THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper
Week of October 9, 2019
Vol. 45 Iss. 5
Fetty Wap to Perform at Red Sea Madness By Danielle Sondgeroth Contributing Writer
via email, the decision was at least somewhat student driven. “We started the artist selection process by first deciding on the date of the event, October 25. We reached out to our agent to determine which artists were available on that date, and then we looked into how much it would cost to bring the different artists to campus,” she said. “FUSA values student feedback, so we posted a survey asking students which genre they would prefer to see. We had great participation in our Life@Fairfield survey with 594 responses and the top choice selected was rap/hip hop. With this information we went back to the artists and decided that from the top voted genre, Fetty Wap was the best option.” Fetty Wap has been in the music industry since 2013 but broke into the music scene in 2015 with his debut single and instant hit,
“Trap Queen.” Since then, he’s been a staple in the rap world, releasing a number of other singles that made it onto the Top 10 in the US charts and winning the Best New Artist Award at the 2015 VMAs. In previous years, Fairfield has hosted a slew of popular artists, including T-Pain in 2017 and DNCE in 2018. The concerts are always well-attended and are followed by free food outside of Alumni Hall. The night will begin with performances from the university’s sports teams, including the cheer and dance teams with a pep rally to kick off the new season for the varsity basketball team. This year, Fairfield plans to have food trucks from the ever-popular Colony Grill, Super Duper Weenie, and Garden Catering with meals included in each student’s ticket. Most students go to Red Sea Madness for the concert but end up staying for the free food, including sophomore Julianna Gentile. “The food trucks are awesome,” she said. “I totally recommend going.” Gentile attended the event as a freshman and thoroughly enjoyed it but isn’t planning to attend for a second year in a row. Tickets for Red Sea Madness are currently on sale for $30 for students and $35 for guests over the age of 18. The price was reduced from last year’s $45, reportedly deterring some students from going. Unlike in previous years when the tickets were sold out, only 872 tickets were sold last year down from a record attendance of 1900 people in 2017 according to a previous article in the Fairfield Mirror and a page on News@Fairfield. “The tickets were expensive,” Gentile said. “Now that they’re cheaper and it’s a rapper a lot of people like, I think a ton of people will go.” According to a post on the university’s website, there are only 2000 tickets being sold and they “may sell out.” “The student reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and we eagerly counting down the days until Fetty Wap performs on campus,” Monahan said.
Fairfield University revealed the artist performing at its annual fall concert Wednesday. Fetty Wap is set to perform at the university’s traditional Red Sea Madness event on October 25. The concert announcement occurred at half-time during a Fairfield U men’s soccer game against Rider. Once the artist was revealed, a loud cheer went up from the crowd. Onlookers smiled and clapped, still excited even as they left Lessing Field and headed back to their dorms. As she headed out from the field, Courtney Kobus, ’22, was genuinely excited about the concert. “I’m very excited because I love Fetty Wap,” she said. “I love rap so it should be a good time,” affirmed Chris McCormick, ’22. “I’m excited. I wasn’t expecting him but I’m not disappointed at all,” said Mary di Graci, ’23. Of course, some students were even more enthusiastic about the choice of this year’s artist. Another student, Zachary Olszewski, ’23, said, “I can’t wait to get down and boogie with my fellow students.” “So far, the response has been the most positive in my 4 years at Fairfield,” said Thomas Boutros, the programming director in FUSA via email. “I personally cannot wait for this year’s concert.” However, some students were less enthused leaving the stadium. Chelsey Gabriel, ’22, wasn’t too excited about this year’s artist choice. “I’m not the biggest rap fan. Honestly, I think [the artist] is interesting, but I don’t love the choice,” she said. “I feel like the odd man out.” When she found out that the tickets are $30 for students, Gabriel said that she “probably won’t go.” Gabriel isn’t the only student conflicted over buying a ticket. “I bought a ticket, but I know none of Fetty Wap’s songs,” said Bridget Morrisey, ‘22. “I’d never heard of him before last night.” While some students may be confused and wonder how this year’s artist was Photo Courtesy of Fetty Wap’s Twitter picked, according to FUSA President Claire Monahan Fetty Wap first hit the mainstream with his debut “Trap Queen,” which dominated the charts in 2015.
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China’s New Weapons
Opinion China unveils new weaponry when we should focus on other issues. Page 5
Women’s Soccer Wins
Sports
Women’s soccer wrecks weekend rivals. Page 8
Ann Hampton Callaway
Vine Tony nominee Ann Hampton Calaway sings at the Quick. Page 16
The Power of Ambassador Samantha Power By Lexi Thimble Editor-in-Chief
“It seems the right time to ask, what are each of us normally not that these times suddenly require us to be?” That was how Ambassador Samantha Power closed her talk at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Oct. 2. For approximately an hour she expounded upon a variety of topics, speaking at great length about the current impact of polarization in politics both here in the United States and abroad, the question of whether democracy has been irreparably tarnished (Power as an idealist does not believe it has) and the concept of “shrinking the change,” of average people make their own small societal contributions to affect striking change. Before she even stepped on the Quick Center stage, however, Ambassador Power took time to speak with The Mirror about her career and the themes discussed in her new book, “The Education of an Idealist.” Power spoke first about her transition from being a war reporter, covering genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia, to her role as a foreign policy advisor in President Barack Obama’s cabinet. “When you’re a journalist, [you have] to be able to bridge that distance between what you’re seeing and what your readers are living, which is very different,” Power explained. “If you’re living through a war, how do you describe that so it will feel resonant?” Power found a parallel between this challenge of communicating such visceral
of his attention she could ask him to focus on America’s concepts effectively in her work in the White House. role abroad when there was so much turmoil happening at “Something very similar [happens] in the Situation home. Doing this while simultaneously trying to achieve Room,” she said. “You’re trying to convey the urgency of, let’s say, sexual violence in a conflict or mass refugee Continue Reading POWER On Page 2 flight or child soldiers being recruited, but you’re with a bunch of people who are not living in that world, so how do you convey it? It’s very similar.” Her biggest challenge in taking on a role similar to the ones she had previously criticized as an activist was how to first and foremost affect the change that she wished to see. It took a learning curve of a few months to understand how that process worked, and to figure out how to communicate with what she termed an audience “rooted in a set of domestic constraints.” The Obama administration took office in January of 2009, in the midst of an economic crisis that was costing millions of Americans their jobs. Power had to shift her expectations of Julia Crews / The Mirror President Obama during this Power and Thimble discuss Power’s new book, “The Education of an Idealist.” time, figuring out how much
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
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Power Makes a Call for Idealism Continued from Page One
the goals that she wanted to accomplish was a challenge, but Power felt that she eventually gained the skills that allowed her to pursue what she had entered politics to attain. Power also spoke directly to the main two lessons that she has learned over the course of her career, “Lean On” and “Shrinking the Change”, both of which ended up as chapter titles in her book. “Lean On” refers both to the title and concepts of Sheryl Sandberg’s first book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” Power’s book aims to render her career, where she held a high-pressure position while also becoming a mother to her two children, transparent and relatable. She wants to make readers understand “just what it takes” to make that happen, that her family network was indispensable and what made her work life possible while she was an ambassador. The other notable lesson is how she concluded her main presentation, explaining the concept of “Shrinking the Change.” This is all about how problems can be tackled, and rather than trying to solve huge issues like climate change in one fell swoop, breaking it down into manageable pieces that anyone can take on leads Julia Crews/The Mirror to an increase in people willing to take that action. “If you don’t like what you see, if you think it can be better and have some sense of what ‘better’ would look like, you’re an idealist,” Power explained. “You believe that something could be changed, that there must be change of some sort. And the second step is, do you believe that you can play a role in making that change.” Ambassador Power expanded further on these and other ideas during her presentation, as promised delivering a global view of the current state of the world. She spent the majority of her time detailing what she sees to be a polarized world, wherein people retreat to and find comLexi Thimble / The Mirror fort in their familiar echo chambers at the risk of accepting or even acknowledging facts which Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D, Managing Director and Market Sales Executive at Bank of America Joy Chaillou, Power and challenge their worldviews. She finds no greater President Mark Nemec, Ph.D. threat to United States national security and of science [and] a baseline attachment to facts.” don’t know what is,” she stated. “The challenge for myself global stability than this polarization within democracy, It was then that Power closed with her call-to-acand for others is stirring in people a recognition that there but argues that we are not living in a “doomsday” moment. tion, a reminder again to “shrink the change” and find the will be no change if we’re just defeatist and that if there is Rather, this should act as a wake-up call to not take for little things that are within the average person’s power to to be change, it requires [lots of] people to be activated, granted some of the basic pillars of our democracy, includ- improve. who are rigorous and willing to fail and get back up.” ing “the durability of liberal institutions, the sacred status “If 2019 isn’t a summons for idealism in everyone I
DPS Releases 2019 Jeanne Clery Report By Victoria Draper Contributing Writer
On Oct. 1, the annual Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics was released. This document gives valuable information on the overall campus safety of the past few years and offers guidelines for all students and faculty to follow on how to stay safe on campus. The 2019 Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics gives pointers from Whistle Defense, a campus safety program that teaches students and faculty what precautions to take when addressing a potentially dangerous situation. This document goes over all topics involving general safety, from evacuation procedures to topics of consent and reporting sexual violence. Frank Ficko, associate director of public safety (‘82) has been working at the university for over 35 years. This Stag holds great love for his school and enjoys every new day at Fairfield: “Fairfield is a wonderful place to work and it’s been a rewarding career. Working with students keeps me motivated and ‘on my toes,’” he wrote via email. Ficko spoke to the origin and purpose of this document. “Unfortunately, the story of Jeanne Clery is a sad and tragic one,” he wrote. “While a freshman, she was raped and murdered in 1986 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at Lehigh University.” Clery’s anguished parents’ campaigns for legislative reform resulted in the passage of the Clery Act in 1990 that “requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses,” according to the 2019 Jeanne Clery Disclosure. Ficko stressed the importance of withholding any feelings of reservation when comparing this data to other schools, as “crime statistics are affected by a variety of factors. These include demographic characteristics of the surrounding community, the ratio of male to female students, number of on-campus residents, accessibility of outside visitors, size of enrollment and other factors.” The crime rate is derived from the total number of
full-time equivalent students and employees for the same calendar period, and this report also includes the students and staff of Fairfield College Preparatory school as they reside on campus as well. “The total FTE students and employees for 2018 on Fairfield University’s campus was 6585 (students: 4,732, staff: 984) approximately 3,070 students and employees live in campus housing. These figures include Fairfield College Preparatory School (students: 775, staff: 94),” according to the 2019 Disclosure. The following crimes were reported in 2018: 9 sexual offenses, 2 dating violence, 2 aggravated assaults, 5 burglaries and 23 larcenies; arrests for 10 drug abuse violations; disciplinary referrals for 230 liquor law violations and 51 drug abuse violations. In 2018 there were zero reports of criminal homicide, stalking, domestic violence, robbery, motor vehicle theft and arson; zero reports of hate crimes toward any group of people; zero arrests for liquor law violations, and neither arrests nor any disciplinary referrals for weapon possession. If you would like to read more on campus safety and statistics, the report can be accessed through the Fairfield University website: https://www.fairfield.edu/ undergraduate/student-life-andservices/public-safety/
Crime Rates in 2018:
If you were a victim of any form of violence, please contact any of these numbers: • Public Safety: (203) 254-4090 • Counseling & Psychological Services (students only): (203) 254-4000, ext. 2146 • Fairfield Police Department: 911 or (203) 254-4800 • (See the 2019 Disclosure for more options to contact for help, both on-campus and off-campus.)
