubtedly excited to see the retur n of one of the fall semester’s most exciting events, second only to the f irst R esident Assistant f loor meeting of the y e a r. H o w e v e r, i n a n e f f o r t t o k e e p s t u d e n t s s a f e , t h e U n i v e r s i t y h a s e l e c t e d t o s p l i t t h e B a l l i n t o two events; one with f irst year and sophomore students and another following immediately for j u n i o r a n d s e n i o r s t u d e n t s . T h e t w o e v e n t s w i l l r u n s i m i l a r l y, t h e m a i n e x c e p t i o n b e i n g t h e s e a t ing for f irst years and sophomores, which will be Little T ikes chairs until they are promoted to the grown ups table.

If you’re planning on only a matter of time the Stag, eating mac selves in front of the

buying a ticket, the site should be back up soon, so for better or worse it’s before students are taking pictures with President Nemec dressed as Lucas and cheese bites like it’s their job, and ver y publicly embar rassing theme n t i r e s t u d e n t b o d y.

Cryptoquotes and Sodoku For the Cryptoquotes, each sentence is a coded famous quote, and the letters here are a consistent code that represents the actual quote. To get started, look for patterns and common short words that are within the ciphertext (coded letters shown here). For more help or instructions on cryptoquotes, check out some crash courses on Google, or DM @FairfieldMirror on Twitter for hints!

For Sodoku, each verticle column 3x3 box, and horizontal row, must be filled with a number 1-9, and no numbers can repeat.

Just like the cryptoquotes, for more help check out some crash courses on Google or DM @FairfieldMirror on Twitter!

Printable Puzzles / Puzzles.ca

SPORTS Sports

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Page 13

Sports Editor: Tommy Coppola >>thomas.coppola@student.fairfield.edu

Arena 100: September Progress Report

By Thomas Coppola Sports Editor

the timetable for completion of the brand new arena. Large posters depicting the computer generated image of the fin-

Towards the close of the spring semester of 2021, Fairfield University students were able to witness the tearing down of Alumni Hall, the stadium where many former Stags created memories while watching our basketball and volleyball teams dominate the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

After the debris of the former stadium was cleared away over the summer, the construction crew was able to begin laying the foundation for what the new “Arena and Convocation Center” may look like. From the lower entrance of the Barone Campus Center, one can see a large concrete wall that is below where the front of where the old arena stood.

Towards the back end of the site, about three levels of metal beams have been posted up. The process of building the actual stadium seems to have commenced.

A large fence has created a border around the entire site, allowing for walkways in between the Barone Campus Center and the site itself, as well as a walkway between the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies parking lot and the site.

Alumni Hall opened to Fairfield University students in December of 1959. The new arena in its place will feature a media center, more seating, a beer garden and other updated features, and was originally slated to be finished in 2021.

However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the original plans of the University, thus altering

In this week's issue...

-

ished arena that is underway are hung on fences, projecting a “Late Fall 2022” completion date.

Thomas Coppola/The Fairfield Mirror

Opinion: Who Will Take Home NFL's End-of-Season Honors? (Page 14) A Guide To The Best MLB Trade Deadline Dealings (Page 15) Volleyball Players Take Home Multiple MAAC Honors (Page 15) Women's Soccer Stays Perfect Through Last Five (Page 16)

Sports

Page 14

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Opinion: Who Will Take Home NFL's End-of-Season Honors?

players had a fantastic first week, such as Dak Prescott. Prescott is my pick for comeback player of the year, and perhaps a contender for more awards at the end of the season. Other players such as Christian McCaffrey, who had 89 yards receiving yards on nine receptions with just as many targets, also stacked up 98 rushing yards with 21 attempts. Though he didn't get any touchdowns, it was still a jaw-dropping performance. It’s just not as impressive as the 403 yards and three touchdowns Prescott had.

Prescott's incredible performance may seem like a one-off, but if you remember last season, before his injury, Prescott was set to have a record-breaking season racking up 1,690 yards in just his first four games. Now, coming back from his compound ankle fracture, it seems he intends to return to last season's antics. For that reason, Prescott is my pick for not only the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year but also the NFL's Most Valuable Player.

