THE MIRROR Student newspaper
Week of February 19, 2014
Vol. Vol.39, 38,Iss. Iss.18 23
www.fairfieldmirror.com @fairfieldmirror The Fairfield Mirror
About 80 students and faculty packed the presentation room in the Aloysius P. Kelley Center to capacity on Tuesday, Feb.18 to listen to Tom Dewolf and Sharon Morgan give a presentation on race.
Putting slavery in perspective generations later By Angela Sammarone Copy Editor Tom DeWolf and Sharon Morgan arrive at Richmond, Va., their last stop on a road trip through 21 states spanning 6,000 miles. Outside the Manchester Docks on the James River, DeWolf wants to show Morgan the Slave Trail, which he saw two years earlier with colleagues from Coming to the Table. But Morgan, appearing instantly disturbed, refuses. She expresses her horror, mentioning the darkness of the canopy of trees
above, the blood that had been shed on the very ground she would step on. Morgan’s discomfort was palpable, but she would go and partake in what would be another stop of her healing journey from the trauma of the legacy of slavery. “I look through the tunnel of time and recoil at the absolute agony of the people who were brought to this place, stripped of their humanity, and reduced to beasts of burden,” Morgan said of her experience at the Slave Trail. DeWolf, a white male and descendant of the largest slave-own-
ing family in US history, and Morgan, a black female and descendant of a line of slaves from both sides of her family, compiled their travels, dialogue, opinions and hardships in their coauthored novel, “Gather at the Table.” DeWolf and Morgan underwent a three year journey, chronicling their experiences together as the son of a slave trade and daughter of slavery, animating their story for Fairfield students and faculty at the jam-packed Aloysius P. Kelley Center on Tuesday night. Pictures, film clips, road trip footage and an-
imated reenactments of their time spent together brought the dialogue of race to the forefront of everyone’s mind as the audience listened to the authors’ “meaningful platonic relationship with someone of the ‘other’ side.” Sophomore Yenny Rua said, “Reading the book beforehand, it was powerful seeing the clips and pictures they provided. It brought their story to life.” Freshman Tyler Paci agreed with Rua, and said, “It was great how they were able to incorporate all backgrounds into their story
and make it so everyone could make a personal connection, not just if you are black or white.” Before DeWolf and Morgan even met, they each expressed their own interests in genealogy and discussions about racism. Morgan grew up in Chicago, though her family is from the South – Mississippi and Alabama. In 1969, the year her son was born, Morgan first became interested in genealogy. “I wanted to find out where I came from and provide READ
RACISM ON PAGE 4
Fairfield.edu is still a work in progress By Robert Hagstrom Assistant News Editor
Senior Julian Focareta hits a rail at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association N.J. Conference final regular season competition held at Hunter Mountain during the weekend of Feb. 8.
INSIDE
READ
SKI TEAM BRINGS EDGE TO FAIRFIELD ON PAGE 16
NEWS:
In the three weeks since its launch, the new Fairfield University website has shown features that have strongly differentiated it from the older, more familiar website. A Fairfield Mirror poll of 62 votes showed that since its release, 52 percent of students like the new website as opposed to 48 percent that don’t. The website cost over $200,000, which will be paid over three years, according to Catherine O’Donnell, director of marketing for academics and admission. The new website launched on Jan. 24 after around a year of planning and articulating by the university faculty and staff who hired two outside website development companies to complete the project. One of the main features of the new website is that it is now mobile friendly. A central aspect the university
OPINION:
wanted to have with the new website, O’Donnell said was to be “compatible with all mobile devices.” “I am happy with it. I think it’s a lot quicker and easier to navigate and find what you are looking for,” said Alex Morgan ’17. “It’s a better presentation of Fairfield online.” The planning for the new website started in the fall of 2012, according to O’Donnell. She said the university put out a Request for Proposals where faculty, staff, administrators and a steering committee searched for six companies to lead this project. “It is definitely a new outlook. It is revitalized and much more modern,” said Keniel Brown ’17. “It seems more attractive to look at and you can still find everything you need on it.” The two companies that were chosen, 160 Over 90 and Terminal Four, were essential in helping Fairfield release the new website. A central reason behind the new website, according to O’Donnell, was
THE VINE:
that it was time for a change. “Our university had outgrown the old website,” she said. Before making the transition to the new website, the older one was in place for around five to six years, said Deirdre Bennett, assistant director of student affairs communications. According to O’Donnell, 160 Over 90, a company that had previously worked with other higher education institutions along with Nike Tennis, Mercedes Benz and American Eagle, among others, headed the design element of the website. Terminal Four was responsible for the infrastructure of the website. The company “hosts and holds the content of the website,” O’Donnell said. O’Donnell said that 160 Over 90 designed the website to correlate with the Fairfield community. They based it on intellectual development, personal enrichment, and a sense of community. But their work with Fairfield isn’t over yet. Read MOST on Page 3
SPORTS:
Professor profile: Dr. Jay Valentine
Attacking ‘privilege’ reifies differences
Fulbright scholar recalls protest in Egypt
Schneider: update on US hockey
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
News
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Snow toll already piling up By Danica Ceballos Executive Editor
Of the 25 days that school has been in session this spring semester, five of them had cancellations due to snowstorms. When Hurricane Sandy struck last year, five full days of class were cancelled; however, those were the only cancelled days for the whole semester. Before mid-February, Fairfield is quickly matching last year’s mark. Spoons under students’ pillows and inside-out pajamas have successfully caused 20 percent of days scheduled to be spent cooped up in classrooms into adventures sliding down the library hill and watching “Boy Meets World” re-runs. While students might be enjoying their time off, there is money dripping down the drain with the melting snow. The costs of literally dealing with the snow is factored in to Fairfield’s budget; however, each missed class personally impacts students’ tuition of $42,320. “There are, of course, costs associated with snow removal, etc., but we budget for those, and the University also has a contingency budget for additional expenses that were unanticipated and beyond what already was budgeted,” stated Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff Mark C. Reed. The inclement weather and unsafe roads have prevented more than students and faculty from coming into school. Events like the Career Fair and basketball games were rescheduled. “Things go on. The campus never really stops,” stated Reed. “I think it’s always important for people to be aware that when there is inclement weather, there are a good number of people who come to work regardless.”
Winter Statistics (December – February)
Bridgeport Sikorsky Memorial Airport (66 winters, 1948-2014)
Snowfall: 2013-2014 2010-2011 2012-2013 2011-2013
53.6” 59.0” 42.9” 9.6”
ranks 2nd snowiest ranks 1st snowiest ranks 8th snowiest ranks 13th least snowiest
Average Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit): 2013-2014 1962-1963 2012-2013 2011-2012
29.8 27.1 34.6 38.5
ranks 13th coldest ranks 1st coldest ranks 11th warmest ranks 1st warmest
Information contributed by Northeast Regional Climate Center
THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
News
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A journey to Fairfield By Salvatore Trifilio News Editor Dr. Jay Valentine is a visiting assistant professor of Religious Studies with a Ph.D. in Tibetan Buddhism studies. However, when he was a young undergraduate at the University of Delaware, Valentine himself admitted he did not foresee his life unfolding in the unique way it did. “I went in having absolutely no idea what I wanted to do,” said Valentine. “In fact I went in originally thinking I wanted to study computer science … that was before Al Gore invented the internet.” Growing up, Valentine moved throughout the state of Delaware, spending his childhood in the northern portion of the state before his family settled in Rehoboth, a beach town, where Valentine attended high school. He will be the first to tell you that he was not the best of students in high school, but it was a realization in his junior year about the kinds of people who “stuck around Rehoboth after high school,” that made him want to pursue higher education. “To be honest, I didn’t really understand what a university had to offer at the time,” Valentine said. Admittedly, Valentine is not religious, but “more spiritual.” Af-
ter a philosophy course sparked his interest and eventual pursuit of his Bachelor’s degree in the field, Valentine pointed to a single professor who ultimately transformed him during his time at U Del. “World Religions, with Dr. Fox. He was well known as being a transformative teacher for a lot of students there,” said Valentine. Ironically, after this academic awakening, Valentine decided to discontinue his undergraduate studies for seven years, because he was “largely inspired to play music.” Those who have taken Valentine, in his short term at Fairfield, know him as a clean-cut and modestly dressed professor. However, during his seven years traveling the United States and playing Reggae music, Valentine described his image as drastically different. “I used to have dreads down [to my hips],” said Valentine, “… The funny thing is it all really started naturally. “It was a period of time when I was working multiple jobs and having to commute without a car and had just a really rough time of it, and my hair just dreading at every possible moment … I happened to play in Reggae bands at the time too, so it fit.” After returning to Delaware at 27, Valentine finished his bach-
elor’s degree knowing he wanted to pursue a master’s degree and eventually a Ph.D. Naropa University, a Buddhist-inspired liberal arts university in Boulder, Colo., allowed Valentine to grow both academically, and with practice, spiritually. He decided to change his physical image at the time, because he was “tired of people summing me up based on my looks, or writing me off.” “At Naropa I was always sort of an outlier … I was one of the few, there were certainly others, who was focused on going on and getting a Ph.D,” said Valentine, “I really meant business while I was there.” After learning both Sanskrit and Tibetan, Valentine was able to receive his doctorate from the University of Virginia, and has done field work in both Tibet and India. Prior to Fairfield, Valentine has worked at both Johns Hopkins University and Goucher College. Despite only working as a substitute for a professor on a leave of absence, Valentine has enjoyed his time here. “This is the best experience of my professional life, so far, is working here,” said Valentine, “… The bittersweet component of it is that it is only a one-year position.” While Valentine has enjoyed
Contributed by Jay Valentine Dr. Jay Valentine observes The Great Juniper Consecration at Vase Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, in 2005.
working at other institutions, he explained that Fairfield has exceeded in welcoming him as part of the community. “This is the first time where I have a place of my own, an office,” Valentine said. “In the past I would email students and tell them to meet me at the bench outside of class to go over papers and stuff.” As the semester continues to roll on, Valentine continues to search for work after Fairfield, but “100 percent definitely” would like
to continue working at Fairfield if the opportunity presented itself. With his long journey leading him to a snowy afternoon in his office, Valentine offered advice to the students of Fairfield: “College is not the minor leagues. Remember that in all aspects. You’re not preparing for another level of school any more … as far as life experiences, this is it. This is what you’ve been preparing for. Take advantage of it.”
