Orientation 2019

Men’s Lacrosse

Fairfield Rising

Tony Awards

Opinion

Vine

Sports

As Fairfield changes, it shouldn’t forget what values they hold dear

73rd Tony Awards Falls Flat

Men’s Lax welcomes new head coach Andrew Baxter

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THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Week of June 17, 2019

Vol. 45 Iss. 1

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17 More Suits Filed in Perlitz Settlement

By Julia Crews News Editor “Up to 170 victims of convicted pedophile Douglas Perlitz are eligible to share in the $60 million settlement approved in an interim order issued [June 5, 2019] in federal court in Connecticut,” said a press release by Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLC, the law firm representing the victims in the class-action settlement. According to the release, the $60 million will be paid by Fairfield University and five other defendants that supported Perlitz’s endeavors including the Society of Jesus of New England, the Order of Malta, the Haiti Fund, Reverend Paul Carrier, S.J., a former director of Campus Ministry at the University; and Hope Carter, a member of the Haiti Fund’s board of directors.

Since January, the number of victims eligible for compensation from the $60 million pool has risen from 133 to 150. This rise in numbers occurred because “individual lawsuits filed by victims were con-

not only the defendants’ monetary support that perpetuated the abuse, but also their failure to oversee what Perlitz did with their funds. “The Haiti Fund and Fairfield University knew that Perlitz used substantial portions of these funds to finance his frequent trips to, and extended stays in, Haiti. The Haiti Fund and Fairfield University, operated by the New England Jesuit Order, failed to institute generally accepted safeguards – or any safeguards – to prevent the abuses which occurred.”

As for the University’s involvement, Fairfield University provided most of the funds along with the Order of Malta, and also conducted fundraisers for PPT. Students were encouraged to contact Carrier in order to volunteer at PPT. Other university staff members also paid visits to PPT during the time of the abuse. According to an amended complaint from January 25 issued, the University had enough access that the institution “knew or should have known that Perlitz was traveling to Haiti to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti,” and they “knowingly benefitted [sp] financially from PPT by touting their involvement in PPT as a basis for fund-raising activities.” The University had no hand in managing the school, nor were they directly involved in the abuse.

“We are grateful that this process is in its final stages and will provide closure for these brave young men,” said Paul Hanly Jr., a Simmons Hanly Conroy shareholder and co-lead counsel on the case with Mitchell Garabedian as quoted in the press release by the firm. “The settlement will allow the survivors to move beyond these horrors, enable them to receive whatever Creative Commons/ Wikimedia Commons Photo taken from fairfieldu Instacounseling and aid they require, and move on with their lives as best they can.”

Photo taken from fairfieldu Instagram

verted to a class-action lawsuit and settlement,” allowing “others who may have been assaulted by Perlitz and seek compensation,” according to the press release. Of the 170 victims, 150 are currently eligible for compensation while 20 are still pending.

The 170 victims were students at Perlitz’s school, Project Pierre Toussaint in Cap-Haïtien, which continued to operate under the support of the defendants. Perlitz, a Fairfield alum who will be imprisoned until 2026, faced allegations of sexual assault starting in 2007 and plead guilty in 2010. Said the press release, “The lawsuits allege that Perlitz frequently flew back to Fairfield, Connecticut, to raise money for PPT. From 1999 to 2008, donors gave millions to support Perlitz’s activities with PPT. Perlitz used portions of these funds to groom his minor victims and to provide them with gifts or money in exchange for sexual acts.”

It was

Pictured: Egan Chapel on Fairfield University Campus

Claire Monahan and Her Focus on FUSA

By Lexi Thimble Editor-in-Chief

On May 4, 2019, Claire Monahan ’20 was sworn in as the 72nd Fairfield University Student Association President. As such, Monahan, in agreement with The Mirror’s editorial board, has made the decision to step down from her role as executive editor of The Mirror to give her sole focus to her term as president.

Monahan leaves after multiple years on The Mirror having served in a variety of roles. She began as Coffee Break editor in the spring semester of 2017, then moved on to serve as news editor from the fall of 2017 to February 2019. She spent the remainder of the semester as executive editor until deciding to step down shortly before her inauguration.

Monahan has contributed the following statement on her decision: After three years on staff at The Mirror I have decided to leave the paper. When I was elected as the Fairfield University Students Association President in February, the staff and I outlined a procedure for me to continue as executive editor while I was President-elect.

I wanted to thank all of the editors and writers who I’ve had the pleasure of working with over my time at The Mirror. I especially want to thank Editor-in-Chief Lexi Thimble ‘20 for always being so kind and encouraging. I can’t believe that I’ll actually miss the long Tuesday nights spent at The Mirror.

After consulting with my Vice President Noelle Guererra ‘21, my executive cabinet and the FUSA advisors, I have decided that in order to serve the student body to the best of my ability I had to leave The Mirror and

devote my full attention to FUSA. I have a responsibility to the student body to fully commit myself to the role of FUSA President.

FUSA has a unique position on campus as the student group institutionalized in the shared governance structure of the university. This means that we are allotted some degree of influence in the running of the university. Noelle and I intend to use this power to advocate for the needs of the student body.

Farfield is going through a transition: expanding class sizes, adding buildings and implementing new programs. FUSA aims at contributing student feedback on all of these new plans in the hopes to make Fairfield the best it can be – both for current and future students.

FUSA is truly, “By the students, for the students,” meaning that we are entirely student run and our main constituency is our peers. FUSA is what helps provide the structure for the Fairfield experience.

What FUSA needs the most is you – your passion, your talent and your dedication. If you want to be involved in the behind-the-scenes betterment of student life at Fairfield, get involved in FUSA.

Claire Monahan and Noelle Guerrera at Inauguration Photo contributed by Noelle Guerrera

News

THE MIRROR | Week of March 13, 2019

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Blackboard Begins a New Chapter

By Daniel Messier Assistant News Editor

Blackboard, Fairfield University’s bridge between professors and students, is getting a new look. The new update is called Ultra Based Navigation, and promises to provide a sleeker and more intuitive interface.

Blackboard is an online resource site that allows professors and students to interact outside of the classroom. For example, professors can use Blackboard to post readings or online homework for students to complete, as well as announcements regarding the course or extracurricular events. Students can also use Blackboard to contact their professors, engage with their classmates in discussion forums and check their grades. Blackboard, which exists as both a website and a phone application, is an important tool for students to stay engaged in their courses outside of the classroom.

“Personally, I find Blackboard really useful,” wrote Katerina Valente ‘21. “It’s a great tool that centralizes the online work for all my classes. As a PLG leader for the Biology department, I used it to post study materials for my students, which they found beneficial.”

Blackboard is equally important for professors as well.

“I use Blackboard for nearly everything because it is a way to create a classroom space out of the classroom for low stakes writing assignments, streaming films as homework, Kate McCabe/ The Mirror Kate McCabe/ The Mirror sharing open access articles and turning in work,” said Professor Michelle Farrell PhD via email. “It’s a way to use technology to move out of our emails and create a class archive. As you can tell I’m a huge fan!”