Although I predict a monumental season for Dak Prescott, I cannot say the same for the Dallas Cowboys as a whole. I believe the Cowboys will lose in the National Football Conference Championship to the defending Super Bowl champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On the other side of the league, I predict a Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs American Football Conference Championship. Although the Bills lost in week one to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the one-two punch between Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs is too good to count them out for the rest of the season. Between the injuries to the Baltimore Ravens and the culture surrounding the Cleveland Browns, the safest pick for the AFC conference championship is the Browns versus the Chiefs. The Chiefs will be a perennial contender for the Super Bowl with Patrick Mahomes on their roster. Because of that, I believe they will win against the Bills in the AFC championship and continue to defeat the defending champs in a rematch of last year's Super Bowl.

On the defensive side of the ball, there is one name that immediately comes to mind season after season: Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams. Donald posted one sack in week one, which pales compared to Chandler Jones's sack game. Although it wasn't his best week, Donald is still one of if not the best defensive players in the NFL, and that is proven by other teams deciding to double team him on 70.5 percent of snaps in 2020. Aaron Donald regularly puts up unreal stat lines while being double-teamed on a majority of snaps, and this is reason enough to have him as the defensive player of the year.

Now for the rookies of the year, I have many predictions. Firstly for the Defensive Rookie of the Year, the ravings of the Dallas Cowboys about the multi-positional play of firstround pick Micah Parson are substantiated. Although Parsons will be competing for minutes against two of his teammates, he is expected to break away from his competitors as the linebackers; one for the future and for now.

Photo Courtesy of @NFL on Instagram As for the offensive rookie of the year, my pick would have been Trevor Lawrence in a heartbeat, but considering the Jacksonville Jaguars’ tough loss to a depleted Texans team in Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys led his team to a 20-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. week one, Lawrence may need time to adjust to the NFL. That being said, Lawrence is still a viable option to win Rookie of the Year; he would just have to beat out star receivers such as

By Lucas Themelis Jamarr Chase and Davonta Smith.

Contributing Writer Chase was drafted to the Cincinnati Bengals with the fifth overall pick last year and Smith won the Heisman trophy before being drafted tenth overall to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both got This year's National Football League season has already begun and is set to be a good one. to work immediately in week one for their respective teams. Perhaps Najee Haris, who also had In the first week of matchups, we saw surprising upsets in the Green Bay Packers vs. the New a lackluster week one for the Pittsburgh Steelers, will pick up the pace in the coming weeks. He Orleans Saints and the nail-biting, overtime games e like the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Las Vegas received 16 rushing attempts and three targets but wasn't able to do much with either. Harris Raiders. The coming weeks of matchups are expected to be equally as good, if not better, than seems like a big part of the Steelers offense and is another real candidate for rookie of the year. week one. Players returning from injury are finally getting real reps. Namely, Saquon Barkley of Lastly, Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons has a genuine chance to become the first-ever tight the New York Giants, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina end to win this award. Pitts main competition for the ball will be Calvin Ridley, but due to the Panthers and Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals. So which one of them will be the comegreat matchups Pitts can have, I believe he has an incredible chance to win the offensive rookie back player of the year?

Predicting who will be the comeback player of the year could be difficult, as many eligible of the year award.

Weekly 5x4

Your 2021-2022 4x5 Columnists:

Tommy Coppola, Molly Lamendola, Julia Lanzillotta, Toby Ugwu amd Sheila McCombs

Because we have witty things to say ...

Tommy Coppola Sports Editor

Molly Lamendola Editor-in-Chief

Julia Lanzillotta Executive Editor

Tobenna Ugwu Co-Managing Editor

Sheila McCombs Co-Managing Editor

Welcome back to campus!! What is one thing you are excited about in this upcoming year?

Meeting new people. It was tough to do that last year with everything online, so this is my chance.

Raccoons.

Being able to live on the beach with my best friends!

