Orientation issue 2016

Muhammad Ali

Chris Robinson

Baseball

Vine

Sports

Boxer leaves a mark in the fight against racism.

Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes talks about CRB’s new album, mythology and tuxedos.

Page 7

Baseball’s Head Coach Bill Currier wins LIDS Teams Sports MAAC Coach of the Year.

Page 11

Opinion

Page 4

THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper

Freshmen Orientation 2016

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Vol. 42 Iss. 1

RecPlex construction comes to a close

By Juliana Sansonetti Assistant News Editor

Students who have become accustomed to the view of construction when they drive on campus will be treated to the view of a newly renovated building by the time next semester begins.

The new Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Recreation Complex, the reconstruction of which was announced in 2014, will finally be ready for student use when the new semester begins in September.

Associate Vice President for Facilities Management David Frassinelli attributes the on-time completion to an excellent team involved with the project.

“99% of the credit for a successful job goes to the team at Student Affairs, Karen Donoghue, Tom Pellegrino, John Paladino and Phil Palumbo,” Frassinelli commented. “We cannot build the facility if we don’t have a good and concise program that is specific to Fairfield University.”

“Karen [Donoghue] and her team defined that program and led the process for the selection of the equipment and the layout of the spaces,” Frassinelli continued.

“They also received strong support from the university’s Purchasing Department.”

Frassinelli, who was involved with the project from beginning to end, explained that the new RecPlex will include some improvements such as several multipurpose rooms, new locker rooms and new weight/fitness and cardio spaces.

Catherine Veschi/The Mirror Construction of the renovated Leslie C. Quick Recreation Complex is continuing during the summer recess. The RecPlex will be completed by the fall semester.

Due to these improvements, Frassinelli believes that the student response will be overwhelmingly positive.

“The project represents a complete makeover of the facility as opposed to a simple addition,” Frassinelli said.

Students themselves are also eagerly anticipating the new RecPlex.

“Having a place where students, faculty, staff and community members are able to cultivate their minds and bodies shows how much Fairfield University cares for our wellbeing,” said Dulce Villanueva ’18.

“I am certain that all my peers will make the best use of the installations as a de-stress method and also a place to have fun,” continued

Villanueva.

Since construction began on the RecPlex, students have either had to work out in the basement of Alumni Hall or find alternative work out methods.

The StagBus has added The Edge Fitness Club to its usual stops and various fitness classes were held in Faber Hall.

Villanueva, who worked out

in Alumni Hall, believed that the space was not ideal, but was happy for having somewhere to work out.

“The space and equipment were limited. But I am thankful that the school still provided a space for the students to do physical activities,” said Villanueva.

“Also, I greatly enjoyed all the fitness classes available. My favorite class was Zumba with Jillian.”

Campus convenience store sees successful first year

By Juliana Sansonetti Assistant News Editor

When students need supplies late at night, they can now find them on campus since the convenience store, Stags on the Run, located in the Barone Campus Center, was open for an entire academic year.

The convenience store, called Stags on the Run, is an addition to the Stag Spirit Store; the store’s success has far surpassed the expectations of those involved in its creation.

Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Fitzpatrick ’70 said, “We knew the students were going to be pleased with [Stags on the Run], but I think we were all caught off-guard by just how successful it has been.

We measure success in terms of the amount of product that is going out of the store.”

According to Janet Chou, Store Manager of the Fairfield University Bookstore and Stag Spirit Shop, by the end of the spring semester of 2016, there was a 131.5 percent increase in food and beverage sales from last year and health and beauty sales are up 69.6

percent from last year. These increases were attributed to the opening of the convenience store.

These numbers further reinforced Fitzpatrick’s idea that students wanted a latenight convenience option.

According to Kerri Beine ’18, she uses the convenience store two or three times weekly, especially taking advantage of the Grab ‘N Go area where food is sold.

“A lot of students are busy and it’s easier [to go to the convenience store] than sitting down and taking time out of your day,” said Beine. “If you’re on the go, you can just grab something quick.”

The increase of sales was far beyond what was expected when the addition was first built.

“We were looking for somewhere around a 40 percent increase in traffic and sales,” continued Fitzpatrick, “but to see an increase in 80 percent in sales is pretty un-

usual. It demonstrates both that there was a need for it and that students are taking advantage of it.”

Prior to the opening of Stags on the Run, students without cars had to take the StagBus to the convenience stores in town. Having to

We knew the students were going to be pleased with [Stags on the Run], but I think we were all caught off-guard by just successful it has been.

- Jim Fitzpatrick Vice President of Student Affairs take the shuttle was inconvenient for some students and also impossible at night as the last StagBus leaves campus at 10 p.m.

“I think it has pretty much anything you would need urgently,” said Vanessa Ciampa

’19. “It is very convenient, especially if I’m running out of something and I don’t want to go downtown.”

Stags on the Run was initially slated for completion by the beginning of the summer of 2015. However, a problem with a state health code regarding the height of the ceilings of convenience stores forced the addition to be moved to the other half of the store.

“Our challenge now is what we can do partnering with the [FUSA] Senate and with Follett to keep it fresh. We have ten staple items that we have all the time that are aggressively priced on sale and then there is a special each week.”

The items that are always on sale include some food products such as bottled water and Coca Cola, some cleaning products, such as laundry detergent and hand soap, and some paper products, such as paper towels, toilet paper and tissues.

THE MIRROR |Freshmen Orientation 2016

News

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Freshmen housing: the good, the bad and the ugly

By Catherine Veschi News Editor

One of the most pressing questions incoming freshmen ask at Orientation is “which freshmen residence hall is the best?” For this reason, The Mirror decided to create a first-year guide to your housing options for freshmen year — just so you know what you’re getting into.

Campion Hall

Pros

Cons

t The bathrooms – Space for showering becomes an issue in Campion. Students are only allowed a tiny square of space, with a curtain as the only thing separating them from the rest of the bathroom. t Location – Since Campion is located right near Lessing Field, on nights where soccer games are being played, it may get noisy, something that can be annoying while trying to get to sleep.

t Proximity – Campion’s proximity to Lessing Field (where the men’s and women’s soccer teams play) makes it easy and convenient for students to attend the games and even watch from their room. t The elevators – It sounds strange that this could be considered a pro, but as far as residence hall building elevators go, Campion’s aren’t creaky, are fairly spacious and allow for a smooth (and safe) ride.

Gonzaga Hall

Pros

Cons

t Size – The rooms in Gonzaga are the biggest of all the freshmen residence halls on campus, making for a much more spacious living area. t Location – Gonzaga is the closest freshmen residence hall to the Barone Campus Center, as well as all the academic buildings, giving it the most convenient location.

t Location – Since Gonzaga is located so close to central parts of campus, there’s a lot more foot traffic, which can be especially annoying for people who live on the ground or first floors. t Housing – Gonzaga tends to house not only freshmen, but sophomores as well, which means freshmen are living right near people who are at a different stage in the college experience; something some may find intimidating.

