Title IX
Star Trek
Men’s Soccer
Opinion
Vine
Sports
Betsy DeVos’ new Title IX guidelines disregard the health and safety of women. Page 5
Star Trek Discovery provides fans with an entertaining start to a new series. Page 8
Catch up with men’s soccer coach Carl Rees. Page 15
THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper
Week of September 27, 2017
Vol. 43 Iss. 4
Jesuit Values to Highlight Nemec Presidency
@FairfieldMirror
Follow us! FairfieldMirror.com
Creative Commons/Wikimedia
T-Pain to Headline Fall Concert By Jacob Buttiker Contributing Writer
Photo Contributed by Jennifer Anderson President Nemec addresses alumni and parents in Boston, Mass. during his presidential tour, which had “record attendance,” according to Anderson.
By Juliana Sansonetti News Editor After suffering a massive fire in their rental home just before the first week of classes on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 2, University President Mark R. Nemec, Ph.D. and his family continue to be hopeful despite difficult circumstances. “The outpouring of support and love from on-and-off campus individuals and families has really solidified that this is an amazing community and we are most grateful and blessed to be here,” said Nemec. “Fairfield is a remarkable institution with tremendous potential for continued growth,” Nemec continued. Nemec reflected on the fact that the purpose of higher education is to transform lives. “With this in mind, Fairfield has so much to build upon,” he stated. After reflecting on the many advantages of Fairfield, Nemec added that his plans include “building upon this potential by continuing to grow our programs and enrollments, innovating in both our teaching and our delivery methods, becoming more globally focused and creating a state-of-the-art campus footprint are all ways we will lead as the modern Jesuit Catholic institution.” From his experience as the dean of the Gra-
ham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago, which was his position before his appointment as president of Fairfield, Nemec has formed some opinions on what an institution of higher learning should do. “While Fairfield has a tremendous legacy
Institutions cannot remain complacent; it is important to always be thinking about how Fairfield can continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our students in the years to come.
-Dr. Mark R. Nemec
President of Fairfield University
that is foundational to who we are, it is essential that we become an institution that combines this legacy with cutting edge thought,” Nemec said. “Second, in order to create a more diverse student population, with a greater national footprint, it will require us to be strategic and intentional.” On his goals for the future, Nemec commented, “I will continue to emphasize the importance of always striving for excellence and innovation.
Institutions cannot remain complacent, it is important to always be thinking about how Fairfield can continue to grow and evolve, to meet the needs of our students in the years to come.” Nemec highlighted some of the areas he believes it is important to have the highest quality, including the classroom, athletics, theatre, the arts and all extracurricular programs. On being the first lay president, Nemec said, “I would be remiss if I did not start by noting that Fr. Fitzpatrick (Fairfield’s staff and faculty Chaplin) has noted that while I am the first layperson I am the ninth Ignatian president. Regardless, our core purpose of forming men and women for others remains the same.” Nemec explained that higher education is currently going through a major transformation, so “for Fairfield, now was the time to make a change because the institution itself will be going through changes as we seek to continue to serve our community.” Nemec plans for the University leadership team to still embody the Jesuit traditions and roots. “To be asked to lead any institution of higher learning is an amazing responsibility,” said Nemec, “but to be asked to lead this institution at this time is phenomenal.”
Excitement for Fairfield University’s second annual Red Sea Madness is growing since students were becoming increasingly anxious to find out who this year’s musical guest would be. Last week on Sept. 21, the Fairfield University Student Association released a video containing the announcement of this year’s guest, T-Pain. According to Danielle Rice ‘19, director of the FUSA Programming Board, last year’s pep rally was a large success with Stags of all grades filling the stands. So much of a success in fact that it exceeded the fire code that states how many students are allowed in Alumni Hall’s bleachers, which is 1,000 students. Rice added that this year, a few tweaks will be made in order to improve the experience for those involved and ensure that everyone remains safe. There will be stricter enforcement of the 1,000 student limit for the first part of the pep rally, with the remainder of the students being let in after to watch T-Pain. Students who arrive after the 1,000-person limit is met will be escorted into a large outdoor area. In this space students will have access to five food trucks: Taco Loco, Colony Grill, Super Duper Weenie, Dogtown and Garden Catering. After the pep rally concludes, these students will be admitted into Alumni Hall to fill the court. After speaking to Rice to get a sense of what went into obtaining such a recognizable artist in comparison to Lil Dicky last year, Rice Read FUSA on Page
Page 2
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
News
Eljamal Elected Class of 2021 President By Connor O’Rourke Assistant News Editor
Claire Monahan/The Mirror The Class of 2021 elected their student government officials (from left to right: Luckario Alcide, Nasser Eljamal, Ali Haidar, Angelica Miceli-Kaya and Noelle Guerrera) (above). Students await the election results (below).
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Fairfield University Student Association hosted their senatorial election for the Class of 2021, which saw first-year students vote upon a group of a total of eight candidates who ran for office to represent their fellow peers and the greater Fairfield University community. Those who were in the running for their class senate positions were Luckario Alcide, Joseph DiAcetis, Nasser Eljamal, Noelle Guerrera, Ali Haidar, Angelica Miceli-Kaya, Meagan Morelli and Armando Mujica. The final results ended up being that Eljamal won the presidency, whilst Alcide, Haidar, Guerrera and Miceli-Kaya won the four senatorial positions. The candidates had a wide range of platforms aimed at potentially improving the University community, but some of the key ideas that were unilaterally mentioned by those running ranged from “making sure that the class of 2021 is closer together and leaving Fairfield better than they found it,” said FUSA Chief Justice Matthew Marshall ‘19. The candidates also had ambitions to help their fellow classmates to “better understand the
Fairfield University environment,” Marshall noted in reference to the importance of getting freshmen acclimated to the college experience. The winner, Eljamal, in particular had expressed that, “First, I want the class of 2021 to be the greatest class to graduate from Fairfield University, but on top of that, I want to bring our class together. I also want to have as many events as we can for us to bond as a class, build new friendships, learn more about each other and hear the voices of the kids in our grade.” Furthermore, he alluded to the reasons as to why he believed he was qualified for the position of presidency. He stated that, “During high school, I was in student government for three years, sophomore year as a representative, junior and senior year I was class president … I started a couple of new clubs, I was the leader of my crew team senior year, led us to the championship, I was in three business clubs in my school, one being future business leaders of America.” In addition to the consensus among the candidates that the class of 2021 should be a part of a more connected, unified community, the candidates all made it clear in their platforms that they had the will to Read Senators on Page
FUSA Prepares for Annual Fall Concert Continued from Page
commented that “T-Pain was in our workable budget, while also being an artist we felt would be relevant to our current students and alumni.” However, some students think that T-Pain is a bit outdated and that FUSA should have gotten a more modern name. “It’s like old, 2000s,” said Dominique Delva ‘19. “I wish it was a newer artist.” The FUSA board came to the conclusion that students would be willing to pay a higher price for a more recognizable name. Tickets are currently on sale, $40 for students and $45 for 18+ guests and alumni. Although there were a number of students who enjoyed last year’s performance by Lil Dicky, many students left the show disappointed with his lack of showmanship, an issue that FUSA set out to fix this year. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that T-Pain will put on the show of a lifetime,” said FUSA Treasury Board Coordinator Christian Colón ‘19. The announcement was well-received throughout the student body, with the campus buzzing over the news mere hours following the announcement. While it is an annoyance that the price has been raised, the majority of students understand that higher quality means more money. After being asked if he was willing to pay more money for a bigger name, Will Carlin ’19 said, “Absolutely, T-Pain has at least 15 recognizable songs while Lil Dicky has maybe two, that’s probably the biggest factor.” Sophomore Paul Bova agreed with this sentiment. “Forty dollars seems fine to me,” Bova said. “I think it’s worth it because, to get an artist that at least I’ve heard of before to come here [on campus], for $40 that seems like a reasonable price.”
2014 Love and Theft
Creative Commons/Wikimedia
FUSA Fall Concerts Through the Years 2015 2016 Matt and Kim
Lil Dicky
2017 T-Pain
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
News
Page 3
The Mirror Reflects on this Week in Social Media Compiled by Juliana Sansonetti Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety. Friday, 9/22 9:24 p.m. - DPS checked in on a noise violation in Regis and discovered vodka and beer. Forty people were found in the room, which was a violation of the limit of 12 people per room. Three students were referred to student conduct. 9:43 p.m. - An underage female student was found stumbling on Lynch Road. She was found to have a bottle of vodka with her. The student was referred to student conduct. 11:47 p.m. - A student and his unregistered guest were documented for underage possession of beer and for guest policy violations. Saturday, 9/23 12:08 a.m. - The smell of marijuana led DPS to a townhouse on 11 Block where approximately half a pound of marijuana, roughly $1,000 in cash and other drug paraphernalia were discovered. One student was issued an infraction for possession and another student was arrested for intent to sell. All residents of the house are being referred to student conduct. 12:33 p.m. - Public Safety received a report that a nonconsensual sexual encounter occurred between two students the night before. The report is being investigated by the Title IX investigator and the Dean of Students Office. Public Safety and the Dean of Students Office are aware of the identities of the individuals involved and will take the appropriate response to ensure the safety of the community. 5:46 p.m. - Public Safety stopped a student who was driving with passengers riding outside of the car on Leeber Rd. The student was referred to student conduct and her privileges for having a car on campus have been revoked. One of the passengers refused to identify herself and attempted to indicate that she was not a student. She was referred to the Dean of Students Office.