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
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The Mirror Reflects on this Week in Social Media
Compiled by Julia Crews Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.
10/4 8:14 a.m. The banners on the outfield fencing of the baseball diamond were ripped off. Anyone with information is asked to contact Public Safety. Three vehicles were towed and removed from campus due to repeated parking violations throughout the day. 10/5 12:48 a.m. A non-student was discovered driving under the influence after a stop due to his headlights not being on. The non-student failed several sobriety tests. 10:05 a.m. Student reported that her vehicle sustained damage while parked outside of Townhouse 4. Anyone with information is asked to contact Public Safety. 10/6 12:48 a.m. Student was documented with disorderly conduct after failing to produce identification at an officer’s request. Student was referred to Student Conduct. 2:12 a.m. While investigating a smell of cigarettes in a residence hall, the smoke detector in a room was found covered. The student was charged with tampering with fire apparatus and referred to Student Conduct. 8:08 p.m. A Diamondback bicycle was reported stolen from the Townhouses. Anyone with information is asked to contact Public Safety. 10/7 8:52 p.m. A momentary brownout occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. A downed wire on Barlowe Road due to a lightning strike was determined to be the cause.
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Lexi Thimble, Editor-in-Chief Katherine Klima, Executive Editor Julia Monteleone, Managing Editor Editors Sheila McCombs, Chief Copy Julia Crews, News Catherine Santangelo, Opinion Gracianne Eldrenkamp, Vine Molly Lamendola, Abroad Columnist Julia Lanzillotta, Sports Tobenna Ugwu, Coffee Break Business Department Email: info@fairfieldmirror.com Michael Hoffman, Director of Finance Advisor Dr. 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.
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
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Ethics Symposium Closes with Captivating Keynote By Mimi Loughlin Contributing Writer
On Friday, Oct. 5, the Keynote Panel for the “Ethics Here and Now: Racial Justice, Reproductive Justice, Climate Justice” symposium took place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business event hall. The hall was fully packed. Sara Brill, Ph.D., the chair of the philosophy department at Fairfield, and Nels Pearson, Ph.D., chair of the humanities department at Fairfield, discussed the connections between ethics and the Ignatian Values of global spirituality and commitment to truth and justice, before introducing the panelists Myisha Cherry, Ph.D., Ashwini Tambe, Ph.D. and Kyle Whyte, Ph.D. Myisha Cherry, associate professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside, said that her work and research responds to injustice, being black in the United States and to the role of emotions in shaping lives. “Growing up, I was a witness to my mother’s emotions, to her anger, her sadness, her joy, her hope,” Cherry said. “Over time, I noticed that a person’s emotions were reMimi Loughlin / The Mirror ceived differently based on whether a person Cherry, Tambe and Whyte give the Keynote Panel, which was the last in a series of ethics panels over the course of the day. is black, white, wealthy, poor.” Cherry further spoke about her idea and changing definitions of girlhood in different countries. “Climate science is the oldest form of science. Native Ameriof being a “rage renegade,” how one must use anger at injustice to “Who gets to enjoy girlhood?” Tambe asked the audience, cans knew that energy came from the earth, and they always treated further action and create a positive change. which led into a discussion of how girls of color and black boys it well,” said Whyte, who is Potawatomi and an enrolled member of Ashwini Tambe, associate professor of women’s studies at the today are seen as prematurely adult beyond their years. the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. University of Maryland, said that her work concerns law, sexuality Tambe also discussed her When the settlers came, Whyte said, they used the earth investigation of the rise of liberalism without thinking of the consequences, starting the process of climate alongside the creation of empires change. Today, clean energy solutions are devaluing communities of and how the idea of the excluded color by refusing to ask for their input and suggestions, ultimately other increases the belonging for harming communities of color. “Colonialism still exists…Students at those in the main group. colleges like this one need to advocate that professors and adminis“This marginalization results trators change the coursework to tell the actual histories of the land in two approaches for those who and to actually talk about what people do to achieve change and have been marginalized: those who transformation, that are often times silenced,” said Whyte. seek healing and seek hope, and Tambe said that climate change, racial injustice and reprothose who have not even begun to ductive injustice are problems faced simultaneously by many people. deal with their pain,” Tambe said. “Framing them as single issues is a luxury few can afford,” “It’s a long process [of healing Tambe noted. and change] and to expect that it will When Madison Terrill ‘21 asked the panelists what inspired happen overnight is a form of pain them to create change, Whyte said that people should focus on avoidance, often by people in power.” creating change because the change matters to them, regardless of Kyle Whyte, professor of the perceived recognition. “Too many people thwart their impact… philosophy and community susby being hyper-concerned about recognition,” Whyte said. tainability and the Timnick Chair Cherry brought about the idea of emotions as a motive for in the Humanities at Michigan State change. “Stop being complicit. Hold people accountable. Do someUniversity, spoke about his work thing about it.” investigating the harmful infliction Mimi Loughlin / The Mirror of climate change. Cherry, Tambe and Whyte at the conclusion of the Keynote Panel.
Opinion
Opinion
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
Editor Catherine Santangelo» catherine.santangelo@student.fairfield.edu
The Effort of Creating Deadly Weapons Should Be Put into More Pressing Issues By Gabrielle Arlotta Contributing Writer
China held it’s 70th annual National Day in Beijing on Oct. 1. This is a very important holiday in the Chinese calendar for celebrating the communist country, the New York Times reports. As officials, including President Xi Jinping, dancers, and citizens flooded the square, eyes were waiting for another grand display. The military came out guns blazing with an 80 minute precession of 580 pieces of weaponry and equipment that was domestically in service and constructed in China according to CNN. The holiday’s military segment was implemented to show advancement over the past 7 decades, since the founding of the People's Republic of China. CNN reported before the parade that, “China is expected to show off some of the most advanced weaponry the world has ever seen.” Anticipated innovative weaponry shown were missiles in various forms, bomber planes, drones and tanks. While something like a JL-2 submarinelaunched ballistic missile (SLBM) sounds terrifyingly destructive, China actually still falls short compared to the US Navy's Ohio-class ballistic submarine fleet numbers 14; that of which is designed to carry more missiles and warheads, reported by CNN. While that may be true, China is still coming out strong as the drones they’ve built are said to have “sleek shape and supersonic speed” as well as sophistication. When first hearing about new weapons of this caliber, it was easy to initially believe they’re excessive, none the less unnecessary, however it’s difficult to express backlash as the U.S houses about the same level of weaponry. Not everyone is in favor of National Day, and China is aware of that as high security is not only implemented on the ground, but also over the internet. Internet access in the city was policed. Even a popular microblogging site called Weibo, claimed to have been deleting content that “distorts” or “insults” Chinese history. The NYT also states that National Day pertains to Hong Kong as well, where people fled to the streets to protest in favor of democracy; not because of China’s updated arsenal.