The Ultra Based Navigation promises to make Blackboard even easier to navigate for students. With the new update, “you have access to core features in the list where your name appears,” according to Blackboard’s website. “You can easily return to the list from wherever you are—even if you’re in a course. The list peeks from behind the other layers you have open.

The activity stream displays all the action in all your courses.”

Additionally, all tabs for Blackboard will show a “Global View,” meaning that all information will be shown at once and organized by courses. For example, when a student clicks on the grades tab, all of their graded assignments will appear, organized by course, instead of a list of courses that have to be viewed individually. Overall, the update is an attempt to give CreativeCommons/ Mahmoud Tantawy students a more holistic view of their academics and help to bring all of their courses together.

The real test will come in the Fall when students will be using this interface for their courses. Blackboard is making the change to Ultra Based Naviagtion, a newer version of the site “I didn’t know that Fairfield’s Blackboard was changing,” said Valente, “but I hope it is just as user-friendly as the previous version!”

Class of 2023 is Already Making History

By Daniel Messier Assistant News Editor

Fairfield University’s Class of 2023 is breaking records. The incoming class is not only the largest ever to enter the University, but also the “strongest class ever academically.” There are expected to be approximately 1,160 first year students arriving next fall, selected from a record high applicant group of over 12,300 applicants.

The previous record for enrolled students was set last year in 2018, when 1,091 students were admitted. In 2017, less than 1,000 first year students were enrolled. The number of Fairfield University undergraduates has showed steady growth in the past decade, rising from 3,674 in the Fall of 2008 to 4,052 in the Fall of 2018. This number will of course grow again in the Fall of 2019 with the incoming class.

It is unclear whether or not this increase in first-year students will have any impact on housing, as there have been no additions made to first-year housing.

One reason for the rise in enrolled students is an increase in the number of students who are applying. Applicants rose from 11,361 in 2018 to 12,300 in 2019. This is the result of Fairfield University becoming a more widely recognized University, evident by its posi-

tion at number one on U.S. News’ “Best Regional Universities North Rankings.”

The Class of 2023 also set the record for the most incoming students in the School of Engineering, breaking the record of the Class of 2022 that had 86 enrolled engineering students.

According to Fairfield University’s website, “the Class of 2023 is approximately 59 percent female and 41 percent male with students enrolling from 26 states, in addition to Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and nine international countries. And in keeping with Fairfield’s Jesuit tradition, 71 students are graduates of Jesuit high schools, while 195 have a legacy connection to the University.”

The University’s website also boasts that the class of 2023 is the “academically strongest in Fairfield’s 77-year history.” It is unclear what exactly this is based on, but it most likely factors in the students’ high school Grade Point Averages and Scholastic Aptitude Test scores.

Whatever is in store for Fairfield University’s Class of 2023, they are certainly off to a record breaking start.

News from Near and Far: What You May Have Missed

By Julia Crews News Editor

This summer is proving to be an eventful one, both here in Connecticut and around the world. Here’s a rundown of some newsworthy events from near and far, all of which would make perfect conversation starters.

Did you hear…?

In FAIRFIELD, CONN.: according to the CTPost, accused killer James Taylor of Fairfield missed his civil court hearing on June 5, 2019. He is currently under house arrest with his son. Taylor is accused of murdering his wife in February in an effort to steal the inheritance of his stepson, Donald Garamella. Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis approved a notion to freeze Taylor’s assets, a total of $5 million. Taylor is scheduled to next appear before a criminal court judge on June 17.

In HONG KONG: chief executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam postponed a controversial extradition bill after extensive citizen protests against it. The bill would allow Hong Kong to more easily extradite suspected criminals to territories with which they do not have an extradition treaty, including China. The opposers of the bill are not satisfied with the delay and don’t want the bill to pass.

In MEMPHIS, TENN.: 36 police officers are injured after violence broke out on Thursday, June 13, during protests following the shooting of 20 year old Brendon Webber. The shooting occurred when police were trying to arrest Webber, who was wanted on multiple felony warrants.

In WASHINGTON, D.C.: Sarah Huckabee Sanders resigned from her position as press secretary for the White House on Thursday, June 13, according to Bloomberg. President Trump tweeted on Thursday: “Our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas.”

In NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Taylor Swift gave

a surprise performance at Stonewall Inn Friday night following the release of her new single, “You Need To Calm Down.”

Swift was introduced by “Modern Family” actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Swift is using her influence to support the pro-LGBTQ cause, having recently started a petition for the passing of the Equality Act, which would secure protections for LGBTQ Americans in federal law. She will release her upcoming album, “Lover,” on August 23.

In CORONA, CALIFORNIA: an argument that escalated to a shooting resulted in one person dead and two injured in a Costco on the evening of Friday, June 14.

One of the people who was shooting is now in custody, according to the Corona Police Department. “There is no apparent threat to our community from any outstanding persons,” they tweeted.

News

THE MIRROR | Week of March 13, 2019

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Opinion

Opinion

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THE MIRROR | Week of June 17, 2019

Editor Catherine Santangelo» catherine.santangelo@student.fairfield.edu

As Fairfield Rises, It Shouldn't Lose Sight of Its Identity

By Catherine Santangelo Opinion Editor As all of us Fairfield University students are aware, our school is known for it’s rather small size. This fact played a major part in my decision to attend Fairfield because of my history of attending small schools throughout all of my education. My graduating eighth grade class was only 13 students, and my graduating high school class was only 89 students. Due to my experiences in smaller schools, I felt that attending a smaller college would be best for me. Fairfield is a small university, but there is a ton of major growth happening which is all part of the “on the rise” motto that Fairfield U is working to represent. This growth is being seen specifically among the size of our student body. According to news@fairfield, this past admissions season was a busy one with over 12,300 applications to review which is the most Fairfield University has ever seen. Of this pool, about 1,160 students were admitted to Fairfield University and are projected to join us on campus in the fall. This is the largest class that has ever been admitted in the history of the university. Some may see this growth as a negative thing because of the changes that it will bring to the school, but I choose to see it as a very positive thing. Many things could stay the same on our campus because that’s of us are probably wishing that what we are comfortable with, and I can absolutely agree that I don’t want too much change to come of this growth too quickly. However, we should be proud of our school for taking that next step in helping the university develop and become a better place for all of us.

Although I am supportive and happy for the school for wanting to expand and grow, I do hope that the changes do not become so drastic that Fairfield U no longer feels like Fairfield U anymore to the current and past students, faculty and staff. Being a smaller school is one of the university’s greatest marketing points to prospective students, and I bet it peaks the interest of prospective professors and other staff members who may want to join in the Fairfield community as well.