The Salad Robot in the Stag Diner.

Being able to be in a classroom again! I like it so much better than being online!

Knowing what we know about Week one of the NFL, who do you think will win the Super Bowl this year?

The Cardinals looked really solid in Week 1, but I wouldn't be surprised if Brady’s Bucs made another run.

Knowing what we know… I know nothing.

I feel like the Chiefs put up a solid fight last season, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see them at least make it to the SB.

I watch the Super Bowl for one reason only, the halftime show.

I have this very good feeling about Kansas City, so I’m going with my gut.

Do you prefer Dunkin’ or Starbucks?

Dunkin is better for coffee, Starbucks is better for tea.

Sorry Lanz.

Fairfield Dunkins are atrocious, but I’ve got to stick to my upstate roots and stick by the brand.

Dunkin is better for tea, Starbucks is better for coffee.

Starbucks, Dunkin coffee ingredients took social distancing to the next level.

Dunkin for everyday, Starbucks for a special occasion PSL.

Which teams are you excited to watch this season, now that students can attend sporting events?

I am so excited to see how the lacrosse teams do this year!

Club Martial Arts.

I am really excited to watch soccer- I feel like I didn’t watch enough last season.

Field Hockey is very underated

I am always invested in both of our basketball teams so I can’t wait to see them in action again!

Sports

THE MIRROR | Week of September 22, 2021

Page 15

A Guide To The Best MLB Trade Deadline Dealings

By Billy McGuire Contributing Writer It’s that time of year once again. The Major League Baseball regular season is in its final push before the playoffs. It will all commence on Oct. 5 with the American League wild card game. Many teams are in a dogfight to make the playoffs, like the New York Mets and New York Yankees.

Both are in competitive wild card and division races that will go down to the wire. A few others, such as the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, are in a more comfortable position when it comes to locking down a playoff spot. Both were able to achieve this fate in victories last week. There are also a few basement dwellers, such as the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs, who are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention due to their status as rebuilding teams.

The one big event of the baseball season that I believe shapes the state of who competes and who doesn’t in the postseason is the trade deadline. It usually takes place at the end of July, a couple of weeks past the all-star game, and acts as the unofficial midpoint of the baseball season. At this time, contenders and playoff hopefuls often make trades with rebuilders and other teams that are not in the best shape to make the postseason.

There were many impactful deals made at the trade deadline this year, and there are a few that stand out as being extremely beneficial to how teams fare down the stretch.

One deal that has been very successful has been the Anthony Rizzo trade for the New York Yankees. Prior to the move, the Yankees were not a very balanced club when it came to their offense. They have a surplus of right-handed hitters, but their top left-handed hitters prior to the move had been Brett Gardner, Tyler Wade and Rougned Odor. All of these players are either showing signs of decline or are unproven. Here enters Rizzo, a player who had been well-respected around the league during his tenure with the Chicago Cubs not only for his hitting, but also for his elite defense and for his strong leadership qualities during the Cubs 2016 World Series team. When the Yankees acquired Rizzo on July 29, they had been struggling to a 53-48 record. Since then, they have gone 28-16, with Rizzo and fellow newcomer Joey Gallo being credited for solving the issues that have plagued the Yankees from achieving their full potential of being balanced on both sides of the plate.

Another trade that stands out is the Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring pitcher Max Scherzer and infielder Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals. This trade unceremoniously ended the Nationals’ window of championship contention, which included both players being a major part of the team’s 2019 World Series winning squad. The Nationals endured an up-and-down first half, and with Scherzer a pending

free agent at the end of the season, it was time to start from scratch. They packaged him and fellow all-star Turner to Los Angeles as part of a major blockbuster trade, which featured two of the Dodgers top prospects headed the other way. Scherzer has done nothing but be dominant since arriving in Hollywood, with his ERA under one after eight starts.

Turner has also been outstanding since the move out west, with his batting average at .305 and his on-base-percentage at an even higher number. The move has also helped the Dodgers become an even bigger juggernaut than they had been before, which included winning the World Series in 2020 and making the National League Championship Series in every season since 2016 with the exception of 2019, when they were eliminated in the National League Division Series by Scherzer and Turner’s Nationals.