The thought of highly dangerous weapons manifested in other countries beside our own is always unsettling; especially if they’re paraded around typical areas of civilization. However, it’s important to look at multiple sides; in this case those others are the U.S and varying countries. This in part can help understand that China is not the only one with weapons of mass destruction, and not the first to consider this kind of military parade. The Washington Post writes back in July of this year that U.S president Donald J. Trump proposed an idea to have bomber planes and tanks at a Fourth of July event he was hosting in D.C. Trump wanted a spectacle as part of a Fourth of July to expand his salute to America, stating it’ll be, “like no other. It’ll be special.” The event included military tanks on, Blue Angels, an F-35 stealth fighter and Air Force One brought forth a display, reported CNN. Not everyone was in favor, as U.S military chiefs were initially concerned about weaponry shown at what became more of a political event, CNN further states. While the U.S did not dedicate military pieces to the extent of China, the idea of military and it’s tie to strength and celebration seems to be a universal concept throughout the world. I for one would rather see this grade of effort go into more specialized issues, like poverty, health and overall well being of humanity, but what always seems to prevail is the idea of being a superior entity of the world- to feel safe on your homefront, especially when facing international powers. In simplicity, the idea of showcasing newly destructive weapons roots back to the need for protection; but this notion of protection also comes with putting up a strong front. Should any country need to feel so threatened to build such powerful weaponry? Absolutely not. However, at this moment the world is past the point of bow and arrows with rocks as spears. Unfortunately, if one has this magnitude of an arsenal-so must everyone else. It’s nature; if there is a threat, you're going to want to match the opponent. While weapons around the world have been present and assembled, one can only hope the majority are able to stay on the shelves where they belong. Photo Contributed by The New York Times
Millennials Are Doing Their Best in Their Busy Lives By Maria DiGregorio Contributing Writer Rainesford Stuaffuer’s article published in The New York Times, “The Sterile, Efficient Life of a Millennial”, offers an alternative perspective to the popular belief that millennials are not interested in anything of substance; they are simply trying to find the easiest ways to get things done. This article offers an alternative view of millennialism through an example of a woman sitting on a train. During this train ride the woman realizes that everything in her life goes by so quickly she barely has enough time to enjoy it. This article emphasizes the fact that older generations have a misconception about millennials. They have the false notion that millennials value quantity over quality. For example, the author speaks about how Amtrak is switching their dining cart to a cafe cart with different options for people onthe-go. Stuaffuer highlights the fact that the company actually did this because it would be financially cheaper for the company, rather than having their customers desires in mind. The company claimed this was to provide for millennials ‘on-the-go’ lifestyle. The older generations are trying to sell a cheaper product by claiming that they are appealing to millennials. A lot of companies create prodCreative Commons/Pixabay ucts for millennials
Editorial Board "My Chosen Family Deserves Respect" Lexi Thimble
Editor-In-Chief
solely based on the idea that ‘we’ need to maximize every second of our lives. However, I agree with the writer that millennials actually want everything to slow down, so much so that we are nostalgic over the past. Millennials have brought back vinyl, nineties trends and older music.
Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay
This should be an indication that millennials want to slow life down and go back to a time when life was much simpler and technology was not constantly being thrown at us. In fact, our generation has brought back some iconic pieces from the past in an attempt to maintain nostalgia, like the re-emergence of photography. If this tells the older generations
Today on Oct. 8, the Supreme Court of the United States has begun hearing details of three different cases detailing claims of workplace discrimination against various members of the LGBTQ+ community. As reported by Them., this could prove to be a landmark case, providing protections for transgender individuals and those with same-sex attractions by categorizing them under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It would prevent employers across the country from firing or refusing to hire people because of their identification as LGBTQ+, another milestone since the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. I am admittedly looking at this case with a healthy dose of trepidation. The court is balanced in favor of more conservative policies, and with Trump-appointed judges Kavanaugh and Gorsuch on the bench, I am not taking for granted the idea that this will turn out the way I would like.
anything, it is not that we are ‘self involved or obsessed,’ it is that our generation wants to create things that will last. Furthermore, I agree with the author that people have a false sense of what being a millennial really is. No other generation has had to deal with the struggles that the millennial generation has. Millennials have been accused of not working hard enough. The older generations believe that millennials want to receive large paychecks without putting in the work. I disagree with this, and I believe that millennials would put in the work if they were compensated fairly. There are currently workers with college degrees who are working for minimum wage, solely because there is a shortage of jobs. As referenced in the article there are millennials who cannot afford to buy furniture, so they are forced to rent furniture. This is representative of the fact that there is a problem with our economy and it is selfish to put the blame on the millennials. Millennials came into a broken system and are doing the best with what they have been given. The social and economic conditions are not the same as they were fifty years ago, thus the older generations cannot compare their lifestyle to the millennials'. This generation has had different struggles and opportunities than any other generation due to the emergence of the internet and new technology, so they are still trying to figure out the best way to approach life and the job market. Creative Commons/Pixabay
It could go either way, and as a young gay woman on the cusp of fully joining the workforce for the first time, the implications of this case terrify me. But I also know that I live in an area of the country that is more tolerant than most, and in some cases are actively looking to welcome people like me into their ranks. I can pass easily as well; I don’t adhere to many stereotypes that can be associated with a queer person, though that could be easily dispelled just by talking to me. This is all to say that while I worry on a personal level about what a case like this could mean for my own professional future, I worry also for those without the advantages I have. I think of the LGBTQ+ people of color, especially transgender women, 18 of whom have been killed this year alone as reported by the Human Rights Campaign. They have to worry about a constant threat to their lives, let alone the possibility of being fired from their jobs. These people that began the struggle for equality in the mid-twentieth century are
why we even have the opportunity to argue this case to begin with and who have the most to lose with each day that passes without these protections. I worry for these members of my family, my chosen family, who I don’t know every member of, but who are affected in equal measure by what the Supreme Court decides. They do not deserve to be stripped of opportunities to make a living because of who they are. It is one of the greatest joys of my life to be part of the LGBTQ+ community, to further understand what that means in this current age and what our history looks like. I don’t expect every person to understand exactly why I take such pride in this, as I don’t believe it is possible without such a personal connection. But I do wish for empathy in this case for my chosen family, for them to be seen as people worthy of dignity and to be treated with the respect given to every straight, cisgendered person in this country. After years of struggle, they are owed that at the very least.
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
Opinion
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Religious Values Are 'Rooted in Hypocrisy' By Stella Henry Contributing Writer
their sexual orientation, although Indiana does not appear to be one of In the wake of the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing samethem. A federal court rulsex marriage in all 50 states, as well as opinion polls from the Pew Reing in 2017, which applied search Center showing that a higher percentage of the public than ever to the state of Indiana, upbefore are supportive of gay people, being LGBT in the United States in held that discrimination 2019 doesn’t seem nearly as intolerable as it once was. But occasionally, based on an employee’s something happens that calls that assumption into question. That was sexual orientation, which certainly the case when, according to HuffPost, a Catholic archdiocese includes termination, is fired a high school teacher, Joshua Payne-Elliott, for getting married to prohibited. Since some another man. Payne-Elliott, who was employed at the school for over judges and legal schol10 years before his firing, is suing the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Inars liken discrimination diana, for wrongful termination. In response, the school stated that it against gay people to be expects its teachers to be “ministers” who conduct their private lives equivalent according to Catholic doctrine, which does not recognize same-sex to dismarriage as being “true marriage.” Last week, the United States crimDepartment of Justice issued a statement indicating that it had ination based on sex, the decision made by the sided with the archdiocese on the matter, saying that the First archdiocese might have even violated the Civil Amendment, and by extension, religious freedom, allows for Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits such disthe school to terminate anyone who does not follow Church crimination. teaching. Of course one could make the argument Whether it was legal for that because the teacher worked at a Catholic the archdiocese to have fired school, disallowing the termination would conPayne-Elliott and whether stitute a violation of religious freedom. I’m not it was right are two entirely at all convinced of that. People are free to different questions. In believe whatever they want, but is many states in the U.S., it really “religious” to fire there are no laws expressly a teacher, thereby prohibiting workplaces depriving him or from firing employees her of income, simply because of just because they fell in love with and got married to a person of the same sex? How could a devoted teacher be setting a bad example to the students he teaches just by marrying someone who just happens to have the same sex chromosomes? Furthermore, if Pictured: Joshua Payne-Elliott (right) and his husband Layton Payne-Elliott (left) the archdiocese Photo Contributed by HuffPost is so concerned
Photo Contributed by HuffPost
with the sins and moral failings of its teachers, will it terminate teachers for getting divorced, or taking the Lord’s name in vain? How about using birth control, or even drinking too many beers, because, you know, gluttony? Although I can’t say for sure, I seriously doubt that the very same archdiocese would fire a teacher for most of these offenses, even though, according to the Church, they are actually even more “sinful” than gay marriage. In fact, some might even say that Payne-Elliott’s marriage to another man wasn’t a sin at all. This is because, although legally binding, the Catholic Church does not recognize same-sex marriages; in other words, as far as the archdiocese is concerned, the marriage never even happened. So if the marriage never happened, then what grounds would they even have for firing him for religious purposes? The fact that he is cohabitating with someone to whom he is not married, and the fact that he is presumably engaging in sexual relations with his partner? The problem is that there is absolutely no way, short of spying on the couple, for anyone to know whether or not they are having sex. It is likely that they are, but no one would be able to prove it. Even if it could be proven, that would mean that any teacher, gay or straight, who is found to be engaging in premarital sex would have to be fired by the archdiocese for the sake of consistency. After all, an employer cannot reasonably terminate one employee for an offense while deciding not to terminate another employee for doing the same thing. Religious institutions have been known to be inconsistent with their “values” in the past, and I suppose this time is no different. But not all hope is lost. Payne-Elliott’s partner, Layton Payne-Elliott, is also a teacher at a Catholic school. But in his case, the school that he works for refused to fire him despite pressure from the archdiocese. After declining to fire him, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School was threatened with removal from the archdiocese, though the Vatican recently stepped in to temporarily halt the removal. This just goes to show that Joshua Payne-Elliott’s firing was not inevitable; the school that he taught at could have easily made a different decision, but instead decided to bow to the demands of an archdiocese that is clearly rooted in hypocrisy.