It is known for having smaller class sizes with great student to professor ratios, as well as Pictured: Bellarmine Hall at Fairfield University a campus where everything is

a comfortable walking distance away from everything else. I would honestly be very disappointed if Fairfield grew so much that it became like a state school (no offense to state schools). I enjoy walking through campus and seeing friendly faces everywhere I go; I enjoy when my professors are able to call on me by name in class; I enjoy not having to take a shuttle bus from an academic building back to my dorm after class because it’s too far to walk. There are so many benefits to being at a smaller school, and I’m sure many of you can agree, so I really don’t want too much expansion to happen.

The growth at Fairfield U is not only in the student body but also in the physical campus itself. Have you seen all of the construction recently? In just the past two years that I have been at Fairfield, so many changes have been made to the campus. There’s the Tully, the new sophomore dorm of Langguth, the parking garage, renovations to Campion, new townhouses, a new business school, a new nursing school, renovations to Canisius Hall and projected renovations to Donnarumma Hall and the library. I’m definitely forgetting some things, but that’s just an idea of how different campus has become from when I was first touring the school. All of these changes are all a part of Fairfield being “on the rise.” It can be quite startling to see how the place we call home for four years can change so quickly, and it can be nerve wracking to see how these changes will impact our time here at Fairfield. I think it is completely normal for us current students to want to keep things pretty close to the way things are.

With me being a rising junior, I still have a decent amount of time left here to see how some of these changes pan out, but I’m sure that even more changes will be made that I won’t be here to experience. For the sake of the current Fairfield community and future members, I hope that the university chooses to stick with being on the smaller scale. That’s what makes Fairfield University special. As great as growth and change can be, there is a limit to how much can be done before the original idea is completely unrecognizable. Just like people can lose track of who they are, a place can also lose track of what it is supposed to be, and I would be deeply saddened to see Fairfield lose track of itself. With the constantly changing campus and the growth of the student body, Fairfield is absolutely “on the rise” and I am really excited to see what the future holds for the university, and I can only hope that the spirit of Fairfield remains the same.

Shout-out to the incoming class of 2023, welcome to the herd!

Photo taken from @fairfieldu Instagram Stags up!

Anti-Semitism Has No Place in the Twentieth Century

By Kallan Hook Contributing Writer

On Tuesday June 4, neighbors in the East Bay area were shocked and disturbed as a large swastika symbol was unveiled as the latest piece of yard work from a man named Steven Johnson. The symbol, which can be seen completely from an aerial view, signifies the systematic killings of over 6 million Jews during the Nazi regime in Germany. Yet, when confronted about the symbol, Johnson quickly defended himself by saying that it represents nothing and only means that he has less weeding to do around this area of his yard. Johnson was further confronted about another swastika symbol that was on his motorcycle, at which point he abruptly ended the interview and insisted that everyone get out of his yard, as reported by NBC. The swastika symbol in Johnson’s yard has further sparked national outrage with many individuals pressing the county authorities to take action. According to Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, the county does not have the legal authority to make Johnson remove the hatred symbol. As of now, Gioia can only urge individuals to speak up regarding the hate that is placed on this ignorant man’s yard.

The symbol represents a level of inhumane hate that is part of one of the greatest losses in the world’s history. The Holocaust was a

Editorial Board "It's Cool to Care" Claire Monahan Fairfield University Student Association President

period of pain and suffering at the hands of a prejudice and an indescribably malicious leader. Parading such a symbol of hate is not only completely ignorant to the suffering endured by the innocent victims, but is further disrespecting many survivors and Jewish individuals, like that of Johnson’s direct neighbor, Renee Schultz. Schultz has lived next to Johnson for years, and has repeatedly made her feelings very clear to him regarding the symbol and its meaning, yet when the symbol appeared on his landscape, Schultz could only explain that she “doesn’t like it, but it is his yard.”

While the symbol is representative of nothing less than one of the most hateful massacres in world history, the ignorance present behind Johnson’s yard work is almost as destructive. Upon being confronted, Johnson initially claimed that he did not know what the swastika was, yet he has the same symbol stuck on his motorcycle.

Without a doubt, Johnson has some understanding of what the symbol represents and its origination, however when confronted about it, he hides behind a facade of ignorance. The swastika not only signifies the Holocaust, but the further discrimination of many other minorities during the Nazi regime, including individuals suffering from mental and physical disabilities, alongside many gay and lesbi-

When I first stepped on Fairfield’s campus just three short years ago, my only goal was to graduate. My father who attended Fairfield 30 years prior as the child of Irish immigrants had instilled in me that a college education was a gift not to be wasted. Going to class and studying were truly the only items on my agenda when I moved into Jogues in September. As someone who was interested in the pre-med track, I felt the pressure to achieve academically in order to secure my future career path.

I had my sights set on the future; my undergraduate experience was a means to an end. If I made friends that would be an added bonus, and if I participated in any extracurricular activities they would be in the aim of getting into medical school.

This hyper focused perspective is a funny thought when you look at where I ended up: quitting the weekly newspaper to be President of the whole student body.

Both have been jobs that have definitely eaten into my library time – and yet also given me amazing friendships and a profound sense of purpose.

an citizens. The inhumane destruction of Jewish societies and the hateful representation of the Holocaust through the symbol of the swastika is not tolerated anymore. In 2019, out world must be fueled by kindness and acceptance of all individuals. The swastika symbol is one of the most disturbing and inhumane representations of one of the most heartbreaking and discriminatory periods in world history. It’s time to leave the swastika and the ignorance behind it in 20th century Germany.

At the high school I went to it was not cool to care, it was popular to be apathetic. It wasn’t until I joined my high school newspaper that found a group of people who were committed, driven and compassionate. We were lead by our eccentric paper adviser who we called Lopes.

He was not humanity’s cheerleader, he did not make light of the problems of the world, but he had this unshakeable faith that anything can be fixed. That sometimes people were limited by money, time, or lack of consensus, but people were committed to lessening the amount of suffering in the world.

Lopes implored us to recognize our agency in this great task. He taught us the goal of journalism was to ensure the world was never limited by truth. If things needed to be fixed, people ought to know; if things were going well, people ought to celebrate. Armed with this guiding principle we wrote, edited and designed a monthly newspaper.

If you weren’t lucky enough to have a Lopes in your life here is the essential lesson to glean: it is cool to care.

Creative Commons/Flickr

In high school I had been afraid to show my hand, to reveal my interests, to expose myself and not be accepted. I didn’t want to put effort into something and have it not work out. I was afraid to care in the event that I failed. Lopes taught me that effort is never in vain regardless of the outcome.

As the feminist writer and civil rights activist Audre Lorde wrote: “When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”

One of my favorite politics professors Dr. Cassidy has a speech I’ve heard in each of his classes. He asserts that at college there are two types of education: the education you get in the classroom and the education you pursue. Going to class and studying are only one part of the equation, it is also important to get involved in the business of caring.

Join a club, run for student body president, write for The Mirror – do something that you feel is worthwhile. Ask yourself, “what would I do if I wasn’t afraid?”