Business legend, marketing innovator to speak at Quick By Luigi DiMeglio Managing Editor
Most happy with site CONT. FROM PAGE 1
The companies are now producing more videos and photography for the website, constructing admissions packets and a microsite, a website geared towards prospective Fairfield students. The new website was supposed to launch in October of 2013, according to O’Donnell. But it just wasn’t where the university wanted it to be. “It took a full year to get it to where it is today,” said Bennett. The overall opinion of the faculty and staff about the new website is positive and think it’s more appealing than the older one, she said. But Dr. Christopher Huntley, associate professor of information systems and operations management had a different opinion. He said that the new website appears as though it’s an ad for Abercrombie and Fitch. “The more pictures you have of people the more you pay attention to what they are wearing,” he said, referring to the websites pictures. Huntley also said the website has bugs that will have to be worked out in the coming weeks to fully perfect it. He informed Cathleen Donahue, senior director of marketing and communications of these issues in November dur-
ing the 160 Over 90 Presentation of the website, but he said they are still present in the site. One issue with the website he raised was, “Where is the Fairfield University logo?” This among others including issues with the search bar on the website make it imperfect. Making the website change also caused the university to make it a more engaged experience. It is less contentheavy, said O’Donnell. “Less is more in the web world,” she said. “The pictures are nice,” said Caroline Gailius ’17. “It’s not too informational on the first page, so it’s not overwhelming.” The website will be maintained by around 100 Fairfield faculty and staff who are trained in updating with interesting content, O’Donnell said. Even though the new website is fully functioning as of its release date, more elements will be added to it in the coming weeks and months. “The work on this website never ends,” O’Donnell said. Students are encouraged to make suggestions and recommendations on how to improve the website by contacting the university Webmaster Laura Johnson by sending an email on the university website.
When John Sculley left his position as CEO of Apple, the company’s revenue had gone from $800 million to $8 billion. When he enters the Quick Center for the Arts next Wednesday, Fairfield Marketing Club is banking on a legendary discussion. “Globalization- The Future of American Brands” will be a chance
It is important for all students to seek out opportunities as large as this one - learning is not limited to the classroom. - Nicholas O’Connell ‘14, Fairfield Marketing Club’s head of publicity for all interested Fairfield students – and alumni – to hear Sculley discuss his work with global business powerhouses for free. Fairfield, as a school that just two years ago finished a campus-wide focus on global citizenship, will get a personal look at America’s rise to international commercial leadership. The esteemed businessman was the president of PepsiCo from 1977 to 1983. He led Pepsi in an advertising campaign to unseat Coca-Cola as the industry leader. The conflict became known as the Cola Wars with Pepsi making sig-
nificant gains. “It is important for all students to seek out opportunities as large as this one – learning is not limited to the classroom,” Nicholas O’Connell ’14, Fairfield Marketing Club’s head of publicity said in a statement. He and a dozen of the marketing club’s officers have been preparing for Sculley’s visit for about two weeks. The club officially has over 100 members, but this is the first time in recent memory that a student organization booked a large event at the Quick Center. “There is so much more to be said about brands and global business that someone who has had experience in global business will be able to convey,” O’Connell said. Sophomore Blanca Aca-Tecuanhuehue is an engineering student, but says she would find it interesting. “I’m currently involved in the business competition and [the advisers] recommended that we go,” she said. “As an engineering major I’m going to be involved in a lot of industries. Even though I’m an engineering student, I still think I should know about marketing and business.” MBA candidate David Hennessey found out Sculley was coming to Fairfield via the marketing class he is taking with professor Neal. “I thought it was a terrific opportunity to hear from an outstanding businessman and inspiring speaker. “I hope that he talks a little bit about his time at Apple. As a busi-
ness student, one of the best ways to learn about business is to hear about it from people who have succeeded; who have been there and done that.” Since his work at Apple, ending in 1993, Sculley became more involved in other technology startups. Today, Sculley regularly appears on Bloomberg TV, CNBC and Fox News as a guest. Tickets for the event are on sale now at the Barone Campus Center Information Desk and in the Dolan School Business. Sculley will speak at the Quick Center on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. Admission for students, faculty and staff is free. Alumni can get one free ticket each on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Admission for all others is $30.
Photo taken from University Press Release
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
Crime Beat
News
Compiled by Robert Joyce. Information contributed by the Department of Public Safety.
Tuesday, 2/11 8:19 a.m. – A librarian at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library reported an incident of graffiti. The phrase “truth is treason in an empire of lies” was written on a wall in the first floor men’s bathroom. Wednesday, 2/12 1:25 p.m. – A female student in Jogues Hall reported her boots, valued at $50, were stolen from her room sometime in the two weeks prior to the report. Thursday, 2/13 3:30 a.m. – An exit sign was reported stolen from the first floor of Kostka Hall. Saturday, 2/15 12:00 a.m. – After being denied access to a residence at the Townhouses 9 block, a group of males reportedly threw an object through one of the residence’s windows. The males were identified and one admitted to breaking the window. All were referred to student conduct for disorderly conduct. 1:05 p.m. – A fourth-floor men’s bathroom was reported vandalized in Jogues Hall after three bathroom sinks were discovered ripped off the wall. There are currently no suspects and the incident is still under investigation.
Racism must be ‘strangled out of existence’ CONT. FROM PAGE 1
that legacy to my son. The only thing I could pass on was the resilience I knew had come from our history as slaves,” Morgan said. This began Morgan’s healing journey, traveling thousands of miles tracing ancestors and living relatives, spending hours in centuries-old cemeteries, filing through court documents and culminating in her creation, Our Black Ancestry, in 2007, a website dedicated to helping AfricanAmericans find their own healing journeys within history. On the other hand, DeWolf joked that “into his fifties, he was still figuring out what he wanted to be when he grew up.” He was exposed to his family’s history first in 1986 when he visited the Linden House in Bristol, R.I. It was built by his relative George DeWolf in 1810.The DeWolfs were responsible for the transportation of more than 10,000 slaves. His research led to his first book, “Inheriting the Trade,” published in 2001 and subsequent Emmy-nominated documentary, “Traces of the Trade: A Story of the Deep North,” released in 2008. At a Summer Peacebuilding Institute in June 2008 at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., DeWolf and
Morgan would begin for them what would turn in to be a lifelong journey and dialogue about racism. But they did not immediately hit it off upon meeting; DeWolf said Morgan seemed “guarded,” while Morgan felt DeWolf ’s eye contact was like “he was looking right through me.” Their initial difficulties in starting a conversation, as well as forming a friendship, stemmed from their racial differences. From this, their story developed and is what Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka hoped would inspire students. “I don’t think people know how to talk about race. They need opportunities to do so. It’s not always a casual conversation, so an engaged dialogue like this is helpful to connect us.” Throughout Morgan and DeWolf ’s journey, they encountered several instances of struggle. The Slave Trail, for example, was the number one exporter of slaves domestically, exporting 1.2 million between 1830-1860 alone. This was a pivotal moment for Morgan, who said she felt “pervasive sadness.” “Racism absolutely must be strangled out of existence,” Morgan said passionately. But, both Morgan and DeWolf agreed there were many benefits to undergoing this experience together. “There’s healing in the knowing,” Morgan said. This in-
spired several audience members, including Ann Reeves, a former adjunct professor at Fairfield and member of CTTT, to continue tracing her own genealogy and connections to the slave trade. Morgan and DeWolf even highlighted the prevalent racial disparities present today, citing statistics as recent as December 2013, unemployment rate for blacks was at 11.6 percent, as opposed to whites which was only 5.7 percent. Across the room, many students and faculty looked shocked at the statistics provided. Sophomore Nick Frega said, “Because we’re so sheltered and unaware, it [talking about race] becomes more difficult. Stuff like this is made to happen so we all can be more comfortable with interracial friendships. These discussions help that to happen.” While Frega and Rua agreed unanimously about the benefits DeWolf ’s and Morgan’s speech brought to Fairfield, DeWolf commented that Fairfield had taught him and Morgan something as well. “A lot of times colleges are just looking to fill a spot, but it’s evident that Fairfield is deeply committed to a conversation on race.” Sharon added, “Seeing all those earnest young faces out in the audience … [the feeling] was palpable.”
5:10 p.m. – A male student was arrested off campus by Fairfield Police in the Fairfield Beach neighborhood for driving under the influence of alcohol. It was then determined that the student was using his roommate’s vehicle without permission. There was minor damage reported to the vehicle for which the owner denies responsibility and alleges was a result of his roommate taking the vehicle. However, the vehicle owner has yet to press charges against his roommate for improper use of a motor vehicle. There were no injuries reported and the arrested student was referred to student conduct.
