NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • VOLUME 90 • ISSUE 12
The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929
OPINION: LGBTQ DORMS P. 4
SPORTS: SLOVAKIAN STAR P. 10
ARTS & LIFE: VETERAN’S LIBRARY EXHIBIT P. 6
Quinnipiac aims to support its troops on Veterans Day and every day By CONNOR LAWLESS Staff Writer
Thank you, veterans
CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE
A small crowd gathered outside of the Carl Hansen Student Center on the morning of Nov. 11, for a flag raising ceremony run by the Student’s Veterans Association in honor of Veterans Day. A group of student veterans, led by the Quinnipiac Student Veterans Organization president Colby Milliken, stood before the flagpole as three uniformed service members lowered the Quinnipiac flag and raised The National League of Families POW/MIA flag in its place. Among them was freshman Tyler Gorman, a video game design and English double major. “I thought it was really nice, it was my first event participating at QU,” Gorman, a veteran, said. “It really shows how much of a community QU is.” After the ceremony Milliken, a junior management and economics major, welcomed the crowd to participate in the Student Veteran Organization’s next event, Cup of “GI-Joe,” and card signing for deployed service members. The veterans mixed into the crowd and socialized while a line formed to write messages in the cards. These events were just the start of the Veterans Day week at Quinnipiac honoring veterans in a multitude of ways. Q-Factor is holding a talent show benefiting Homes for our Troops, which provides mortage-free homes for veterans. The School of Medicine is hosting a book club with speaker Jason Burke, director of veterans and military affairs. Additionally, the men’s
The Quinnipiac community gathered in front of the student center for a flag–raising ceremony on Nov. 11.
See VETERANS Page 2
Increasing cultural awareness
Daymyen Layne fills role of director of multicultural education and training Staff Writer
The position of director of multicultural education and training has not been occupied for a few years, but this month, Daymyen Layne of Hamden filled that role. Layne said he will be working closely with multicultural organizations and other departments related to diversity on campus. “On the student side, that involves more of a support role for student organizations and multicultural organizations in a consulting fashion to different departments across campus,” Layne said. Layne’s goals at Quinnipiac are to make students more culturally aware and to train faculty in promoting positive cultural interactions with the students. “We are excited to have Daymyen join the Bobcat Nation,” said Don Sawyer, vice president for equity and inclusion. “He brings a wealth of experience that will help us reach our goal of creating a campus environment that is conducive to the success of every member of our community.” One way Layne said he will encourage students to be more culturally conscious is
through programs focus on the tough conversations regarding culture. “One of them is called, ‘A Place at the Table,’ where we have certain topics throughout the semester, or year, and sit down, order food and have candid conversations about culture,” Layne said. “We handle anything from Kapernick in the NFL to voter suppression.” Another program Layne developed is called, “Circle of Perspectives.” It is based on films that provoke dialogue about culture and get an opportunity to discuss the students’ thoughts. “We did ‘13th,’ and parts of ‘When They See Us,’” Layne said. “We showed ‘Poverty, Inc.’ We’re just trying to open students’ eyes to more of a global perspective.” According to Data USA, Quinnipiac’s student body (undergraduate and graduate students) is approximately 75% white. The lack of ethnic diversity here is not something Layne chooses to focus on as an issue. “I don’t see diversity as necessarily a problem,” Layne said. “Part of the reason I came here is that it reminds me of my undergrad. I went to Hartwick College, a small, predominantly white institution. I feel I was a Quinnipiac student. I see
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Layne said he doesn’t see diversity as an issue at Quinnipiac, but rather as an area for growth.
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INDEX
By EMILY FLAMME
Opinion: 4
Arts and Life: 6
Sports: 10
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
2| News
America’s identity
MEET THE EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bryan Murphy MANAGING EDITOR Alexis Guerra CREATIVE DIRECTOR Janna Marnell NEWS EDITOR Emily DiSalvo ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Stephen MacLeod OPINION EDITOR
Associate professor of political science releases book about identity politics in America By CHATWAN MONGKOL Contributing Writer
Khalilah Brown-Dean, associate professor of political science, hopes to give the public, and her students a sense current of U.S. politics through her newly released book, “Identity Politics in the United States.” In addition to being a professor, she calls herself a scholar, an author and a civic influencer. She works with legislators, community groups and non-profit organizations to figure out how they can address public policy needs across the country. Brown-Dean shared her passion for her new book. “What I want to do in the book is give us a historical background of why the U.S. seems so divided,” Brown-Dean said.