A transaction involving the Dodgers’ nemeses, the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs also abruptly ended the Cubs’ window of championship contention, with all-star and former NL MVP Kris Bryant heading out to the bay. The Giants have been one of the most surprising teams in baseball this season, with a 95-50 record, the best record in the game. They were expected to finish behind the Dodgers and the promising San Diego Padres, who have not met expectations this season. The Giants acquired Bryant primarily to help elevate the offense to the next level, which he has. Since coming from Chicago, Bryant has hit .273 with six home runs and fifteen runs batted in. He has made the Giants a more complete team as a result, creating a balance between the team’s contact hitters like Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey and the power hitters, like himself and Brandon Belt. The Giants have not stopped winning either, as they now have a higher winning percentage today (.655) than they did on July 30 (.621).

Finally, another stand-out move that has flown under the radar is the one involving the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. The Rays acquired established power phenomenon Nelson Cruz from Minnesota just before the deadline, and he has been one of the reasons why the Rays have distanced themselves from the pack when it comes to their standing in the AL East. Cruz is the perfect complement to young superstar Wander Franco, who is likely to be the face of the Rays for years to come. Franco is a more consistent, contact hitter, along with high upside in his defensive game. While Cruz, on the other hand, is in the twilight of his career, but still has plenty of pop left in him. Since coming to Tampa Bay, he has hit twelve home runs while bringing in thirty-three RBIs. The defending American League champions are well positioned to make another deep playoff run due to their strong pitching and balanced offensive core.

Photo Courtesy of @yankees on Instagram

Anthony Rizzo, a longtime member of the Chicago Cubs, was dealt to the New York Yankees on the second-to-last day of the Major League Baseball trade deadline of July 30th.

Volleyball Players Take Home Multiple MAAC Honors

By Kayla Amelung Contributing Writer

The team has had an outstanding season so far this year. They continue to show their skills and morals on the court. As Johnson stated, “[my] goals for the rest of the season would be to continue to compete at a high level with my team and win the conference and then keep going to the NCAA tournament.”

Fairfield currently has a record of 5-6.

The Stags will be traveling to Buffalo, New York to face Canisius College on Saturday, Sept. 25. They will continue

to show their impeccable sportsmanship and athleticism throughout the rest of the season.

All students are invited to attend the Stag Volleyball games this year located at the Fairfield University Fieldhouse.

Make sure to download the Stags in the Stands app to quickly secure tickets.

Please be considerate of those around you and be sure to have your mask on!

The Fairfield University volleyball team had a long weekend against University of California Irvine, Lafayette College and Sacred Heart University. The volleyball team attended the Sacred Heart University Invitational Sept. 10 and Sept. 11. They showed how they dominate on the court no matter who the opposing team is.

After their impressive work at the invitational, the Stags brought home many victories. They beat UC Irvine and Lafayette but fell to Sacred Heart University. They brought home the 2-1 victory where they sadly split on the second day.

Not only did the Stags bring home a handful of wins, but the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference awarded Fairfield’s players for their hard work. Two athletes, KJ Johnson ‘23 and Kyla Berg ‘24, received a weekly honor for the first time in their Fairfield career.

Johnson did not show any mercy on the court.

She was later named the MAAC Player of the Week, and flourished on the outside with 38 kills in total. She also led the weekend with 23 digs.

“Getting MAAC player of the week was very exciting and I’m very grateful for that. I didn’t expect it but there’s no way I would have gotten it without my teammates,” Johnson stated when asked about the award.

She did not disappoint her Stags with the impressive skills she displayed on the court.

Sophomore Kyla Berg showed her competitive side on the court this week. Her skills were awarded by being selected as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Libero of the Week.

Berg led the Volleyball team with the most digs as well as performing on the offensive side. Berg has Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk a career-high total of 35 sets as a libero and defensive The Fairfield Stags volleyball team has been dominant this season, losing one set to Bryant University out of their last three games. specialist in the 10 matches she has played in.