For complete list, make sure to check out fairfieldmirror.com
CAU TTIO N O I N U CA THE MIRROR Incorporated 1977
Loan Le, Editor-in-Chief Danica Ceballos, Executive Editor Luigi DiMeglio, Managing Editor Editors Salvatore Trifilio, News Leigh Tauss, Opinion Dylan Dembin, Assistant Vine Jennifer Calhoun, Sports Kaitlin McEwan, Assistant News Robert Hagstrom, Assistant News Robert Joyce, Staff Writer Shauna Mitchell, Chief Copy Editor Angela Sammarone, Copy Editor Tebben Gill Lopez, Visual Art Director Online Brian Arpie, Web Manager Thomas Shea, Multimedia Manager Margaret Andrew, Online Editor Business Department Email: advertising@fairfieldmirror.com Brian Cleary, CFO Adviser Dr. Tommy Xie Contact Information Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Box AA, Fairfield, CT 06824 General email: info@fairfieldmirror.com
During the week of Feb. 19, students may have noticed a new feature to the Stag Diner, a 3-by-6, pay-by-the-pound candy stand. According to management, the company brought in the product as a result of “students’ requests that are often made.” Management also mentioned students seem to be responding well to the change, and the product is selling.
In the world:
r According to the Washington Post, a Tennessee nun, 84, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for breaking into a nuclear site. r New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio wants to abolish horse drawn carriages because they are “inhumane,” according to NPR. r 19 people were killed in Ukraine yesterday, according to CNN, during violent protests over presidential power. r Members of the Pussy Riot, a Russian protest group were released yesterday in Sochi after they were suspected of theft, according to BBC. r Secretary of State John Kerry made a stop to Tunisia yesterday to show US support for the country in converting to Democracy, The New York Times reported. r Doubts have been cast on the Craigslist murder suspect of killing 22 other people from across the country, CBS news reported. r Fox News reports that both the United States and Egypt are concerned over the recent terrorist attacks in Egypt which have targeted tourists. r Atrocities in the North Korean prison camp have been detailed in a recent United Nations report, according to ABC News. r A Chinese zoo is accused of animal mistreatment after one of their pandas suddenly died from organ failure caused by bleeding from gastroenteritis, CNN reported. Five of seven Japanese female divers who went missing off the coast of the resort island of Bali were discovered by fisherman clinging to a coral reef on Monday, according to CNN. r According to CNN, six illegal gold miners were rescued after they originally refused to leave the South African mine. r According to USATODAY, a pastor/snake-handler/former co-star of the reality TV show Snake Salvation has died … of a snake bite.
Opinion
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
Opinion
Editor
Attacking 'privilege' reifies differences By Timothy Leach Contributing Writer I believe that when one group is oppressed, another is granted “privilege” in the fact that they enjoy conditions and statuses that another group cannot achieve. It is an unfortunate side effect of our society; you can blame it on capitalism, racism, societal norms or anything else, really. But here's the reality: Inequality exists because we let ourselves believe certain things are better than others. However, what good does putting down privilege really do? Take the issue of body image, for example. Society dictates that being thin is the desired look and what everyone else should aspire to be. People brush up and Photoshop models to death until they achieve this supposed standard of being absolutely beautiful, encouraging other people to try and match their doctored appearance. The Body Acceptance Movement completely opposes this notion and feels that society should appreciate all of our differences in our shapes, sizes, curves, etc. They feel the “privilege” of being thin should not be perceived as superior to alternate body types. And they’re right. People aren’t, or at least they shouldn’t be, as shallow as dominant culture would have us be. Since we were kids, we’ve been hearing, “It’s the inside and not the outside that matters” everything from “The Ugly Duckling” to "Shrek." And that is an ideal that should be pushed
Editorial Board Ideal FUSA Pres. Loan Le Editor-in-Chief Danica Ceballos Executive Editor Luigi DiMeglio Managing Editor
and promoted more in society rather than making your appearance as aesthetically pleasing as possible. At the end of the day, people will appreciate or hate you for who you are, not what you look like. There’s also the issue where American racism inherently grants privilege to white people over minorities. There have been many instances where cops have abused their power to pick on black people, enforced by policies such as stop-and-frisk, where culpability is based on skin color alone. This privilege should not be specially held for white people; it should not even be a thing to begin with. Capitalism holds the same reality, but I feel it is a needed system, despite its downsides. Even though some people start off in worse socioeconomic positions, in theory everyone can climb to the top on their own merit and earn their keep. Some people are born into wealth and can indulge in their own privileges, but that money was earned from someone else’s hard work. The problem with economic inequality is that modern society as we know it cannot exist without income disparities; that would be communism. We need menial workers for maintenance, we need hierarchy for order and we need someone at the top to guide everyone below them. This is different from body image and racism because those pertain more to individual privilege whereas capitalism extends beyond that.
To many here, Fairfield student government politics remains a bit of an enigma. It is tougher for a voting body to base their decisions on any type of logic when there are no political parties or significantly differing platforms. The first and foremost we can tell from any FUSA presidential candidate is their personality. Until the debate this Thursday, as students, we do not have access to much more. This is why item number one on our candidate wish list is transparency. The ide-
What can we, as a society, do about privilege? A good first step is outlined in an article Vivienne Chen wrote called, “Polyamory is for Rich, Pretty People.” We should expand and share privileges for everyone to have, rather than relinquishing them from people who already have them. Magazines should promote other images of healthy body living that does not
all subscribe to the same mindset and people should treat and accept others based on who they are independent of their backgrounds. Privilege should not be used as a derogatory term. All this does is create an “us versus them” mentality and promotes difference rather than unifying people from different backgrounds. We should acknowledge
privilege where it exists, but we don’t need to put down people that enjoy privilege just because they were born into it. Call me an idealist, but I feel there has to be some way for us all to combat inequality without reinforcing divisions by making privilege into a derogatory term.
Letter to the Editor To the President, the Board of Trustees and the Academic Council: Last August, the Mentor course management system was abruptly shut down by Chief Information Officer Paige Francis, creating enormous disruption for some 500 courses, as well as assessment and accreditation processes in multiple schools and departments. The Academic Council asked the Educational Technology Committee to investigate “what led to the decision, how the decision was made and the appropriateness of the decision.” ETC conducted a fivemonth long exhaustive investigation. The ETC report is now out, and the implications are unfavorable. The ETC is clear in its findings: Information Technology Services offered no plausible grounds to justify closing down Mentor in August and has failed to demonstrate any grounds for a permanent shutdown. The ETC recommends that, in the absence of evidence that Mentor has the severe flaws that Francis has alleged, the university should restore Mentor to full functionality. Last August, Francis claimed it was necessary to shut down the Mentor system abruptly because sensitive student data were at risk. As hundreds of faculty scrambled in the first weeks of class to convert all of their course materials to Blackboard, Francis reiterated that while this was unfortunate, it was necessary because of the security risk posed by the Mentor software. But as the ETC report makes clear, there was no evidence to support the claim of a security crisis. The administration maintains that it is the prerogative of the CIO to decide what software the university should use and that faculty are not entitled to participate in those decisions. We respectfully note that this is inaccurate. Page one of the faculty handbook provides that it is the role of the general faculty to be concerned with “matters pertaining to the academic life of the University.” While an actual emergency may be grounds for overriding the role of the faculty in academic matters, there is not now, and never was, any emergency. Many of us have worked closely with Professor Curt Naser, the creator of Mentor. For years he has assisted faculty, department chairs and deans in countless ways. His software and his extraordinary help and dedication have transformed our classes, our assessment efforts, our accreditation reviews, our hiring processes and many other critical functions of our university’s educational mission. As the ETC notes, “The work Prof. Naser did for the university READ
al FUSA candidate should have clear goals, ideas and principles. A Jesuit education should put campaigns past the level of a popularity contest. Incumbent Alex Long ‘14 said he wanted the community he represents to be a team. Long has become a recognizable figure on campus, carrying himself well and showing interest in students’ opinions. We hope that our next president can maintain or improve what has been established this past year in that respect. From there, we expect
LETTER ON PAGE 6
a vision for every corner of Fairfield’s special culture. We have populations, with tensions between them, on this campus that many in this community shy from discussing: social groups, authority figures and professors, just to name a few. A strong candidate would articulate how to bridge the gaps in our community. The FUSA president has an opportunity to wield the largest budget given to any club or organization and we want it used well. Cabin fever has set in,
but the warm weather will get here just in time for some aspects of student life that we hold most dear to begin. A president willing to represent and defend our passion for a memorable student life here is considered invaluable. Basically, we want to be represented by someone who understands and can identify with all of us. We want someone who can do that with the class and intellect. The Mirror and all students will be watching. Good luck to the candidates.
THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
Opinion
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Faculty need Mentor CONT. FROM PAGE 5 in good faith has been disregarded and his reputation impugned.� That Naser should be treated so shabbily is shameful. The administration has maintained that it cannot allow the university community to use software that presents a risk to the university. There was never any such risk. There was only the arbitrary decision of the CIO based on groundless accusations,
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which was defended by inaccurate and misleading claims. We, the undersigned, ask the Academic Council to join us in endorsing the report of the Educational Technology Committee. We call upon the university to immediately reinstate the full availability of Mentor to students, faculty and staff. This letter was signed by 54 faculty members. The list of signers is available at fairfieldmirror.com.