There are many debates going on in today’s political climate including immigration, voting rights and the #MeToo movement. Brown-Dean said she wants to address how to understand the divisions between the two parties on the issues and how to move forward. Brown-Dean said identity is what American politics is all about because everyone’s views on political matters have a lot of impact on how they interact with each other. A tension could arise when two people talk about an issue through different perspectives. This is the reason why Brown-Dean said it is important to talk about identity in politics in this time of history. “I think instead of blaming people for that or seeing it as a negative thing, I want
Toyloy Brown III ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Jessica Simms ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Ryan Miller SPORTS EDITORS Brendan O’Sullivan Jared Penna DESIGN EDITOR Ilana Sherman
THE QUINNIPIAC CHRONICLE is the proud recipient of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors’ award for College Newspaper of the Year in New England for 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2015-16. MAILING ADDRESS Quinnipiac University 275 Mount Carmel Avenue Hamden, CT 06518 THE CHRONICLE is distributed around all three university campuses every Wednesday when school is in session except during exam periods. Single copies are free. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline. Please report suspicious activity to university security (203-582-6200). For additional copies, contact the student media office for rates. ADVERTISING inquiries can be sent to advertise@quchronicle.com. Inquiries must be made a week prior to publication. SEND TIPS, including news tips, corrections or suggestions to Bryan Murphy at editor@quchronicle.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be between 250 and 400 words and must be approved by the Editorin-Chief before going to print. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit all material, including advertising, based on content, grammar and space requirements. Send letters to editor@quchronicle.com. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Chronicle.
November 13, 2019
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KHALILAH BROWN-DEAN
Khalilah Brown-Dean’s book gives a historic perspective on division in the United States.
us to look at what are the strengths,” BrownDean said. “How can we learn about how other people live and how might that influence what we believe?” While Brown-Dean was writing the book, she learned that when people understand the past, it becomes easier to understand the present. Even though Brown-Dean has a book tour scheduled, she said she is diligent about managing her time. She makes sure that this book tour isn’t taking away from her role as a professor and more importantly, that this book will help her inform her teaching and make her a better professor. Brown-Dean’s classes this semester focus on how to make sense of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump. She said she uses her real-world experience to help her students have a better understanding of complex questions. “I use this book to help students also see that I’m not here to tell them how to think,” Brown-Dean said. “I’m here to challenge them, to think, to think differently, to think broadly and to think critically. Whatever career field the students go into, they will be confronted with these issues.” Alexandra Peake, a junior computer information systems major, said Brown-Dean’s expertise in identity politics has helped her understanding of certain political topics. “It has helped me understand all sides of politics and how the nation can be so divided,” Peake said. Brown-Dean thinks that identity will be a bigger focus heading into the 2020 presidential election than it was during the 2016 campaign. Currently, the Democratic field is very diverse in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity. She said she expects to see a lot of identities talked about on the campaign trail in 2020. “It’s not just about what groups people belong to, but how their experience is shaped by that,” Brown-Dean said. “Identity Politics in the United States” is now available on Amazon, Polity Press and Barnes and Noble. Learn more about Brown-Dean’s work at kbdphd.com. BrownDean will discuss her book Thursday, Nov. 14, from 7-8 p.m. at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore in Middletown, Connecticut.
Burke: ‘The major reason (for Quinnipiac’s ranking) is the focus and dedication of our warrior scholars’
VETERANS from cover
hockey and women’s basketball teams are both offering discounted tickets for veterans, and the hockey team will wear special uniforms for its game during the week of Veteran’s Day. The week’s events are part of Quinnipiac’s ongoing efforts to make the school as welcoming to veterans as possible. “I believe (the school) supports us. They give us our own study session room. They help us with tutoring, our own librarian, they really go above and beyond,” Milliken said. Quinnipiac has a strong ranking when it comes to veteran friendly colleges, with recognitions from Military Friendly and Military Times, ranking in the top ten for both. On Military Times, Quinnipiac has especially high scores in “Culture & Commitment” to veterans as well as “Graduation & Career” “The major reason (for Quinnipiac’s ranking) is the focus and dedication of our warrior scholars,” Burke said. “Their high retention and graduation rate is well above the national average and they support each other on their QU mission.” The high scores in “Culture & Commitment” can be seen from the list of events for the week and support the community provides. Hamden Mayor Curt Balzano Leng declared Nov. 11, “Quinnipiac University Student Vet-
CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE
The National League of Familes POW/MIA flag replaced the Quinnipiac flag in honor of Veterans Day. erans Day” in the Town of Hamden. The university’s commitment to students also shows through the services it provides veterans, such as their own adviser. “(Burke) helps us with finances for going to school and if were trying to get into classes that might be harder to get because were coming in as transfer students, they help us get that,” Gorman said. “Our professors are aware that we might have jobs if we live off campus so they work with us on that if we need an extension but you know, were older, we might have other things,
like a family at home.” President Judy Olian asked the student body to celebrate the veterans representing students, faculty and more. With over 200 veterans or current service members, including students and faculty, the Quinnipiac military community is a group that Olian said that the university is grateful for. “We are inspired by our veterans as role models for their leadership and experiences, and for demonstrating their values as enlightened global citizens,” Olian said.