Republicans Will Take Back Swing Districts in the 2020 Elections By Jack Martorano Contributing Writer
Hispanic Republican official in New York City, as confirmed by her campaign website. In her failed mayoral run, Malliotakis garnered 70% of the vote from Staten Island, which makes up much of the 11th District. A valiant Trump supporter, Malliotakis has proved that she has what it takes to win in the crucial swing district. This trend, which should worry Democrats, is unfolding around our nation. In the 2018 midterm elections, the blue wave overcame four districts in Orange County, California. But I think that most, if not all, of these districts will fall back into Republican hands in the 2020 election. Like Rep. Max Rose, Rep. Harley Rouda who represents the 48th DisCreative Commons/Wikipedia trict of
Representative Max Rose defeated incumbent Representative Daniel Donovan in 2018 in New York’s 11th Congressional District, which voted for President Donald Trump in the 2016 election by 10 percentage points. The 11th District was certainly not the only district that fell to the blue wave in the 2018 midterm elections. According to Rasmussen Reports, Democrats flipped 31 districts that voted for Trump in 2016 and overtook many districts that narrowly voted for Hillary Clinton. I firmly believe, however, that many of these districts, including N.Y.’s 11th District, will flip red in 2020. Rep. Max Rose recently made headlines because he initially refused to support impeachment Creative Commons/GoodFreePhotos p r o c e e d i n g s while many California routinely votes in line with the more progressive other House Democrats quickly got on board after House Speaker wing of the Democratic Party. A recent poll by Politico Nancy Pelosi made the announcement on Sept. 25, as reported put Rouda neck-and-neck with a GOP opponent. by the New Yorker. But that changed when Rose proclaimed This should be surprising because Hillary Clinthat he was in support of impeachment at a town hall meetton won this district in 2016 by five percentage ing in his home district on Oct. 3. To say the least, Rose’s points. From what I can see, House Democrats support of the impeachment inquiry is risky. He is telling that embrace progressive plans like Medicare voters that he stands directly against President Trump in for All and tuition-free college may face a district that is more favorable to the president than anyenormous difficulty getting re-elected in where else in New York City. Furthermore, Rep. Max Rose swing districts around America. Even voters has only voted in line with Trump’s position 4.3 percent of who are disillusioned with President Trump the time. To put this in context, Rep. Alexandria Ocasiocould vote against their Democratic repreCortez, a self-proclaimed Democratic-Socialist, votes in sentatives for supporting such nonsensical line with President Trump 14.9% of the time. I judge plans. people by their actions and not their words. Max Rose Rep. Max Rose’s standing in the 11th isn’t a “centrist populist,” as he usually calls himself; he’s District of New York is a prime example of a liberal Democrat who doesn’t represent the will of the what is occurring in districts around the napeople in New York’s 11th Congressional District. tion. My two-cents on this issue: Don’t be Strong Republican candidates are beginning to surprised to see Republicans take back swing emerge as challengers to Rose in the district, including Pictured: Representative Max Rose of NY's 11th District districts in 2020. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who is the only Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons
The Vine
arts, entertainment, features
Editor Gracianne Eldrenkamp gracianne.eldrenkamp@student.fairfield.edu
Ann Hampton Callaway Gets Jazzy at the Quick
Photo Contributed by The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts CreativeCommons/Pixabay
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'Jazz Goes to the Movies' Swings by the Quick
Photo Contributed by The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Ann Hampton Callaway advertises her "Jazz Goes to the Moves" show.
By Gracianne Eldrenkamp Vine Editor As someone who used to binge watch “The Nanny” on Nick at Nite all the time, I never thought I would be able to see the artist of its theme song live, and love it, but on Saturday Oct. 5, I did. Ann Hampton Callaway, a Tony Award nominee and the artist of that iconic theme song, performed her show, “Jazz Goes to the Movies” in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. As expected for a jazz concert, the theatre was filled with Fairfield residents as opposed to students, but the performance wasn’t nearly as boring as students were probably expecting. Callaway brought her bright personality and four instrumentalists to back her up. Callaway had a quiet yet bold presence on stage. She wore all black with sparkling de-
tails on the sleeve that dazzled in the lights. Callaway was genuinely funny when she spoke effortlessly, and she had the entire audience enraptured by her performance. She often had the audience participate by snapping or singing along, and even teased some unwilling participants in the front row. Her performance exuded energy and happiness, and the audience could clearly tell she loved what she was doing. Callaway couldn’t have blown the Quick Center away without the instrumentalists. What was particularly impressive about the group was their ability to both be extremely prevalent in their solos but blend into the background when necessary too. Jimmy Greene played the saxophone flawlessly, delivering an impressive solo for almost every single song they performed. Ted Rosenthal was on the piano and his touch balanced between delicacy and strength. Double bassist Martin Wind delivered a steady and jaunty bassline, and even had some impressive solos in many songs. Tim Horner played the drums with such finesse I often found myself watching him perform. Together, they created music that was an incredible experience to listen to. She played her album of the same name as the concert. It was a medley of jazz compositions for music from Old Hollywood films like “Casablanca” and “The Jazz Singer.” Some were more famous than others, but all were fantastic performances. In particular, her version of “Blue Skies” from the 1946 film of the same name was original and beautiful. It was one of the songs that had the entire theater singing along. She also spontaneously sang “La Vie En Rose,” referencing Lady Gaga’s rendition of the song from the film, “A Star is Born” before she did so. It was one of her best performances of the night. Crystal clear and subtly powerful, Callaway’s voice turned the song into a masterpiece. She talked often of how much she loves Old Hollywood movies because of their use of clever wording and wit. To prove her love of wit, Callaway spent much of the time with smooth wordplay and side quips. It pushed her performance to a whole new level. She even told the audience that she hopes there will be a “resurgence of wit” in the world. Near the end of the concert, she had the audience participate in an improvised romantic song about Fairfield, Conn. She had the audience suggest the content of the song including the characters names, where they met and what they liked about each other. It’s something I’ve never seen in a concert, but it was both hilarious and impressive. Then she got herself into the right mindset for her improvisation, calling the Quick Center a “spiritual vortex” and taking to the piano. For something that was written in minutes and never rehearsed among the musicians, it was quite a feat. The entire theater marvelled at the talent and Callaway’s clever ad-libbed wordplay. Although student attendance was low for Callaway’s show, I firmly believe it shouldn’t have. Jazz isn’t for everyone, but Ann Hampton Callaway and her band breathed a new life into it.