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10 Things I hate about the gym
Letter to the Editor: Stop and Frisk Letter to the Editor: This is a response to the article “The Dark Side of Stop and Frisk,� written by Jane Holland on Feb. 12. An NYPD officer is directed to stop-and-frisk someone who appears “reasonably suspicious.� This relative language is the problem I have with New York City’s controversial policy. According to NYPD reports, New Yorkers were stopped-and-frisked 532,911 times in 2012. Eighty-nine percent of those stopped by this policy were found not guilty of any crime. Fifty-three percent of those stopped were AfricanAmerican, 34 percent were Latino-American and only 9 percent were Caucasian-American. Holland said she believes Police Commissioner Bratton’s statement that the NYPD “will not break the law to enforce the law.� While I think the NYPD acts with the best of intentions, their own reports show behavior that conflicts basic constitutional rights and liberties. In regards to the Fourth Amendment, the searches are clearly unreasonable when only about 10 percent of those stopped actually receive a summons. The policy is also discriminatory in nature, and therefore contradicts the Fourteenth Amendment, when 87 percent of those stopped are African-American or Latino-American. I agree with Holland that “it is the job of law enforcement to keep us safe from danger,� but is this the solution? According to a Daily News report, only two percent of stops resulted in finding an unlicensed handgun. Chris Dunn, spokesman of the New York Civil Liberties Union, noted that the murder rate in New York City has steadily dropped since 1990, showing no evidence that this policy has impacted this decline. I also believe in “proactive policing,� but at what cost? Stop-and-frisk is certainly not worth my trust in law enforcement. This policy transforms the image of a dependable officer who protects the people into a judgmental agent whomonitors the neighborhood. Even if I am not subjected to stop-and-frisk, it is unfair to ask that someone else accept this invasive treatment for my own peace of mind. This policy speaks to a larger conversation about civil liberties and civil rights in the United States. If we have nothing to hide, then a police officer is not only welcomed to engage us in stop-and-frisk, but also wiretap our phones, place cameras in our homes and read all of our private communications. If safety is of the utmost importance during “this era of terrorism and mass killers,� then the NYPD must neglect the Bill of Rights’ position on discriminatory-based actions. As a nation, we cannot support a procedure that unfairly targets citizens based on race while still treasuring our founding documents. These searches are invasive to the innocent citizens whom the policy is meant to protect. Our decision on stop-and-frisk speaks to our American identity. Eric Lynch '14
Barone: 'Roar' on repeat and no seats By Kayla Valente Contributing Writer
By Victoria Vesce Contributing Writer 1. I’m sorry that I don’t own anything Lululemon and that my sports bra doesn’t match my socks, but you don’t have to stare at me like that when I walk in dressed in my basketball shorts and T-shirt. 2. Anyone else ever notice that the RecPlex is nothing more than a lobby filled with exercise equipment? 3. No one can survive the step machine for more than five minutes. 4. Maybe it’s just me, but generally after I watch you sweat all over the elliptical I expect you to wipe it down with a towel. 5. It’s always awkward when the girl across from you with the full face of makeup wipes her face on the
bright white towel ‌ and it turns orange. 6. Seriously, what is that smell? 7. It’s like an unwritten rule that if you get on a machine next to someone who was there before you started, you can’t get off before they finish. 8. The elderly man next to me is working out harder than me ‌ time to reevaluate my life. 9. To the girl in Barone wearing a full workout outfit with matching sneakers: We all know you didn’t actually go to the gym. 10. Going to the gym right after New Year’s is like walking into a bar on St. Patrick’s Day—full of sweaty, dizzy people with short-term goals.
“I’m hoping that if I do another four laps, food that wasn’t there before will magically appear.� This might be a common statement that is uttered by each student in Barone at least a few times a week. The Barone experience is unlike any other, that’s for sure. On any day of the week, you can find a large group of adrenalized students climbing the overwhelming mountain of steps to enter into Barone. Occasionally, students stop to take a quick selfie with the workers after they have swiped in. Then they grab a plate and begin their search for something to eat. First, let’s talk about lunch. If it’s 12:15, the 11 a.m. classes have just finished, and you’re out of luck. It will be nearly impossible to find a table, never mind your favorite booth. If you wanted a sandwich, you can either kiss that dream goodbye or prepare yourself to dedicate the next 20 minutes to waiting in line. Many a time, students are seen with a look
of undeniable excitement across their faces as they bring back a thrilling meal of soup and salad to their tables. In fact, I have even heard that sometimes people decide to have pasta! The exhilaration that comes with eating a meal in Barone is almost indescribable. As far as dinner is concerned, this is often everything you have ever hoped for and so much more. I frequently see people swipe into Barone at prime time with a look of terror across their face as they realize that they have no chance of finding a table and all the stir-fry stations are full. I have actually seen people turn around on the spot and venture back down the stairs and into The Stag. They must be overwhelmed by the pure admiration that everyone has for the food. Other than its food, Barone has many great attributes. It seems to have this wonderful superpower to make sure that whoever you are trying to avoid ends up being there at exactly the same time as you during every single meal for a month straight. I’ve yet to figure out how ex-
actly this works, but the facts are undeniable. That text that you dodged last night? The boy is sitting at the table next to you. That girl that you saw out this weekend and never want to see again? She just so happens to be getting water at exactly the same time as you. It’s truly magical. Now, we can’t forget about the music. There is nothing better than the classic Barone playlists. If you were in Barone and “Let Her Goâ€? by Passenger didn’t play at least once, were you really in Barone? It appears as though there is always a Top-40 theme, but for some reason there are a few special songs that get a whole lot of playing time. “Wrecking Ball,â€? “Timberâ€? and “Braveâ€? constantly seem to get students’ feet tapping and heads nodding over a casual meal. If you take a moment to listen, you are bound to hear a few fearless souls singing along. The Barone experience typically ends after sophomore or junior year for many students, so be sure to make the most of each delicious meal and every unforgettable moment. Bon appĂŠtit!
The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by email to info@fairfieldmirror.com or Box AA. All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or online. The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical error. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information not exceeding 500 words.
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arts, entertainment, features vine@fairfieldmirror.com
By Alex Fylypovych Contributing Writer
O
n a sunny September morning in 2013, Mohamed Ahmed Abdelsalam’s mother was under the impression her son was leaving the house to go to Friday afternoon prayer at the mosque. But min-
utes later he joined a sea of more than 3,000 Egyptian protesters marching to Ramses Square, where they planned to join the nation’s majority in demanding that Mohamed Morsi, elected president of Egypt, be reinstated to power.
Abdelsalam was shaken after learning about the massacre of more than 1,000 of his countrymen just two weeks earlier. Peacefully gathered in Rabaa Square, the Egyptian public had protested the undemocratic removal of their president. When buckets of cold water and stones failed to quell the drenched and bruised demonstrators, the Armed Forces opened fire, dispersing hundreds and murdering many more. “What happened that day in Rabaa Square made more and more people take to the streets,” Abdelsalam said, shaking his head in disapproval of the military’s nefarious acts. Abdelsalam, a Fulbright Scholar spending the year abroad at Fairfield, reflects on being away from his country during this critical time and the emotional toll it has taken on him.
“I'm really worried for my people there. Just yesterday I found a friend whose Facebook account got closed. This friend used to participate regularly in all the protests and I don't know what may have happened to him,” he said. Though 5,500 miles now separate him from Egypt, Abdelsalam vividly recalls the memory of participating in a protest only days before traveling to the US. The only traffic Cairo, Egypt, had seen that Friday afternoon was by foot. Eerily carless streets guided Abdelsalam and other mosque members along the route to Ramses Square, their desired final destination. Nearing the May 15 Bridge, the crowd poured in, like dense liquid, from all side streets and pooled together at the bridge’s entrance. Children weaved between the legs of their elders.
Chants emanated from hand-held megaphones. The bodies seemed to morph together and exist as one, but the nudging knees and elbows in odd places didn’t bother Abdelsalam. He felt united, safe, among people with analogous political opinions. The protesters’ weapon of choice: words. Signs bearing words like “Morsi,” “more democracy,” “freedom,” and similar slogans in support of a democratic Egypt peacefully danced their way across the bridge. Sun-kissed, wrinkled fingers and smooth, young palms became one as all ages symbolically raised four fingers skyward in memory of those killed in Rabaa (Arabic for “four”) Square. Like a hawk stalking its prey, an AF helicopter droned above, meticulously watching the crowd nearing the end of the bridge, though blindly listening to the enthusiastic, hopeful chants de-
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014 Contributed by Mohamed Ahmed Abdelsalam
Peaceful protestors in Cairo, Egypt hold signs with killed by police in Rabaa Square.