November 13, 2019
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Wednesday, Nov. 13
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Behind-the-scenes hero
The Ed McMahon Center’s secretary recognized for years of service to Quinnipiac
Bake Sale
By NICOLE MCISAAC
Bobcats in the Community will be holding a bake sale to raise money for future events. The organization provides various programs to people who have extended stays in healthcare facilities. The bake sale will be held at the Student Center tables from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You may not know her, but some aspect of your education has probably been made possible because of her work behind the scenes. Students and faculty said Susan Scoopo holds all of the pieces of the School of Communications together, and she is more than happy to do so. Scoopo, a Quinnipiac University alumni, has been the head secretary in the Ed McMahon Center for the past six years. On Thursday, Oct. 17, she was awarded the Excellence in Teaching and Service to Students Award. “I was completely shocked,” Scoopo said. “I was in a fake meeting that I had prepared for and then suddenly, I see Dean (of the School of Communications Chris) Roush and President Judy Olian walk in. They completely surprised me with this award.” The award recognizes several members of the university community who demonstrate superior teaching and service to all students. The honorees are selected through a nomination process by fellow faculty and chair members. “She is one of the unsung heroes on this campus. (Administrative assistants) don’t get many pats on the back, that’s why it was so great that she won that award,” said William Schwanbeck, professor of journalism. Over the years, Scoopo has contributed a tremendous amount of hardwork and dedication, extending far beyond her original job description. While most people will normally complain about the extra work, Scoopo said she will do it without any hesitation. “The answer is never, ‘That is not my job,’” Scoopo said. “You name it, and I will do it.” Scoopo detailed the extra responsibilities that she takes on, but the tasks are something she said she doesn’t mind. Those additional activities include priority enrollments with undergraduate and graduate students, overall manual enrollment, all of the new student orientations and many other activities not included in her job description. “I just want to be able to make a difference with the students,” Scoopo said. “I just want to be able to help them get through their years here.” Scoopo said the overall well-being of the Quinnipiac community is extremely important to her because she cares about the people in it. Scoopo mentioned that she takes great pride in all of the students, and the work they produce. “I like seeing the students go off and do really good things,” Scoopo said.
Dance Company Krispy Kreme Fundraiser The Dance Company will be raising money for its organization by selling Krispy Kreme donuts at the Student Center tables from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.
Open Mic Night The Legends A Cappella will be hosting an open mic night for any kind of performer to come and share a talent. The event will be held in the Piazza at 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 14 QU Democratic and Republican Debate The Quinnipiac Political Science Association will be moderating a debate on current issues in the news between the QU Democrats and Republicans. Students can attend the debate and will be allowed to ask questions. The event will be held in CCE 114 at 6:15 p.m.
Copacabana Night The Latino Cultural Society will be hosting a night for students to listen to music, enjoy free food and win raffle prizes. Copacabana Night will be held in Burt Kahn Court at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 15 ASM Guest Speaker - Dr. Bert Jacobs Dr. Bert Jacobs will be presenting his topic on “The Amazing, Death-Defying … POxviruses” at 12 p.m. in Buckman Theater. The American Society for Microbiology will give students and faculty the chance to meet with Jacobs and ask him questions.
Contributing Writer
Diwali Dinner The South Asian Society will be hosting a dinner for the Hindu festival of lights call Diwali. Students can enjoy free food in Burt Kahn Court at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19 Ask Away The Student Government Association will be hosting a campus-wide event to allow students to discuss difficult topics with those with different backgrounds and beliefs. The event will be held in Burt Kahn Court at 8:30 p.m.
2001-2019
News |3
NICOLE MCISAAC/CHRONICLE
Susan Scoopo has greeted students entering the Ed McMahon Center in the School of Business for the past six years. Scoopo continues to influence the lives around her on campus everyday. Whether it’s fellow colleagues or students, Scoopo leaves a remarkable impression on those who encounter her. “To have someone as sweet and caring as Susan greet you everyday when you walk into the School of Business is completely refreshing,” said Madison Stout, a sophomore political science major. “She goes above and beyond for everyone around her.” Students said they always feel welcomed by Scoopo’s presence and willingness to help. “I just started my journey at Quinnipiac. Every time I am walking to my film class, she greets me,” said Alyssa Baker, a freshman film major. “Just seeing her smile and wave at me everyday makes me feel welcomed to campus already.”