THE MIRROR | Week of June 17, 2019

Opinion

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Joe Biden is Not the Candidate Democrats Should Be Supporting

By Ali Haidar Contributing Writer

The 2020 National Election is far from coming to a close, yet the most anticipated aspect of this election cycle is near: the Democratic Debates. On Friday, June 14, the Democratic lineup was announced for June 26 and 27 by The New York Times, and with 20 candidates expected to take the stage we should be prepared for a war of ideas. In the years leading up to this, the progressive movement has grown exponentially and has a popular mandate behind it as many Americans support progressive ideals, as reported

by CNBC. With neo-liberals, newcomers, career politicians and fan-favorite progressives gearing up to take the spotlight, the Democratic debates should not be missed. However, it is imperative that Americans, particularly the Democratic base, know which candidates have done good for the country and which candidates have done nothing but spew the same unpopular ideology that cost the Democrats the 2016 election.

Joe Biden, arguably the Democratic frontrunner, is the embodiment of everything that the Democrats should not be. Biden, a former senator and vice president, is a champion of mass incarceration, endless wars and corporate greed – all features that everyday Democrats should avoid. This long-standing legislator has claimed that he has “the most progressive record of anybody” in the Democrats, as quoted by The Hill, yet is there even an ounce of truth in that statement?

Biden is the only Democrat in the race who voted for the disastrous Iraq war, which left over 4,000 American soldiers dead, and killed almost 500,000 innocent Iraqi civilians. Biden is the only Democrat in the race who has boasted about his creation of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which has, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, encouraged states to adopt harsh sentencing laws instead of building a fair justice system. Biden is a Democrat who voted with Bush Jr. Republicans in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which made it difficult for the typical Americn family to file bankruptcy from their credit card

charges. So much for standing up for the little man/woman, right Joe? The former vice president has not learned from his past, as he continues to make statements that puzzle Americans and Democrats alike. Biden recently stated that he would love to work with Republican lawmakers in a postTrump setting as “these folks know better,” as quoted in The Huffington Post. Really, Joe? These “folks” are the same lawmakers who left a seat on the Supreme Court vacant for a year for the sake of political gain, and the same people who stated that they wanted to make former President Obama a “one-term president.” Also, Biden claims to be Obama’s “best friend.”

The facts are clear; Biden is not only out-oftouch with the Democratic base of which he desperately wants to court, but with the majority of Americans.

While the many Americans are in favor of abortion rights, Biden has long supported the Hyde amendment (which he just denoucned), a ban of federal funding for abortion. Most Americans support progressive legislation such as Medicare For All and free college tuition, but Biden supports neither. Biden is only the Democratic frontrunner as he has secured the support of the influential baby-boomer population, but has little support from young voters. If Democrats want to win 2020 and prevent another Republican term, it is clear and fundamental that Joe Biden is far from being the best or even the most progressive candidate.

Creative Commons/Flickr and Wikimedia Commons

A Letter to Democrats: The Time for Compromise is Over

By Colin Townsend Contributing Writer A woman’s right to reproductive autonomy is under threat in the United States. On May 7, Georgia passed a “fetal heartbeat” law which effectively bans all abortion, as reported

by Vox. The bill criminalizes doctors performing abortions after a so-called fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually around six weeks into the pregnancy. On May 15, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill of their own which outlawed abortion in virtually every case, reported at the time by BBC News. The 35 member state senate passed the bill without the support of a single one of its four female senators. These are some of the most extreme and ill-informed abortion bills post-Roe v. Wade America has seen; doctors agree there is no heartbeat so early into a pregnancy, and neither bill makes exceptions for the case of rape or incest.

The volume of extreme anti-abortion legislation, which plays a crucial role in Republican party strategy, has flourished in the age of President Donald Trump. Each is expected to be struck down in the lower courts, but at least one is likely to come before the Supreme Court, where the president has promised to leverage the conservative majority to overturn Roe v Wade. As devastating as a rollback on abortion rights would be, this move highlights the successes of the Republicans, the failure of the Democrats, and how we should move forward in the future. So how did we get here?

Creative Commons/Wikipedia

When Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2016, the Republican-controlled Senate refused to fulfill their constitutional duty to offer advice and confirm the nomination, stating that they would fill the vacancy under the leadership of the next president. This is the type of move Democrats Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons would never consider, but it serves as a perfect example of increasing Republican obstructionism and brinkmanshipDemocrats of past and present have also failed to fight for abortion when it wasn’t in the headlines. For example, in 1976, the overwhelmingly Democratic Senate passed the Hyde Amendment, which, as reported

by NPR, banned federal dollars from funding abortions, making it difficult for low income women to receive them. This bill is still in effect today and had the support of 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden until he received criticism for it last week. Biden’s flip on the issue is indicative of a greater problem with his candidacy: he has no clear principles save for a belief in polite “business as usual” decorum. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Commitee (DCCC) has also decided to undermine challengers to Democratic seats across the board, even when it means defending anti-abortion Democrat Dan Lipinksi.

The abortion crisis then serves as a microcosm for overall Democratic failure. If we want to protect our freedoms, fight rising fascism and combat inequality, “compromise” is no longer good enough. For Democrats, compromise usually means doing what Republicans want. Instead, we should seek to destroy them, as they have us. We also need to reject the leadership of individuals who lack vision or fighting spirit. Compare Biden’s halfhearted endorsement of female autonomy to the passion of Elizabeth Warren’s. Compare Obama and Pelosi’s struggle to pass the Affordable Care Act, a Republican proposal from the 80s implemented by Mitt Romney of all people, to Bernie Sanders’ promise to twist arms to ensure universal democratic support for Medicare for All. To course correct this country, we need to fight the Republicans, and our own party as well.

The Vine

arts, entertainment, features

Editor Gracianne Eldrenkamp gracianne.eldrenkamp@student.fairfield.edu

Second Verse, Worse than the First: Corden Stumbles at Tony Awards

Photo Taken from @beetlejuicebway Instagram Photo taken from @cbstv Instagram CreativeCommons/Pixabay

By Gracianne Eldrenkamp Vine Editor James Corden, host of “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” came back to Radio City Music Hall to host the 73rd Tony Awards for a second time on June 9.

James Corden did a fairly good job as host. He was funny in a mellow way, and kept the audience entertained enough. His presence wasn’t as strong as awards show hosts usually are, but he led an okay show anyway. His opening number for the Tony Awards didn’t feel like an opening number with Corden in it’s center. Although the other performers around him were lively and exciting, Corden’s blandness dulled the whole thing.

Performances from “Ain’t too Proud,” “Tootsie,” “Oklahoma!, ''Beetlejuice," ''The Prom," ''Choir Boy," ''Hadestown," "'Kiss Me, Kate” and “The Cher Show” wowed the audience. In particular, “Beetlejuice” performed a wacky, hilarious medley of “The Whole Being Dead Thing” and “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).” Between Beetlejuice (Alex Brightman)’s sarcastic quips and fourth wall breaks and the gigantic sandworm puppet that filled the stage, it was a fantastic performance. The best musical winner of the night, “Hadestown,” also performed their hit song “Wait for Me,” which was equal parts incredibly stunning and heart-wrenchingly emotional.