Turmoil of Egypt remains Cont. from page 7 manding democracy and Morsi’s return. Abdelsalam carried with him a bottle of Coca-Cola, believed to have reversing effects on tear-gas. He planned on pouring the soda over his eyes if the AF chose to use this stinging method of dispersal on the crowd that now numbered over 3,000. Fortunately, Abdelsalam did not need to shower his eyes in carbonated sugar. Unfortunately, he had to worry about a much more lethal weapon. Raising his arm to his ear, sticking his thumb upward, pointing his index and middle fingers forward, and recoiling the rest, “I thought I was going to die,” he said. The moment the AF began to shoot at the crowd, the chanting ceased. The enthusiasm was drowned out by heaving breaths and panicked voices. Abdelsalam touched his arm as though to wipe a wound. “I saw their blood with my own eyes,” he said, his eyes unmistakably seeing the turmoil for a second time. The united wave of confidence crossing the Nile was alarmingly disrupted, rippling instead with chaos and retreat. He watched his brother through the blur of grounded officers in altercations with protesters,
Told ByDrudoll
making sure not to lose sight of him. It wasn’t the first time Abdelsalam’s cellphone rang. “Mohamed, where are you?” his mother’s skeptical voice demanded through the phone. “I’m on my way, I’m on my way,” Abdelsalam sputtered. Click. He knew his jumbled response could not have possibly blocked out the 3,000-person chorus of alarm and apprehension. In Egyptian culture, the eldest brother typically becomes the head of the household when the father passes away, but Abdelsalam’s married older brother has his own family’s responsibilities to govern. That leaves Abdelsalam in charge of his widowed mother and 11-yearold brother who were waiting for their father figure to return from afternoon prayer. As the crowd dispersed like a herd of sheep being chased by hungry dogs, Abdelsalam withdrew to the underbelly of a bridge. His nerves bolted throughout his body, prodding him to race home, but his wit fought back. Running, indicative of guilt, would only draw attention to Abdelsalam’s red and white striped shirt – an easy target. Walking was the only, though terrifying, choice.
Like being swarmed by angry bees, Abdelsalam chose not to swat but to be still, and rather than sprinting home, leisurely strolled away from the mayhem. Abdelsalam stood silent in his doorway. Though quick to tears, the short, plump woman firmly scolded him for lying. She needn’t yell or fuss – her distress was discernable in her reminding Abdelsalam of his patriarchal position. He was not sorry that he participated in the protest that day, but to calm his mother’s nerves, the only words her son could murmur quietly escaped his lips: “I’m sorry.” Abdelsalam let a crooked smile momentarily spread across his face. “She forgave me at last,” he said. Currently, Abdelsalam refers to the situation in Egypt as “critical.” “Soldiers detain or shoot directly activists, youth, children and even old people and women,” he said, mentioning however, that he would without hesitation be among his people protesting if he were in Egypt. But among the distress, Abdelsalam remains hopeful. “I think that the coup will not continue for long and Army leaders will fail in subduing people's resistance,” he said.
By Drusilla Ollennu Fashion Columnist
When it comes to style & fashion, Drudoll tells all.
Mix-n-Match
Fashion is all about taking risks with colors, patterns and styles. If you want to change up your style, you don’t need to go on a shopping spree. Experiment with the clothes right in your closet. Some outfit combinations may appear unusual at first because you are not used to the change, but the only way to expand your fashion sense is to be more open-minded to different looks.
Colors are always exciting to play around with. Being matchy-matchy can be boring because it’s a safe option that does not allow room for experimentation; having your outfit match too much can also be a bit tacky. If you’re wearing a yellow dress, don’t be afraid to match it with red or blue pumps. Here's one outfit you can try
Patterns are fun, but not when overdone. I encourage you to experiment with your prints, but beware of possible clashing between patterns. If you want to wear a more dramatic print, pair it with a print that’s toned down and not overdone. Mixing patterns can be done successfully, but a trial and error process may be necessary.
Style is limitless. Of course, everyone has their personal style, but you have the freedom to explore diverse fashions. You can even sport two styles at the same time. For example, picture someone wearing a crewneck sweater with a collared shirt underneath and a full skirt; this outfit is a combination of two styles, preppy (top) and girly (bottom). You have the green light to explore options that are different from the styles you normally cling to.
The Vine
The Mirror | Week of February 19, 2014
Out and About
Best Bites Paci 96 Station St., Southport Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. Reservations Suggested
***** out of *****
P
$$$$ out of $$$$
aci’s architecture and ambiance was the brilliant vision of Italian owner and chef, Bob Patchen. A massive clock is powerfully projected on the wall parallel to the mezzanine level dining area. Eighteen years ago, Paci was the Southport Train Station depot; Patchen bought the building and took out the second floor to open up the space. While the three dining rooms are relatively formal, the bar can be a nice casual spot to eat during the week. The wines Patchen pours by the glass are extraordinary and the prices reflect the quality. Ultimately, Paci is the ideal spot for parents visiting.
Starters Rollatini Di Melanzane: Thin sliced grilled eggplant filled with ricotta, parm and fontina cheeses over prosciutto and marinara sauce. Light and delicate, the ricotta is the primary flavor in the filling. Insalata Di Tre Colore: Diced granny smith apples, dried cranberries and ricotta salata atop endive, radicchio and arugula with champagne vinaigrette. A crisp, refreshing Italian classic.
Entrees Ravioli Di Pesce: Homemade ravioli stuffed with gulf shrimp, scallops and calamari in a seafood, brandy, tomato and cream reduction. This dish was very rich and perfect for a seafood fan. Cavatelli with broccoli rabe, house made fennel sausage, garlic and olive oil. The sausage is mildly spicy and perfectly compliments the other ingredients. Pesce Spada: Fresh pan-seared swordfish in a lemon sauce over coconut basmati rice and fagioli verde. My piece of fish was excellent and paired well with the coconut rice and lemon sauce. Pollo Marsala: Half a chicken marinated with dried chilis, shiitake mushrooms, onions and served with crispy polenta. The presentation of this dish is immaculate. The polenta is buttery and light and the chicken falls off the bone.
Desserts All desserts are house-made and incredible. Rice Pudding: Vanilla-bean-scented Arborio rice with cinnamon topped with orange slices, toasted almonds and whipped cream. This is hands down the best rice pudding I have had in my life. The fresh orange combined with crunch of the almonds makes it unique and interesting. The consistency of the rice is in line with the rest of this five-star review. Ricotta Cheese Cake w/ blueberry sauce: This slice is creamy and lighter than traditional cheesecake. An excellent, fluffy, ricotta-based dessert. Coconut Cake: Made with fresh coconut, ground almonds and topped with a bittersweet chocolate espresso sauce. The cake is delicate and the rich sauce is a great contrast. It looks as if the cake was dunked in a dark chocolate bath. Nicholas O'Connell/The Mirror
Top to bottom: An open-space view of the mezzanine dining area at Paci; Pollo Marsala, with moist, tender chicken paired with crispy polenta; Cavatelli with spicy sausage, garlic and broccoli rabe.
By Nicholas O'Connell Food Columnist
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Commentary
Vinyl: music in physical form By Sean Thomas Contributing Writer Last November, I decided to validate my friends calling me a hipster by collecting vinyl records. My love of music is simply too great to be limited to my iTunes library or Spotify playlists. In anticipation of buying a record player, I quickly ordered several of my favorite albums. When Touche Amore's “Is Survived By” was delivered, I excitedly opened it in my dorm. My confused roommate, staring at the opaque-blue record, said, “Wait, there's music on that?” It's safe to say that an overwhelming majority of our generation prefers digi-
tal music to CDs, cassettes and records. CDs are gradually fading out and cassettes are nearly extinct. For most, records are something their parents were obsessed with; many still keep their dustcovered collections in the attic. Even though records were “killed off” in the ‘80s by CDs, bands continued to press them as a small demand remained. Today, that demand has persisted and even increased and it's not on behalf of our parents. When a trend becomes too commonplace, there will always be a reaction against it. Vinyl's resurgence is a reaction to digital music's dominance. Digital songs have the
Television
'Shameless' does it again
advantage of convenience; we want to have complete access to our entire libraries wherever and whenever. Having iPods and phones that have this immense capability is truly beneficial to everyone and it has allowed for more music to be created, shared and enjoyed than ever before. Yet, digital music is fairly onedimensional. Purchasing an album on iTunes for $10 gives you the music and some low-resolution artwork. Your music collection exists, but it's nothing you can hold or look at. It's simply a bunch of files in folders. This is perfectly acceptable for many listeners due to its flexibility and convenience. Think of owning a record
collection as a three-dimensional experience. Your favorite album exists – you can hold it, flip through the artwork, and read through the included lyrics. Many bands will press their albums onto colored or multicolored, swirled vinyls. These are often limited to a small number of copies – millions of people can download a digital album, but you could be one of 100 to own a specially pressed record. Bands love when you buy vinyl as it usually supports them directly and covers touring expenses. They'll frequently include stickers, posters and a code to download the album digitally. Opening a record's package is like opening a Cracker Jack box.
Passionate music fans refuse to let go of vinyl's beauty. There's something unparalleled about that moment when the needle hits the record and the warm crackling sound begins. It's an experience every listener needs to have at least once. Starting a collection isn't for everyone – records can be much more expensive than digital albums, plus one has to invest in a record player as well. However, if you've been considering it, I would highly recommend it. It's a great way to financially support your favorite band and enhance your own listening experience.