Scoopo also shares a personal connection to Quinnipiac University. Her mother, Nancy Carney, worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for 32 years. Scoopo attended Quinnipiac for her four undergraduate years and met her husband, Don Scoopo, here. Her children are currently enrolled at the university. She said everything she knew and loved has come from being a Bobcat. “When I started looking for jobs full time, I knew this was where I wanted to be,” Scoopo said. The Quinnipiac community recognizes Scoopo’s passion which is reflected in her work every day, and to Scoopo, this community feels like home. “I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else,” Scoopo said. “I’m more than happy here.”
Layne: ‘I like to take a hands-off approach and guide them’ LAYNE from cover diversity as opportunities.” An inside look into his job reveals that there is no typical day. Layne has many roles that he has to fulfill. He consults students about their clubs and helps them with other culture-related activities they may be a part of.
“It’s more of an advisory role, I like to take a hands-off approach and guide them,” Layne said. “You should really let students know what it’s like to run a club, run a budget, make sure they’re doing what they want. That really helps with the student experience.” Layne’s new role at Quinnipiac is to help with culture-related things, but he also wants to help students make the most of their overall col-
lege experience. “My background is in student affairs, and that’s where you really try to build environments where students can grow outside of the classroom,” Layne said. “A lot of students come in as first-year students, and they don’t realize that they can happen to the college as opposed to the college happening to them.”
“They don’t realize that they can happen to the college as opposed to the college happening to them.” – DAYMYEN LAYNE
DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
REST IN PEACE SADIE ROUSH
4| O p i n i o n
November 13, 2019
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Opinion
QUCHRONICLE.COM/OPINION OPINION@QUCHRONICLE.COM
Quinnipiac’s housing doesn’t support the LGBTQ community
The university should allow students to opt into gender-inclusive housing By LINDSEY DOWNEY Contributing Writer
For many LGBTQ youth, growing up is just a waiting game — waiting to leave an oppressive home, school or town and go somewhere where they can freely be themselves. For many, the first chance they have at this is college, but only if the institution they are attending is committed to making them feel safe. When it comes to housing options for LGBTQ students, Quinnipiac falls short of this. When it comes to picking a college, knowing that they will be accepted and supported is imperative to LGBTQ applicants. During my own college search, I could be found browsing countless Reddit and College Confidential threads as well as websites like the Campus Pride Index (which Quinnipiac does not appear on) to try and get a sense of what life would be like at schools as a queer person. Once I decided to come to Quinnipiac, I went through the same worries that most first-year students probably do before living on campus. Would my roommates and I be similar enough? Would we be friends? How would I decorate my room? Should I pack my winter coat and boots now? Sure, thinking about these questions was stressful, but it was nothing compared to the other worries on my mind. What would I do if my roommates were uncomfortable living with a queer person? What if they were outwardly homophobic? Should I pack my pride flag? How “out” should I be? These worries followed me on campus and through a good part of my first year, as I’m sure they did for many other LGBTQ students. For some, especially those that are transgender, living in a dorm means hiding one’s identity, or risking their safety by being out. I was lucky enough to be in a good situation and made friends both inside and outside my dorm that supported me and made me feel good about being myself. For other LGBTQ students, living in a dorm doesn’t always have such a positive outcome. Before they even come to college, transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students struggle with feeling accepted at school. In its 2018 Youth Report of students aged 13 to 17, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) found that only 31% of transgender students can completely express themselves and their gender identity at school. The same report also found that only a third of trans students are always being called by their true name and even less are being referred to by their pronouns. LGBTQ teenagers also reported feeling more stressed than their peers, and their experience in school included higher rates of verbal, physical and even sexual harassment because of their identity. Therefore, it’s not surprising why how we’ll be treated at college is so important to us. It’s a place that should make us feel welcome and safe, not worried.