The lighting design, with synchronized swinging lights, sent shivers down the audience’s spines.

The aforementioned musical, “Hadestown,” dominated the awards show with an impres-

sive eight awards out of their nine nominations. Stephanie J. Block from “The Cher Show” won best performance for a leading actress in a musical for her mesmerizing performance as one of the three versions of Cher the show presents.

Ali Stroker, who plays Ado Addie Carnes in the revival of “Oklahoma!,” won for best featured actress in a musical, and her win was possibly the most monumental of the night. Stroker is the first wheelchair user to win a Tony, a huge step in the right direction for the disabled community. However, this win only highlighted the lack of accessibility because Radio City Music Hall is not wheelchair accessible. Stroker, although she was able to go up for her own award, was not able to join the rest of the cast when “Oklahoma!” won best revival of a musical.

Unfortunately, the Tony Awards did cause controversy in regards to the underdog musical, “Be More Chill.” They were denied the opportunity to perform at the awards show, despite their best musical nomination (an opportunity given to The Cher Show instead, which was not nominated for best musical at all). “Be More Chill,” while a rather unknown musical, was further diminished by Corden’s rather insensitive parody of the show’s most prominent song, “Michael in the Bathroom.” The parody was done without the show creators’ knowledge.

Despite the controversy, the 73rd Tony Awards was a fun watch. As always, it was energetic and emotional, but lacked the excitement of previous years.

THE MIRROR | Week of June 17, 2019

The Vine

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It's Time to Bask in the Golden Era of Podcasts

By Molly Lamendola Assistant Vine Editor Ah summer! What a time to spend hours in moving vehicles with various screaming family members on the classic “Summer Road Trip.” The endless chatter causing you to rock back and forth cursing the very idea of spending even another minute in this 2007 Honda Odyssey while whispering, “It’s not about the journey, it’s about the destination,” over and over again. Miserable.

But come on people! We’re living in the Golden Age of Podcasts! We can make it as much about the journey as we can about the destination. There are millions of hours of streamable content ready to keep you engaged and entertained for hours. Now we just have to worry about picking which one’s best for you!

There’s an easy first question when trying to garner which podcast would be most enjoyable, “Do you like true crimes stories?”

Simple really, because if the answer is no, then it wipes out a lot of possible content. But, if that is your thing and you consume episodes of “Dateline” in mass quantities, then there’s a whole production company just for you.

Wondery, one of the largest podcast publishing companies, are best known for their true crime-related podcasts. All within the last couple of years they’ve released, “The Shrink Next Door,” “Over My Dead Body” and their best known, “Dirty John,” which was so popular it spun into a much-watch television series.

These podcasts equate to what my mother likes to call a “beach read.” They’re not full of sustenance, nor in any way life altering, but they remain enjoyable and really eat up time.

Take “Dirty John” for an example. This podcast focuses on the story of one woman meeting a man named John and falling in love with him before she realizes how many secrets he holds. The show opens describing a gruesome murder scene, where we hear the detective in charge read the autopsy report of the female victim, and then it cuts out and leads us back to the original relationship. What a hook!

The show then leads on to slowly reveal the tumultuous relationship the couple had, revealing both characters through family interviews and other pieces of information as the story slowly starts to piece itself together. It’s absolutely fantastic, but I’ll be the first to admit that it makes me feel like I need to doublecheck all the locks in my hours or something.

So, if you like crime, but you’re not a major fan of the stories that make you feel that no one can ever be trusted again, I’d give “Last Seen” a try.

Made by WBUR and The Boston Globe, “Last Seen” refocuses on the 1990 heist of 13 works from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The story itself is interesting, as two men dressed as police officers were able to get inside the museum and remain there for 81 minutes before the actual police were notified.

Though as it remains unsolved, this podcast seeks to introduce new information to those who are somewhat familiar, or really dive deep into all the intricacies of this crime and attempt to discover who’s really to blame.

Honestly, “Last Seen” is no “Dirty John,” but it still keeps you hooked. It’s like a BBC version of a Lifetime Original Movie.

Personally, I’m not a massive fan of crime-focused podcasts when I’m in the car; I enjoy something a bit more educational. I love learning about new things or listening to interviews that give me bite-sized amounts of information that I’ll just store for later. Thus, during the school year I spend a lot of time listening to “Ted Radio Hour.”

It provides the perfect amount of information with actual intrigue. It never becomes dry, as each guest interview and segment on the podcast is only a few minutes long, making it perfect to be cut up into small portions for a walk to class.

But, it’s the summer, and we’re looking for something more fun! “No Such Thing As a Fish” and “Mobituries with Mo Rocca” are those fun, yet still informational podcasts.

“No Such Thing As a Fish” is a British podcast where four friends sit around the table and each share a fun fact they learned, where they then dive deeper into why that fact is true and, if any, history behind the fact itself. Sounds boring on the surface, I know! But, all four hosts are very funny and the information itself is interesting enough to keep tuning in.

“Mobituries with Mo Rocca” sees my favorite correspondent from the CBS Sunday Morning Show, Mo Rocco, diving deeper into the stories of some of history’s most interesting people. Rocco, with his energy and upbeat tone always seemed to make the seemingly doomed to be boring stories, exciting.

And his energy transfers perfectly to the podcast world, as he deep dives into people we only really know on surface level, like Audrey Hepburn or the famous set of Siamese Twins Chang and Eng. Or people whose story we’re yet to hear, like John F. Kennedy impersonator Vaughn Meader.

Podcasts are also all about choice! If none of the above really speak to you, the podcast app on the iPhone allows for very easy searching through categories or Top Charts just so you can find the perfect podcast and get listening!

"Dark Phoenix" is X-tremely Terrible

By Tyler Zikias Contributing Writer

“Dark Phoenix”(dir. Simon Kinberg) makes the finale of Fox’s X-Men franchise and further explores the reckless side of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) as she battles powerful entity inside her. Since the first film’s release, the 9 movies that followed ranged from pretty awful to great superhero movies. However, “Dark Phoenix” was never destined to be great.

From the beginning, Fox gave the director’s chair to Simon Kinberg, well known for his producing credits on other Fox projects, like “Chronicle,” but who has never directed a feature film. The film was then delayed twice and heavy reshoots took place in order to correct some of the wrong turns that were taken. It’s even been stated that the entire third act of the film was reshot to less resemble other comic book movies that have recently been released. Disney’s acquisition of Fox and all of its properties, like the X-Men, has also stirred much debate on whether this movie would ever be released or be scrapped entirely. After finally seeing the film, this movie should have been scrapped entirely. It’s that bad.