Now That's What I Call Music: Fetty Wap By Andrew Murphy Contributing Writer With FUSA’s recent announcement of hip-hop artist Fetty Wap coming to perform for this year’s Red Sea Madness, Stags have a lot of reasons to feel excited. Fetty Wap essentially dominated the airwaves of every hit radio station in 2015. His rapid emergence carried by an assortment of simultaneous hit singles helped him break all types of records across the charts. Many people would argue that “Trap Queen” was the most popular song of 2015, and I cannot confidently say that I would disagree. With all that being said, here is a quick run through some of his best songs in order to recap a little more of what Stags can expect at Red Sea Madness. “Trap Queen”: Everybody knows this song. If you don’t think you do, listen for ten seconds and you’ll realize you do. If you still don’t, then you must have spent 2014 to 2016 under a rock. “Trap Queen” is a good song. You might have hated it for an extended period of time because it was on every radio station everywhere for so long, but I am sure that the energy of hearing this megahit live will trigger irresistible urges to sing along. “679”: Fetty’s second hit single is a party anthem. There really is no other way to describe it. This jam utilizes the signature up-tempo, rhythmic hip-hop that West Coast superproducer DJ Mustard used to craft half of hip-hop’s hit songs during the mid-2010s. Fetty’s friend and reliable collaborator Monty assists with a verse, dropping a notoriously funny couple of lines. “RGF Island”: This one right here, this is the one. Plainly put, this song is special. For starters, the beat has perfectly timed synthesizers that coincide with the occasional piano keys and the plethora of trap drums. But Fetty . . . man I swear you can feel the energy in his voice. I am currently sitting at my kitchen table listening to this song, and as this chorus is developing, I swear I am getting the type of invincible energy that could make me run a marathon and/or wrestle a grizzly bear right now. Fetty must have made this song with the sole intent of getting entire groups of friends unbelievably hyped. “Jimmy Choo”: The beat on this one is straight up nasty, and Fetty appropriately destroys it, pouring gasoline all over it with his drawn-out, well-enunciated verses and subsequently igniting it by breathing his beautifully unmelodic vocals all over the chorus. “Rewind”: Okay, so I am kind of hoping he does not perform this song live because I do not want to be in the middle of Alumni Hall bawling my eyes out like I am watching “The Notebook” while cutting onions. But if he decides to switch up the mood and relax the building for a minute, this song would serve as a great moment of relaxation even though its an emotional rollercoaster, providing a melancholy account of how he misses his ex-girlfriend. “Again”: Another one of Fetty’s record breaking singles, this song finds Fetty singing another chorus, rapping over his verses, and heavily ad-libbing himself during the whole time (including his signature “YAAAAA baby”). Though the song is about trying to get a girl back, nothing about this song creates a somber mood, and Fetty gives this beat justice, somehow keeping the party vibes alive.
“My Way”: How good is this song? Well, seeing as Drake himself remixed it, I think you could say it is not terrible. Fetty fully displays his unique style on this song by starting most of his lines in more of a rapping form and ending them in a clearly exaggerated singing note. Honorable mentions: “Jugg,” “D.A.M” and “Westside.”
Hip hop artist Fetty Wap poses for an Instagram post.
Photo Taken from @fettywap1738 Instagram
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'The Joker' Will Put on Your Happy Face By Tyler Zikias Contributing Writer
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“Joker” has been met with waves of controversy leading up to its release. Critics who screened the movie at festivals claimed that this movie was so violent and twisted that it might inspire copycats to copy the fictional character’s action. Media outlets pedaled huge stories about possible shootings during opening weekend, similar to the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, seven years ago on opening night of “The Dark Knight Rises.” All of these events led to a mangled perception of what “Joker” really is. After finally seeing the movie, then seeing the movie again, all of this media coverage was totally unwarranted. The movie itself, on the other hand, is a ferocious masterwork from director Todd Phillips. Joaquin Phoenix is the best I have ever seen him as Arthur Fleck. It’s easily the most demanding and fearless role of the year, so much so that I would be shocked if anyone else won Best Actor at this year's Academy Awards. Phoenix lost an absurd amount of weight for this role, but the physicality he bears isn’t even the most impressive part of his performance. In the film’s earliest scenes, before there’s even a glimpse of becoming “The Joker” in Arthur’s eyes, Phoenix is required to be so socially awkward and uncomfortable that you truly feel bad for him. Arthur has this nervous laugh that Phoenix brings such realism to that it never feels like he’s acting. I never once saw Joaquin Phoenix when I was watching “Joker.” I think this movie is worth seeing for his staggering performance alone. The film is simply incredible to look at. Director of Photography, Lawrence Sher, has done an excellent job of capturing Gotham City in its dirtiest and craziest state. Sher makes a strong choice of shooting a large portion of Arthur’s scenes with a long lens, isolating him in every frame. This is genius storytelling through just the cinematography alone. It gives a sense of disconnect between Arthur and the rest of the city, creating not only a beautiful shot, but deepening the character’s motivations and anxieties. The sound design also is on another level in “Joker.” The moments towards the end of the film and the crimes that Joker commits are brutal and raw. Never are they handled in a way that seems flashy or cinematic. The excellent sound design adds to this raw style by using sharp sounds to accentuate the power Joker holds in each situation. Critics are inevitably going to give this movie flak for being another comic book movie, but “Joker” stands above the rest as one that feels like a unique vision.
I have but one problem with “Joker” which is kind of a nitpick since it was something I didn’t expect. I assumed that “Joker” would be a series of events that leads to Arthur Fleck becoming the Joker, which it ultimately is. But the film also includes an interesting plot thread that features Arthur searching for answers about his past. It’s a great little story element that works really well, but I think Phillips takes a little too long to introduce it. The film would be a lot more engaging if there were hints of this troubled past within his introduction, as opposed to introducing it 40 minutes into the film The one word that keeps popping into my head to describe Todd Phillips’ “Joker” is “fearless.” Everything in this film is raw and unique to comic book movies as a whole. Not since “Logan” has a comic book movie been a pure character study. Joaquin Phoenix is normally great but his performance in this film is on another level. I’ve never been more on edge, uneasy or just uncomfortable, during a movie this whole year. This movie comes highly recommended, but only if you know what you’re getting into. If you know this isn’t your cup of tea, don’t see it. But, if you’re a fan of these kinds of movies, enjoy the ride. Grade: A
Photo Taken from @thejokermovie Instagram
Joaquin Phoenix plays the complex Arthur Fleck.
She (Barely) Makes Me Laugh By Gracianne Eldrenkamp Vine Editor By Katherine Klima Executive Editor The She Makes Me Laugh comedy showcase is a monthly event in New York City. As the name suggests, it focuses on women and non-binary identifying comedians. The makers of She Makes Me Laugh created a festival that lasted from Oct. 4 to Oct. 6. The festival had over 250 submissions, but only 100 got to perform over the three days. The comedians were mostly from New York City itself, but there were some from around the country. A portion of ticket sales went to The Poussey Washington Fund. The People’s Improv Theater, or PIT has a small stage perfect for comedy. It was intimate and beautiful in a quirky sort of way. The host for the evening was Laura Zabolotsky, and her hosting was mediocre at best. While her actual performance was one of the best of the night, her hosting only made the show Photo Taken from @adastramovie Instagram dip in excitement. She seemed mostly unprepared to host, as her jokes were consistently flat. Eileen Hanley performs a song. Eileen Hanley was the highlight of the performance. She did musical comedy with topics ranging from her long and arduous bike ride every day to the benefits of babysitting. She performed four times in total. Although her comedy was definitely one of the best in the show, she overtook the stage. She was on way longer in comparison to the other performers. The other comedians had about five minutes each to deliver their stories, meanwhile every other performance was Hanley singing a song. I truly believe the other comedians would have had stronger material if given the time to correctly set up their stories.
One of the biggest critiques in regards to a majority of the performances was the way the comedians carried out their material. A lot of the stories themselves either dragged out too long or had too much context that needed to be said. When it comes to delivering jokes, one needs to be quick and to the point. You don’t want to lose your audience too fast before you can deliver the punchline. One of the comedians was telling a story about how they soiled themselves in Barcelona, but it took them almost ten minutes to actually get to the funny part. Another issue a lot of these performers had were the fact that while they were dragging out these stories to the point the audience member thinks something funny is about to happen, but then nothing funny is said. One performer was trying to explain the hilarity of their family’s Thanksgivings, but only ended up finishing on how they got to be in the Macy’s Day Parade and how it was a memorable experience for them. Usually when delivering stories like that, the audience Gracianne Eldrenkamp/The Mirror member anticipates some sort of hiliarity to ensue. On the other hand, some other performers seemed rushed in their performance. More than one comedian tripped over their words trying to say them in the allotted time, and the joke ended up getting lost. By the end of the performance, I felt like I wanted more. Sure, I got a few laughs from some of the comedians, but for a comedy show it wasn’t nearly enough. I expected to see a much more experienced group of comedians and was sorely disappointed.
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Fall Fashion on a Budget By Gracianne Eldrenkamp Vine Editor Ah, fall: the season of hot apple cider, colorful leaves on the ground and, most importantly, cozy, fall fashion. Styles change every year and for those who aren’t keeping up with the hottest trends from Marc Jacobs or Dolce & Gabbana, here are the staples you should have in your closet to give your autumn some extra warmth. Flannel There is truly nothing better than an oversized, thrifted flannel shirt. Although there’s nothing new about flannel shirts, they are perfect for that crisp, in-between-theseasons kind of weather. Flannels are not only flattering on everyone, but they come in so many different styles and colors. Plus, I highly recommend thrifting at Goodwill instead of buying your flannels. Not only do they lessen your contribution to the fast fashion industry, but flannels are best when they’re broken in. Why would you want a brand new, stiff flannel, when you could have one with built in character? Of course, you could
CreativeCommons/Pixabay
loosen the buttons or fray the edges on your new flannel, but who has the time for that? Boots I’m a strong advocate for comfort over style, but with a pair of solid boots, you really don’t have to choose. A pair of boots can make your outfit look twice as nice. There’s tall military boots that look fantastic with a pair of skinny jeans underneath or short, work boots, so you can make your lumberjack dreams come true. Although my current stock of boots were purchased at Payless (may they rest in peace), you can get a good pair of boots pretty much anywhere shoes are sold. Target and Marshalls are my favorite places to get good quality shoes for a cheap price. Velvet boots are especially cute for autumn, and they transition well into your winter wardrobe, too. CreativeCommons/Flickr Corduroy God, I wish I had a pair of corduroy pants. I feel like anything made of corduroy just embodies the feeling of fall. It’s like if a thermal shirt/pants grew up and became the CEO of a cool music production company. Specifically, pants and jackets made with corduroy are perfect for fall. It’s the best way to spice up whatever you have in your closet and make your super casual outfit look high fashion. Unfortunately, corduroy clothing does seem to be a bit pricier, but I doubt it will go out of style anytime soon. American Eagle in particular has some great corduroy styles this season. Beanies Finally, after a long and unreasonably warm September, beanies are appropriate for the weather. Personally, I don’t wear beanies often, but they give both warmth and comfort on a chilly day. They’re also perfect for when you just can’t get your hair to look the way you want it to. Trying to avoid the hipster look of a red slouchy beanie? Try the fisherman beanie style! With the light ribs in the material and the large fold, it gives the classic beanie a modern twist. You can get literally any kind of beanie for a reasonable price at Zumiez, and you might as well get a cool new deck for your skateboard while you’re there!