“For a university of the future, Quinnipiac is actually quite behind the times when it comes to the inclusivity of its housing.” – LINDSEY DOWNEY
Currently, at Quinnipiac, transgender students are protected from discrimination by our Student Code of Conduct as well as our Title IX policy. These policies are fine when it comes to incidents that involve direct bias because of someone’s identity, but the policies don’t do anything to help students who live somewhere they don’t belong. Quinnipiac’s current on-campus housing system separates students, either by room, suite or hall based on the gender they were assigned at birth, something that inherently excludes the multitude of students whose true identity doesn’t align with the genitals they were born with. Currently, Quinnipiac makes individual housing accommodations for transgender students on a case-by-case basis. According to Quinnipiac’s policies page, Residential Life will discuss “type of room, bathroom facilities and roommate matching options, after which a housing assignment will be made,” with “students who have a gender or gender-identity related concern regarding university housing.” What happens to students that aren’t out to their family, or who aren’t comfortable reaching out to request these accommodations? This can put students in a compromising situation with their family when they have to explain why they are living in a different housing setting than everyone else. For returning students, it makes the already stressful housing selection process even more difficult. One of the options available to transgender students include being placed in a single-person apartment on Whitney. If they want to live with friends and have a traditional dorm experience, they have to disclose their identity to everyone in their housing group, and Residential Life will manually put the housing group together. Finding the right number of people to fill a suite is already hard enough for rising sophomores and juniors without having to come out to every person you ask to join your group. Coming out is an extremely personal decision, and LGBTQ people should always get to choose how and when they come out and to whom. Having this decision taken away from students just so that they can live where they will be comfortable just isn’t fair. Quinnipiac needs to commit to supporting its LGBTQ students and expand gender-inclusive housing to on-campus dorms. As an orientation leader, I have the privilege of helping introduce dozens of new Quinnipiac students to our school. During orientation, we take our groups of first years to different presentations that teach them about the culture, policies, and life at Quinnipiac I would sit with my first years every session as the Office of Residential Life told them about housing policies, choosing roommates and showed them photos of all the different residential halls. They would explain that incoming students don’t get a preference of which building they live in, but don’t worry, because “It’s not where you live, but who you live with that’s important.” What if the people you live with make it hard for you to express your identity? For a university of the future, Quinnipiac is actually quite behind the times when it comes to the inclusivity of its housing. Some people try to argue that allowing different genders live together will cause issues because students in relationships will live together. This concern, aside from being harmfully heteronormative, has not been an issue at other institutions. What these institutions have seen instead, is a great deal of success. Just in Connecticut, University of Connecticut has offered gender-inclusive housing since 2008, Southern Connecticut State University since 2012, and Yale, who’s gender-inclusive housing options have been expanding since 2010, finally opened it to first-year students with the class of 2022. In a report on the new option for first-year students, Yale’s Dean of Student Affairs, Camille Lizarríbar said she “heard no complaints from students” and even parents “stayed supportive, even if they had initially been surprised and worried.”
7 in 10
Transgender students
Cannot freely express themselves in school INFOGRAPHIC BY CONNOR LAWLESS
Data from the Human Rights Campaign.
One of the first-year students living in a mixed-gender suite told Yale News, “I think it’s so important for people to experience living with both genders. It helps us all see that the differences we thought were there, mostly aren’t.” Hundreds of universities across the country have reported similar success with their programs and have expanded them due to the popularity. Yet Quinnipiac has barely scratched the surface with its own process. While gender-inclusive housing would be a great step towards the university supporting LGBTQ students, it’s not the only group that would benefit from it. Many friend groups in college are made up of multiple genders, yet the only way they could live together would be in an off-campus house, taking underclassmen or students without their own car out of the running. University of Connecticut states on its gender-inclusive housing page that the program is not only for those in the LGBTQ community but also for “students who appreciate the learning and growth stemming from experiences with gender diversity.” By allowing all students to opt into gender-inclusive housing, Quinnipiac will be allowing students to have a more diverse and fulfilling college experience, where they will meet more people that come from different backgrounds and have different experiences and ideas. The program would also help promote general inclusivity on campus, as it would normalize mixed-gender housing groups, so that it is no longer something “for trans students,” and instead something everyone who wants to can partake in. However, I shouldn’t have to justify having inclusive housing by stating how it could also help cisgender and straight people. Quinnipiac’s Student Body Creed claims that it “respects and values all members of this diverse community,” but its policies don’t go the distance to reflect that. It shouldn’t be a hard choice for Quinnipiac to do something that would protect and support so many of its LGBTQ students, and it’s time for it to make some changes.