CAU TTIO N O I N U CA THE MIRROR Incorporated 1977
Allison White, Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa, Executive Editor Catherine Veschi, Managing Editor Editors Juliana Sansonetti, News Connor O’Rourke, Assistant News Lexi Thimble, Opinion Alicia Phaneuf, Vine Cara Lee, Assistant Vine Claire Monahan, Coffee Break Alfredo Torres, Sports Daniel Montgomery, Assistant Sports
Online Bradley Nordstrom, Web Master Ariana Puzzo, Online Editor-in-Chief Pamela Kask, Online Opinion Editor Brendan Zimmerman, Online Vine Editor Kelley Eckert, Online Coffee Break Editor Business Department Email: info@fairfieldmirror.com Natalia Macchio, Director of Finance Phillip Sibert, Circulation Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com
Page 4
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
News
Senators Elected for First-Year Class ning events, things like the senate and student government, and diversity inclusion” are all a part of FUSA, so for getting involved, there is no shortage stand up and advocate for the issues most important of opportunities for both first year students and the to their peers. whole Fairfield University community alike. The candidates all aim to work hard and do a Students were able to cast their votes up until great deal toward 7 p.m. on Sept. 26 on community-buildOrgsync. ing while “being For all future FUSA able to have fun elections, voting is alat the same time,” ways conducted in that Marshall said. manner and in terms of FUSA encomfinding the candidates’ passes a wide vaplatforms, one would go riety of positions on Orgsync to find out. in addition to stuThe importance of dent government, voting was greatly emwith broad goals phasized by Marshall in as an organization sense that one would -Nasser Eljamal the that collectively not solely be supporting President of the Class of 2021 their peers and solutions advocate for issues such as diversity to the issues concerning and the inclusion of all students, as well as the im- their class, but would collectively realize that, “votprovement of various aspects of the school such as ing is your civic duty,” as per Marshall, even when it what is offered in terms of dining, technology and so comes to local student government elections. on, as per Orgsync. According to Marshall, “Marketing events, planContinued from Page
First, I want the class of 2021 to be the greatest class to graduate from Fairfield University, but on top of that, I want to bring our class together. I also want to have as many events as we can.
Claire Monahan/The Mirror
First-year Nasser Eljamal was elected to be the president of the Class of 2021. He will represent his class in FUSA.
First-Years Create Bonds on Escape Retreat By Connor O’Rourke Assistant News Editor This past weekend, first-year students embarked on a retreat in order to help acclimate themselves to college life and to build a sense of community with their fellow peers. Hosted by Campus Ministry and the Campus Minister for Retreats, Fiona Shovlin, this event seeks to give first-year students time to take a break and reflect upon their adjustment to their new surroundings and environment in the University community. As per Shovlin, “For a lot of firstyear students, the college transition can be tough, but through Escape, our hope is that they may be able to find other students that are similarly trying to figure out what Fairfield means to them.” The retreat took place in Ivoryton, Conn. at the Incarnation Center, where students were given the opportunity to take in the fresh air and open surroundings, sit around campfires and participate in many outdoor activities aimed at building community. While having the opportunity to get away from the stresses and woes often associated with the college experience, first-year students got the chance to simply get to know one another and find common ground. During the retreat, students were able to not only reflect on their transition to college, but as one of the student leaders, Kristen Yost ‘19 said, first-year students were also able “to explore their faith in college and meet people with similar interests as them.” One of the first-year students who took part in the escape retreat, Thomas Leclaire ‘21, alluded that he felt as though it was “a great experience led by great leaders who were very helpful in assisting the first-years with the huge adjustment that we were all experiencing.” In terms of specifics as to what events happened at the retreat, according to Shovlin, “Not only will they be reflecting and learning about themselves and others, but they’ll have some ropes
course activities, an opportunity to canoe and eat some s’mores by a campfire.” Through these team-building activities, the hope was that students would be able to realize that they are not alone in terms of homesickness and be able to forge connections with others that are feeling the same exact way. This year, in particular, was different from previous years in terms of the overall format of the retreat. Shovlin made it a point that, “We’ve made some changes this year to the structure in the retreat to more intentionally focus on Jesuit values and how they can relate to the students’ lives.” In particular, these changes involved a stronger incorporation of the core Jesuit values, cura personalis and magis. Student leaders on the retreat, according to Shovlin, demonstrate “what it means to be people with and for others, as well as how to be a contemplative in action.” Yost believes that, “The retreat was very successful in terms of community building. We facilitated games and had small groups in order for first-years to get to know each other better and make more friends. They are able to get to know others on a deeper level instead of from programs.” Additionally, Yost added that “the experience for me as a student leader was successful and rewarding. As the director, it was great seeing the small group leaders facilitate discussion amongst their students and see their small group connect. Watching the 65 first-year students connecting and bonding with each other was the most rewarding part of the experience.” Shovlin aimed for a stronger adherence to the core Jesuit values in order to create a space that ultimately facilitates reflection among students, as well as the feeling of community that they will be able to bring back to campus following the weekend escape retreat.
Contribute to The Mirror Add a line to your résumé Apply your writing and multimedia skills Get published Mondays at 7 p.m. Brainstorm, pitch stories and talk to editors Thursdays at 7 p.m. Critiques from the EIC and Mirror advisor, Dr. Xie We are currently accepting applications for Chief Copy Editor and Online News Editor. Email info@fairfieldmirror.com for an opportunity to be a part of one of Fairfield's oldest publications.
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
Opinion
Page 5
Editor
Getting Opinionated with The Mirror Title IX Guidelines Disregard Women By Lexi Thimble Opinion Editor
I didn’t like or agree with our Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos before, this new measure brings my opinion of her to rock bottom. The Obama-era Dear Colleague letter stated the need for uniThe University sends us a million emails every week. I skip by versities to have a “preponderance of evidence” approach to handle most of them; the ones that involve FUSA events and the new opera cases of sexual misconduct. The basics of it looked for schools to at the Regina A. Quick Center go unread in my inbox. It was only seek evidence so that it was more likely than not that the accused on Sept. 22 that an email Fairfield sent us gave me an actual reac- was guilty. These new guidelines, however, “encourage schools to tion: the announcement of a Title IX policy update to adhere with a apply a higher ‘clear and convincing’ standard,” as The Daily Beast new Department of Education guidance made my stomach drop. If reports. This isn’t the same as being tried in a criminal court, but could result in serious consequences for the accused if they are found guilty. It’s also important to note that these guidelines are mandates that aren’t being fully enforced, and that schools are only being highly encouraged, and not required, to uphold these measures. Fairfield, however, is accepting these new policies wholeheartedly. In the email that was sent out, it was stated that the school will be revising its Title IX policy so that it “include[s] all revisions necessary to be in compliance with the new guidance from the Department of Education.” So I guess I have a bone to pick with both the Secretary of Education and with Fairfield University. I’ve heard too many stories about sexual assault taking Creative Commons/ Wikimedia Commons & Vimeo place on and off college campus, Pictured is the Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who recently released controversial new Title IX policies. whether from speakers at my high
school to friends of mine. The idea that this policy, which can be found on the Department of Education’s website, lends more leniency to the accused, doesn’t allow victims to appeal a case and makes it harder to prove a sexual misconduct took place, makes me sick to my stomach. Everything has to be taken with a grain of salt and while I don’t believe these new guidelines entirely enable sexual assault to go on freely, I do believe that making it harder to get justice for those who were victimized is not the way to go. Let me debunk something for those who still have doubt about it: no one, not one person, asks to be sexually assaulted. Nobody comes out to speak about it because of the want for attention, because no one wants to be known as “the person who was sexually assaulted.” I say “person” because woman or man, no one asks for this to happen, and no one comes out to speak about it and goes through the struggle of an investigative case and the judgement of others for attention. As a woman, I want to know that the campus I walk around on is safe, and though I don’t think these guidelines will encourage more assaults to occur, it doesn’t help things, and could set a dangerous precedent for how perpetrators will not be held accountable. This isn’t even entirely about safety either. This is about the value this University and this country places on sexual assault victims and their traumas, along with women in general. In reference to women on college campuses, according to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) they “are 3 times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence.” The rolling-out of this new policy, whether it was purposeful or not, sends a message that disregards women’s health and safety, and assumes the issue of rape and sexual misconduct on college campuses will sort itself out. This new Title IX update is disheartening on a number of levels, but mostly in terms of the lack of regard this administration seems to have for women’s well-being. Betsy DeVos’ inability to stand up for the women, specifically the women seeking an education in America, is, frankly, deplorable.