The Mirror Abroad: Just a Moment with Molly By Molly Lamendola Abroad Columnist Another weekend spent in another Italian city. This weekend in the calendar I was off to Siena with my travelling art history class. This class really is a great deal; we only meet for an hour before we depart and see the art the city has to offer. So, if we discuss the Siena Duomo in class and all the history of it, bam! There it is right in front of us! Can you imagine if every class was like that! It’s a set-up that obviously works in Italy with a survey of Italian art class, but I understand that it might be a bit tricky to pull off back in the States. I don’t think three credits for like $20,000 would fly. But, no matter, it works here and I was in Siena! Siena is a stunning little Italian city and just perfect for a day trip if you’re ever in the area, especially for those looking for a realistic backdrop for some Medieval cosplay outfit. The city looks untouched, like nothing has changed since around the 14th century. Which is quite historically accurate, as Siena was a flourishing, prosperous city for many years…but oh rats, did the black plague do some damage! Damage that the city would never recover from, and damage that you can actually see while visiting! We’re all standing around looking at the crown gem of the Siena landscape: the green and white striped Siena Duomo. Heyoh, would you look at that? It was quite literally left unfinished. There’s gaps where the white and green marble should continue as exposed brick peeks out behind the structure. History right before our eyes! It really doesn’t matter that the Du-
Lamendola stands in front of the Siena Duomo.
omo isn’t finished, as the inside bit, which you can enter as a museum, is decorated to the nines, teeming with glitz and glam from floor to ceiling. Even the floor tiles we were walking on were cordoned off as works of art. Mosaic work that sparkles in the light, pairing beautifully with this large scale scratched in designs called “Graffiti.” Which comes from the Italian word graffiato, which means to scratch. Fun fact to take home! You know these floors were particularly special if I mentioned them before the two great artists’ work displayed in the Duomo, as both Donatello and Michelangelo have work featured throughout. A sculpture of Saint John the Baptist from Donatello and then a couple smaller statues from a young Michalengelo act as just the icing on the cake! And then we went and got lunch! Could this day get any better? It really could’ve gotten better, if we’re being completely honest, as on our last art history field trip I found a very friendly stray cat under a car. That was fun. But, okay, this lunch was free and bottles of red wine were included in our lunch experience. So, after re-evaluating... I’m totally not complaining! It put us all in just the perfect brain wave setting to see the head of Catherine of Siena. Seriously. I kinda forgot relics were a thing in Catholicism, but there I was standing in front of her incredibly little head and asking my friend, “Wait... are those her teeth?” A moment I’ll probably eventually forget. Until one day, years from now, when someone random will mention Saint CathMolly Lamendola/The Mirror erine’s head in Siena and everything will fall into place as the repressed memories of this experience will come flooding back.
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
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Inkwell Spotlight Bur nt Food
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By Paul Bova Treasurer at The Inkwell There was a faint smell of burning coming from the oven, so I knew the mozzarella sticks were done at least. I rush over, put an oven mitt on, take the mozz sticks out and set them on the stove. They were definitely black around the edges, but still perfectly edible. I set my oven mitt aside, but notice something odd out of the corner of my eye. What used to be the floorboards in front of my fridge had now turned into an open space on the floor with two visible steps leading down. It was not only strange that the floorboards disappeared out of the blue, but also that anything like stairs would exist beneath it given that I live on the third floor of my apartment. I had to see what the hell was going on so I looked closer at the opening. It only got darker the deeper I went, nothing but the void when I reached my hand out. But like most problems relating to my apartment, the best course of action to me was to cover up the problem and act surprised when someone else noticed. I put some kitchen towels over it and put a sign up saying that it was leaking from the fridge.
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Mario Kart Makes a Major Mobile Comeback By Michael Riggi Contributing Writer After more than 27 years of intense racing tournaments and deadly multiplayer co-op, the “Mario Kart” franchise has finally made its way onto mobile devices with the newest entry in the series, “Mario Kart Tour.” Mixing elements of traditional “Mario Kart” games with smartphone friendly features, “Mario Kart Tour” often comes to a skidding halt with the typical setbacks that plague modern mobile games. Despite its flaws causing it to occasionally drift off course, “Mario Kart Tour” continues the legacy of its predecessors as an undeniably enjoyable and addicting game at its core. Hoping to further capitalize off the success of the mobile gaming market after releasing games like “Super Mario Run”, the “Mario Kart” franchise seemed like the next surefire path of success for Nintendo. Trailing only behind mainline “Super Mario” titles and the “Pokémon” series, “Mario Kart” has long been one of Nintendo’s most popular and best selling franchises with 137 million copies sold over the course of its nine game lifespan. With the last new entry in the series (Mario Kart 8) released back in 2014 for the Wii U (and re-released as “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch), fans have been eagerly awaiting the next mainline game and new tracks for five years. In “Mario Kart Tour”, players race across the world with Mario and friends in new tracks inspired by real-life locations, along with other classic courses from the series. Every two weeks players can log in to find new locations, characters and daily challenges available to engage in. Capitalizing on the anticipation and hype behind it, “Mario Kart Tour” produced two record shattering numbers after its initial release in late September with over 20 million downloads on its first day. In the usual Nintendo fashion, “Mario Kart Tour” takes many liberties to try and move the series forward but often does so in questionable ways. Possibly the most strik-
ing aspect of the app is the lack of landscape mode in lieu of a vertical design, often making it feel like the game is in control of itself. Also the game’s manual mode, the recommended style of playing, has a large learning curve and takes time to become adjusted to as racers start drifting every time users touch the screen. “Mario Kart Tour” also suffers from repeated courses and a sluggish menu that can make content frustrating to navigate. Even though courses have interesting alternative layouts between different cups and are updated every two weeks, the constant recycling of the few courses available gets stale quickly when compared to other “Mario Kart” games and with the way that content is rolled out. The addition of costly microtransactions and the lack of online play has also left many fans upset with the app. Although “Mario Kart Tour” is free-to-play, many of the game’s characters and rewards (along with the 200cc racing mode) are locked behind a monthly fee of $4.99 for the Gold Pass. Beyond the Gold Pass, “Mario Kart Tour” also offers in-game bundles that reach upwards of $20.00. Even with its jarring control options and the annoyance of unreasonably high priced microtransactions, there is still much enjoyment to be found with Mario and friends. “Mario Kart Tour” distinctly stands out with its polished and eyecatching visuals, making races even on mobile devices still feel as smooth and satisfying as ever. The inclusion of different types of mission-based challenges in addition to standard racing courses also helps to liven up and diversify the game’s content in new and refreshing ways. “Mario Kart Tour” may not live up to the hype fans were expecting, but it still carries on the addictive and fun traditions of the series nonetheless. Although off-putting microtransactions and recycled content can often send the game down the pipeline, the strong roots and base mechanics of Nintendo’s latest mobile game make it worth multiple visits to lands in the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond.