November 13, 2019
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Opinion|5
NCAA: Never Compensating Athletes Association
Its decision to allow players to profit from their name is a stall tactic By TOYLOY BROWN III Opinion Editor
The NCAA should look at changing the meaning of its acronym to something more fitting. Instead of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, how about the Never Compensating Athletes Association. This name is much more fitting regardless of the recent news it made. On Oct. 29, the top decision-makers in the NCAA voted unanimously in favor of starting the process to change its rules to allow college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model,” according to Dan Murphy of ESPN. In a media release, the NCAA explains that its top governing board wants these new rules to be “transparent, focused and enforceable” and in no way create a competitive imbalance. The NCAA wants each of its three divisions (Division I, II and III) to implement new rules by January 2021. One month earlier in California, state Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Fair Pay to Play Act, which will permit college athletes in the state to hire agents and accept endorsement money starting in January 2023. The potential new rules from the NCAA would not follow the “California model” signed in September because that is virtually a free market said Gene Smith, Ohio State athletic director. He also said that the NCAA would likely stay involved to sort out the details and remain as the group in charge of regulating future endorsement deals of players. The reality that the NCAA could potentially permit collegiate athletes to profit in any way from their fame is quite miraculous when you put into context that on Sept. 24, NCAA President Mark Emmert told a group of Division I athletic directors that granting athletes such rights would be an “existential threat” to the collegiate model and that this has been the “single biggest issue” in his tenure. On its surface, this new stance from the NCAA seems to be a complete about-face from the years it has scoffed at the possibility of student-athletes openly profiting from their popularity. However, this new development from the NCAA should have been expected. It is not a form of progress but, in fact, a consistent persistence to deny worthy athletes what they deserve after making college sports a multibillion-dollar industry. Simply put, this
is a stall tactic. The timing of this news is apt because more than a dozen other states have expressed interest in creating policies similar to California for the schools in their states. The NCAA would loathe having several states with different rules for allowing collegiate athletes to make money from their name. The NCAA fears this would create a competitive imbalance and ultimately hurt its bottom line. The pressure on the NCAA becomes even greater when you consider that U.S. Congressman Mark Walker (R-N.C.) proposed a bill on the federal level that would force the NCAA to allow all college athletes to profit from their name without limitation. The threat of any of these things coming to fruition in a two or three-year span prompted the board of governors to quickly make a counter move. And its counter is to appear as if it want to do what is in the college players’ best interests. But the true intention of the board is to alleviate some of the external pressure it has received from a dozen other states, and possibly Congress, as well as maintain control of its member schools. The NCAA wants a level of control to put rules in place with such rigid limitations for athletes to receive endorsement deals that it fundamentally continues the unpaid labor that exists today. In the NCAA’s public statement, it says it is looking at the process of changing the rules but “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.” What is the collegiate model? One can make an argument that this model is amateurism, which contradicts the notion that these new rules should allow athletes to make money. The possibly conflicting and ambiguous language in that phrase is only part of a complete statement that is absent of any details in regard to how the NCAA will allow athletes to earn endorsement money. Even the athletic director of Ohio State said the NCAA does not want a free market of endorsements for athletes. Why you might ask? Because, again, it forfeits some control of its commodity: student-athletes. Athletes currently not being paid for their name is not the root of the problem, it is only an egregious aspect of the bigger issue. Those who think the current model is abhorrent, know that the real dilemma is that everyone in college athletics amasses wealth with impunity while the countless young athletes responsible for the creation of a more than billion-dollar industry make nothing. The founder of the National College Players Association,
MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE
Former Quinnipiac student-athlete Brittany Martin could not legally profit from her name, image or likeness.
Ramogi Huma, said, “The NCAA has failed on this issue once again. This is another attempt at stalling on this issue.” The only silver lining that exists is a point made by The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill. This future rule change could benefit star women athletes who usually don’t have the same professional opportunities as men and whose maximum earning potential occurs during college. Their peak popularity comes while donning a college uniform. A perfect example is former UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi who pointed out in The New York Times, how she wasn’t able to strike while the iron was hot. “The NCAA is a billion-dollar industry built on the backs of college athletes,” Ohashi said. “How different would things be for me had I been able to use my image and name my last year of school in order to promote the things I want to further my future? I want to make sure the next person doesn’t have to wonder.” Regardless of any residual benefits that could occur if the NCAA holds to changing its rules to allow players to make money from their name, image and likeness, that is not the justice deserved. Until the NCAA creates a policy that outright pays college athletes who fuels this billion-dollar business, fairness will never come to pass. As Martin Luther King Jr. said in his letter from Birmingham Jail, “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” The stalling the NCAA has engaged in should be interpreted as another refusal to provide equity to its players.