Libraries Retain Their Importance in the Electronic Age By Katherine Klima Contributing Writer
In on our modern age, we are always updating technology, the Internet being a big part of that. From streaming shows to online shopping, the Internet has brought quite a lot to the table. Although, this does bring up concerns for various fields of work, one of these including libraries and their relevance in the modern world. With the technologically-based society we live in, is it possible that libraries can become extinct? Oddly enough, this has come up in many conversations over the last two weeks since I’ve been back at school. Personally, I find it quite baffling to think of any sort of library becoming useless. For thousands of years, libraries have been the key to power through education. So, the question that crosses my mind is: how could anyone want to throw away such a valuable piece of society for an eBook? I’m usually not one to shoot down new technology the moment I hear about it. I think technological advancements are amazing.They’re the reason we’ve improved parts of our society, like medicine, education and transportation. However, the more we move toward new technology, the more we’ll start to abandon the old. For example, radios. They’re still used today, but they used to be a lot more popular in the 1930s and 40s. Once the television was invented, there was a gradual move from them. If eBooks and the Internet are becoming easier and more interesting to use than going to a library, it is possible the same will happen. Before this becomes an actual issue, we should know why physical spaces for learning, like libraries, are the best for education. First, getting books at the library for research is your best bet. I understand that typing your question into google and seeing what answers it gives you is probably the easiest option — but, not everything on the Internet is 100 percent factual. We may be able to spread information and knowledge practically at light speed via the Internet, but it doesn’t always mean that information is true. There are a lot of faulty, unreliable documents online. It would be less effort if you just opened up a textbook, searched under the index and got what you were looking for. This way is more efficient and easier since all the information you need is right there. Second, going to the library makes you more involved in your community. Getting a book at the library forces you to go outside and to talk to some people. It’s even a great place to meet up with friends to
do homework or work on group projects. Having some sort of social aspect in your life is healthy, but if you don’t want to be social it’s also a great place to escape from people too. Libraries are quiet, relaxing places where people go all the time to study and learn. And, if you need help with your work, a librarian is always there to guide you in the right direction. Lastly, print books seem to be more efficient than eBooks. Now, I know not everyone likes print books and there are people who learn better from eBooks. However, there are reasons why physical copies tend to be better. In a study discussed in The LA Times, it shows that 92 percent of college students prefer print copies over eBooks for personal and studying reasons. A 2012 study featured in The Guardian found that students don’t connect emotionally with on-screen texts. Paper readers were reported being more empathic than those who read from their iPads. This doesn’t just mean being empathic toward a story, it also means absorbing the information and connecting with it on a personal level. To add onto this point, as stated in a study from a PBS article, it’s more effective to study by taking notes with a pen and paper because, unlike typing words on a keyboard, the more you write something, the more likely your brain will remember the information. Without libraries and people using physical copies of books, there can also be a significant decrease in book sales. The more the Internet becomes prominent, the more chances there are for bootlegging books as we do with movies and music. Not a lot of people seem to be buying CDs or using iTunes anymore, and most musicians make sales from their concerts and merchandise. Although I’m frightened of libraries becoming obsolete, I do have hope they will not disappear forever, even though technology is becoming more frequent amongst younger generations. This is seen in many schools nowadays. In a New York Times article, students in a sixth grade class routinely use laptops to complete their assignments for the day. This could lead to a generation preferring eBooks and technology over the physical. So, before this does happen, as a society we should combine the two. We are starting to do this in libraries, such as having free access to computers and wifi. If we keep up with compromising the two worlds, the next generation won’t be stuck solely on technology. Our society can become a lot more versatile from having physical and technological access to information and gain a wider, more diverse palette for learning. After all, the only way anything can get fixed is with a good compromise.
Our society can become a lot more versatile from having physical and technological access to information and gain a wider, more diverse palette for learning.
Editorial Board "I Won't Stand For This" Allison White Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Catherine Veschi Managing Editor
In yet another divisive week in politics, President Donald Trump decided to shift his emphasis from the Capitol and took aim at the NFL during a speech in Alabama this past Friday. During this speech, Trump shifted his attention to the “disrespect” of certain NFL players who silently protested the national anthem, calling Colin Kaepernick, among the few, a “son of a b---h,” and saying these players should be “fired.” While it may come across as disrespectful to our country that players are choosing to not even come out on the field for the national anthem, given all of the protests that have happened in Charlottesville, Va., these players are justified in protesting the state of the country as well by neglecting to say their national anthem prior to their games. In a nation where the rights of minorities have been trampled on throughout our history and the president refuses to condemn the hateful actions and
reactions taken by radical hate groups, interlocking arms and taking a knee during our nation’s national anthem should be the least of our worries when nuclear tensions are heightening with North Korea and our country is struggling to recover after a vicious hurricane season. To the players of the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks, who remained in their locker rooms during the national anthem, we understand your frustration with the harmful words of President Trump and continue to support your form of protest, even though many have cast ill wishes on your alternate decision to silently protest. These protests go beyond the separation of liberal and conservative, and Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter; this argument stretches to the core of the American spirit that stresses individuality and the freedom of choice. We are lucky to live in
a country where we are free to air our frustrations towards the government without facing some sort of disciplinary action, or forced against our scruples to pledge allegiance to a country that wrongs the people it claims to stand for. So for as long as President Trump decides that these sons of b---hes aren’t representative of his ideal “democracy” and should be fired by the NFL for their disrespect, we will continue to stand, kneel and interlock arms with both players and one another in hopes that one day, our nation will exist in unison, and fully live by the mantra of “by the people, for the people.” However, let’s remember the people who are overseas keeping our country safe. We hope that everyone can keep them in their hearts by dedicating the national anthem to the fighting troops rather than thinking of a president who they do not approve of.
Opinion
Page 6
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
Creative Commons/voanews.com
Trump Should Not Be Inhibiting Free Speech What good does it do the Donald Trump agenda to berate Colin Kaepernick and athletes’ constitutionally protected speech? Nothing, is the short answer, and perhaps its end effect is to further embolden the racial cottage industry whose engine runs on suggestions that America hasn’t changed much since 1956. President Trump’s profanity-laden comments in Friday’s Alabama rally about anthem-kneeling athletes was, to be sure, a sentiment expressed countless times in old-school sports households the nation over, my own included. It was the apotheosis of Trump’s power to “tell it like it is,” the ultimate example of his attractive disregard for the political norms that told middle America that they were in moral league with George Wallace. But the president of the United States calling for the termination of private citizens’ employment because of political disagreements, even ones so elemental as respect for the flag, is more than an affront to vague sensibilities of “presidential” behavior. It’s something conservatives would have rightfully shredded President Obama for and the failure of some in the GOP to acknowledge this fact is a comment on the hyper-partisanship of the political moment. Trump called for the firing of a private employee because of his disagreements with the individual’s constitutionally protected expression. Huge swaths of this country hate the protests and view them as fundamentally disrespectful to the American flag, while others earnestly view it as a sign of racial solidarity and encourage the act as an acknowledgment of injustice. It isn’t the President’s job to cudgel private companies to pick “his” side in that debate, and there is something chilling about knowing Trump himself finds a degree of palatability in expressing that sentiment publicly as the President of the United States. Colin Kaepernick, whose moral universe is one where it’s OK to wear a t-shirt adorned with the murderous Fidel Castro because “we…break up families here too” via putting criminals in prison, in all likelihood is a sincere believer in every word of critical race theory that leaves his mouth. As a political vessel, Kaepernick, who once wore socks with law enforcement portrayed as pigs, spits back out the typical talking points of a Che Guevara fetishizing teenager: America’s past sins cast an all-encompassing shadow over
the present, and the country’s flag stands for little more than conquest, slavery and oppression. Aside from the odd coincidence of his demotion to second on the 49ers depth chart and his Pauline epiphany about the intractability of America’s collective sin, there’s little reason to believe the now-unemployed dual threat passer carried out his anthem protests with any ulterior motives aside from a deep-seated conviction that he was the rightful heir to the throne for the authoritative athletic voice on “black issues.” The protests are nominally over instances of police brutality, and it’s fair to assume that is indeed their primary thrust, but the protests themselves have a symbolic meaning beyond that grievance. Despite the findings of Harvard economist Dr. Roland Fryer’s New York Times-excerpted study, which showed that in encounters with police in comparable circumstances, “blacks were either less likely to be shot or there was no difference between blacks and whites,” a result the black economist called “the most surprising result of my career,” the claim made by these athletes is, almost without exception, focused on the systemic nature of oppression rather than frustration with individual injustices. It’s a flying of a certain racial flag; kneeling before the nation’s most sacred symbol makes the profound assertion that racism is alive today in much the same way it was in the Jim Crow south. The word “woke,” whose grammatical inaccuracy and flamboyant use as a quasi-intellectual catchall makes it the zenith of millennial-speak, has just this implication — Kaepernick is “woke” to the systematic forces at play that give justification to the industry of race-based nationalist fervor and its respective hustlers. That same study, however, found that police do indeed use more force in low-level interactions with AfricanAmerican individuals than their white counterparts. Police are slightly more likely, for instance, to use handcuffs with black suspects than whites. This could have a number of causes, racism as much among them as the higher incidence of crime in the black community, but the cruelty of treating folks as part of a group rather than as an individual (a staple of progressive racial politics) is of course a slight against our American notions of individual rather than collective judgement. It is this frustration — of the unspoken double standard some in the African-American communi-
ty feel in day-to-day interactions with police — for which claims about the systematization of racially motivated police shootings have acted as a sort of conduit. It has been the unspoken animation for some of the black community’s support for Kaepernick’s protest. In this way, the protests are less an acutely focused political grievance but a muted scream haranguing the silent discrimination some feel as though they face, and a conflation of their criticizers with the same old “white supremacy” that Al Sharpton and the like make a career off of attributing to those who oppose their patented racial statism. What Trump’s comments do is create a new conduit — kneeling for the national anthem now is code for disagreement with Trump himself, a rebuke to the highest official in the land for his public siding with those who dare criticize the athletic avatar of “black issues.” President Trump, whose very presidency is predicated on abandoning the tired and trite niceties of identity politics that comprised the last eight years, has solidified himself in opposition to “woke” politics, a stance that represents much more of an existential threat to the amalgam of race-sports-politics as a leftist cultural force than a mere opposition to the method of their protests. Though Trump himself has made no mention about the reason for their protests, you wouldn’t know it by listening to players and owners. It’s no wonder, given Trump’s cultural shorthand status as an anti-woke avatar, that figures like Stephen Curry, LeBron James and others whose cultural identity is as synonymous with Obamaite liberalism as it is with their 20-foot jump shot, have felt so threatened by the president’s verbal bumblings that they have taken public stances of their own against Trump. And the list of grievances caught by the net of the anthem protests now seem to extend out to opposition to Trump generally; even the WNBA has commenced formalized protests to the national anthem among some of its teams. The net effect of all of this posturing by both Trump and athletic institutions is the complete and utter politicization of sports. At their best, sports are a respite from the political, a brief escape from the divisions that marr the cultural landscape in the United States. That, at least until Trump leaves office, is all but over.