Pros

Jogues Hall

t The bathrooms – Of all the freshmen residence halls at Fairfield, Jogues has arguably the best bathrooms. Jogues residents have more space to shower, as well as more privacy. t The lounges – There’s a spacious lounge on each floor of Jogues — perfect for studying or just hanging out with friends. Plus, there’s a kitchen in at least one of the lounges for whenever you get sick of Barone food.

Pros

Cons

t The rooms – Despite the bathrooms being more spacious, the rooms in Jogues are slightly smaller than the other freshmen residence halls. t Location – Jogues is less centrally located than the other freshmen residence halls, the other ones located in the quad, and it is the furthest from all the academic buildings and the campus center.

Regis Hall

t Size – Regis is the biggest freshmen residence hall on campus, something that many people may see as a positive because it allows students the ability to meet more fellow freshmen when they get to Fairfield. t The lounges – Regis is home to the biggest freshmen lounge on campus, which gives students living there a spacious place to entertain, as well as a kitchen to cook in.

Cons

t The elevator – Unlike Campion’s, Regis’s elevator is very slow and creaky. It’ll get you from point A to B, but it won’t be the most peaceful ride. t Size – Some may find it overwhelming to be around that many people and may fear getting lost in the mix.

Catherine Veschi/The Mirror

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THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

News

News: In the United States

By Catherine Veschi News Editor

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1. Orlando, Fla.- Orlando, Fla.- At least 50 were killed and 53 were injured in a “domestic terror incident” at a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning. Officials have called it the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. The shooter was identified as Omar Mateen, a U.S.- born citizen with Afghani parents.

2. Santa Monica, Calif.- Police found assault rifles, high capacity magazines, ammunition and chemicals used to make explosives in the car of 20-year-old James Howell of Indiana, who told officers that he wanted “to harm a gay pride event.” Howell was arrested just hours after the mass shooting in Orlando.

3. Collegedale, Tenn.- Two people were killed and two were injured after a small plane crashed while attempting to land at Collegedale Municipal Airport on Saturday, June 11. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the cause of the crash.

4. Orlando, Fla.- 22-year-old Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on the reality show “The Voice,” was shot and killed after her concert on June 10 at The Plaza Live. The singer had opened for the band Before You Exit before she was shot by 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who fatally shot himself after being tackled

by Grimmie’s brother.

4.

5. Eagle Point, Ore.- After a woman yelled out that her bicycle was stolen in a Walmart parking lot, self-described “cowboy” Robert Borba, a champion bull rider, wrapped his lasso around the suspect’s ankle and held the man until police arrived. The suspect, Victorino Arellano-Sanchez, was charged with theft and taken to Jackson County Jail.

6. Dallas, Texas- 29-year-old Shawn Diamond allegedly threatened an unidentified police officer with “a rock in each hand” outside of Dallas Love Airport on June 10, causing the officer to shoot Diamond after he “rushed” at him. Diamond is in stable condition.records, 12 staff members at the University of California Berkeley violated the school’s sexual misconduct policy over the past five years. According to the university spokesman, Dan Mogulof, the school has taken steps to address the problem.

7.Palo Alto, Calif.- The six-month jail sentence for 20-year-old Brock Turner, the former Stanford University swimmer who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman after a fraternity party in January 2015, started a national debate about how U.S. courts handle such cases. Many have said that the sentence was far too lenient for the crime committed.

8. Cook County, Ill.- A Cook County judge has ruled that Amanda Ware, who was convicted for her involvement in the drownings of her three young children in 2003, should not regain guardianship of her two daughters and son afters she leaves prison, for her children’s safety.

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News: Around the World

By Juliana Sansonetti Contributing Writer Vatican City, Italy- Pope Francis issued a statement expressing his horror at the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. He condemned the shooting and said that it is paradoxical how weapons circulate so freely in many parts of the world while aid and food do not due to political decisions and crooked ideology.

Malawi, Africa- The Malawian government agreed to protect the rights of people with albinism in their country after recommendations from Amnesty International. Since November 2014, at least 18 individuals with albinism were killed in Malawi.

London, England- A National Service of Thanksgiving was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. An annual parade was held in the queen’s honor along with a flyby by the Royal Air Force.

Marseille, France- After violent clashes between English and Russian soccer fans at the Stade Velodrome, which resulted in 35 injuries, both teams face possible expulsion from the Union of European Football Associations European Championship if the violence continues. It was the worst incident of violence at an international tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

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THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

Opinion

Opinion

Editor Kelsey Sullivan » opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Pixabay/Creative Commons

Muhammad Ali was a force against racism

By Sean Tobin Contributing Writer Muhammad Ali was the greatest boxer of all time. His efforts in the ring were almost as jaw dropping as his efforts in society and his death is absolutely heartbreaking.

As a black man in a white man’s world, Ali did everything in his power to end racial injustice. Today’s society is no stranger to racial violence.

I use “violence” as a broad term, meant to reflect not only the physical abuse dealt to minorities, but also the psychological abuse that they endure on a day-to-day basis.

Racism has become an evil term, typically associated with the likes of white supremacists and neo-nazis.

However, racism is much smaller than that. As philosopher Don Nilsen said, “Racism is when oppression becomes normal.”

Racism is every ounce of racial prejudice whether conscious or subconscious that plagues a human mind, and it is rampant.

Even still, many would argue that “not everyone is racist,” and to that, Ali would find issue.

In a speech Ali gave in 1971, he said in regards to racism, “If ten thousand snakes were coming (toward me) now, and I had a door that I could shut, and

in that ten thousand, one thousand meant right ... one thousand rattlesnakes didn’t want to bite me, I knew they were good ... Should I let all these rattlesnakes come down, hoping that that thousand get together and form a shield? Or should I just close the door and stay safe?”

Ali was fully aware of the injustice in America and sadly, he didn’t live to see the end of it.

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Editorial Board 'Natural Selection' Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor Ariana Puzzo Managing Editor

In what continues to be an eventful summer for animal rights activism, many argue for and against the treatment of captivity-bred animals.

Harambe, a 17-year old silverback gorilla, was shot in Ohio after a 3-year-old child fell into the animal’s enclosure and zookeepers felt that the child’s safety was in danger.

Zookeepers justified their actions to shoot Harambe rather than tranquilize the animal.

Meanwhile, down south in Orlando, FL, a 2-year-old boy was dragged into the water outside of Walt Disney’s World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa by an alligator, prompting Florida wildlife officials to kill five alligators in the lagoon in search of the

Flickr/Creative Commons

Campaigns such as Black Lives Matter, a movement that works to validate Black lives, is proof that something still needs to be done about racism in America.

Ignorant statements from the mouths of those in the spotlight are merely repeated by their admirers; negativity breeds negativity.

Racism should have ended with de-

segregation and the implementation of the Voters Rights Act of 1965. Frankly, racism is not gone because it is an idea rather than a concrete object.

If Ali could have taken racism into the ring and gone twelve rounds, he would have thrown a punch to end it in the first.

Anyone who takes a bias test via Project Implicit, an organization that aims to reveal hidden biases and understand implicit social cognition, understands that humans are not perfect.

Internal biases exist whether we realize it or not, and all we can do to battle these biases is try to make one small difference at a time.

I am a privileged white male from suburban New Jersey and I cannot speak from experience when it comes to racism.