The Houston Astros showed why we need to do better Domestic violence in sports is still a crippling societal epidemic By RILEY MILLETTE Staff Writer
In the past, the public has seen athletes do horrific things. Due to its recency, the incident in which Houston Astros pitcher Roberto Osuna assaulted the mother of his child comes to mind. But there are multiple previous examples. There was the TMZ video where former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice assaulted his then-fiancée in an elevator. There was the TMZ video of Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt shoving and kicking women in a hotel scuffle. There were pictures of the damage Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson did to his son after beating him in 2014, who was only four years old at the time. The list of offenses goes on. And somehow, we just can’t solve the problem. The biggest rally around a victim of domestic violence affected by an athlete was Janay Palmer, Rice’s now-wife. The community showed endless support for Palmer. Yet, the NFL suspended Rice for only two games. For reference, a performance-enhancing drug suspension in 2014 was four games. A substance abuse suspension was also four games. Then-Baltimore Raven Will Hill even sat out six games for a repeated substance abuse infraction. Rice’s punishment was a paltry two games. There was outcry for similar suspensions to be increased in length, which NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged. In response, he held a press conference taking responsibility for the light sentence and the investigation that led to that conclusion. From 2004 to the Rice case 10 years later, there were six players suspended for domestic violence. From the Rice case to today, only a five-year span, there have been six players suspended for the same violation. The same amount of players have been reprimanded for violating the same policy in half the amount of time. Clearly, no progress has been made. If we are trying to move forward as a society, it needs to start at the top. Leagues, like the NFL, need to take the initiative to put an end to terrible acts like the one committed by Rice. Yet, there are organizations that bring us a step back every time we think we took one forward. The Astros are the perfect example of a club that made the wrong move. In July of 2018, the Toronto Blue Jays traded Osuna to the Astros. When the trade was finalized, Osuna was in the midst of a 75-game suspension for violating the MLB’s personal conduct policy. Osuna was charged with assaulting the mother of his son, but the charges were later dropped when the victim refused to testify.
PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA
Roberto Osuna was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a woman while he was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Astros received backlash for making the move, as many other teams in the league wanted nothing to do with Osuna. The biggest repercussion for the move was the next year, though. The Astros’ assistant general manager Brandon Taubman made several distasteful comments about Osuna. The outburst was directed at three female reporters, one of which was wearing a bracelet embracing domestic violence awareness, as Taubman shouted at them that he was “so fucking glad we got Osuna.” After the childish and unsavory event that should have caused Taubman to be immediately fired, the Astros made a series of mistakes that escalated the situation even further. The incident occurred on a Saturday, but the Astros waited until Thursday to announce the firing of Taubman. That alone is an issue, but the Astros did all they could to salvage the nightmare before firing Taubman. They denied that the comments had anything to do with Osuna’s past and had everything to do with his poor outing in the game that night. Clearly, this is an odd statement to affirm so vehemently given the fact that he allowed a game-tying home run. Taubman apologized for his actions but left out a major detail. He only apologized for using “inappropriate language.” Absent from his apology was any remorse regarding the obvious subliminal meaning of his comments. He acknowledged that the reports about his motivation existed but discredited them. Taubman took no accountability, and outrage understandably swirled even more rapidly after that. The attention was justified, as it took the Astros a whole two days after the misguided apology before they pulled the plug on Taubman’s career with the Astros. A review of the entire situation shows a number of things about not just the Astros organization or the MLB as a company, but about our progress as a society regarding domestic abuse.
Taubman remained employed for a full six days before he was fired. The Astros tried to save themselves by claiming Taubman was not alluding to anything other than a baseball game. In fact, the MLB can be commended for its part in the controversy. They followed through with an investigation into the situation, which led to the firing of Taubman. Had it let the Astros figure this out for themselves, Taubman would likely still be in a job. Nonetheless, the ordeal is a crystal-clear reflection of society’s stance on domestic violence. We claim to be doing all we can to help victims and promote prevention, but are we? The Astros claim to have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to domestic violence charities, which they began doing once they traded for Osuna. I don’t doubt that this is true, but I do doubt the true motivation behind it. If you’re about to trade for a player in the thick of a personal conduct suspension, you can probably anticipate a certain amount of questioning. Therefore, to fend off that criticism, you throw some money to charities in order to quiet down the media and keep your brand clean. However, among your front office is a man who just couldn’t keep it to himself. He was sick of all the bad press and wanted to let the media know that he just couldn’t care less about what they thought. Of course, he did it in arguably the worst way possible. We could claim to be fighting for domestic abuse victims until we’re blue in the face. But, until incidents like this are extinguished, we’ve worked toward nothing. We cannot continue to allow this kind of behavior. And no matter what the Astros spend their money on or how long they keep their employees locked up in the conference room holding seminars about them, we don’t know where their values really are. I say “we” because I am addressing society as a whole. There are very few people who had to do with the firing of Taubman, and there was only one person culpable for these actions: Taubman himself. This situation is a reflection of what happens in our society. This is not even close to the only example of something like this happening. The Astros need to do better. On the other hand, we as a society need to not only hold them accountable but to work to prevent things like this from happening. It’s times like these when we see the true colors of an organization. Holding onto Taubman and trying to weather the storm for nearly a week is inexcusable, and they knew exactly what they were doing. And until we eradicate this kind of conduct, not just in sports but worldwide, we have nothing to show for all our efforts.