The Internet Should Continue to Be Open For All By Ariana Puzzo Online Editor-in-Chief Freedom of speech and the right to express one’s opinion is a right in the United States that many people take for granted. When we log onto our preferred social media platform, there is usually at least one person bemoaning their freedom being taken from them when another criticizes their view or simply removes it from a personal thread if the originator feels that it is offensive. These instances are snapshots of how little some people understand about what losing one’s freedom of speech actually means. Looking toward countries such as Vietnam and China, where social media is restricted or blocked by the respective governments, we truly see how detrimental censorship can be. More so, we should understand from these political contexts that when the government says, “You cannot see this,” it is usually a precursor to producing political propaganda that makes people believe that something is the “only truth.” According to the Human Rights Watch, the Vietnamese government has a history of restricting freedom of speech, as well as other freedoms that we recognize as our First Amendment rights. In 2016, HRW reported that “at least 19 bloggers and activists were put on trial and convicted” in the first nine months of the year. While we consider that degree of censorship unfathomable, the people who were convicted live in that reality on a daily basis, as they fight to have their voices heard. Additionally, it becomes apparent to those looking in on the situation that when censorship occurs, the government in question not only fails its people by refusing to let them express opinions, but also distorts the public’s view on controversial matters. Comparing the circumstances in Vietnam — or any other communist nation — to how life once was in Nazi Germany is often derided as an alarmist’s approach. However, the parallels when we analyze these two types of government are oftentimes startling. While blocking social platforms or arresting citizens is not indicative of genocide, there exists the chance that the scales will tip in the wrong direction. After all, who assumed the worst when Joseph Goebbels, the director of the Nazi Propaganda Ministry, took control of all media forms that were, according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, considered “in any way threatening to Nazi beliefs or to the regime”? HRW acknowledges that the same mentality is embraced by the Vietnamese government, which justifies censorship by saying that dissent is “abusing the rights to democracy and freedom to infringe upon the interests of the state.” The “anything goes” nature of the internet exists for a reason; policing it would infringe upon our own abilities to distinguish what is true and “allowed,” with the sole purpose of deceiving others. More so, whenever we log onto a platform, we should be able to choose what we publish. Along with that choice comes the understanding that if we post something hateful or vitriolic — which is a commonplace occurrence — there are methods of moderation and these are not inherently implemented to limit our speech. Rather, they ensure the safety of others without prosecuting the perpetrator, as we see done in other countries.
Creative Commons/Wikimedia Commons, Flickr, Pixabay
The Vine
arts, entertainment, features Editor Alicia Phaneuf alicia.phaneuf@student.fairfield.edu
' y r e v o c e s i g D a s k s e e r M T r a a s t 'S s Fan tance g p n e i r c B c A f o
"Blue Cluster" Oil Painting by Richard Lytle Phaneuf/The Mirror
Page 8
Star Trek Releases New TV Series THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
The Vine
By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor
feuding or why the Klingons’ future plans are so terrifying. These two scenes began and concluded before the title sequence commenced, yet they set the pace for the rest of the episode and hopefully, for the rest of the season. They showed a balance between the new and the old. One that will reassure returning fans that, no matter what else might change — such as Spock suddenly having another sibling, the previous Star Trek eras and the heart of the show remain. On the other hand, new viewers were provided with details about the franchise in an intense, fun way rather than through monotonous dialogue explanations, and were given a taste of what has made Star Trek continue to be so successful 51 years later. At the heart of the show, Star Trek is about acceptance despite appearance, the ignorance of making general assumptions and doing all you can to help when you see something is wrong no matter the odds. While there are only rumors of what challenges “Discovery” will pose to the world so far, “Discovery’s” creators have already begun to pressure norms through their casting of two female leads of varying ethnicities, a mimic of Roddenberry’s casting of Nichelle Nichols, an African American woman, to play a Command Role during the 60s original series. During his time as showrunner, Roddenberry also confronted societal issues by writing episodes confronting racism, world governments, biases based off of appearance and so much more. If “Discovery” continues to follow in Roddenberry’s footsteps, then this show is about to get very, very interesting. There may only be one easily accessible episode of “Star Trek: Discovery” available right now due to CBS streaming it exclusively on CBS All Access, but this episode left fans old and new begging for more. Leaving the question less “if fans will watch” and more “how?” But, when there is a will… even fans protesting the purchase of a new streaming service will find a way.
In an ideal move to show returning Star Trek fans that the lore of past Star Trek series will not be forgotten, the first scene of the opening episode of “Star Trek Discovery” on Sept. 24 featured the return of Gene Roddenberry’s 1966 Original Series Star Trek enemy: The Klingons. These familiar aliens were the greatest adversaries of Star Trek legends Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and when the Klingons joined the Federation (the good guys) in the second Star Trek Episodic addition, “The Next Generation,” a fierce enemy was lost. But no longer. Due to “Discovery’s” unusual timeline, placing it after the 2001 spin-off prequel series, “Enterprise,” but only ten years preceding the Original Series, the Klingons are back, as are numerous other familiar faces and throwbacks to past series for those returning fans who are paying careful attention. Of course, it’s been 51 years since the first Star Trek Episode featuring Klingons, “Errand of Mercy,” aired, and technology has changed drastically — so Klingons are not quite the same. Since their original debut, graphics have only improved, budgets have only increased due to the show’s popularity and costuming and makeup departments have continued to master the art of turning a human into something totally unrecognizable. So, unlike the very humanoid villains who tried to overpower the Federation in the 60s, these Klingons brought Roddenberry’s original Star Trek vision to life with costuming so realistic the actors enclothed underneath are completely unrecognizable. These same updates in technology and makeup were also used to create several new types of aliens, including Kleptian Science Officer Lieutenant Saru (Doug Jones) who serves on the USS Shenzhou during the opening episode. With hooves for feet, pale pink skin and little to no nose or lips, Jones is unrecognizable and a new species was born. As the next scene opened, viewers were introduced to both Discovery’s crew, as Captain Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) trekked planet-side with first officer and main character, Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin Green), and new viewers were introduced to the mission of Starfleet — all without wordy dialogue, excessive preaching or anything feeling out of place or awkward. With no guns blazing or praise expected, two females saved an entire civilization from extinction all the while discussing their futures in StarFleet. Not only did this highlight these characters’ personalities, but it also showed the familiarity they have with this task of saving the world without anyone knowing and with no weapons. This is the mission of StarFleet — the Prime Directive of non-interference. To allow cultures to develop as they normally would except in times of crisis where the inhabitants do not know of the danger — that way they can not question what stopped the danger. Without this one, innocuous scene, newcomers to the franchise would not have Cara Lee/The Mirror been able to understand why certain species in the show are Star Trek fans gather to watch the premire of "Star Trek: Discovery" in Manhattan.
CreativeCommons/PxHere
Brendan Hunts for Art By Jessica Colloca Contributing Writer
Senior Brendan Hunt was recently elected as the Fairfield University Student Association senator during the first ever Special Election in FUSA history; you can read more about this at fairfieldmirror.com. Hunt said that he didn’t have any intention of winning the election at first, and he is still figuring out the “ins and outs” of the responsibilities of being a senator. He sits in on biweekly meetings and is on both the Academic Support and the Diversity and Inclusion Committees. One of Hunt’s main goals as a senator is to display and spread artwork around campus. Hunt specifically wants to put this art in student lounges, dining and common areas. Hunt feels that bringing some color and artwork onto campus will benefit students’ academics and individuality; he says, “There are a lot of talented people on campus here, and sharing that can help people expand their own creativity while also acknowledging someone else’s.” Although Hunt admits that he has no artistic ability himself, he feels as if the students who are skilled should be able to show off their work and be admired.