Starting with some positives, Hans Zimmer’s score is really solid. It reminded me of music that would belong in an early 2000s superhero movie. It’s a shame that it couldn’t have been utilized in a better film. The visual effects are pretty good, given that the film was delayed so many times and post-production was a disaster. The performances are great mainly because of the all-star cast Fox has assembled over the last decade. Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy are excellent on screen together as they always are, even though they deserved more scenes together. Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey is the linchpin of the film and for the most part she does a good job. The writing is pretty awful, but Turner manages to push through and deliver an otherwise solid performance. The film is also pretty short for a comic book movie. Rather than being the usual 2 hours or more, “Dark Phoenix” only assaults you with its awfulness for a mere 110 minutes, a step in the positive direction.

Everything else in “Dark Phoenix” epitomizes why this film should have just been thrown in the trash. I could ramble and ramble about why it doesn’t work, but simply put, this film is boring. Nothing interesting happens throughout the entire movie. Things happen

in sequential order, then the story fizzles into an unsatisfying conclusion. It all comes down to Kinberg’s direction and script. The cast of “Dark Phoenix” is so talented and the fact that they can’t make the content interesting is the clearest sign of poor direction and writing.

Kinberg has very little style with his direction.

Conversations are shot in an incredibly boring style with little shot diversity and medium shots of whoever is speaking. The camera is hardly moved in interesting ways, even when it comes to the action sequences, which aren’t good regardless. There isn’t enough action, which is a shame considering the comic storyline it’s based on is filled with meaningful action sequences. The film feels very hollow as a result when there isn’t an interesting enough story to justify watching it.

About a quarter of the way through the movie, a new species of creatures are introduced to the story, the main one being played by Jessica Chastain, that serve no purpose to the story in any meaningful way.

It keeps the focus off of Jean and is the catalyst for what becomes a generic finale. For someone who isn’t a huge fan of these movies, it would honestly be difficult to differentiate this last action sequence from any of the others. These aliens totally derail the movie and prevent the main characters from having meaningful interactions with each other, which is certainly the main thing holding this movie back. Other large scale superhero movies like the recent “Avengers” films at the very least have a core of characters that have tangible interactions with each other, which make them feel well-rounded and easier to connect with. “Dark Phoenix” lacks any relevant drama with the characters throughout its entire runtime.

“Dark Phoenix” could have been a home run.

The “Dark Phoenix Saga” is one of the most well received comic book storylines of all time, so why is it so difficult to adapt this story to the big screen? It feels like Kinberg and company completely missed the team dynamic and intricate character relationships that the X-Men are famous for. This is definitely the worst X-Men movie and one of the worst movies I’ve seen this year. The film isn’t always overtly bad, but the slow pacing and meandering story makes it feel far worse than it is.

Grade: D

The Vine

THE MIRROR | Week of June 17, 2019

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Five Books to Check Out this Summer

By Sheila McCombs Copy Editor

who believed that everything that has to do with the government is inherently bad. This includes hospitals, This year I have taken it upon myself to read doctors, taxes and most focused on in the book, pubmore books solely for the sake of fun! As the Mirror lic education. She and her family lived isolated in the staff knows, I am also on a quest to read 54 books mountains of Idaho for the majority of her life. Westothis year as my New Year’s resolution. I love readver didn’t step foot in a classroom until she attended ing and it is so easy to become so wrapped up in college, after teaching herself the skills to take the work and school during the academic year that it ACT. The book follows her journey into the world just slips my mind. So, this summer I plan on layaway from her secluded mountain and her family, ing in the sun by the beach or the pool with a the only place she has ever known, in search of good book and I hope you will too! This list is knowledge and higher education. This book is also five books that I think are perfect for summer one of the best books about family that I have ever reading and hopefully has a little something for read, showing the complicated love of a family in every type of reader. The books are listed in no high resolution and not shying away from the particular order: more negative aspects of that love. This book is 1. “The Matchmaker’s List” by Sonya Lalli incredibly worth the read!

This book follows the main character, 4. “Call Me By Your Name” by Andre Raina, in her hilarious and heartfelt misadAchiman ventures in love. Raina grew up in a traditionNow, I know I’m a little late to the party al Indian family and agreed that she would on this one but I stand by my feeling that a allow her grandmother to set her up with a lot of people have only seen the movie and potential husband if she wasn’t married by have missed out on an incredible book. One thirty. Now, that time has come and it leads of my favorite memories from this school to a wild journey in understanding family, year is when a bunch of my friends who CreativeC ommons/ relationships and herself. The characters are lived on my floor read this book around Flickr funny and easy to fall in love with, making the same time as each other. We all loved it and would the reader even more invested in their, hopefully, run in and out of each others room to talk, laugh and cry about our happy ending. From Raina’s loveable best friend Shay and her traditional, favorite moments. The story follows the whirlwind summer romance loving and hysterically funny Nani, there is no short of people that the of Elio and Oliver while Oliver is a guest in Elio’s parents’ home one reader can relate to or recognize from characters in their own lives. summer. “Call Me By Your Name” is also a perfect book to help celebrate This book has both the light-hearted fun that you can get in a romPride Month this June! This book not only features a deep romantic element to com and a deeper emotions that come along with a family drama. it, but it also shows a more complicated side to that romance. There is a sense I loved this book and feel confident in recommending it to anyof reality to this book, a feeling that everything does not always have to be A hand holds up a book in summer. one looking for the perfect beach read! perfect, that makes it even more connected to the reader’s own real life ex2. “Save Me The Plums” by Ruth Reichl periences. Also the setting of a summer on the Italian Riviera in a small beach I was on a huge streak of reading books about cooking and restaurants, and this book town makes it the perfect book to inspire your summer travels or maybe even your own sumwas by far my favorite of the bunch! This book is the memoir of the last Editor-in-Chief of mer romance!

“Gourmet” magazine for ten years before the magazine closed its doors in 2009. This book 5. “Turtles All The Way Down” by John Green allows the average person to gain a glimpse inside of what it is like to run a magazine, someAgain, I am late to the game on this one, but I read this book again this year and it still thing that I had never heard about or learned about before. It was also interesting to learn struck me as an amazing book about mental health. Even though it came out a little over a about the food and restaurant industry in the lens of the press surrounding it, rather than just year ago, this book is still worth a read today. The book follows Aza, a girl in high school who looking at the actual businesses themselves. “Save Me The Plums” is a highly personal story is struggling with compulsions and anxiety. Aza works throughout the book to figure out the of the author’s life during the ten years that she was an editor and the struggles and triumphs mystery of a missing millionaire in her town while working through her own inner struggles that went along with that position. This book allows the reader to learn about a topic by mak- and relationships. This book describes a mental illness in a way that I had never experienced ing it familiar as a personal story of passion and loss as well as something educational. before, allowing you as a reader to see inside the actual thought processes of the character. I 3. “Educated” by Tara Westover loved how Aza is not defined solely by her mental state, but by who she is on a whole. I found OK, so I know that I said that these books were not in any particular order but if I all of the ideas in this book fascinating and new, and I hope you will too! had to pick a favorite, this would be it. I picked this book up from the library and read it in I hope you find some inspiration here for your own adventures in summer reading and less than 48 hours because I simply could not put it down. This is the real-life story of Tara maybe even a new favorite book! Have a great summer!