I am one of the rattlesnakes slithering toward Ali and the only thing I can do about that is to make sure that I am one of the thousand willing to form a shield separating him from the nine thousand others.

Some day, the one thousand will become two and then three and eventually the shield will be the majority. And this is not just about race.

This is about religion, gender, sexual orientation; every bit of prejudice that is still lingering in the United States. It sounds far fetched to eradicate, but it’s not impossible.

Safety is the first priority

By Kelsey Sullivan Opinion Editor At the beginning of June there was a rape on Stanford’s campus committed by a student athlete, Brock Turner. Sexual assault is an unfortunate crime that happens on many college campuses and Fairfield is no exception. This past spring there was an assault committed on our campus by a non-student.

After the incident, Fairfield’s Department of Public Safety took matters into their own hands and upped the ante of security on campus. There is now an officer in the security booth entering campus and more officers making rounds on foot, bikes and their patrol cars. I think that the change in security is a welcome change and has done a lot to make students, like me, feel much safer in light of recent events.

As a rising senior, I have lived on campus for three years and I am currently living here this summer. Living on a campus in the middle of a suburb in Connecticut, I have never felt unsafe

child.

While we lament for the lives lost, there needs to be a line drawn between the safety of humans and the protection of wildlife.

Human life, especially young children, is and should be highly valued. However, despite our dominion over other creatures, we need to maintain a certain level of respect for them as well.

One of the ways to prevent terrible events such as the aforementioned is to be more vigilant. Many parents get distracted when they are on vacation or in a crowded area.

As we’ve seen, getting distracted for even a moment can prove to be fatal. Parents should exercise greater caution while in

at Fairfield. The presence of DPS was not pressing, but that was never an issue for me before. In the wake of the assault on campus, as well as in Stanford, I think it is good that I now am asked for my StagCard every time I enter campus, not just after 11 p.m. Also, I now have conversations with many different DPS offers when I come on and off campus. I now know many more officers by face and name, therefore if I was in any type of distressing situation, I would feel better about calling for helping, knowing who was likely to arrive. The rise in security and presence of DPS has made me feel more comfortable in a place that has always felt like home.

In light of the terrible incidents that have happened, like what happened in Stanford and on our campus, I think it is much more beneficial to have more DPS officers present and patrolling Fairfield. I am glad that Fairfield chose to handle the situation in the way that they did and it has made students feel much safer on a campus that many consider to be their home away from home.

open spaces that may have potentially violent animals.

Unfortunately in the Disney case, there was no sign to indicate that there were dangerous animals present in the lagoon.

However, common sense says that parents should exercise caution with young children in nature, whether it be in a forest or an ocean.

As for Harambe and other animals in captivity, the glass is there for a reason and despite everyone clamoring for a perfect view of the animals, protection takes precedence over pleasure.

As a society, we seem to have abused our power over nature and have instilled a twisted hierarchical dynamic that diminishes the importance of animals in our

ecological and societal spheres.

We hunt for game and tap on the glass to capture the momentary attention of an animal, but the minute that animal defends itself against a human being, our society takes arm and enforces stricter measures against captive animals, despite their protective animalistic instincts.

At the end of the day, we have to ensure the safety of both us and our animal counterparts, making sure to strike a balance between naturalism and societal norms.

Animals are not play toys or visual spectacles that demand our constant poking and attention, they are beautiful creatures that must be respected, whether in nature or in captivity.

THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

Opinion

Page 5

Roommates can make or break your freshman year

Ariana Puzzo/The Mirror

By Ariana Puzzo Managing Editor One of the questions that I was asked before I entered college was about how I felt now that I would have to share a room with someone.

I am an only child, so many people were under the impression that it would be a difficult transition for me to learn how to live in a confined space with another person.

More so, as I entered my first year at Fairfield, I learned that I would be in a triple, so I would be living with not one, but two strangers.

Living with a roommate never greatly concerned me about college because I knew that the easiest ways we would be able to get along was if we established certain rules to ensure that no boundaries were crossed, respected each other’s boundaries and spoke to one another if something bothered us.

It is important to establish a sense of respect with your roommate and the best way to do that is by creating an open dialogue with one another.

When my roommates and I first found out that we would be living together, we created a Facebook group message so that we could have a preliminary conversation about who was bringing what necessities to the room.

Additionally, once we got to school we spent more time getting to know each other and understanding what aspects of college-life we felt comfortable or uncomfortable about so that we did not step on each other’s toes.

At first, the process seemed unnatural, but in hindsight, we made the right decision.

You cannot expect your roommate to read your mind.

If you do not make it clear to your roommate that something, such as alcohol or people spending the night in the room, makes you uneasy, then you cannot be surprised if your roommate does either and thinks that you are OK with it.

Our generation is considered to be highly egocentric and that is not a quality that you want in a living space that you share with someone.

It is important to consider that you are not the only

person living in the room and that actions affect more than just the person who makes them.

If you want to make changes to your side of the room, you are entitled to do so, but take into account how that will affect the entire room’s dynamic.

Simply because changes are intended for one person’s side does not mean that these changes should not be run by the other people living in the space.

Let your roommates know what your thoughts are so that there are no surprises.

If you have a discussion, your roommate might be able to offer suggestions for how you can make changes that will affect your side without crossing over and interfering with his or her personal space.

Moreover, speaking to your roommate if you have a problem with him or her is also vital.

Communication is a common problem with college roommates and it is one that I had with one of my roommates last year.

Do not let the issue exacerbate by talking about it with friends rather than your roommate and letting it get back to your roommate in a second-hand way.

The issue will inevitably lead to an avoidable confrontation.

However, you do not necessarily need to make mistakes in order to learn from them.

It is possible to be upfront, but respectful when you have an issue with something that your roommate is doing or has done.

The worst that can happen is that he or she will blow you off and if it cannot be resolved alone, then you can contact your Resident Assistant for further help.

Make sure that you go into college with an open mind; you will meet people of all walks of life and that’s one of the greatest parts of going away to school.

Moreover, the likelihood that you and your roommate will be best friends after freshman year or that you will live together again is unlikely.

Most importantly, you should not try to force a friendship with your roommate.

If it happens naturally, then that is great, but sometimes it makes it easier if you merely co-exist so that if you have an issue with a friend, it does not have to come back to your room at the end of the night.

As long as you create a respectful environment, then there should not be any major issues.

Orlando shooting becomes politically self-serving

By Kelsey Sullivan Opinion Editor On June 11, there was a shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, FL that left 50 people dead and many more wounded.

The shooting is considered an act of terrorism and CNN reported the following day that it was the worst massacre in U.S. history.

As the country prepares for the upcoming presidential election, we look toward candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to hear what they have to say about such a tragedy.

Both of these candidates offered nothing more than “our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.”

While that is nice to say in theory, I think that the shooting was a missed opportunity for the candidates to show their stance on issues of gun violence and how they plan to keep Americans safe for the next four to eight years.

I am disgusted by how many shootings happen in our country. It seems like the government does the bare minimum to make our country safe from guns because of the second amendment.

I think that people in our country are using the recent shooting as an excuse to focus on their prejudices against people who follow certain religious beliefs or have different sexualities than their own.