How to Satisfy Cardio Cravings By Sabrina Trueheart Nutrition Columnist
Ever since I started teaching spin classes at Fairfield University’s Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex, I’ve experienced a variety of feelings. One of the best I have experienced is the feeling of being pumped to teach – creating music playlists, making spin profiles to my favorite tunes and seeing the same people come back to my classes every week gives me so much to look forward to. I also have experienced more exhaustion than usual, as my exercise schedule has increased dramatically since I started. But, something else I have been feeling lately is HUNGRY! Performing any physical activity, especially an activity as intensive as cycling, can boost your metabolism and lead you to feeling hungry much more than usual. Since spinning is cardio, you may feel like it isn’t super important to eat directly before and after spin class. But that is untrue! Any physical activity, whether it is cardio, strength training or something in between, requires you to fuel up before and after the activity. Here are a few key foods to eat before and after taking a spin class, or performing any cardio intensive workout: Before – Bananas According to many of the instructors at SoulCycle, a banana is their go-to choice for a pre-spinning snack. Bananas are proven to increase energy due to their healthy carbs that replace muscle glycogen. They also are packed with potassium, which helps the body deliver oxygen to the brain. Both of these benefits of bananas make it a perfect prespinning snack! Before – Nut Butter Nut butter is another highly recommended snack for pre-spinning. Any kind of nut butter is packed with protein and healthy fats, giving you the energy your muscles need to fuel up for your workout! Tip: pair the nut butter and the banana together – it’s a magical combination for a cardio intensive workout. After – Protein Smoothie or Shake It’s a good thing smoothies are available around every corner in Fairfield county! A
CreativeCommons/Flickr
smoothie is a great post-workout snack, as many of them are packed with fruit, non-dairy milk, maybe some yogurt and some greens. Tip: a smoothie is a great way to get your dose of banana, nut butter and protein all in one, so it’s a great snack to have before or after a cardio intensive workout! After – Lean Protein + Complex Carbs Many exercise aficionados incorporate lean proteins and complex carbs into their diets, specifically for post-workout meals. If you happen to be eating dinner directly after spin class, it wouldn’t hurt to have a lean protein (chicken, tofu, eggs) along with complex carbs (whole wheat pasta, brown rice) as a part of your meal. This will help your muscles recover and give them the fuel they need. If you’re spinning in the morning, try having some oats before or after spinning, as they also have both the protein and carbs needed to fuel you!
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
Coffee Break
Page 12
Coffee Break Editor: Tobenna Ugwu tobenna.ugwu@student.fairfield.edu
Awesome Autumn Word Search
Films to Freak Out To this Fall as halloween draws ever nearer, the coffee
Here’s
break team took time out of their busy day
for you to wHile away time, becuase wHy not!
to compile a list of movies that you must
break
see to get you in that spooky mood: • halloweentown • hocus pocus • the conjuring • nightmare before christmas • beetlejuice
an absolutely awesome
autumn-tHemed
word searcH
tHe coffee
team does not encourage doing tHese puzzles in class.
AUTUMN
APPLE PICKING
CIDER
FALL
FLU
LEAVES
ORCHARDS
PERSIMMONS
PIE
PINECONES
PUMPKINS
RAINCOAT
REDSEAMADNESS
SEASON
SWEATERS
• scary movie • the addams family • twitches • jeepers creepers • it • monster house
happy watching!!
Creative Commons/Public Domain
Creative Commons/Discovery Education
Riots Break Out After Dunkin’ Runs Out of Coffee By Nathan Schmidt Stagnation Editor-In-Chief
Calamity struck Fairfield University yesterday morning when all three campus locations of Dunkin’ ran out of coffee at the same time. The shortage first set in around 9:20 AM, when students were just getting out of bed and off to their classes. By 11:00, word had spread of the coffee failure, and students had formed up into a ferociously zombified riot of sleepy crankiness. Morning classes were canceled and DPS was sent in with emergency instant coffee packets to quell the disturbance, but the damage was already done. The Dunkin’ location at the Barone Campus Center was completely overrun by students desperate for their caffeine fix. Meanwhile, the location at the Dolan School of Business was subject to a disappointingly brief scuffle where the students quickly realized they would have to self-serve any coffee they found. At the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, Dunkin’ employees threw all of the coffee in one direction, then ran in the other, leaving the station deserted. Responses from the student body have been sporadic and mostly unintelligible due to their sleepiness. One freshman, when questioned by Stagnation reporters why he didn’t try getting some coffee from the Tully, responded, “We only get two meals a day. You know that, right?” In related news, Fairfield officials are preparing to announce a new Dunkin’ outlet located directly above the existing one in the School of Business.
Photo contributed by the Stagnation Staff
Read More at: http://myfairfieldstagnation.wordpress.com/
Sports
SPORTS Sports Editor: Julia Lanzillotta julia.lanzillotta@student.fairďŹ eld.edu
Page 13
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
This Week in Sports: What You Missed
In Case You Missed It: Wednesday, October 2nd -Women's Soccer won against St. Peter's, 5-0 -Men's Soccer tied with Rider, 0-0 Friday, October 4th -Field Hockey won against Sacred Heart, 1-0 Saturday, October 5th
Photo Contributed by Sports Information Desk
Devon O'Nalty has been named Fairfield University's newest head diving coach, under the leadership of head swimming and diving coach Anthony Bruno. O'Nalty's coaching experience comes from Wesleyan University, where he was the men's and women's diving coach. During his 2015-16 season coaching the Cardinals, he earned the title of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's diving coach of the year. Additionally, he has coached a two-time NCAA Division III National Qualifier. O'Nalty joins the swimming and diving program on a high note, as the women's team enter this season as two- time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champions.
-Women's Tennis won against Rider, 7-0 -Men's Tennis won against Rider, 7-0 -Volleyball won against Manhattan, 3-0
Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, October 9th -Women's Soccer vs Quinnipiac, 7:00 PM
Photo Contributed bySports Information Desk
The Fairfield University field hockey team's season record is currently 9-2 overall, and 1-0 in the Northeast Conference. They are ranked 23rd in the nation. The Stags had a successful weekend, coming off of a pair of wins against Sacred Heart University (1-0) and the College of The Holy Cross (3-1). Luzi Persiehl '22 and Julianna Kratz '23 each garnered their second Northeast Conference (NEC) weekly awards, following their outstanding performances. Persiehl was honored with the title of the conference's offensive player of the week. First-year attacker Kratz was named NEC rookie of the week. Perseihl has amassed four goals and two assists so far this season. These accomplishments have already outdone her performance in the 2018 season, with zero goals and two assists in 16 games played. She scored the only goal of the game against Sacred Heart, and tallied an assist in the match against Holy Cross. Kratz has proven to be unstoppable, recording four goals so far in her debut season in red in addition to five assists. They resume NEC play on Friday, Oct. 11 against Rider University.
Friday, October 11th -Field Hockey at Bryant, 3:00 PM Saturday, October 12th -Men's & Women's Rowing, Navy Day Regatta Sunday, October 13th -Volleyball at Rider 1:00 PM
In this week's issue... - FairďŹ eld Conquers Conference Competition (Pg. 14) - Men's Soccer Succumbs to St. Peter's in OT (Pg. 15)
- Field Hockey Notches First Northeast Conference Win of 2019 (Pg.15) - Women's Soccer Wrecks Weekend Rivals (Pg. 16)
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
Fairfield Conquers Conference Competition
Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Desk Senior Mayda Garcia registered a match-best 12 kills and ten digs while her teammate Morgan Doll '23 reached double-digits, tallying fourteen digs of her own against Iona College.
By Kevin Stush Contributing Writer The Fairfield University women’s volleyball team (9-4) went up against Iona College women’s volleyball (1-14) on Sunday, Oct. 6. Fairfield won three consecutive sets in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match-up to secure their eighth straight win and enforce an undefeated 5-0 MAAC record. Iona’s conference record worsened to 1-5. Additionally, Sunday’s win gives the Stags a 12 set win streak in individual sets. Although they won, the Stags had a slow start to the first match. In a short amount of time, the Iona Gaels found themselves with an 8-2 lead forcing Fairfield to call an early timeout. In no time, the Stags took the lead and went on to win the set 25-17. When the second set started, it felt like a repeat of the first set when the Stags, yet again, had to fight from behind to eventually win the set 25-21.
However, Fairfield learned from previous mistakes, which was evident in the 25-10 win of the third set. Leading the Stags was Mayda Garcia ‘20, who had 12 kills and 10 digs. Junior Kaylie Butts and Joelle Battles ‘23 both played a strong offensive game for Fairfield with eight and nine kills respectively. Defensively, Morgan Doll ‘23 and Manuela Nicolini ‘20 took charge with 14 and 13 digs each. Nicolini also had three blocks in the game and Butts had five. Iona was led offensively by Jamie Smith who had eight kills and Cassandra Patsos who had six kills. On defense, Jessica Paolucci and Tess Conoly played important roles with 11 and eight digs, in that order. Karla Johnson also contributed for Iona with four blocks. The Stags now have a record of 10-4 for the season and currently sit in first place in the MAAC. Fairfield looks to continue building on their 8 game win streak against Saint Peter’s on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12 p.m. in Jersey City, NJ for another conference game.
Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ... Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor
Lexi Thimble Editor-in-Chief
Your 2019-2020 4x5 Columnists:
Julia Lanzillotta, Lexi Thimble, Katherine Klima and Julia Monteleone
Do you have any plans for Columbus Day weekend?
What do you think about Fetty Wap performing at this year's Red Sea Madness?
Are you following the MLB Post-Season at all?
What is your go-to fall song?
If you could create a course here, what would it be?
I haven't seen my brother or my dog since August so I hope to spend a lot of time with them!
I'm excited! I'm sure he will draw a large crowd so it'll be fun.
Yes!!!!! #NextManUp
Anything by the Lumineers puts me in the mood for fall, especially their newest album.
Sports broadcasting. I took sports journalism and it's in that realm, but I would love to practice in front of a camera at some point.
I'm not going home so I'm looking forward to a few days of hanging out with my friends and otherwise doing absolutely nothing.