Westover, a woman who was raised by survivalist and highly conservative religious parents,

Quick and Easy Tips to Stay Healthy in College

By Sabrina Trueheart Nutrition Columnist When you suddenly take on the new title of “college student,” it seems as though there are a million different people telling you a million different things about what the first year is going to be like. Your parents might be more concerned about your grades while your friends might be more concerned about having a good time. But, whatever others may tell you, you are about to start on a new journey, one that is exciting as well as nerve-wracking.

There will be times where you feel confident and are having a blast. Unfortunately, there will be other times where you feel stressed and maybe overwhelmed. But, like any new journey, there are ups and downs. Every person handles life’s new challenges in different ways. If you’re stressing about adopting poor eating habits or not having enough time for yourself during the first semester of college, remember that there are plenty of ways to keep yourself healthy and less stressed!

1. Always Eat Breakfast You don’t have to go to the Daniel and Grace Tully Dining Commons to have breakfast! If you’re in a rush, grab a granola bar, a yogurt, even a leftover slice of pizza from the night before. Any food for breakfast is better than no food. This is the start to your day – your fuel for the rest of the morning. Do NOT skip the meal; it’s the most important one for a reason!

2. Take Advantage of the Gym In my opinion, the RecPlex is one of the best things about Fairfield University. It was built just a few years ago and there are so many different activities to participate in! From free yoga and spin classes to weightlifting and swimming, everybody can find an activity they enjoy. The gym is a great place to de-stress and do something productive that is not schoolwork or studying. Even a simple walk on the treadmill with that beautiful view of campus can do wonders!

3. Scope Out the Dining Hall There’s something for everyone at the Tully, and it’s fairly easy to continue eating healthy with the options Fairfield’s campus has. The Tully has a huge salad bar, with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Although the various unhealthy foods can be tempting, there are plenty of healthy food options on campus, whether you’re in the dining hall or at the Stag. Also, remember that anything in moderation is completely okay!

4. Take Time for Yourself Getting good grades and participating in lots of extracurriculars is important to many people in college, but don’t forget to make time for yourself. Have a cup of tea before bed, put on a face mask and relaxing music before your nightly shower or take a break from your studying and watch an episode of your favorite show on Netflix. Whatever you like to do, make sure you still do it when you come to college. There will be plenty of downtime, despite what others may tell you!

CreativeCommons/Flickr

Breakfast sits on a table.

Coffee Break

THE MIRROR |The Week of June 17th, 2019

Page 9

Coffee Break Editor: Tobenna Ugwu tobenna.ugwu@student.fairfield.edu

The Best Places to Take a Shower on Campus The Bellarmine Pond Nice animal freinds make the experience twice as fun. Warning: duck poop may cause a rash.

The Loyala Bathtubs You can only enter the bathtub fully clothed, and don’t forget your sneakers.

Creative Common/needpix.com

The Establishment formerly known as Einstein’s Bagels Just before sunset, by the extreme right corner on a very rainy day, you can take a very cool shower in this area of campus.

The Sprinklers on the Lawn If you don’t feel like showering in the rain, head outside and jump in one of the sprinklers that’s always running.

You’ll be saving water #GreenCampus

Fairfield University Welcomes Class of 2023 with New Dragon-Slaying Curriculum

By Nathan Schmidt Stagnation Editor-In-Chief

This fall, Fairfield University will proudly introduce its newest class of students to the most ground-breaking and innovative academic curriculum ever designed: dragon-slaying. The new battery of undergraduate courses, managed by the St. George Center for Magical Hunting, will focus on training students to embark on wild adventures through the countryside to defeat great draconic monsters in honorable combat.

“There’s never been a better time to join Fairfield U,” said staff coordinator Belinda Lancaster, who spoke to Stagnation reporters while polishing her brand-new medieval knight’s armor that had arrived in the mail earlier that day. “Our Jesuit work ethic has always equipped students to perform better than the rest in the rigors of the real world.

Now they’ll be equipped to perform in the world of legend and glory. Let’s see our competitors call us out of touch now.”

All courses on dragon-slaying are available as electives, with a minimum of two courses required under the newly revised academic core. Students who major in dragon-slaying will be expected to find and personally destroy at least one great monster from the deep abyss of time, using their training in the sword, lance and English longbow. Since no other university in the country has yet to offer this field of study, Fairfield faculty members are hopeful that there will still be plenty of dragons to pick from.

When asked about possible inspirations for the new curriculum, Lancaster asked in confusion, “What’s a Skyrim?”

Students with questions about dragon-slaying are invited to attend the weekly informational seminars on dragon lore, held in the Egan Chapel after Mass.

Photo contributed by the Stagnation Staff

Read More at: http://myfairfieldstagnation.wordpress.com/

Sports

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

THE MIRROR | Week of June 17, 2019

This Week in Sports:

Page 10

Weekend Update

In Case You Missed It: Wednesday, March 22nd -Men's Baseball defeated Monmouth, 6-5 Friday, May 24th -Men's Baseball lost to Quinnipiac, 6-4 -Men's Baseball defeated Monmouth, 5-2 Saturday, May 25th -Men's Baseball defeated Manhattan, 11-5 -Men's Baseball defeated Canisius, 5-0

Photo Contributed by Sports Information Desk

The Fairfield University volleyball team has released their official schedule for fall of 2019, which has 11 games slated to be on our own George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.

Last season, the Stags finished with a record of 14-17. The roster will miss recent graduates Sydney Williams, Kaitlyn Fisher, Nora Quinn and Taylor Rudeen but welcomes young and promising talent.

The schedule is comprised of 27 matches, where 18 of which will be against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season competition. In conjunction, they will also be facing groups from nine other conferences in the pre-season. MAAC play is scheduled to commence on Friday, Sept. 20 against the Marist College Foxes.

For the fifth time, Fairfield will host the six best teams in the MAAC for the championship tournament from Nov. 22-24. The last two times Fairfield has held the tournament at home in 2016 and 2017, they finished triumphantly on top as conference champions.

Upcoming This Week: Thursday, August 22nd -Women's Soccer vs. Colgate Sunday, August 25th -Women's Soccer vs. UConn Friday, August 30th

After a remarkable 11 years leading the Fairfield University men’s lacrosse program, head coach Andy Copelan has decided to continue his career elsewhere as the head coach of the boy’s lacrosse team at Greenwich Country Day School. He went 87-78 during his tenure in Connecticut, and leaves with a .527 win percentage making him the program’s all-time leader. In 2016, he led his men to their first appearance in a Colonial Athletic Association Championship game.

Following a national search for Copelan’s replacement, Fairfield has hired Andrew Baxter to assume the coveted head coaching position. Most recently, Baxter worked as defensive coordinator in New Haven, CT at Yale University since 2013.