Because he is still figuring out his duties and how to go about acquiring this artwork, Hunt has to wait for the election of the class of 2021, on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to establish the Facility for the Arts Committee. Once this committee is made, there will be opportunities for FUSA to receive pieces from the Art Club. Hunt says he will take whatever he can get: murals, painting, drawings, etc. He plans on putting this art in places like the library or the stairs in the lower level of the Barone Campus Center; these are places that everyone either passes through or spends a lot of time in, so Hunt believes it would be nice if there was something to admire while working on homework, hanging out with friends or attending an event. “The stairwell in the Barone Campus Center is just plain white; it would look so much more welcoming with a mural or different pieces of art were on it,” said Hunt. Whether the art is constantly changing or it is a permanent painting, Hunt wants to expand the creativity on campus for the best interest of the students at Fairfield.
Photo contributed by Brendan Hunt
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
The Vine
Page 9
Darci Lynne Wins America's Got Talent By Alicia Phaneuf Vine Editor
Imagine you’re 12 years old and one thing stands between you and achieving your ultimate dream — America’s vote. Preteen ventriloquist Darci Lynne Farmer broke down in tears on Sept. 20 when America’s Got Talent host, Tyra Banks, announced Farmer as the Season 12 AGT winner. Farmer has continued to astound the judges and viewers from her first audition piece to her final performance. This tiny powerhouse made sure to bring not only her talent, but her infectious high-spirited personality as well. Why take on the unique hobby of ventriloquism in the first place? According to Billboard, during Farmer’s first audition, she explained that she took on ventriloquism to overcome her shyness. "It was one of my big dreams, but also I would really like to keep ventriloquism alive because it's not common," said Farmer, after judge Simon Cowell asked her why she wanted to come onto AGT in the first place. Through her two puppets, Petunia the sassy, diva-like rabbit, and Oscar, the nervous and shy mouse, who has had an ongoing crush on judge Mel B throughout the season, Farmer was able to win over the hearts of America. Whenever Farmer would step on stage with one or both of her puppets, she would appear as a shy, poised young girl; however, once she started performing, her true colors would shine as a funny, charismatic and talented preteen who can somehow sing without moving her lips or teeth. Farmer wouldn’t sing basic songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” rather the most impressing part of her talent is how she sang difficult songs such as her final performance, “With a Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles. Yes, this 12-year-old girl sang both parts of the Beatles song, switching back and forth from the voice of Oscar, to the voice of Petunia, without moving her mouth once. After competing in the final round, Farmer impressed the judges so much so that Cowell, known as AGT’s toughest critic, announced, “Tonight I just witnessed a star emerge, be-
cause you’re special, incredible, funny, talented and I think you’re going to win.” Try being one of the other performers who still had yet to take the stage after hearing Cowell’s praise for Farmer — talk about pressure. Cowell’s prediction proved to be correct, as Farmer beat out runner-up 10-year-old singer, Angelica Hale. Some may believe it to be surprising that the two finalists were both so young, as they were up against a variety of talented performers; however, I think it was predictable. Voting for the AGT winner is left entirely up to America and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t vote for two cute, humble and personable little girls? Other finalists in-
Inkwell Spotlight Lost By Maria Lindland Contributing Writer at the Inkwell Footsteps down overgrown paths crunching like crumpled paper. My hands ran across aging bark, microscopic splinters nestling under calloused skin. Cold, damp air pressed against a body wracked with pain and exhaustion. I couldn’t stop. Morning was leaking through violet clouds, bathing tired branches in velvet light. I’m lost, home now much too far away. CreativeCommons/Public Domain CreativeCommons/Flickr
cluded: Singer/songwriter Mandy Harvey, 29, singer/songwriter Chase Goehring, 21, stand-up comedian Preacher Lawson, 25, Light-Balance dance group, 21-36, Sara and Hero, 22, Diavolo dance group, 21-39, singer Evie Clair, 13 and singer Kechi Okwuchi, 27. During the finale, Farmer proved why she should be the one to take home the prize based off of her incredible performance and unmatched talent. Many of the performers, including runner-up Hale, had “sob” stories that attracted attention from both the audience and the judges throughout the season. Oftentimes the judges would comment about their “strength” or “courage” rather than their actual talent. Hale’s story includes details from her childhood when she almost died at age four. Hale had been diagnosed with double pneumonia and her kidneys shut down. She was saved by her mother, who donated her own kidney to save Hale. It’s remarkable that Hale is able to sing and perform today with so much confidence, however, I’m not positive she would have made it as far as she did had it not been for her miraculous story. Another example of a brave history helping soar a performer to the finale is for singer Okwuchi. Okwuchi was involved in a plane accident and as a result has scarring and burns covering her body. Having the confidence to continue singing and performing shows her inner beauty and is a quality the judges immediately fell in love with rather than for her singing, which is simply average. Farmer, on the other hand, brought no sad history to the show. She only brought her two puppets, her talent and her infectious charm. Farmer became the second ventriloquist to win AGT, after season two winner Terry Fator. The two ventriloquists even came together to perform the song, “Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better),” during the finale. According to E! News, when Farmer was asked what she planned to do with her $1 million prize, she replied, “First thing’s first, I would love to give to my mission program at church. Secondly, I have to give my mom a dishwasher because ours doesn’t work and we need a new one. And then, I would love to get a puppy, like a baby pug. I just want one so bad ... Photo taken from Darci Lynne Farmer's Instagram I’m so ready to take on the puppy life.”
The Mirror Abroad: Deanna's Discoveries By Deanna Carbone Study Abroad Columnist
It was truly magical. I felt like I crossed over into a different realm. This was a good introduction to my next One of the most popular reasons why college adventure: Oktoberfest. students go abroad is to find themselves. Because I’m Speak to one person that has studied abroad in the realistic and I know my life isn’t a romantic comedy, I Fall that didn’t go to Oktoberfest. I’ll wait. They simply did not go abroad for this. Serendipitously, in the past don’t exist. As a lover of a good darty, I was in attentwo weekends, I have come the closest I ever will to my dance. I felt like Dublin was my warm up for the big life being directed by Judd Apatow and have been on the game. I entered Oktoberfest, in my crispy new dirndl road to self discovery. From the young and foolish age of (the traditional German dress) ready to tackle my next 16, I’ve hated beer. If there was only beer at the function, beer hurdle. I wouldn’t drink. Beer always made me feel like I ate 12 I was handed my first stein (a LITER) of beer and loaves of bread without the fun of eating the bread. did not turn back. I was apprehensive because it looked These past two weekends, I have found myself in like a bud light (sorry Ally, love u) and that I would have the middle of beer capitals of the world: Dublin and to chase it with a schnitzel. I ended up liking it. I will Munich. I went to Ireland first for their Gaelic Football be forever grateful that I liked Oktoberfest beer because version of the Super Bowl: The GAA Football All-Ireland I would suffer a life-long guilty conscience if I took an Senior Championship. As a lifelong bandwagon fan and eight hour bus ride to a beer festival and ended up in the a hype man, this was a perfect event for me, except for wine tent. the drink of choice: Guinness. In addition to my new fondness of beer, I would My friend Eilish brought me to Ireland because like to add that Dublin and Munich were two of the a good majority of her family lives there and this was most beautiful places I have ever been to. Aside from the the game of the century. She told me not to be ridicurolling green hills and crystal clear blue skies, the locals lous and to just order were so friendly and a Guinness at the bar warm. Both countries where we were watchhad some of the most ing the game because lovely people I have no one would be met so far while I’ve drinking anything else. been abroad. They I didn’t understand why didn’t treat us like anshe was so adamant noying tourists, but as about it until I ordered welcomed guests. As a mixed drink and I was much as I’ll appreciate handed a juice box. my experience in these I decided it was two places for changing time to bite the bullet my opinions on beer, I and try Guinness. At will always be thankful first glance, it looked for their kindness and like soy sauce so that the first two genuine made me feel a little welcomes I’ve received Deanna Carbone/ The Mirror better about trying it. since coming to Europe.
Page 10
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
The Vine
Sabrina's Style: Emmy's Fashion By Sabrina Musto Fashion Columnist
This week we’re talking Emmy’s Fashion. The 2017 Primetime Emmy awards took place on Sunday, Sept. 17, and the stars came out wearing their best looks for the big occasion. Everyone watching got a taste of a variety of fabulous designers, from Calvin Klein to Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen. The following are some of my personal favorites from the star-studded event. Reese Witherspoon took a very different approach to the “usual” Emmys fashion. Instead of opting for a gown, she chose a short, sapphire Stella McCartney tuxedo dress, which I think that her famous character Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde” would have loved to wear to one of her classes at Harvard. Her soft make-up combined with a red lip pulled the look together completely. Viola Davis had one of my favorite looks of the night, wearing an orange Zac Posen gown and Stuart Weitzman shoes. The dress looked amazing on her and really highlighted her figure and the color choice could not have been better. I also love how she opted for an updo so that the entire dress could be seen. Millie Bobby Brown was simply adorable in her strapless Calvin Klein dress. She looked like a ballerina from her tutu shaped dress down to her pulled back hairstyle, and even though she is young, she was able to stand on the carpet and shine just as brightly as any other celebrity out there. Emmy Rossum hit my soft spot, which is simplicity that is also elegant. Rossum’s Zac Posen gown was exactly that, black from head to toe with subtle sequin detailing was all that she needed to be considered one of the best dressed celebs at the Emmys. Not to mention that her choice of emerald jewelry, especially the emerald ring, gave the look a little something extra, which I loved. Gabrielle Union’s gown was another black
By Angelica Miceli-Kaya Contributing Writer
gown that I wish I could wear myself. Though I am not a fan of shawls or caplets, the dress underneath is genuinely perfect. The black-on-black detailing of the Zuhair Murad gown was both meticulous and well placed, and her gown was yet another one of my top favorite looks. Shailene Woodley glowed in a moss green velvet Ralph Lauren gown, with a gorgeous, strappy open back and a plunging neckline. Her hair also looked great in a low ponytail and she went very subtle on the jewelry. While some people might say that her dress was plain or not as extravagant as some of the other dresses, I think that is what I love most about it. This dress is the one that I would be most likely to wear on a red carpet, which is why it is my favorite look of the night. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the men who rocked the red carpet. Although men’s fashion on red carpets is pretty much a bunch of tuxedos, the follow-
Photo taken from zuhairmuradofficial's Instagram
Gabrielle Union wearing a black, beaded gown.