All of my friends are going and it's going to be the last Red Sea Madness that I ever attend, so as long as they're all going I really don't care who's performing.
Can't really say I am... go Sox though!
I spent the morning last week listening to Hozier's first album on repeat and those are some serious fall ~vibes~ my friends.
This may be a cop-out, but with our impending graduation date I'm gonna have to second Julia Monteleone's emotion.
I can't wait! It's my last Red Sea Madness and the weekend after I have a ton of projects due– so it better be fun.
Nope, not at all! I know nothing about sports!
The "Monster Mash" on repeat.
Something obscure like treeclimbing or how to change a tire.
Everyone tells me I should be excited, but I am not really sure how I feel. All I wanted was all three Jonas Brothers this year.
Nope. Go Yankees?
"In the Blood" by John Mayer.
How to survive after college. I don't know how to handle my finances, or a mortgage, or taxes, I can barely do my own laundry.
I can't wait to go home and spend Katherine Klima some time with my friends and Executive Editor my cat. Hopefully, go pumpkin picking or have a Halloween movie marathon– I need to get some fall activities in.
I am going to squeeze my dog
Julia Monteleone Junior and eat my mother's cookManaging Editor ing. I will be very happy.
Sports
THE MIRROR | Week of October 9, 2019
Page 15
Men's Soccer Succumbs to St. Peter's in OT By Mike Hoffman Chief Financial Officer The Fairfield University men’s soccer team (2-4-3) returned home after a 1-0 win last weekend over the United States Military Academy Black Knights (2-5-1). The Stags started off the week with a primetime Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference 0-0 tie on Wednesday, Oct. 2 against the Rider University Broncos (3-3-1). This matchup between the two potential MAAC contenders was a defensive battle, spearheaded by both goalies. Fairfield keeper Gordon Botterill ‘21 posted a scoreless day, with seven saves. Rider goalkeeper Pablo Gatinois also stopped each and every shot he saw, highlighted by an incredible save on a free kick by Fairfield’s Matt McGlinchey ‘21, keeping the Fairfield offense at bay. McGlinchey totaled three shots, including two on net, leading the offensive charge for Fairfield. Forward Johnathan Filipe ‘22 also put three shots up, including two on goal. As the game descended into overtime, Fairfield kept the pressure on, putting three shots on Rider’s Gatinois, who was able to turn away each threat. A tough game was interrupted at halftime by the announcement of artist Fetty Wap being named the headliner for Red Sea Madness, a fall concert preceded by a pep rally introducing the Fairfield University men’s and women’s basketball programs. Fairfield coach Carl Rees gave his thoughts on the team’s performance. "I give credit to the guys who wrestled the game back from a very good Rider team,” he said. “Defensively, we stood firm against a good attacking team. It's encouraging that we went toe to toe with a good Rider side. We just need to be more clinical offensively and turn clear cut opportunities into goals.” After starting their conference season with that tie, Fairfield then fell in overtime to the Saint Peter’s Peacocks (4-3-0), 4-3. McGlinchey set up defender Cormac Pike ‘22 to put the first Fairfield shot into the goal. Forward Cooper Knecht ‘22 buried two of his three shots. His last one gave Fairfield a 3-2 lead in the second half. Botterill struggled, allowing four goals on five shots on goal. Saint Peters forward Dominic Laws scored the neutralizing third goal in the 57th minute, then assisted on the game winning goal four minutes into extra time. With the loss to Saint Peters, Fairfield fell to 0-1-1 in conference play. Fairfield continues conference play on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. when they travel to New Rochelle, NY to play the Iona University Gaels (6-2).
Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Desk
Sophomore Cormac Pike scored his third goal of the season against St. Peter's on Saturday.
Field Hockey Notches First Northeast Conference Win of 2019
Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Desk
Of sophomore Luzi Persiehl's four shots tallied during Sunday's game against Holy Cross, two of them were on target. Persiehl was credited with an assist on Page Lowry's goal at 37:37.
By Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor After a well-needed seven days of rest following a disappointing 6-4 loss against Northeastern University, the Fairfield University field hockey (8-2, 1-0) team returned to the field on Friday, Oct. 4. They faced our neighborhood foes, Sacred Heart University (110, 1-0), for their first Northeast Conference match of the season. Competition was stiff, and despite Fairfield’s obviously dominant aggression, their 22 total shots compared to the Pioneers’ one in 60 minutes of regulation time still resulted in a forced period of over time. Of those 22 shots, 16 were on target but Sacred Heart’s formidable defense in conjunction with a brick wall of a goalie made it impossible for Fairfield to snag a lead. Hailey Power guarded the cage for the Pioneers, where she racked up an impressive 14 saves. Meanwhile, Fairfield’s Zoe Rosen ‘21 was only tasked with making a single save. First-year Julianna Kratz delivered a pass to Luzi Persiehl ‘22 in the circle, who
blasted it past Power to give Fairfield what they needed to win the conference opener. This would be Perseihl’s second overtime game-winning goal of the season. The team, ranked 23rd in the national, wasted no time celebrating the 1-0 win. They left for Worcester, Mass. to face the College of the Holy Cross (5-2) on Sunday, Oct. 6 where they picked up their second consecutive win. The 3-1 defeat was claimed in the latter half of play, where Fairfield showed their strength. With 60 seconds remaining in the second period, Holy Cross established a lead that would only last until the beginning of the third. It was at this point when Fairfield responded to pressure and turned up the heat. First year Page Lowry secured a loose ball rebounded off of Persiehl’s shot and turned it back, counting her fifth goal this fall. The Stags erupted in the final quarter, when Danielle Profita ‘21 and Kratz scored within two minutes of each other, generating a 3-1 advantage that Holy Cross failed to chip away at. The Stags’ 3-1 victory in conjunction with their clean sweep at home creates a great sense of morale as they head into another NEC contest, this time away at Bryant University (1-11, 0-1).
@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports
Week of October 9, 2019
fairfieldmirror.com
SPORTS 16
Sports Editor: Julia lanzillotta » julia.lanzillotta@student.fairfield.edu
Women's Soccer Wrecks Weekend Rivals
Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Desk
First-year midfielder/attacker Brooke Jones was one of three Stags to earn a weekly Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honor this season, alongside Gena Pike '23 and Nicole Stryjek '21.
By Julia Lanzillotta Sports Editor The Fairfield University (6-3-2, 3-0-0) women’s soccer team went 1-0-0 this past week, taking on two tough Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competitors in stride. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, they started their road trip in Jersey City, NJ on the home turf of the Saint Peter’s University Peacocks (3-7-0, 1-2-0). The two MAAC teams have a long history, where the Stags have remained unbeaten against the Peacocks in 28-straight contests. The game prolonged that streak, when it resulted in a whopping five-goal shutout in favor of Fairfield. Each goal of the night was credited to a different Stag, proving that their offense was solid throughout. Junior Liz Dumas, Brooke Jones ‘23 and Brooke Hernon ‘22 were the three players donning red who picked up both a goal and an assist a piece. Dumas started the scoring 13 minutes into the first period, netting her sixth goal of the season. This goal would be Dumas’ sixth of the season, tying with Iona University’s Amber Crispin for first place in goals scored in the conference. Later on, with almost 33 minutes on the clock, Dumas pocketed her first assist when she worked with Hanley Courter ‘23 to set Jones up for a goal. Period one wrapped up, leaving the home team 45 minutes to resolve a two-goal deficit. Hernon hustled to keep the score in Fairfield’s favor, tallying a match high of five shots, two of which were on target. She launched a shot from almost 40 yards away from the goal, which soared past St. Peter’s goalkeeper Victoria Scarratt, making the score 3-0. Scarratt was kept on her toes the entire game, facing 24 shots by a tireless attack while Fairfield’s goalie Gena Pike ‘23 only faced four. Sophomore Stephanie Tsangaris scored at 57 minutes and 11 seconds on a pass by Jones. Senior Jenn Wahlig finished off the scoring with a goal helped by Gabby Diodati ‘21 76 minutes and 13 seconds into the game. Fairfield was able to defend their net until the final whistle, securing their fourth shutout of the 2019 season. They contributed to this statistic later in the week. The team continued their jaunt to Buffalo, NY at Canisius College (6-5-0, 1-3-0) on Sat, October 5. The Stags subdued the Griffins by a narrow margin, with just a single goal scored in regulation time. Brooke Jones excelled, as she had just a few days prior, and lead the group with Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Desk four total shots, two shots on goal, and counted the only goal of the game just past the Sophomore Stephanie Tsangaris' four shots contributed to Fairfield's formidable offensive pressure. halfway mark of the first period. This would be her second game-winning goal of the season, the first being against Diodati set up Jones’ goal and the assist marked her sixth of the season, matching her career high. Diodati is currently ranked first in the MAAC for The Stags will return to Lessing Field on Saturday, Oct. 12 against their interassists. state rivals, the Quinnipiac University Bobcats (5-6, 1-3), as they are slated to begin a Jones was instrumental in her team’s pair of wins, and her performance earned three-game home-stand. her two MAAC weekly awards. She coined the title of co-offensive player as well as rookie of the week.