This horrible incident should be an opportunity to admit that we have a problem with firearms in America and be used

a chance to change laws that result in people losing their lives.

The presidential candidates could have used the tragedy to suggest ways to better restrict gun laws in the U.S., whether that includes tightening restrictions on who can buy guns or restricting what types of weapons can be bought by anyone with a license.

Since the shooting, the candidates are constantly on Twitter attacking each other as if they are no better than bickering middle schoolers.

I would think that with their recent avid use of the social media platform they would use it for something beneficial. Instead of thoughts and prayers, they should offer hope for the families, friends and loved ones of the victims.

They can offer that hope in the form of a plan for more gun legislation to end these types of mass shootings.

However, Trump only seems to gloat in wake of the shooting because of the ethnicity and religion of the shooter. He used the horrible tragedy to, yet again, bully other people and further his agenda of Islamophobia in our country.

There was no mention that the shooting was a hate crime against the LGBT community.

Trump just continued his hate speech against a group of people and the religion that they follow.

Meanwhile, Clinton did not use the aftermath as an opportunity to further her personal agenda and hate. However,

she also did not use her political advantage well. Right now would be an ideal opportunity for her to offer some solution to the gun violence we face in this country.

While I think thoughts and prayers offered to these victims and their families are necessary, I expected more from people with political power.

They should have spoken up against

the violence to try and make our country a safer place. I think either candidate could have proposed more restrictive measures be taken when authorizing gun licenses or even on who buys the guns.

As a country, I would like to see less guns being used to kill innocent civilians and I think the only way to do that is to create less opportunity for just anyone to purchase a gun.

Wikipedia/Creative Commons

The Vine

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THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

The Vine

arts, entertainment, features Executive Editor Andrew DaRosa vine@fairfieldmirror.com

Artwork by John Rego

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THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

The Vine

'You Little Country Thang': A conversation with Chris Robinson of CRB

By Andrew DaRosa Executive Editor

“Music is just the big cosmic flowing river.

Either you’re in it, you’re swimming around or you’re just on the side watching it all go by.”

In the depths of cognizant reality lies the reverberation of man’s expedition to bring ideologies of peace and love back into the music. That man is Chris Robinson, the former lead vocalist and founding member of The Black Crowes and current ringmaster of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood.

CRB, which formed in 2011, has pumped out a steady stream of eclectic jam rock centered around deep grooves and danceable rhythms that have encapsulated audiences since their first record, “Big Moon Ritual,” back in 2012. “It’s called the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, but it actually is all our band,” said Robinson. “That’s what I wanted from the start; this is our little hippy baroque enclave that we have created.”

After the split of Robinson’s alma mater, The Black Crowes, in early 2015, all efforts have been exhausted into the longevity of CRB, with their efforts culminating into a fourth studio record this July entitled, “Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel.”

In what is their first self-produced record under Silver Arrow Records, CRB has experimented heavily in terms of song composition due to extended time in the studio and their efforts show. “Every one of them [albums] has had their own sort of unique voyage from point A to point B, which is kind of built into the architecture of the band,” said Robinson.

“Having to be the hunter gatherers of the music business each day, you use your environment for your survival.”

“Then poof; magic. Alchemy.”

The album breathes influences of everything from Parliament Funkadelic to The Rolling Stones and explores the depths of his enigmatic cranium. “Forever As The Moon,” the second track off the new record, drips in

bluesy riffs with howling vocals courtesy of Robinson and reflects a conscious realm that begs to listener to understand that “anyway you love, we know how you feel.”

“Some Gardens Green” is acoustically beautiful and transcends the listener into an auditory trip for the ages as one feels like they are floating through time and space, ushering in a feel of “American Beauty” by the Grateful Dead. CRB engages fully in their jam rock roots with “Narcissus Soaking Wet” as the chorus seductively engages the audience to get down on Robinson’s dance zone of love and peace.

Self-producing the record has also allowed for a higher sense of communication between the band members and a sense of trust that has blossomed over the years of CRB’s existence. “Our communication levels are open to each other and in a creative space, that’s really ultimately what you want. You want this kind of feeling of trust that like I don’t have to worry about Tony

[Leone], I never have to tell Tony what to play. I never have to tell Adam [MacDougall] what to play. Or Neal [Casal],” said Robinson.

As Robinson progresses with CRB and his adventures as an aging musician who has been active for the past 30 years, he continues to perfect his craft and accept his place in the vast plateau of music. “At a certain point, it all becomes you,” said Robinson reflectively. We’re too weird for rock n’ roll and we’re too rock n’ roll for the jam band scene.”

“Part of it is the pursuit of freedom. If you look at freedom in terms of success, then we are already ultimately successful. We kind of live outside the mainstream music business. We are a cottage industry in California. It’s our own farm and our own grocery store on the farm,” added Robinson.

Robinson’s cottage industry is certainly bustling though while the group pushes new architectural boundaries, the mass market of

saturated pop culture seems to overshadow the efforts of both CRB and other hard-working musicians. “There are only highly fetishized, sexualized things and dance things, which is cool. Just a lot of people with laptops,” lamented Robinson.

So what is Robinson’s approach to combating the constant wave of over-mixed pop music?

“You can dance and still hear a little poetry,” said Robinson, who crafts his songs to have rhythmic beats that open his audience to fun yet meaningful song structure.

“I like to use the adage of the craft beer movement. Anybody can go buy a 12-pack of Bud Light or you can wait out here in line in California for hours to get two bottles of Pliny the Elder. That’s all you can get and you’re happy,” continues Robinson.

What sets apart Robinson and CRB too is the visual accompaniment provided by the artwork of Alan Forbes, a screen printer who has been working with Robinson since his days in The Black Crowes. The prints, album artwork and concert posters designed by Forbes draw on elements of folklore and mysticism, experimenting with images of psychedelics, fairies and bearded wizards.

“It starts with mythology. It starts with theology. Having an esoteric curiosity, nothing everything is as it seems in this fool’s paradise so say the early Christian Gnostics. I believe music is magic just as I believe psychedelics are magic. Love is just magic,” said Robinson. “The songs and the performance and the concerts are one thing, but to me, Alan Forbes’ artwork is equally a breath of life into this thing.

It gives it substance and space and sometimes, lack thereof."

To celebrate the release of the new album, CRB will host a show for the ages at the Warehouse on July 29, which falls on the same day as the show.

“Is there a tuxedo rental near the place?” Robinson quipped.

Contributed by Chris Robinson

Wine & Dine with The Vine: Jesse's Top 5 of Fairfield

By Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief After three years of being a part of The Mirror, I was finally given the opportunity to write for my favorite section of the paper (Don’t tell Alfredo), Wine and Dine with the Vine. Growing up in the restaurant business, I’ve become quite the foodie and have definitely seen my fair share of the good and the bad. After a long three years of absolutely despising the food served on campus, I’ve discovered, what I believe to be, the best eats in Fairfield.