ing men really stole the show and looked fantastic: Milo Ventimiglia wearing Ralph Lauren Purple Label looked like the picture of class in this black tux, Donald Glover (in purple!) Gucci really stepped out of the box and chose a color that is not normally seen on red carpets, Liev and Kai Schreiber in matching Isaia were the cutest father/son combination walking the carpet, Justin Hartley in Valentino looked great in his navy blue tuxedo accessorized with a Montblanc watch, and of course designer Zac Posen himself in Brooks Brothers Made to Measure took a break from designing to enjoy the evening in a sleek black tux.
Photo taken from Reese Witherspoon's Instagram
Reese Witherspoon sporting a short, saphire dress.
Heard It Through The GrapeVINE
This week’s GrapeVINE spotlight is Dr. David Crawford, professor in the departments of International Studies, and Sociology and Anthropology. Dr. Crawford was born in Spain, grew up in Ohio, but lived in Southern California from 1966-1970 and then again from 1973-1984 because of his father’s work at Ohio State University. He is married with two children, 14 and 15 years old, and has five chickens and one dog. Dr. Crawford classified his favorite genre of music as “crappy” 80s punk, yet he also listens to surf rock, indie and West African music. He grew up in the punk era and lived on the beach so surf rock came into play then, and when he was older he traveled to Quebec and Morocco and got interested in music from Mali and Senegal. His diverse taste in music contributes to understanding him as a professor and as a person. To know someone’s playlist is to know their whole self. Below is a list of some of Dr. Dave Crawford’s favorite songs: “Spanish Bombs” by The Clash “I always liked political songs by The Clash. This one was about the Spanish Civil War, and since I was born in Spain under General Franco, I really like this song.” “Los Angeles” by X “This is my hometown band! They played in my gym in college, they played in small clubs all around LA and they were just great. Their shows were so fun. It was a punk scene, but a very friendly punk scene; it was physical without being violent. It was in a way that, you know, you were in this kind of churning vat of humanity and you just lost yourself in the music and in the other people and it was a lot of fun.” “Caress Me Down” by Sublime “This was one of my fave songs for when I was young and just
because it’s so naughty. The lyrics are just profoundly inappropriate; especially the ones that are in Spanish.” “New Slang” by The Shins “For me it is such a haunting song. I can't figure out what the lyrics mean, I know all the lyrics, and it just strikes me as so sad, it’s the saddest song, and I just listen to it over and over whenever I feel like being sad.” “Story of My Life” by Social Distortion “It makes me think of Southern California. The one line in the song that says ‘I went back to my old neighborhood and the pool hall I hung out at as a kid is now a 7/11,’ I mean, that’s like every place I’ve lived. Southern California is an all new place. All the buildings are different; everything’s changed. This is another song that really resonates with me plus; I like the guitar in it.”
of England and I thought like I kinda agree with that. I just thought royalty was stupid, I thought adults were stupid. There was something about Punk rock that appealed to me, but I also thought they just needed a little more peace and love and that didn't really go with their whole vibe, but there's an energy there or an anti-authoritarian ethos that's important and that appealed to me.” “So You Want To Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star” by The Byrds “The version I like the most is by Tom Petty. I loved Tom Petty when I was younger and I saw him about 10 times when I was younger. He played this song as an encore in Los Angeles at the Sports Arena and I thought it was the greatest song ever. I just loved it, especially the beginning of it. It’s great, it’s absolutely great, but I thought it was a Tom Petty song.”
“Loser” by Beck “I used to listen to this when I was in graduate school in London. Beck had been famous for a while already, but when you're a grad student you feel like such a loser. You’re never going to be as smart as your professors and all everybody does is tear your ideas down. You have no money and you feel way too old to be a student anymore and Beck’s ‘Loser’ that just summarizes grad school.” “God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols “This is going back to childhood. When I was about 13 years old I first heard punk rock and I was kind of a hippy and my style was long hair, Led Zeppelin, peace and love. I really believed in peace and love, and then pink rock, and the Sex Pistols in particular, were like spitting on people, piercing their face with clothespins, and I thought the world was coming to an end. I thought these guys were the worst. They were the opposite of everything I believe in and hold sacred yet their basic outlook of making fun of the Queen
Photo contributed by Dr. David Crawford
Do you want to be featured in the GrapeVINE? Please email a list of 5-7 of your favorite songs and a picture of yourself that we can use to alicia.phaneuf@ student.fairfield.edu.
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
The Vine
Page 11
Cara's Cuisine: Pumpkin Spice By Cara Lee Assistant Vine Editor
Welcome to the first week of Fall! Time to say hello to colorful leaves and lavishly scented candles (not on campus, of course), unpack those comfy sweaters, knit hats and long jackets, and start enjoying the literal tastes of Fall. From fruits that produce rich flavors when baked or cooked like apples, butternut squash and pumpkin to spices and saps that add a dash of a taste so firmly associated with Fall that it’s nearly impossible to separate the two, like cinnamon, apple and … pumpkin spice? When Fall first begins, stores, cafes and restaurants are all overwhelmed with requests for pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice tea, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice waffles and even pumpkin spice scratch and sniff stickers. What most don’t realize is that the vast majority of these delights lack one major ingredient: pumpkin. In fact, according to their information pages, Starbucks only began adding pumpkin, in the form of a dash of pumpkin puree, to their famed Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2015, and this is one of the only products actually containing pumpkin. So, what is pumpkin spice? That flavor that everyone goes crazy for each Fall — and, if people are being honest, the rest of the year as well. It’s another name for pumpkin pie
spice. As in, the spices a baker might add to their pumpkin pie before baking it, including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. On the plus side, this means that adding that pumpkin spice flavor to your favorite coffee blend is easy no matter the time of year — there’s no need to wait for Dunkin to start serving your favorite latte. On the negative side, this means that this favorite “Fall Flavor” would taste the same at any time of the year and so isn’t really a Fall flavor. A point that traitorous humans like me who don’t like pumpkin spice can easily complain about is yet another commercial featuring the newest Dunkin/Starbucks/Target brand Pumpkin Spice Pastry/Coffee/Tea/Latte/Candle that interrupts our favorite shows. Sadly, this information is not going to convince the majority to set aside their pumpkin spice obsession to enjoy true Fall products that only reach their richest state during the fall season — such as apple, cinnamon, butternut squash, pumpkin and maple. As such, I’m going to get this over with early. Enjoy your pumpkin pie spice and look out for other, true Fall recipes as the season continues.