SPORTS 16 Women's Soccer Stays Perfect Through Last Five @Fairfield Mirror

Week of September 22, 2021

fairfieldmirror.com

By Emily Miller Contributing Writer

The Fairfield University Women’s Soccer Team kicked off its fall 2021 season with an impressive three wins and two ties, making up a five game unbeaten streak. The Stags beat UMass Lowell, 4-3, on Aug. 30. They blanked College of the Holy Cross 6-0 in the Stags’ home opener on Sept. 2 and defeated Dartmouth College, 1-0, at Lessing Field on Sept. 12. The Stags also played both the University of Hartford and Sacred Heart University, which both ended in 1-1 stalemates.

A 19-year coaching veteran, David Barrett, begins his fourth season at the helm of the Fairfield Stags as their head coach. Barrett guided the team to 11 wins in 2019, the most wins in a season in five years. The 44 goals scored by the Stags in 2019 was also the most goals scored by the Fairfield women in over a decade.

Barrett believes there were many reasons for the team’s successful start. “I think at the beginning of any season there is a period of transition where players are finding their feet. We are trying to figure out how these pieces fit together on the playing field.

I think our level of competition has been very strong… I don’t think it's anything surprising that we are starting to find a bit of a groove and gaining some traction in some elements we are trying to establish.”

Gena Pike of Morristown, N.J. is a junior goalkeeper and powerhouse for the Stags. Pike attributes the success of the team to the work ethic of her fellow teammates. “I think we are a really hard working group of girls, and we’ve been on a really good run so far. Preseason was tough, we’ve been training for over a month, so I think we’re finally getting into the swing of things,” she reveals.

“Things are starting to click, we’re getting more chemistry on the field and getting accustomed to how each other plays.”

Pike was also named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the second straight week. Pike is honored by the award and proud of the team’s effort. “I think it speaks not only on behalf of me but how well we've been performing as a team. It’s given me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season, it’s good timing.” Pike regisPhoto Contributed by the Sports Information Desk tered a 0.48 goals against average and a .900 save percentage this past week for First-year Sam Erickson is a midfielder from Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. the Stags. Pike also delivered a seasonhigh of seven saves in Fairfield’s win over Dartmouth.

When asked about the adjustment to college for the first years on the team, Coach Barrett sees it as more off-the-field jitters than on-field play. “I don’t think it has been any more or less challenging. I think it is more of the social dynamic than it is on the field for those players, dealing with a lot of burdens of transitioning to college,” Barrett explains.

However, Barrett is confident in the team’s ability to adjust. “It is just a matter of time. Every season comes with its own set of challenges… It takes some time and patience to put the pieces together to bring out strengths in each individual to make the team stronger.”

Pike is also very positive about the new additions to the team.

“I think they fit in really well.

We have a lot of first-years making their mark and helping out and making an impact for us on the field, and they are gaining confidence too.”

Gena is excited for MAAC play to start. “A lot of our results in our games are really tight. I’d love to keep as many clean sheets as I can in the MAAC and see where it goes from there. It gets super competitive once we get into league play. Hopefully we can start off the match strong and get a result on Saturday with Marist.”

Coach Barrett has a plan for this and every season. “I think our vision and mission is always the same. You want to be in the position to compete for [the] elite championship in November. There are a lot of steps in that journey, and that includes outcomes and winning games … The other piece is just developing players and making them better game to game…If our process plays out accordingly, … I think the outcomes will take care of themselves.”

Coach Barrett, keeper Gena, and the rest of the Stags will take their talents to Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday, Sept. 18 to play the Marist University Red Foxes in the MAAC opener for both teams. The match will be televised live on ESPN3 at 1:00 p.m.

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Gena Pike is a junior goalkeeper from Morristown, New Jersey.

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

The Fairfield University women's soccer team has secured some decisive wins this season, like their 6-0 win over the College of the Holy Cross, and a close 1-0 victory against Dartmouth College.