Food
By Shna Mitchell Chief Copy Editor If you thought “Shameless” couldn’t get more shameless – you’re wrong. In the latest episode, the sixth of season four, which aired last Sunday, the show takes a turn from dark humor to just plain dark. We left off last week with Liam in the hospital from a cocaine overdose, with Fiona getting carted off to prison. The most important thing this week is that Liam will be OK. And while it’s great that he was discharged from the hospital and appears to be his normal self, this incident won’t go without its own set of problems for the Gallagher clan. Fiona has been charged with possession of illegal drugs and reckless endangerment of a child, and Lip has been taking over the responsibilities of the head of household. Lip’s biggest issues are currently on opposite sides of the Gallagher spectrum of worries: He just recently started grasping the various duties of college students and true time management skills, and he also has to keep his brother out of the foster system, made difficult by his dying/absent father and his felon sister. We definitively found out this week that Frank is going to die, and soon. After his mishap in the Native American sweat lodge, Frank’s prognosis is not looking too good. His newest/oldest daughter, Sammy, took him to a slew of hospice homes where Frank proREAD STORY ON PAGE 4
How to make brownie bites
By Trish Doheny Food Columnist Hello there. I’m Trish, aka Nutrishus. Welcome to my weekly column where I will share with you delicious, nutritious recipes that I have created in order to add flavor to your life in a conscious way! You can find all of my recipes, research articles and cooking shows on my website: www.nutrishus.wordpress.com. Follow me for updates via email! @Nutrishus8 on Instagram @Nutrishus8 on Twitter As I prepared the ingredients for my raw brownie bites in Studio A last week for our filming of StagsTV’s cooking show, “Nutrishus,” I was anxiously awaiting the reactions from my fellow crew members and the rest of my friends at the media center who decided to stop by. Luckily, their reactions were so good that I had to continue making more and ran out of my ingredients altogether by the time we had finished filming. In case all of this positive feedback is causing you to drool in anticipation
as well, I now present you with my favorite and surprisingly incredibly healthy, clean and guilt-free dessert: Raw Brownie Bites. This recipe is my own adaptation from the lovely ladies of The Conscious Cleanse, a 19-day detoxification, clean-eating program which I completed in January that taught me even more about nutrition (daily posts illustrating that journey can be found on my blog). The CC team make their Raw Brownie recipe with dates, walnuts and cacao and cut them into squares. Here is my pumped-up version: Nutrishus Raw Brownie Bites r DVQ SBX PSHBOJD XBMOVUT (adding more for texture as desired) r DVQ .FEKPPM GBODZ EBUFT pitted (such as Trader Joe’s brand) r DVQ SBX VOTXFFUFOFE DBcao (such as Dagoba brand) r UFBTQPPO TFB TBMU r UBCMFTQPPO VOTXFFUFOFE unrefined, organic coconut oil r IPOFZ JG EFTJSFE GPS DPBUJOH with coconut
r ESZ VOTXFFUFOFE DPDPOVU flakes Blend your walnuts, pitted dates, cacao, sea salt and coconut oil in a food processor (or Nutribullet for example) until blended well. You’ll be left with a chunk of the mixture, which almost resembles cookie dough, and can easily be formed into balls. You’re going to do just that! Form into one-inch balls, and either roll first in honey and then coconut flakes or simply roll into balls and press coconut flakes onto the bites. Special thanks to Max .D7BZ XIP UIPVHIU PG UIJT USJDL as we were filming; the honey coating allows for a thicker layer of coconut and added sweetness. I usually do sans-honey as I think the dates are sweet enough though, but you be the taste tester! Bon appétit et Bonne santé, Trish
The Mirror | Week of February 19, 2014
The Vine
WVOF
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Review: Dysfunctional family getting ... just sad
What to listen to next By Jana Novak WVOF Music Director
Bear Hands "Distraction"
Cont. from page 10
The Brooklyn-based group's second album is overflowing with fast, rhythmic hooks and blaring beats. Pieced together over a three-year period, the album's lyrics touch on a wide range of subjects from agoraphobia to failed relationships. It deftly combines attention-grabbing urgency and infectious melodies into a ball of alt-rock deliciousness.
ceeded to have a meltdown, probably realizing his own mortality. However, I don’t think Frank (or any of the other characters for that matter) has fully accepted his impending death, and I don’t really think he has to. I find it hard to believe the writers would kill off Frank’s character, just because he’s a jerk. He’s our jerk. I would even argue that Frank is the only real, human antagonist on the show, as his drinking problem and aloof nature have created countless hurdles for the rest of the family. I have a theory, and it might be a longshot but it’s something. Since Fiona’s in jail, I think she’ll have no choice but to give her liver to Frank. She claims to be the only character that keeps the family together, but when she posted bail and came home to find an empty house, it became clear that Fiona has lost sight of the important things. Fiona has lost her way, distancing herself from her family in order to keep a job that pays well and consistently, and she needs to realize that leaving her roots is going to be more difficult than selling some cups. She is Liam’s legal guardian, and with her in jail having endangered Liam’s life, and Frank on his deathbed, her options seem to be either put Liam (and probably Carl and Debbie too) into the foster system, or save Frank’s life so he can take over as parent. The episode ended with Fiona alone in the house with a passed-out Frank (maybe they aren’t so different after all?) while Liam was discharged into the loving arms of the rest of his family. Hopefully next week we’ll find out if Frank and Fiona’s fates are sealed. Tune in to “Shameless” this Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime.
Into It. Over It. "Intersections" Venturing slightly from the pop-punk sound of his previous work, Evan Weiss' sophomore album has found new ground with much more complex production and a tone clearly influenced in part by his friend Mike Kinsella of Owen. The album is steeped in loneliness and heartfelt introspections relatable to any 20-something in the midst of figuring things out. "Intersections" is emotionally weighted and melancholic in the best way possible. Bibio fashion but lovely nonetheless.
Son Lux "Lanterns" Experimental oddities and orchestral instruments come together in Ryan Lott's incredibly dense third album. His extensive musical background is highly apparent as he successfully interweaves seemingly contrasting aspects into a masterfully arranged roller coaster of noise and texture. Son Lux has without a doubt become an expert of unconventional sound. Contributed Photos
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Coffee Break
THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
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COFFEE BREAK Page Designed by Danica Ceballos
Point/Counterpoint: Facebook and Gender Editor’s note:
Point/Counterpoint wants to give students on campus a chance to voice their opinions on specific issues. The topics must be relevant to a majority of the student population and can be a current event or a longstanding issue. If you would like to be featured in the column, contact info@fairfieldmirror. com.
Shauna Mitchell
Robert Joyce Staff Writer Facebook recently added over 50 new options, which users can select to identify as their gender for their personal profiles … and you shouldn’t care. Don’t get me wrong: There is absolutely nothing wrong with what Facebook has done. In fact, it is great that Facebook is allowing their users further customization in how they choose to identify themselves on their online profiles. There is, however, a problem with how people are interpreting this small addition as a big step towards equality. This isn’t a step forward nor backwards; it is a step sideways. It represents a minor addition to a popular website, not an immediate global acceptance of advocacy for gender identity equality. Sure, Facebook has 1.2 billion active monthly users. That’s a scary amount of people. These people use the site daily to propagate their personal political opinions, sharing memes and statuses they choose to identify with. As consumers of this daily newsfeed warzone of propaganda, we are creating a sense of apathy towards political activism.
Stags Say ...
Chief Copy Editor The generations of young progressive thinkers at college campuses who banded together to stand up for what they believe are right now sitting behind their computers and sharing posts, as opposed to making a sign and nailing it to a post and marching around for the change they believe in. At the very least, society should just accept this new feature as a minor change for Facebook. Facebook periodically revamps their user interface adding many new changes to their site with little to no media coverage. Arguably, most users’ profiles relay very little about themselves. Progression was probably the last thing on Facebook’s mind when they added this feature. Why not just delete gender from Facebook? Then they cannot use profile gender identity to target users with certain advertisements. Facebook deserves no credit as an advocator of equality. They are still trivializing complicated concepts of self-identity to exist in their digital realm via a fill-in-the-blank text box.
Imagine you’re filling out an important questionnaire. It asks you to provide your name, age, home address, and, among other things, race. However, when you get to the race question, it only provides two options: white or black. How would a Latina woman respond? How would a Native American man respond? These people would feel trivialized that their race wasn’t included as an option on the form. This is something transgendered people have struggled with, and continue to struggle with every day. As nothing more than a social construct, having a gender binary (man/ woman dichotomy) limits the way people can acceptably identify themselves. Very recently, a discussion has been growing louder within the LGBTQ community about the language we as a society use to define genders, and Facebook is an outlet that is reflecting this new vocabulary. Many are seeing gender not as a binary, but as a spectrum, allowing
Notable Quotes
Meika Hale | Senior I think it’s really appropriate in this day and age. Gender identity should be up to the individual, not just society.
for several different combinations of traditional genders (ex. male to female, cis male), and even places on the scale for completely new ones (ex. Neutrois, intersex). See, it’s problematic to assume that a person identifies as a man strictly because he was born with male anatomy. So this recent change to the Facebook interface — allowing users to identify as genders other than man/woman — is a great idea. It allows people to portray themselves more accurately because it doesn’t force them to choose between just two labels. Social media is used as a platform for self-expression. If we can’t use language to precisely define ourselves, then how else are we supposed to do it? Being able to accurately define our gender is a step in the right direction: forward. I hope other social media outlets, and organizations and institutions of all kinds, follow the example Facebook is setting. Nothing is black and white, especially not gender.
Hope Lamberson | Grad Student
What do you think of the gender option on Facebook?
Ricardo Dreyfous | Sophomore
I think it’s null and void. You’ll be able to tell someone’s gender by his/her picture.
Jameel James | Senior
A tactical approach to progress. Equal rights for LGBTQ community.
Francesca Adamo | Sophomore I think that it is great that people are able to distinguish whatever gender they identify themselves as instead of the two narrow categories of male and female.