Pumpkin Spice Latte — with REAL Pumpkin Ingredients: ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon nutmeg ¾ teaspoon ground allspice ¾ teaspoon ground cloves 1 tablespoon pureed pumpkin 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup whole milk 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (or 2 shots of espresso) 1. Make the pumpkin pie spice by mixing the ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cloves together. 2. Put the pureed pumpkin in a saucepan over medium heat with ½ teaspoon of the pumpkin spice mixture (store the rest for a future cup or to use for other recipes). Cook for two minutes, stirring continuously. 3. Mix in the sugar until the mixture has the consistency of a thick syrup and begins to bubble. Stir in the milk and vanilla until the milk is warm, then remove from the heat and either stir vigorously or use a hand blender until the milk froths. Pour on top of your brewed coffee and serve sprinkled with more pumpkin spice and a dash of whipped cream. Enjoy! And look out for more Fall recipes in future Mirror issues! CreativeCommons/ GetColoringPages
A Recap of September's Top Albums By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor
Greetings audiophiles and music nerds. September has been quite a prolific month for album releases as both long-anticipated records and outstanding premiers took center-stage for the month. With over 100 albums to choose from, it may seem intimidating to what your ears may want to perk up to but luckily, we have got your back with my top five album releases of this past month. The National - “Sleep Well Beast” Let’s knock the clocks back to 2007 to The National’s opus “Boxer,” when the indie rock quintet was at the height of their musical and lyrical proficiency, and gave us one of the best indie records of the past decade. The National honed in on their doom-and-gloom style and delivered a worthy sequel two albums and 10 years later. Noteworthy Tunes: “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness,” “Dark Side of the Gym,” Born to Beg”
Phoebe Bridgers - “Stranger in the Alps” In 2015, Phoebe Bridgers took the folk scene by storm when she was signed by legendary folk singer Ryan Adams’ record label, PAX-AM. I remember her first EP, Killer, but two years later, she has turned the folk scene on its head, leading a new wave of young bloods. “Stranger in the Alps” is so hauntingly beautiful that it commands one’s full attention during the first couple of listens and every listen afterwards. Noteworthy Tunes: “Killer,” “Chelsea,” “Funeral” Deer Tick - “Vol. 1” As a huge Deer Tick fan, I can also in the same vein say that the second volume of their two releases this month was less than satisfactory, though, in this fullyacoustic showing, Deer Tick flexes their folk roots and
demonstrates why they rule the folk rock roost. Taking inspiration from The Boss on this go-around, Deer Tick has done it again and delivered a worthy successor to 2013’s “Negativity.” Noteworthy Tunes: “Card House,” “Hope is Big,” “Cocktail” Mike Gordon - “OGOGO” Coming off Phish’s storied Baker’s Dozen run at Madison Square Garden in New York and three nights at Dick’s, any sane Phish Phan would be justified in thinking that the band needs a break but in turn, bassist Mike Gordon has crafted a mind-altering adventure into Gordon’s quirky yet imaginative cognitive wonderland. Offering a great starting point for the basis of some crazy-good jams, Gordon delivers another one for the catalogue that is packed to the brim with enough synth and bass to make you go crazy sometimes. Noteworthy Tunes: “Steps,” “So Far Gone,” “Victim 3D”
LCD Soundsystem - “american dream” Easily the most-anticipated album of 2017, James Murphy and the rest of the crew have delivered on their promises on an immersive auditory experience that exceeds virtually any expectations. Murphy weaves a narrative of atonement that is supplemented with enough 70s disco influence to create a dynamic album that will certainly have fans dancing themselves clean. Noteworthy Tunes: “american dream,” “change yr mind,” “call the police” Album cover for "The National"
Album cover for "Phoebe Bridges"
Coffee Break
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
Page 12
COFFEE BREAK Editor: Claire Monahan
Anatomy of a Tully Mimosa 5% Do It For The Vine 10% Believing The Tully Might Actually Serve Alcohol 15% Pretentiousness
15% Ginger Ale
25% Pure Curiosity
Point Day Schedule
9:30 AM Wake Up 10:00 AM Breakfast of Protein and Carbs
30% Orange Juice
10:30 AM Start Getting Ready 11:30 AM Leave for Introductory Festivities 1:30 PM Leave for The Point 4:30 PM Back to Campus 4:45 PM Eat Dinner 5:45 PM Relax, Nap If You Can 8:00 PM Wake Up, Rally
8:15 PM Start Getting Ready (pro tip: don’t This past Sunday when The shower again) Tully served mimosas, the Coffee Construction 9:15 PM Leave for Introductory Festivities Break team conducted several Rumors (part two) scientific experiments to Rumors on future construction proj10:30/11:00 PM Leave for Townhouses determine its chemical ects have been swirling around camcomposition. Above pus. Coffee Break cannot prove nor are our findings. disprove any of these rumors. • Tunnel to the beach • A skybridge between Donnarumma and Canisius • Moving the Student Health Center to the middle of the Quad • Adding a new floor to the library for pretend studying • Move FUSA and WVOF offices to ground floor Gonzaga, expand The Mirror office
Sports
SPORTS
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
This Week in Sports:
Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
In Case You
Page 13
Stags Dominate The Courts
Missed It: Wednesday, September 20th -Villanova defeats Field Hockey, 2-1 -Women's Soccer defeats Iona, 2-1 Saturday, September 16th -California defeats Field Hockey, 3-1 -Volleyball defeats Rider, 3-1 -Rider defeats Women's Soccer, 4-1 Sunday, September 17th -Volleyball defeats St. Peter's, 3-0 Photo Contributed By Sports Information Desk
This past weekend, the men’s tennis team traveled to the Ivy Plus Tournament in New Haven, Conn. Senior Brad Orban led the way for the Stags as the veteran made it to the Singles Final at the prestigious tournament. Orban won his first match 7-6 (14-12), 6-3 over Gilbert Jaeger of Dartmouth, his quarterfinal bout 0-6, 6-2, 6-1 over Fedor Andrienko of Yale and then his semifinal match 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 over Denton Ho of Cornell. The final pitted Orban against Grant Solomon of Harvard where he fell 6-4, 6-1. The men’s tennis squad also traveled to Hamden, Conn. to participate in the Quinnipiac Invitational this weekend. The trip was highlighted by Anthony Caputo ‘19 and Tyler Shibles ‘20 trip to the Doubles Finals which unfortunately resulted in a 6-4 loss to a duo from instate Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Quinnipiac. After an impressive weekend on the courts, the Stags are back in action Wednesday, Oct. 4 when they welcome Rider to the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts for a 2 p.m. start.
Upcoming This Week: Wednesday, September 27th -Field Hockey vs. Dartmouth, 3:30 p.m. -Men's Soccer at Quinnipiac, 4 p.m. -Women's Soccer vs. Quinnipiac, 7 p.m. Thursday, September 28th -Women's Tennis vs. Providence, 3 p.m. Friday, September 29th
Photo Contributed By Sports Information Desk
On Tuesday, Sept. 26 Manuela Nicolini ‘20 earned MAAC Player of the Week after leading the Stags to a 2-0 weekend from the setter position. The sophomore averaged 11.86 sets per frame in Fairfield’s two wins over Rider on Saturday, Sept. 23 and at St. Peter’s on Sunday, Sept. 24. In Saturday’s win, Nicolini posted 45 assists while also contributing six kills to go along with 11 digs and seven blocks. She followed this performance up by serving up 38 assists, two kills, six digs and one block as well on Sunday. For the season, the Italian product leads the conference with an average of 9.69 assists per set. Not to be forgotten, she also leads the Stags in blocks with 43 on the year. Nicolini and Fairfield are back on the court this weekend when they travel to Western New York to take on MAAC foes Canisius and Niagara.
-Field Hockey at LIU Brooklyn, 4 p.m. Saturday, September 30th -Women's Volleyball at Canisius, 1 p.m. -Women's Soccer at Canisius, 1 p.m. Sunday, October 1st -Women's Volleyball at Niagara, 1 p.m.
In this week's issue... - MLB Playoff Preview: Road to the Fall Classic (Page 14)
- Coach's Corner With Men Soccer's Carl Rees (Page 15)
- NCAA Coaches Charged With Federal Charges (Page 15) - Stags Remain Undefeated in MAAC Play (Page 16)
Sports
Page 14
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
MLB Playoff Preview: Road to the Fall Classic
Contributed by MLB/Instagram The Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians have all clinched their spots to play October baseball. Each team has the offense and pitching staff to potentially send each club deep into the postseason.
By Joseph Imbriani Contributing Writer Six long months of baseball and roughly 160 games have brought us to late September and very close to the MLB playoffs. Many teams have stood out over the course of the treacherous season and there are a few that are frontrunners to win the World Series come late October. The first team that has stood out, especially in the last month, is the defending American League Champion, the Cleveland Indians. They are on a historic run, winning 29 of their last 31 games, including 22 consecutive wins. They clinched the AL Central a couple of weeks ago and are the frontrunner to finish with the best record in the AL. This team, led by their great managing, good starting pitching and timely offense certainly has what it takes to win it all. They pushed the Chicago Cubs to seven games in last year’s World Series and many of the players on that team know what it felt like to come that close and lose. Look for the Indians to come back with a vengeance. The next team that has to be a favorite to make some noise in the playoffs is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite not playing well for the last month or so, the Dodgers are the only team with at least 100 wins. Their team being led by a young manager in Dave Roberts, perhaps the greatest pitcher in the MLB with Clayton Kershaw, and an offense with a great
Weekly 4x5 Because we have witty things to say ...
cast of stars, including names like Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger should definitely be looked at as the favorite to come out of the National League. There are a few sleeper teams that have a chance. The first is the Chicago Cubs. Last year’s World Series Champions didn’t have a great regular season, but still ended up clinching the NL Central. Led by the starting pitching trio of Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks and Jake Arietta and a phenomenal lineup led by Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs could make some noise in the playoffs led by one of the best managers in baseball in Joe Madden. My last sleeper is the Houston Astros. With all of the attention in the AL on the Indians, the Astros have quietly kept pace. They could still end up with the best record in the AL and they have arguably the most talented team in baseball. Led by AL Most Valuable Player candidate Jose Altuve, star shortstop Carlos Correa, Connecticut native George Springer, and one of the best starting rotations in baseball, don’t be surprised if the Astros make the World Series and win it all. With all of this in mind, I am picking the Indians to face the Dodgers in the World Series with the Indians winning in six games. With Cleveland not having won any championships in any sport since 1964 until last year’s Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA title, a World Series Championship coming back to Cleveland would be huge for not only the franchise but for the city of Cleveland.
Your 2017-2018 4x5 Columnists:
Allison White, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Catherine Veschi
Melo gets traded to OKC. What are your thoughts on the trade?
Are you excited for Prez Ball this weekend?
Aaron Judge sets a new rookie record with 50 home runs in a season. Thoughts?
WNBA Finals Rematch. Who you got: Los Angeles Sparks or Minnesota Lynx?
Excited to hear that T-Pain will perform at Red Sea Madness this year?
In other news, the Rangers are playing in their last preseason Allison White game tonight and then hockey is Editor-in-Chief in full swing, bby!!