1. Geronimo’s The best part about turning 21 is that every restaurant just got 100 times better, especially Geronimo’s. As a lover of all margaritas, Geronimo’s has an extensive tequila selection and the best part about the menu has to be the $40 pitchers (that I do not keep all for myself). However, for all you underage newbies, their food is even better than the drinks. Their braised short rib tacos are everything you could ever want in life, served with guac, pico de gallo, Cotija cheese and topped with the best kick: fried onions and jalapeno straws. The three taco’s are the perfect serving, but if you’re looking for just a little more, I recommend the chicken tortilla soup. It’s light and tasty, served with slices of fresh avocado for the perfect addition to your meal.

2. Firehouse Deli Better call 911 cause the New Yorker from Firehouse Deli is totally smokin’ and I’m totally corny, but let’s not get away from what’s important here. My mom, who is a Stag alumna, first introduced me to the deli back in freshman year. Her favorite is the chicken salad with grapes served on a hard roll, but I have found my own go-to that I cannot wait to tell my future Stags about. The New Yorker is served on a fresh made hard roll with medium rare roast beef, mozzarella, tomato and mayo. The roast beef melts in your mouth and the combination of fresh flavors can turn any bad day full of endless papers and projects into a great day. And you cannot forget an order of the parmesan truffle fries — our news editor’s favorite.

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror

3. Centro Centro has the cutest outside dining area, so it’s a great place to go to with mom and dad a couple weeks into the semester when they finally feel they you can handle seeing them again. It’s where my family first took me and found out that I was taking part in college life, like partying, and although they weren’t happy, our unanimous enjoyment of the food was the only thing that kept us together that day.

Centro serves up classic Italian dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parm and always a favorite, thin-crust Italian pizza. The linguine gamberi is the ideal summer dish; light and flavorful served with shrimp, pancetta, cherry tomatoes and tossed in a garlic butter sauce and parmesan cheese.

4. Local Kitchen and Craft Beer Bar My favorite thing about this place has to be the atmosphere. It’s the perfect feel for all college students with high-level ceilings, low lighting and the bar that sits in the center of the restaurant. Unlike a lot of places in Fairfield, the food is affordable and offers a wide variety of different foods that can appeal to all restaurant go-ers from those who enjoy a meaty burger to those who like to tango with tofu (like my roommate). Local has to take the award for being the only restaurant where I will willingly order and enjoy a salad and eat the entire thing, even the green stuff. The Local Cobb Salad is served with roasted turkey, bacon, apple, farm egg, onion, tomato, crumbled bleu cheese, craisins, avocado and chipotle ranch. So, maybe it’s not that healthy, but it sure makes your heart smile and like I said, it has some green stuff.

5. Colony Grill If all else fails and I don’t find a husband at Fairfield, I know that Colony Grill will always be there for me when life is just too much for me to handle. Colony serves up a kind of pizza that you will never find anywhere else. Their one-of-a-kind thin-crust pizza served with hot oil and melted perfectly with a blend of cheese brings tears to my eyes every time. They only serve pizza and they have made it their mission to perfect it. Even though I can single handedly blame this place for my freshman 15, I do not regret it and I do recommend one thing: never ever share a pizza with someone. It’s shameful and always finish it the first time. You will never have friends at Fairfield if you cannot finish your pizza alone.

Page 8

THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

The Vine

Jesse Erickson/The Mirror

Inkwell Spotlight 'Know Yourself'

By Meaghan Conlon Executive Editor Emeritus In the moment of panic you bolt — blindly increasing the distance, the hurt will not overtake you.

Your random route ensures it.

Hurl yourself deeper and deeper into the maze. lose your enemies, lose your friends — But don’t lose yourself.

It’s so easy to lose yourself.

Ally's Adventures Abroad:

It’s only more haunting and scary further in crumbling, overgrown, dark, desolate.

Do you even know the way back?

Have you lost yourself yet?

Seven things I love about Florence

There’s a pounding in your skull that won’t go away you can barely push on but you certainly can’t go back.

It’s not just your head being crushed — it’s your soul as well.

By Allison White Chief Copy Editor After arriving in Florence, I could tell that I was in for a big culture shock.

Not only do they take siestas and drink wine constantly, but they also have to pay to use the public restrooms. Some of the changes aren’t so bad though.

Here’s some of my favorite parts of Florence: The Duomo – I can see the Duomo from my apartment window and it’s one of the most beautiful sights in Florence. Even when the bell wakes me up at 8 a.m., it’s worth the view.

Food – All things food are amazing here. From the pasta to the paninis, you’ll love every bite. And of course, the gelato is just as good. It’s actually possible to get sick of pasta though, so when you’re in the mood for some food

from back home, head to The Diner.

Meeting new people – One of the best things about traveling is the different kinds of people that you meet.

Whether they are other Fairfield students that you didn’t know previously or students from other schools, you’ll enjoy getting to know them. Make sure to meet some locals too. If you use Bus2Alps, a travel agency for students studying abroad, often, you’ll definitely become friends with the staff.

Trips – While in Italy, it’s important to travel around to new cities, not just the one you’re studying in. Use popular tour groups to book day trips and even weekends. These trips are a lot of fun because you get to see all new sights and be in awe of the Italian culture.

Views –Whenever I walk around,

I find another beautiful sight. There’s art wherever you go. The views from the Ponte Vecchio and all along the Arno River are amazing; they’re all perfect picture opportunities.

School – This isn’t actually my favorite at all, but I like how for class we walk around the city to learn. It’s much better than sitting in a classroom for two and a half hours. My professors have taken us to places that aren’t as well known by tourists and they include great artwork and interesting history.

Shopping – The leather market is as good as Disney World. There’s so many cute bags to buy. As I walk down the street, there’s a lot of little stores that are perfect for getting souvenirs or gifts for friends and family.

The maze whispers for you to give up; the labyrinth has claimed another.

You forced everyone away and now you are alone.

Untouchable, unreachable, isolated.

It’s all crumbling around you.

Give up. Give in.

You’ve lost yourself.

I warned you about losing yourself.

Creative Commons/Geography.uk

ashionably airfield

by Nicole Funaro

Starting your freshman year of college can be quite intimidating; not only are you beginning a new school, you are faced with the task of making new friends while also taking much harder classes. While preparing for your upcoming college journey may be a little worrisome, figuring out what to pack for your first year shouldn’t have to be — that’s why I’ve compiled some of the top college essentials to be sure to pack before move-in day rolls around: Rain Gear: Walking to class in the rain is definitely not fun, so you’ll want to be prepared for those soggy days with a host of waterproof gear. Guys and girls alike should find waterproof shoes like Hunter’s rain boots, L.L. Bean’s Bean Boots or Sperry Top Siders to get you through the puddles around campus in style.

It’s also important to have weatherproof jackets for both the rain and snow. This means that the jacket is not only waterproof, it is also able to shield you from high winds. Companies like The North Face, Patagonia and L.L. Bean all offer a variety of weatherproof outerwear options that will fit your needs — and style.

Sneakers: Whether you plan on frequently visiting the new RecPlex or just running to class, having a variety of comfortable and fashionable sneakers is a must. For athletic sneakers, guys and girls of the class of 2020 should stick to the classics like Nike, Reebok and Adidas, which are sure to provide both comfort and bold style. But for going to class or even hanging out with your friends on the weekends, try a casual slip-on sneaker. Brands like Vans and Steve Madden offer cool styles in a variety of patterns and textures, with some in leather, canvas or even faux calf hair.