I think the only way you can make a big change in the U.S. is socially. Public opinion has to change, and Facebook is a great way to do it.
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
Weekly 4x5
Because they like to talk ...
Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor
Your 2013-2014 4x5 Columnists:
Jennifer Calhoun, Luigi DiMeglio, Thomas Shea and Connor Kelley
Who is your favorite Olympian?
Give an overall prediction for men's lacrosse this season?
Is the NFL ready for Michael Sam?
Thoughts on Jeter's retirement announcement?
Favorite Disney song?
I'm going to go with half of the British Ice Dancing Team in Nick Buckland. He is a gorgeous man.
They're going to say goodbye to the ECAC in style.
They should be. It's complete crap that they think they can get away with saying that "it's different in NFL lockerrooms." No it's called human decency and it should be practiced in and out of the lockers.
I think he set the season record for most T-ball home runs. But Pablo Sanchez was a close second. He was a very valuable asset to the Blue Bombers.
This is a tough question. I have like a top five. "I'll Make a Man Out of You," "I Just Can't Wait to be King," "Under the Sea," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman."
Yes, and the more people that ask that question, the more my generation has to deal with facts that shouldn't be newsworthy. We are all equally as unimportant ... and made of stardust, which is fascinating.
I had a childhood of rooting for a team that did pretty well. Derek Jeter did it with class and that made me stick with the Yankees despite all the haters.
Disney now owns Star Wars, so I'm gong to say "Here They Come!" ... Alright fine, "Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book." Happy, Jen?
Ready for what? One of the best defensive players in the country this year whom scouts have compared to Trent Cole, who has averaged nine sacks per season for the last five years? If they're not ready, the NFL has lost a fan. Time to come to the 21st century boys.
Not many players I respect more than Jeets (Google "Yeah Jeets," you'll lose respect for the man quickly, but kind of like him more too). What is really awesome is seeing the fear in Yankee fans' eyes now. I can almost taste it ... delicious.
Slovenia's Jakov Fak.
They're going to kill it.
There's a Jamaican bobsled team enough said. But Patrick Shannon for Ireland's skeleton team has some of the dopest helmets ever, and most of the female athletes from the Nordic countries aren't terrible to look at either.
This is a team to watch. I'm thinking they kiss the ECAC goodbye with a conference title and maybe a nice little run in the NCAA Tourney. Both the men's and women's teams are really exciting to see play.
After last Saturday, T.J. Oshie. The four shootout goals he scored against the commies with a smile was more impressive than any gold medal performance posted so far.
Without Loyola and Denver, the ECAC is up for the Stags' taking. They steal the top spot and an NCAA berth.
Luigi DiMeglio Managing Editor
Thomas Shea Multimedia Manager
Connor Kelley The Hammer
What to watch for: Thursday:
If the U.S. military was able to change, so can the NFL. This should be a non-issue.
He is a biracial angel that deserves to go out on his own terms. A piece of my childhood will die with his career.
The theme from "Angels in the Outfield." You hear that, you'll have goosebumps for days, just because of JGL. The Royals play it every time one of their players hits a home run. So it plays like once a month.
"Hakuna Matata," from "The Lion King." How can you beat no worries for the rest of your days? Timon and Pumbaa make all the others look like Rebecca Black's "Friday."
What you missed:
Men's basketball at Niagara, 7 p.m.
Friday:
Thursday:
Women's basketball vs. Manhattan, 7 p.m.
Women's basketball defeated Rider, 52-50
Women's tennis vs. Villanova, 8 p.m.
Men's basketball lost to Quinnipiac, 80-72
Baseball at North Florida, 6 p.m. Softball vs. Lamar, 5:45 p.m.
Saturday:
Men's basketball at Canisius, 2 p.m.
Saturday:
Women's lacrosse at Rutgers, 1 p.m.
Men's lacrosse defeated Delaware, 18-8
Men's lacrosse vs. Manhattan, 1 p.m.
Men's basketball lost to Rider, 71-62
Men's tennis vs. Fairleigh Dickinson, 7 p.m.
Men's swimming and diving finished ninth at MAAC Championships
Sunday:
Women's basketball at Siena, 2 p.m.
Tuesday:
Men's lacrosse at Hofstra, 3 p.m. Men's basketball at St. Peter's 7 p.m.
Women's swimming and diving finished seventh at MAAC Championships
Sports
By Matthew Schneider Sports Columnist The Winter Olympic Games in Sochi are nearing their end, which means that it’s almost time for the gold-medal games in ice hockey. The U.S. women’s team is performing very well, and is on its way to a gold-medal matchup against its rivals, Canada. These teams have a storied rivalry and have met up in the gold-medal game four of a possible five times, including this
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
time (Women’s ice hockey was only introduced into the Olympic tournament in 1998). The Americans are seeking revenge on Canada for defeating them in the previous gold-medal game in Vancouver four years ago. The team has a legitimate chance at doing so, as they are playing at the top of their game. They annihilated Sweden 6-1 on Monday, outshooting their opponents by an unheard of 70-9 margin, so there is certainly no lack of skill for the Americans.
They just need to be careful not to underestimate their opponents, as they are made up of some of the world’s greatest female hockey players. The U.S. men’s team has a matchup set against the Czech Republic Wednesday at noon, which I think they will have no issue with. As long as goaltender Jonathan Quick and winger Phil Kessel continue to play the way they have been, the sky is the limit for this team. Assuming the U.S. team defeats the Czech Republic
and heavily favored Canada defeats severe underdog Latvia, the stage is set for a rematch of last year’s goldmedal game, which Canada won in overtime thanks to forward Sidney Crosby’s so-called “golden goal.” I truly feel that the U.S. team has a good chance to go far in this tournament, and is capable of defeating their daunting Canadian rivals. At the same time, however, I will not be surprised if Canada comes out firing on all cylinders, which would spell trouble for our
boys in red, white and blue. If everything goes as most would predict, the final four teams in the tournament will be the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Russia. If the Americans should happen to defeat Canada in their matchup, the stage would be set for a gold-medal game against either injury-plagued Sweden, or the vaunted offensive firepower of hostnation Russia. Both scenarios call for a great game, and as an American hockey fan, I cannot wait to see how everything plays out.
Creative Commons/OneTwo1 T.J. Oshie of the United States Hockey Team celebrates after scoring the winning shot in the sudden death penalty shoot-out against Russia. Oshie made four out of his six attempts to give USA the win.
By Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor At most schools, Fairfield included, athletic notoriety belongs to the select few who achieve the Division I status. However, at Fairfield, there are between 600 and 900 students participating in intramural athletics. “Well right now we’re having basketball and floor hockey. We have men’s A, men’s B and co-ed for basketball. We have a total of 53 teams just with basketball and for floor hockey we have 13 teams,” said Ian Diaz ‘13, the Graduate Assistant for Recreation. Intramurals finished up their fall season where they ran flag football, soccer and volleyball. After the winter season, they will move onto spring intramurals and indoor soccer and softball. Beyond the sports that are run through intramurals, there are also events that are open to all
students and are a collaborative effort between intramurals and other organizations on campus. “We just had an event with Cancer Crusher, a dodgeball tournament. It was a great turnout. We had music,” said Diaz. “We had a bunch of teams that came; it was great.” Regardless of what the event is with intramurals, the positive effect they have had on the participants is palpable. “It’s a way to get out of the dorm. It’s a way to compete with your classmates. It’s a way to get new friends. You know, one of my closest friends, I met them playing soccer with them. So it’s obviously great. It’s competition and it obviously helps you stay fit,” said Diaz. There are clear benefits to the hundreds of students who turn out every week for intramurals. It brings students together into teams, and promotes a healthy competition between students at the university.
It also bridges gaps between grades, as well as between commuters and on-campus students. “I would definitely really like to get the commuter population more here at the RecPlex. I would definitely say we want to increase diversity with bringing commuters and increasing the [participation of the] female population,” said Diaz. For the people that have already been involved with intramurals, there is an opportunity to get leadership experience might not be available in a classroom setting. “Our goal, and what I believe intramurals is, is you want a break from the academic life. We want to give kids leadership experience, but not really tie them into classroom leadership,” said Diaz. Regardless of whether you are one of the athletes or a leader, intramurals are a valuable asset to students across Fairfield’s campus.
Intramural spring sports Co-ed and men's indoor soccer Co-ed and men's softball
Sports
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THE MIRROR | Week of February 19, 2014
Derek Jeter gives his one-year notice By Patrick Kiernan Contributing Writer Well, the day that Yankee fans, myself included, have feared for about 19 years is here now as Derek Jeter has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after the 2014 season this past Wednesday. This season will be the last for Jeter as he attempts to return from a myriad of injuries that limited his 2013 campaign to just 17 games. Yet after winning five MLB World Series championships and holding some of the league’s most prestigious records, the Captain will be returning for one last time to prove to friends and foes alike that he still has some gas left in the tank. Unfortunately for Jeter, the cards are stacked against him. Many people believe that at the age of 39, the 13-time All Star will be unable to return from injury and have a complete season, let alone a good one. To be honest, even as a Yankee and Jeter fanatic, I have my doubts as well. So, I’d like to go over Captain Clutch’s illustrious career with one of the league’s finest dynasties and soak in this superstar’s success before his last campaign. Let’s start with the raw statistics: a career .312 batting average, 3,316 hits, 1,876 runs and 348 stolen bases. His batting average is 84th all time, his runs number is 13th all time, and his stolen bases account for number 112. Jeter’s hits number is ninth all time and he is one of only 28 members in the 3,000 hit club. He is also the Yankees all time leader in hits and puts up consistent numbers season after season. These numbers have garnered Jeter a number of valuable awards.