After the 2018 campaign, where the Bulldogs won the National Championships, he was promoted to associate head coach.

He boasts a pair of Ivy League Regular Season Championships and another four Ivy League Tournament Championships. In five of the seven seasons working with the Bulldogs, he ranked among the top 15 teams nationally.

Baxter has served in the CAA Lacrosse world at Drexel University from 2004-2008 where he worked as the offensive coordinator as well as the defensive coordinator. In the latter position, Drexel ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense during both the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Stag Country eagerly awaits coach Baxter, and are hopeful that he will pilot a formidable team going into the 2020 season.

-Women's Soccer vs. Wagner -Women's Volleyball vs. Temple, 10 a.m.

-Women's Volleyball vs. UMBC, 7 p.m.

-Men's Soccer vs. Rhode Island, 7 p.m.

In this week's issue...

- Baseball Suffers Loss to Quinnipiac (Pg.11)

- Women's Volleyball Releases Fall 2019 Schedule (Pg. 10)

-Men's Lacrosse Welcomes New Coach Andrew Baxter (Pg. 10)

Sports

Page 11

THE MIRROR | Week of June 17, 2019

Men's Baseball Falls to Quinnipiac, 6-5

Photo taken from Sports Information Desk

Senior Jack Gethings, in this last game representing the Stags, contributed to his title as the program’s all-time leader in hits, runs scored, games played and games started.

By Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor

After a grueling 13 innings, the Fairfield University baseball team (3525) fell to Quinnipiac University (29-27), 6-5, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Classic. The afternoon game, played on May 26, made history as the longest-lasting championship game the MAAC has ever hosted, with innings 7-12 ending scoreless.

The loss in Staten Island ended the Stags’ 2019 season earlier than they would have liked, but their winning campaign, which set a new program record, showed huge improvement since last spring where Fairfield failed to

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

Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor

Lexi Thimble Editor-in-Chief

make it to the postseason, 22-29.

Rookie Michael Sansone started on the mound and made waves, pitching for 4.1 innings. The lefty gave up a mere two earned runs. Eli Oliphant ’20 took his place when the score was knotted at five in the sixth inning. Oliphant played another four innings, and was the second of eight pitchers in red to earn time on the field.

Dan Reynolds ’20 tallied Fairfield’s first run of the game at the top of the second inning, leveling out Quinnipiac’s lead. In the bottom of the second, the Bobcats reclaimed the upper hand and racked up an additional two runs in four hits.

Your 2019-2020 4x5 Columnists:

Julia Lanzillotta, Lexi Thimble, Katherine Klima & Julia Monteleone

What is your fondest memory of orientation?

Do you have any advice for incoming Stags?

Why is Fairfield important to you?

How is your summer going so far?

What are you most looking forward to this fall?

Meeting my best friend Ally who ended up being my roommate!

Allow yourself time to adjust to a new setting, but make sure you get involved on campus as much as you can!

Fairfield has pushed me to work to my full potential and has introduced me to some of the best people I have ever met.

SO GOOD but I’m very excited to be back in Stag Country in September!

Getting to know my FYE students for sure!!

Join all the clubs! Even if you don’t go after the first few weeks, it’ll make you so many friends! Join The Mirror too; we’re a great club to start with.

Fairfield has let me be myself more than any other place I’ve been, and has let me find people I love and value so much.

I’m working a 9 to 5 job so needless to say Dolly Parton is running through my brain constantly, but I really love it so far.

I’m gonna be a senior to I’m real scared not gonna lie, but it’s definitely gonna be a time!!

I met a bunch of friends here and I get to learn what I love.

Pretty good! Just wish I was back in Ireland living my study abroad life (RIP).

Being a senior! But also I am not ready to adult after this.

I met two of my best friends after I complimented one of them on her pants. Shout out to Jacki and Bonnie, who still argue about who was friends with me first to this day :)

Hitting my future roommate, Vine Join clubs! They’re magical and Katherine Klima Editor Gracie Eldrenkamp, in the you meet a bunch of friends.

Promise!!!

Executive Editor head with a beach ball.

I’m a transfer student so I never

Julia Monteleone did orientation!

Managing Editor

Talk to people even if it makes you feel nervous!

Fairfield has taught me how to I am working more than I have push myself out of my comfort ever but I can’t complain! zone and that means everything as I get older.

Being a senior living on the beach!!

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports

Week of June 17, 2019

fairfieldmirror.com

SPORTS 12

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

Gethings, Pope Receive Baseball's Highest Honor Continued from Page Eleven

Following three innings of stagnancy, Fairfield surged in inning five.

Mike Caruso ’21 singled and was sent to second when senior Tom Ryan walked. Tim Zeng ’19 then bunted, allowing his teammates to advance. With three men on base, Justin Guerrera ’22 reached on a fielder’s choice, pushing Caruso home where he was tagged out. Jack Gethings ’19 also reached on a fielder’s choice, sending T. Ryan around the bases. Gething’s one base hit extended his single season hit total to 88 in his last game representing the Stags. This contributed to his title as the program’s all-time leader in hits, runs scored, games played and games started.

Fairfield’s Connecticut rivals were still up 3-2 until Anthony Boselli ‘19 singled through the right side, allowing Zeng to tie the score. Boselli lead the Stags, tallying a trio of hits, and lengthening his single season RBI record to 55. Next Dan Ryan ’20 capitalized on a fielding error by third base where Gethings secured a run, putting Fairfield a 4-3 advantage.

Quinnipiac proved their strength yet again when they tallied a tworun homer to one up the Stags. A sacrifice fly by Justin Guerrera ‘22 evened the score at five which would remain until the bottom of inning 13 when the Bobcats scored on a wild pitch, with the bases loaded and no outs. They claimed their title as MAAC Champions, 6-5, over Fairfield.

Proceeding from a successful spring season, our Stags have received some of the greatest honors that baseball of this level can offer. Gethings was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Second Team and the shortstop was also named to the All-New England Intercollegiate Baseball (NEIBA Second Team) alongside teammate Austin Pope ‘19. Gethings also landed himself a spot on the All-MAAC First Team and became the first Fairfield player in the history of baseball to be named the MAAC Player of the Year.

These postseason feats followed the shortstop’s graduation in May. He is not done yet, as he has recently signed a professional contract with the Kansas City Royals organization. His teammate Austin Pope, who is a rising senior, joined the big leagues just days earlier as the Arizona Diamondback’s pick in the 15th round of the MLB Draft. Pope ranks among the ten best players, with a 3.61 ERA. The young men are the 28th and 29th Stags to continue their athletic careers professionally.

Photo Taken by Sports Information Desk

Pope was chosen as the Arizona Diamondback’s pick in the 15th round of the MLB Draft

Photo Taken by Sports Information Desk

Senior Jack Gethings recently signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals organization, and became the first Fairfield player in baseball history to be named the MAAC Player of the Year.