Dress Clothes: From the Presidential Ball to class presentations to interviews, it is absolutely necessary to have an assortment of dress clothes at the ready in your wardrobe. Guys should come with collared shirts, ties, blazers, dress shoes and dress pants in a variety of colors. The men of the class of 2020 should also have a full suit with them just in case a more formal event arises. Ladies should bring blouses, pencil skirts, dress pants, dressy shoes, blazers and dresses for all occasions — and don’t forget to bring some statement jewelry and a purse or two.

Preparing for your first year of college can be a bit stressful, but hopefully this list will erase some of the stress of packing from your mind. If you need a few more hints on what to pack for your freshman year, visit the Residence Life section on Fairfield’s website. Remember — while making sure to bring some great outfits is important, it’s even more important to come to Fairfield with an open mind and a willingness to experience all that the school has to offer.

Courtesy of Fairfield.edu

THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

Coffee Break

Page 9

COFFEE BREAK

Editors: Jesse Erickson/Ariana Puzzo

How to lead the life of a Stag Activities Fair Even though it seems like a forced event for First Year Experience credit, the Activities Fair is something that you cannot miss during your first year at Fairfield. All of us on the The Mirror became a part of this club by signing up during the event. Fairfield makes the event as enjoyable as possible with it being outside on the Barone Campus Center lawn, music playing and free food for everyone. Every club has a booth set up and everyone is welcoming. If you’re feeling like you’re at the bottom of the food chain, join a club and at least you’ll be a part of someone’s crew.

Presidential Ball You cannot miss the Presidential Ball because you get to meet the celeb of Fairfield, Father von Arx. He’s a great guy and it’s not often you get to take a picture with someone who’s popularity is up there with Taylor Swift’s. The annual event that is put on by FUSA is one of Fairfield’s most popular events and takes place during the last week of fall semester on the beautiful Bellarmine Lawn. It’s the first formal get-together you have with your brand new friends and it always leads to some unforgettable memories. Word of Advice: Ladies, avoid the heels.

on campus: Where to eat g Hall Barone Dinin om 7 a.m. to tions, open fr - Plenty of op e online bl ia menu aval 10 p.m., daily The Stag flatbreads, shi, burgers, - Salad bar, su es ak and milksh sandwiches The Levee subs and a, pizza and - Salads, past ss campus delivers acro

Soccer on Lessing Field Fairfield is a Division 1 university and the athletes here certainly prove it with their tireless efforts. Before a night of going out with friends and after your Barone eats, the under-the-lights fall soccer games on Lessing Field are timeless. We might not have football, but our soccer teams bring the sporty atmosphere that we tend to lack. There’s also the added perk of free Fairfield gear provided by Stags in the Stands. What’s better than free t-shirts?

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Midnight Breakfast You cannot go to Fairfield without attending Midnight Breakfast. The event celebrates the end of fall classes and is full of energy. One of the best parts is seeing your professors walking around and serving you and your friends. Another great part is listening to the Christmas music played on the loudspeakers and dancing in the booths with friends. It’s a great time to unwind and celebrate the end of the semester before finals begin and occupy the rest of your time.

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Photos Contributed by Fairfield Digital Commons

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Fairfield Snow Days Not only can the entire university cancel classes, but so can your professors. If they don’t think that the roads are safe enough, but the university does, you can always count on Prof for that extra time in bed. Not only does the snow allow for extra time in bed, Fairfield manages to turn into a winter wonderland, making it even prettier than it was before. The second the snow hits, the plows are out clearing the sidewalks turning our campus into an ice rink. As long as you’re not the one to slide across campus on your butt, it does provide for some humor as you peer out your window with a microwaved hot chocolate in your hand and Netflix streaming across your laptop screen.

Weekends on the Beach As spring rolls around and the sledding comes to an end, every single student looks forward to the events going on down on Fairfield beach. Since seniors live on the beach, there’s always something to do down there — whether the residents of Fairfield permit it or not. Although the university may not endorse all of these events, it’s one of the things that makes Fairfield special.

Where to work

out in Fa

irfield: RecPlex - Multi-p urp chines, b ose rooms, over 50 cardio eautiful view of macampus Fairfield Beach - 2 mile run, leve l gro

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Quad Fest When the sun is shining and the weather is warm, Quad Fest is a great chance to hang out with your friends. For many underclassmen, Quad Fest truly marks the beginning of spring. Vendors are set up with hot dogs that have various toppings and inflatable games are scattered throughout the quad, as well as table games with prizes for those who are looking not to lose their lunch.

Dogwoods 2.0 Just last year, the long-standing event Dogwoods was updated to better fit the needs and wants of the students and the update was a huge hit. Last semester, GrooveBoston Ethos Tour headlined the event selling over 1,000 tickets. Fairfield’s own DJ Greg T was able to bring the night alive in Alumni Hall by revamping the event with electronic music and lights.

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Photos Contributed by Pixabay

Sports

Page 10

THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

Ali falls to cancer at the age of 74

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Youtube/Creative Commons

Muhammad Ali died on Friday, June 3 at the age of 74. Ali finished his career in 1981 winning 56 of his 61 total fights and picking up 37 wins off knockouts while only losing five.

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

Your 2016-2017 4x5 Columnists:

Jesse Erickson, Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery and Andrew DaRosa

Sharapova gets suspended for two years. What are your thoughts?

How has the summer been going for you so far?

What did you think about this year's NBA Finals?

Do you have a favorite orientation memory? If so, what happened?

How do you feel about Ichiro breaking Pete Rose's all-time hits record?

Drugs, man.

I am learning how to be a real person in the real world and it's really awesome ... and I think I am on my way to becoming the next CEO of the United States of America.

IT IS LITERALLY JUNE AND WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT BASKETBALL ... THIS GAME IS SO RIGGED, (lol).

I didn't have one until today, when Juliana went and asked the cute security guard in the BCC for his number for me! Now, I am happy and I have Dan's name and number. Hi Dan.

I think a more important question here is how Pete feels about this ...

He probably made a bet on this at one time. Go big or get banned from the MLB!

Sucks since she's been one of the best in her sport for so long and for this to happen could destroy her legacy.

Summer's been great, can't complain about being back home with friends and family.

Kyrie Irving ... LeBron James ...

Wow what a performance, unlike anything I've seen in a Finals series. Started off slow, but it's always how you finish that matters.

Orientation 2014; everybody is already with their groups getting to know each other and here I come late to the party, all eyes on me as I awkwardly introduced myself.

A great accomplishment for Ichiro as he's been doing this for years now but does it really count? Half of his hits came in China and not the MLB.

Bye bye to those precious endorse- Summer has been solid so far, working a lot. I was supposed to go to Gov. Ball one day to see Kanye, but it got cancelled due to the expected bad weather. Of course it didn't even drizzle the whole day.

I am loving the Finals this year.

Watching every minute of it. LeBron is proving why he is STILL the best player in the word. Hope he brings it home for The Land.