Feel like I have to go with Fredo and Cat's trend of "last Prez Ball" but I'm just excited to return to my home of The Grape for yet another weekend.
What a guy!!
Omg!! More basketball!! Who woulda thought?!
If he buys me a drank... I crack myself up.
Carmelooooooooo Anthony! I'm gonna miss hearing that name in New York, but the Knicks finally blessed Melo by sending him to a contender. OKC's coming for that West Title, KD's not ready.
Last Prez Ball ever! It's bittersweet because I can clearly remember my first one...well not that clearly!
ALL RISE! This guy has taken the league by storm and he's got the Bronx burning up. Congrats to the kid, after a slow start last year he really did his thing and made a name for himself & he's a Yankee!
I love Candace Parker and after tasting that championship last year I know she wants some more but you got to watch out for Maya Moore.
Happy to here that Fairfield got themselves a notable performer, I just wish it was Migos.
F**k Phil Jackson! So happy Melo got out of New York. It's turn up time with Russ and PG.
Big night! I can't wait to get real sweaty and do the stanky leg.
You thought it was a drought!! Judge is back and better than ever. We're chasing Stanton.
Candace Parker's legacy is on the line here, she needs this chip.
I just hope to keep my sanity with all this auto-tune going on.
Thought this was about football
Absolutely — it's my final one so I'm AMAZING this kid is my favorite determined to stay for at least an hour athlete (besides Rafa of course). this time! But in all seriousness, he shows great potential for such a young athlete and will (hopefully) lead the Yankees to a successful postseason!
Alfredo Torres Sports Editor
Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor
Catherine Veschi until Dan told me otherwise. Was Managing Editor going to use this as a chance to brag about my fantasy team's first win but I guess I won't...
Okay, at least I knew THIS question was about basketball. The "Lynx" definitely sound like a better team than the "Sparks" so Minnesota for sure.
Yes! Everyone loves a good throwback and although I'm not about to drop $40 on a ticket to the concert, I'm glad I can say I'd heard of at least one of the Fall Concert performers during my time at Fairfield.
Sports
THE MIRROR | Week of September 27, 2017
Page 15
Coach's Corner With Men Soccer's Carl Rees By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer
Photo Contributed By Sports Information Desk
Fairfield University Men’s Soccer season is in full swing as the team looks to continue their fantastic run in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competition. Carl Rees, head coach for men’s soccer, has lead this team for almost two decades and he shows no signs of slowing down. The Bebington, England native has the utmost respect from his players. Coach Rees establishes a mood of urgency and determination with every practice and game to return to MAAC championship glory with a National Collegiate Athletic Association postseason berth. He knows exactly what it takes to recapture a MAAC title and NCAA berth and he believes every practice and game can work as a lesson for his team. “We need to take what we learned since day one in preseason to the last minute of the win over Temple and put that into effect during the MAAC competition,” said the Hartwick alum. “That’s what it’s going to take. Also, we have to continue doing what we are doing, the team has momentum right now.” The former Hartwick player has an astounding 99-38-12 record among MAAC opponents. He seems to know his nemeses’ strengths and weaknesses well, but he gives all the credit to his team. “At the end of the day, it involves the players. Having the tools to attract good players, like a beautiful campus, a great degree, three miles from the beach and an hour from Manhattan, all that brings in good players, and good people. And all the wins in large part will be based on the character,” said Rees. The former Fédération Internationale de Football Association worker is aware of what a difference players can make that are needed to receive that extra push later in the season. “I think we’re looking at leadership and this is a hungry group, and the staff is included. I don’t think there are more motivated groups than us to get this done. You can sense it all the time,” said the Hartwick College Hall of Fame member. Coach Rees never loses sight of how important academics are. He strives for his players to do their best academically. Fifty-one Stags have achieved MAAC All-Academic Honors and Rees is proud to have that on his resume. “ When guys come through the program, it’s not about the four years that you are here. It’s about the forty years when you leave and the degree is certainly going to help. The academic standing is more important,” said Rees. The master’s graduate from Frostburg State loves to incorporate his own experiences as a player and coach. He always thanks the game of soccer that he adores. “Football has dictated my entire life since I was five years old. It paid for my education, master’s degree. I am very in debt to this game,” he said. “What I learned is that not one game is the same as the next. I have played in two Final Fours so it helps prepare them for a championship run.” The Fairfield Stags Men’s Soccer squad is in great hands with Rees at the helm. He displays Contributed by Sport Information Desk confidence and reliability to his team and fans. He knows what it takes to garner a winning seaCarl Rees has been at the helm of Fairfield soccer since before many students here have been born. son and another MAAC title. The Stags and their fans hope for the same. Rees has produced an incredible record of athletic and academic success while in Stag country.
NCAA Coaches Charged With Federal Charges
Contributed by Creative Commons/Wikimedia Chuck Person (above) the associate head coach for the men's basketball team in Auburn University is one of many coaches and associates charged with federal charges by the NCAA on Tuesday, Sept. 26th.
By Christopher LaZazzera Contributing Writer Early Tuesday morning on Sept. 26, United States Attorney Joon H. Kim announced charges of fraud and corruption against four National Collegiate Athletic Association assistant basketball coaches. Kim is alleging that assistant coaches at Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State and University of Southern California took cash bribes in order to persuade basketball players toward specific financial advisers and sports agents. Each of the coaches are charged with bribery conspiracy, solicitation of bribes, honest service fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and Travel Act conspiracy. A total of 10 people were arrested, the other six being Adidas employees and others associated with the NBA. The coaches charged are Chuck Person of Auburn, Emanuel Richardson of Arizona, Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State University and Tony Bland of USC. The FBI conducted an extravagant undercover operation, starting back in 2015, to understand what was truly going on.
According to the NCAA, any coach found to be taking bribes while employed by an institution receiving federal funds, for example, could be liable to prosecution under federal law. The complaints allege that Evans, Richardson and Bland all received benefits to influence student-athletes to use their services. The NCAA will enforce its own separate penalties in the coming weeks. The institutions involved could be subject to penalties such as scholarship reductions, postseason bans and even show-cause orders for the coaches involved. The NCAA was made aware of the investigation on Tuesday just like the public. The head coaches of these respected basketball programs should have nothing to worry about. That is, only if they had no knowledge of what was taking place between the players and assistants. There still could be other charges forthcoming against other programs and individuals. The investigation is ongoing. The phone number for a tip line was given out at yesterday’s news conference for anyone to call with more information regarding the situation. More will be known about all parties involved in the coming days and weeks.
@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Week of September 27, 2017
fairfieldmirror.com
SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
Stags Remain Undefeated in MAAC Play
Alfredo Torres/The Mirror The Stags are back to their old ways at Alumni Hall. One year after going 18-0 in MAAC play, the red and white are off to a 4-0 start this season. Fairfield took care of business on Sunday as they swept St.Peter's.
By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor Some new faces fill the seats of the Stags bench in Alumni Hall, but overall not much has changed from last year. The wins are piling up, and the red and white are once again dominating the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Now winners of five in a row with a record of 4-0 in conference play, Fairfield cemented their place as the MAAC’s team to beat as they made quick work of the St. Peter’s Peacocks 25-17, 25-13, 25-13 on Sunday, Sept. 24. Fairfield took control of the game from the outset, as they posted 14 kills in the first set. Senior Skyler Day and Mayda Garcia ‘20 each had four kills while Manuela Nicolini ‘20 tallied 13 assists in the set. The second set provided the Fairfield faithful with more of the same. Junior Kaitlyn Fisher and Garcia put four spikes away as part of a 17-kill set. Nicolini had 16 more assists in the frame to put her total at 29 through three sets. With two sets in hand, the Stags cruised in the third set, posting their most efficient frame of the match with 12 kills and only three errors. Fairfield finished the match with 43 kills and only 18 errors to boot. Individually, numerous Stags shined against the Peacocks. Garcia led the offense with 11 kills, while Day finished the afternoon with nine putaways and Nicolini finished with 38 assists. On the defensive end, Day
had 13 digs and Taylor Rudeen ‘19 had 11 digs. Junior Sydney Williams led the way with three blocks against the Peacocks. On this Sunday afternoon, it was undoubtedly Garcia, the Texas native who was the spark plug for the Stags in their controlling win. The outside hitter was humble after the double-digit kill performance and knows how vital her teammates are to her success. “Going into today, we knew we had to pedal down,” Garcia said. “Any time I went up to hit I heard ‘I got your back’ behind me so that really helped me going up against a block and knowing that if I do hit into the block they will be there to pick me up.” As the streak continues, Fairfield forges into the heart of MAAC play. Familiar foes whom they know so well fastly approach as they look to take command of the conference and post another undefeated season in the MAAC. As Garcia reiterates, no one game can trump the importance of the one that lies ahead. “We take everyday like it is a new day. We forget yesterday’s game, forget what we did yesterday even if it was our best game and move on to the next one,” Garcia said. The Stags return to the court when they travel to Buffalo, N.Y. to take on Canisius College Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1 p.m.
Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Sophomore Sonja Radulovic puts one away as the Stags overwhelmed the visiting Peacocks on Sunday afternoon. A dominant offensive attack allowed Fairfield to tally 43 kills in the match and set the tone from the beginning.