Although he never won the MLB’s Most Valuable Player Award, he was named the World Series MVP when the Yankees won in 2000. He has also been awarded the Rookie of the Year Award in 1996, the Hank Aaron Award twice, the Silver Slugger Award five times and the Gold Glove Award five times. Though he has won many season-wide awards, what Mr. November is most known for is his flare for the dramatic in the postseason. The clutch plays that he has made can send chills down your spine. Who can possibly forget the most controversial home run call ever that the rookie Derek Jeter, hit against the Orioles in the 1996 postseason? Trailing 4-3 in the eighth inning, Jeter hit a fly ball to right field that fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the wall to catch. Although it was clear that the ball would have stayed in the field of play had the fan not reached over, the umpires ruled it a home run anyway. This marked the first postseason home run of Jeter’s career that helped the Yankees win the World Series that year. After that game, when Jeter was asked about his thoughts on Maier, he slyly grinned and said “attaboy.” And who can forget “The Flip” from 2001 against the Oakland Athletics? Watching replays of Jeter backhand toss the cut off throw to catcher Jorge Posada to tag out Jeremy Giambi and preserve the Yankees lead is absolutely breathtaking, in my opinion. What makes it even more astounding is that Jeter, the shortstop, had no business being down the first base line. No business at all. But that play won the Yankees the game. It won the Best Play Award at the 2002 ESPY’s and is ranked the seventh
most amazing play of all time by Baseball Weekly. With the exception of 2008 and 2013, the Yankees have made the postseason every year since Jeter joined the team. He has a career .309 postseason batting average, and a .351 batting average in the World Series. Jeter holds MLB postseason records for games played (158), plate appearances (734), at-bats (650), hits (200), singles (143), doubles (32), triples (5), runs scored (111), total bases (302) and strikeouts (135.) Yeah, go ahead. Drop your jaw in awe. He is also third in home runs (20), fourth in runs batted in (61), fifth in base on balls (66) and sixth stolen bases
(18.) These numbers have made many baseball analysts consider Jeter a first ballot Hall of Fame candidate. So, even though Derek Jeter’s career is coming to a close, it is important to reflect on the greatness that he has achieved and recognize him as one of the best to ever grace Yankee Stadium and Major League Baseball as a whole. His postseason heroics, on-field accolades and overall consistency have established him as a household name for any baseball fan and possibly as the greatest Yankee of all time. I pray for Jeter to have a fabulous final Creative Commons/Keith Allison season and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
Creative Commons/OneTwo1 Derek Jeter at bat for the Yankees against the Colorado Rockies on June 19, 2007.
DANGEROUS IN THE WRONG HANDS.
JUST BECAUSE IT’S GOOD FOR YOU, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S SAFE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. Some things just aren’t meant for everyone. Just like an ordinary peanut can be dangerous to some, your prescription drugs when shared with someone else can cause serious side effects or dangerous interactions with other medications. Besides, it’s illegal for anyone without a license to dispense prescription meds, or for anyone without a prescription to take them. How’s that for a dose of reality?
SAFEGUARD YOUR MEDICINE Keep prescription medicine in a secure place. For a free medicine lock bag, contact the Student Health Center or the Office of Public Safety. D I S P O S E P R O P E R LY O F Y O U R U N U S E D M E D I C AT I O N Safely dispose of unused medicine by contacting the Student Health Center or Office of Public Safety for a free disposal kit. E D U C AT E Y O U R S E L F Prescription drug abuse is the use of a medication without a prescription in a way other than as prescribed. Go to www.talkaboutrx.org for more information.
SPORTS 16 Sports Editor: Jennifer Calhoun » sports@fairfieldmirror.com
Week of February 19, 2014
By Alex Fylypovych Contributing Writer At 6 a.m. on a sub-32 degree February morning most Fairfield students were likely bundled up, sleeping in bed. But 28 students had been up for an hour en route to Hunter Mountain, N.Y., adrenaline stirring in their waking bodies. During the weekend of Feb. 8, members of the Fairfield University Ski and Snowboard team competed in their final regular season competitions in the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) N.J. Conference. In freestyle snowboarding, the Temple brothers, Taylor ’14 and Chase ’17 finished first and second respectively, and Julian Focareta ’14 placed fourth. Alpine Skiers Ali Rayfield ’14 and Nevin Zais ’14 finished among the top 10 for female and male racers, respectively. Rayfield, Zais and Taylor Temple qualified for Regionals. But it’s not all about the trophies. “Ski team is a great way to get involved on campus; you make lifelong friends,” four-year team member and senior snowboarding captain Temple said. “I see people walking around on campus in ski stuff and I just want to go up to them and say, ‘Hey, we have a ski team – join it!’” Temple said. He spoke invitingly and encouraged those interested to “give it a go and give it your all; we welcome you with open arms. It’s not like we have try outs,” Temple laughed. No physical tryouts, that is.
“If we could, we would want ski team to be open to everyone, but we don’t have enough funding,” Temple said. Due to an overwhelming 70 students that attended an initial Ski and Snowboard team meeting last Fall, captains formulated a questionnaire to narrow the member list. “We had a number of different questions to gauge how good [an applicant] might be but more importantly how committed they would be,” Temple said. After deliberating, it was time to hit the slopes. Every season, team bonding starts during the last week of winter break with an annual training trip to Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, Canada. “There’s no official training schedule but it’s a good start to the season because of the challenging terrain; we get to warm up,” Temple said. The ten-hour car ride and five days on the mountain with team members builds a lasting foundation of energy and friendship. “We’re like a family,” Temple said. And they sure do act like one, too. The student-run team relies on their captains, whose responsibilities oscillate between managing and coaching. Simply put, the captains are responsible for harnessing their inner soccer moms. Arranging drivers, scheduling hotel reservations and managing racing bibs and lift tickets all factor into the success of a weekend. “They are always on point with everything,” Chase Temple said. He recalled one morning he overslept, certain that he missed the trip pick
up, only to find that his captains did not leave him behind. “They could have just left me, but I ended up being able to go; they always took care of us,” he said. Once the bindings are clipped and goggles are on, captains are in their element, supporting and advising their teammates on the mountain. “If we see a teammate trying something new, we’re there to talk them through it and to push them to their limits,” Temple said. This winter was especially memorable for the Temple brothers who, after three seasons apart, were finally able to train with and compete against each other as fellow Stags. “When Taylor went to college, we never got the chance to ride together, so it was cool dueling against each other and having fun at the same time,” Chase said. Unfortunately, Chase’s snowboarding season ended with a broken hand on Saturday, Feb. 8, just one day before the final competition. He still placed second to his older sibling, vividly remembering, “being on the podium with my brother and having the medal put around my neck.” He’s looking forward to progressing next year and “pushing it to the next level and trying to get that first place spot.” The ski team had injuries, too, resulting in not placing as well as they had in previous years. This season, “we lost a couple good skiers and had two racers out for injuries, so that was a hard hit,” senior ski team captain Rayfield explained. But with fresh coaching input from Bart Kallgren, program coordinator for the office of conference and event management,
the ski team’s overall tactics progressed. Kallgren, who was a varsity ski racer at Castleton State College in Vermont. “Since graduating I’ve been trying to find my way back into the ski racing community and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to coach the Fairfield team this season.” Kallgren said. “He was able to get one skier to take off six seconds and everyone’s technique was massively improved,” Rayfield said of the impromptu ski coach. In thinking about next season, she confidently spoke for the team, “We’d love to have him back.” Junior Captain George Kostakis wants Kallgren as a permanent coaching figure on the team. In addition to providing numerous racing pointers, “Bart served as a middleman between the university and the students on the team, which in my opinion was much needed,” Kostakis said. Kallgren plans on returning to “get the team on snow for some preseason training as well as continuing training days during the season so we can continue to stay competitive with the other schools in our conference,” he said. Student leadership received recognition as well. Captains Rayfield and Temple applauded the diligence of junior captains Kostakis and Kealy Gorman. “We’ve always had junior officers, shadowing the captains to pick up where we left off ” Rayfield said. “It’s a training process, but they had a huge role this year, much more than I did last year.” According to Temple, having
worked with juniors as captains this year will make the transition into next season even smoother for the team. “I feel honored that I was thought of as a suitable candidate to run the team after the captains have graduated,” Kostakis said. He learned a lot about managing a team and fixing the “day-to-day mishaps that come with running a university-affiliated team of 30 people.” Next year, Kostakis plans on maintaining the intimate group dynamic he’s grown accustomed to over the past three years. He has personal goals, too. “I’d love to make the podium next year… and I feel like with a bit of hard work and luck that is very possible,” he said. Following the tradition, graduating seniors will be checking in with the ski team next February. “Even when you graduate, there’s still a nice bond between all generations of the ski team,” Temple said. Rayfield said she wishes for her teammates to welcome new members next year and make them feel comfortable, and hopes returning members carry on the legacy of being a “friendly, fun, competitive team.” Photos Contributed by Tyler Meyer Top left: The ski team poses at the top of the hill. Top right: Nevin Zais '14 skis down the hill. Bottom left: Julian Focareta '14 airs a jump for the snowboard team. Bottom right: The ski team, past and present, stops for a picture.