I don't have one in particular, but those NSL skits were really something.

I always liked Maria as a tennis

GO WARRIORS!

I barely remember orientation because I was sleeping wicked early to get to Firefly Music Fest the next day. Also, the boxed sandwiches were good.

Jesse Erickson Editor-in-Chief

Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

The world of sports suffered a huge loss as Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Clay, died on June 3. Ali was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984 as a result of head trauma from his time as a boxer. Although diagnosed back in ‘84, Ali fought the disease for years and although his health was slowly declining, his fight never died. Ali will forever be remembered for being one of the greatest boxers of all time and his dedication to being a civil rights activist.

Ali first burst onto the scene at the age of 18 after winning the light heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Four years later, Ali would make a name for himself at the age of 22 after upsetting Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world.

Shortly after becoming champion, Ali joined the Nation of Islam and decided to change his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, as he believed the name given to him at birth was his slave name. Ali continued to succeed by winning 29 fights in six and a half years, an extraordinary run in the heavyweight division.

Ali would be forced to miss three years of boxing due to his refusal to be drafted to army service as it went against his religious belief. Not only was he stripped of his title, but he was also sentenced to five years in prison. Ali’s refusal showed the world what Ali was really about; Ali stuck to his morals and stood for what he believed in and as a result, became a public speaker preaching for equality and social justice in the United States.

In 1970, Ali won his appeal in the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction and allowed Ali to get back in the ring. In 1974, Ali would face off against George Foreman in front of a crowd of about 60,000 for the heavyweight championship in what would go on to be known as the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Ali would go on to defeat Foreman and would become the heavyweight champion for the second time in his career at the age of 32.

In 1978, Ali lost his title, but won it back later that year to become a three time heavyweight champion. His championship reign came to an end in 1980 when he lost his championship to Larry Holmes. Just a short year later, Ali decided to retire at the age of 39. Shortly after his retirement, Ali began to show signs of Parkinson’s disease as he was slurring his words and appearing publicly less as the years went on.

As news broke of Ali’s death, athletes from different sports paid their respects to one of the best. In a statement to ESPN, Cleveland Cavaliers star forward LeBron James spoke of Ali’s legacy saying, “The reason why he’s the GOAT [greatest of all time] is not because of what he did in the ring, which was unbelievable. It’s what he did outside of the ring, what he believed in, what he stood for — along with Jim Brown and Oscar Robertson, Lew Alcindor, obviously, who became Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar], Bill Russell, Jackie Robinson. Those guys stood for something. He’s part of the reason why African-Americans today can do what we do in the sports world.”

Daniel Montgomery ment deals Maria! Also tennis Assistant Sports could use a two-year break from her grunts.

Editor

Andrew DaRosa player, so it kinda blows that her Executive Editor legacy is gone due to her bad decisions. Anyways, VAMOS RAFA!!!

Work, work, work, work, work...

It's been fun, been to a lot of good shows and looking forward to following Phish around next month!

(Even considering calling Fredo, Walfredo.)

Wait ... am I bandwagoning?

I absolutely love Ichiro, he's an incredible ambassador for the game, but let's be real Pete Rose is the Hit King. I'll bet on that.

Yo Ichiro, I'm really happy for you, but Big Papi is one of the best DH's of all time.

Sports

Page 11

THE MIRROR | Freshmen Orientation 2016

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

The Stags finished the season with a 9-8 overall record, 4-1 in conference play. For the fifth year in a row, the Stags finished with a winning record as they reached their first CAA Championship.

Stags fall to Towson in CAA Championship

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor Ripe with talent from top to bottom, the 2016 edition of the Stags men’s lacrosse team looked like they had a great chance to capture a Colonial Athletic Association Championship and earn their first National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament bid in the Andy Copelan era at Fairfield.

Throughout a rollercoaster season that culminated in a 9-8 record, three players in particular lead the way for the Stags. Freshman attackman Colin Burke, midfielder T.J. Neubauer ’16 and goalie Tyler Behring ’17 all put forth standout campaigns as they garnered national recognition.

Burke would be named Co-CAA Player of the Year, the only freshman in the history of the CAA to win the award, after lighting up defenses with a league-high 46 goals and 17 assists. He led the nation in goals by a freshman and ended the year as the No.2 ranked freshman in the country by Inside Lacrosse.

Neubauer repeated as a First Team All-New England Selection for the third straight year, tallying 31 goals and three assists this spring.

He ranks third all time in Stags history with 109 goals in his career. Additionally, before his senior season began he was taken with the 34th pick in the Major League Collegiate Lacrosse Draft by the Rochester Rattlers.

Like Burke and Neubauer, Behring also collected First Team All-CAA laurels this year with 199 saves at .572 percent clip.

His standout outing against UMass in which he stopped 19 shots in an 8-6 Stag win,

awarded him United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Defensive Player of the Week, as well as StringKing Player of the Week by Inside Lacrosse.

The incredible efforts put forth by the three aforementioned players, the entire team and the coaching staff yielded Fairfield the CAA regular season crown after the Stags went 4-1 in league play.

After losing their first three games of the season, the squad went 9-5 over its last 14 contests, including winning four out of their last five matchups heading into CAA Tournament play.

As May rolled around, the Stags looked to be playing their best ball at just the right time. After being given the second-seed in the tournament, Fairfield stymied the thirdseed Hofstra Pride 11-8 in the semifinals to set up a championship game matchup with the nationally ranked Towson Tigers.

From the get-go, Towson thwarted Fairfield’s normally potent offense, winning the game 4-2 and stealing the NCAA bid the Stags coveted.

If it made Fairfield fans feel any better, Towson won two games in the NCAA Tournament before bowing out to the Loyola Greyhounds in the quarterfinals.

However, in the end it seems as though it was simply not meant to be for the Stags this spring. Although an immensely talented group of players meshed so well throughout the year, the group once again fell short of their goal to play any further in May. Look out for the Stags to be better than ever next season as Burke and Behring return to headline yet another gifted group of Stags to take the field. We will see if Coach Copelan’s ninth season is the charm and brings Fairfield their first NCAA Tournament nod since 2007.

Currier named MAAC Coach of the Year

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor Before the beginning of the season, the Fairfield University baseball team was picked eighth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Poll. Behind the leadership of Head Coach Bill Currier, the Stags exceeded expectations and won their first-ever MAAC tournament title in program history. Head Coach Bill Currier was honored as the Lids Team Sports MAAC Coach of the Year.

Currier’s Coach of the Year award is his second MAAC yearly award and the fifth of his career. Currier’s last award came in 2012 when he was awarded the league’s Coach of the Year award in his first season as the coach of the Stags, as he led his team finished third in the MAAC that year the highest finish in the MAAC in a decade.

The pitching staff during this season enjoyed great success as they set single-season records in strikeouts with 315 and five shutouts.

Before his arrival to Fairfield, Currier served as the head coach at the University of Vermont for a total of 22 seasons. At Vermont, Currier earned the most coaching victories in program history, as he was a part of 486 wins.

In his time at Vermont, Currier led the team to two conference regular season championships and earned three America East Coach of the Year award three times winning in consecutive years back in 2002 and 2003 and once more in 2006.

In addition to his five total conference Coach of the Year awards, Currier was presented with yet another honor with the 2009 Ralph Lapointe Award for his service to Vermont athletics and was the recipient of the 2002 Jack Butterfield Award by the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association. Back in 2005, Currier was inducted into the Vermont Principals Association Hall of Fame.

This season Currier led his team to the top of the MAAC standings as the Stags finished with an overall record of 32-26, 17-7 in conference play. Fairfield finished the season winning its first regular season title since 1983 and Contributed by Sports Information Desk giving them the top seed in the MAAC Tournament which they eventually won defeating Manhattan, Canisius Bill Currier now has a total of five conference Coach of the Year awards, and Siena along the way to win its first MAAC Tournament title. winnning three with the University of Vermont and two with Fairfield.

@MirrorSports Fairfield Mirror Sports Freshmen orientation 2016

fairfieldmirror.com

SPORTS 12 Sports Editor: Alfredo Torres » sports@fairfieldmirror.com

This year in Stags athletics:

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

In their first season as part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Fairfield’s field hockey team won the conference and earned a spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. The Stags faced the top seeded Monmouth University Hawks in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament and picked up a 2-1 victory behind eight saves from goalkeeper Caitlin Bennett ‘17. Fairfield advanced to face off against Quinnipiac University for the championship and came out victorious, shutting the Bobcats out with a final score of 2-0. Fairfield’s season came to an end when they fell to Boston University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A couple of Stags received recognition for their stellar play. Junior Julie de Paeuw was named the 2015 MAAC Player of the Year and was named to the All-MAAC First Team.

Junior Ann Burgoyne won her second straight Offensive Player of the Year Award as she led the team and conference in goals with 17 and points with 35. Freshman Ruth Smalbraak was the third player honored by the MAAC as she was named the 2015 MAAC Rookie of the Year as she ranked in the top three in points, points per game, goals and goals per game. Smalbraak was also named to the All-MAAC Second Team.

For the third time in the last four seasons, Fairfield’s volleyball team earned a spot to the NCAA Tournament. The Stags finished the season with a record of 21-9, 14-4 in conference play as they won the MAAC regular season title for the 15th time in the past 20 seasons. Fairfield defeated it’s first opponent, Manhattan College with a 3-2 win by scores of 25-20, 25-10, 20-25, 20-25 and 15-10.

They went on to defeat Marist College 3-1 for the MAAC Championship and advanced to the big dance where they would go on to meet third seeded University of Texas, but would fall 3-0 to put an end to a great season for the Stags. After leading the Stags to a MAAC regular season championship, head coach Todd Kress was named the Lids Team Sports MAAC Coach of the Year. A couple of Stags received praise by the MAAC for their play on the season. Sophomore Skyler Day earned First Team All-MAAC honors in 2015 as she ranked third in the MAAC in kills with a team-leading 3.67 per set.

Junior co-captain Megan O’Sullivan received her first ever All-MAAC honor as she joined Day on the First Team. Freshman Oyinkansola Akinola was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team as she started in 17 of her 26 appearances.

After becoming MAAC regular season champions, Fairfield’s baseball team captured its first MAAC Championship since 1993. In the opening round of the MAAC Tournament, Fairfield faced off against Manhattan College and picked up a 5-2 victory behind Gavin Wallace’s ‘18 six strikeouts over 7.2 innings, allowing just two runs. The Stags went on to win their next contest against Canisius winning by a final score of 8-5. Fairfield’s offense would erupt for 18 runs defeating Siena 18-2, setting a couple MAAC record along the way. Fairfield advanced to their first NCAA appearance, but dropped two games to put an end to their magical season. After leading his team to its first regular season title in 33 years, head coach Bill Currier was honored as the Lids Team Sports MAAC Coach of the Year, his second MAAC yearly award. Senior outfielder Jake Salpietro was selected to the All-MAAC First Team for the second time in his career. Salpietro wasn’t the only Stag honored by the MAAC as Mac Crispino ‘17, Kevin Radziewicz ‘18, Troy Scocca ‘17 and Kyle Dube ‘17 were all selected to the Second Team for the first time in their careers.

The five all-MAAC selections are the most the Stags have ever had in a single season.

Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Baseball wins MAAC Championship, falls in NCAA Tournament

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor For the first time in program history the Fairfield baseball team won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships and earned a spot in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. Fairfield’s opponents were made up of the fifth-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders and Dallas Baptist Patriots, but Fairfield would fail to pick up a victory as their magical season would come to an end.

After a slow start to the season, the Stags made a huge turnaround late in the season, pushing them to the top of the MAAC. Fairfield finished the season winning ten of their last thirteen contests and finished the season with a 32-26 overall record winning fifteen more games than the previous season. They also finished with a 17-7 record in conference play, an improvement from last season’s 9-15 record.

It all started on May 20 when the Stags hosted Quinnipiac University on the final game of the regular season. Not only was it the last regular season game, but it was also Senior Day as seniors were honored before the game.

It was a day to remember as Brendan Tracy ’16 launched a walk-off grand slam to give the Stags their first regular season title since 1983 and guaranteed a top-seed in the MAAC Tournament. When asked about the play, Tracy said, “I stood there and watched because I knew I got all of it, once I started running around first base I was like, ‘Wow that just happened.’ That doesn’t happen too often and I’m glad it happened on my Senior Day.” Fairfield’s first opponent of the MAAC Tournament was the Manhattan College Jaspers. Behind a wonderful performance by Gavin Wallace ’18 where he pitched 7.2 innings striking out six while allowing just two earned runs, the Stags overcame the

Jaspers for a 5-2 victory to advance to the semifinals.

The Stags faced a challenge as they then battled against Canisius College with the winner advancing to the MAAC Championships. Balanced offense and great pitching lead the Stags to yet another victory. Sophomore Drew Arciuolo finished the game with three hits including a homer and two RBI’s and just a double shy of the illusive cycle. After an 8-5 victory, the Stags would advance to the MAAC Championships for the first time since 2000.

When the lights shined the brightest, Fairfield erupted and put on an offensive display to capture their first championship in program history. Going up against Siena College in the MAAC Championship, the Stags would go on to score a total of 18 runs along with 19 hits; both season highs for the Stags. The final score was 18-2 setting a MAAC Championship record by scoring 18 runs and a winning margin of 16 runs.

The Stags had no easy task at hand as they had to face off against the fifth-seeded and seventh-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders. Fairfield witnessed how skilled the team was as Texas Tech pounded out 16 hits leading to a 12-1 victory over Fairfield in the first round of NCAA Lubbock Regional.

Following the loss, the Stags fell to the loser’s bracket where they had to face the Dallas Baptist Patriots who came out of the gate hot, scoring three in the second inning and two more in the third.

By the fifth inning, Fairfield faced a 7-0 deficit, but the resilient group that they are, they battled back scoring five runs and even getting the tying run at the plate a couple of times, but it was not enough as they fell 8-5.

Given the loss, Fairfield’s season came to an unfortunate end, but not before making memorable moments along the way as Fairfield looks to build upon this season for the years to come.