6|Arts and Life
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
November 13, 2019
Arts & Life
QUCHRONICLE.COM/ARTS-AND-LIFE ARTSLIFE@QUCHRONICLE.COM
AN HONORABLE EXHIBIT
New library exhibit brings veterans' experiences to life JANNA MARNELL/CHRONICLE
By JESSICA SIMMS Arts & Life Editor
Sandra O’Hare’s passion, knowledge and connections to veterans drove her to create the newest exhibit at the Arnold Bernhard Library. The exhibit, Honoring Veterans, includes a slide show, posters, a vertical case and three typical display cases full of O’Hare’s family treasures and Quinnipiac veterans’ memorabilia. As the personal librarian to student veterans, O’Hare is able to bring her knowledge to Quinnipiac by assisting student veterans with research and assignments. However, O’Hare takes this job a step further. “I mean I can also just answer questions too,” O’Hare said. “‘How do I do this? What office do I go to for that?’ I am willing to do that for them. So it’s whatever they need. I can be here and be a resource for them.” Through these special connections to Quinnipiac’s student veterans, O’Hare was able to expand this library exhibit from what it was last year and incorporate Quinnipiac veterans’ memorabilia alongside her family’s. “I did a very small (exhibit) last year,” O’Hare said. “We have a vertical case and then we have three typical display cases. So last year, I just did the vertical case with family memorabilia that I have and this year they said that the other cases were available just because of the timing, so I went, ‘I can fill those.’” Last year was O’Hare’s first time creating this particular exhibit for the Arnold Bernhard Library and she focused on her family’s experiences in the military, such as her
“I hope that it makes it a little more real to (Quinnipiac students), and it’s not just things they saw in a history book because I tried to make part of it relatable to students on campus with student veterans.” – SANDRA O'HARE
grandfather’s. This year, O’Hare has worked on putting together a singular book to record her grandfather’s experience in the military in order to have all the information in one place. “I just always been passionate about veterans, the military,” O’Hare said. “It’s just how I was brought up. My grandfather was a World War II vet. We lost him a year ago. But he was on Omaha Beach on D-Day. That was his 22nd birthday. I just finished putting together a memorial book about him that is 300 and something pages and a third of it is his time in the military. He was an immigrant.” This year O’Hare connected with Quinnipiac veterans to see if they would like to contribute items of meaning to the exhibit and some have already brought in their items to be displayed. “I reached out to the student vets on campus and I asked them if they had anything and I heard back from a few of them,” O’Hare said. “So far only one of them has dropped stuff off. But I know schedules being what they are. But he dropped off a jar of sand that he collected on Iwo Jima beach and he was a marine and Iwo Jima, that was one of the huge battles for marines. That’s very close to their hearts.” Nick Deleonardo, a criminal justice major and a firstsemester student at Quinnipiac, is the student veteran that dropped off the sand from Iwo Jima beach. The battle that occurred on the Iwo Jima beach was one of the bloodiest and most famous battles for the Marine Corps. For Deleonardo, getting to go and visit this beach was a pivotal moment in his life. “The sand came from the beach where the initial beach assault from the Marines began, and the legend behind the sand is that it is still dark-colored to this day because of the blood that was shed while the Marines were invading the beach,” Deleonardo said. “It means a lot to me because not many people get to go to Iwo Jima, tours are very hard to come by and it was a ‘right place, right time’ thing for me, so I feel very honored and lucky to have had the opportunity to visit a place so rich in history and legacy.” By reaching out to student veterans on campus to help contribute to the exhibit, O’Hare is hoping that this library exhibit will resonate more with Quinnipiac students.
“I hope that it makes it a little more real to (Quinnipiac students), and it’s not just things they saw in a history book because I tried to make part of it relatable to students on campus with student veterans and we have a slideshow running and that shows things off of the news,” O’Hare said. “Things from today, so it’s not just stuff that your grandparents did.” Along with the cases full of family artifacts and Quinnipiac veterans’ personal items, O’Hare also has created a slideshow that includes images that show the different sides military service has. Additionally, O’Hare was able to get posters from the Smithsonian that specifies on World War I, covering different aspects of that pivotal war. Behind all the learning students can encounter by looking at this exhibit in the Arnold Bernhard Library is passion and connection from O’Hare and the student veterans that contributed. Every item on display and all the work that was put in to create the slideshow and posters has a lot of rich history behind it. “I hope students will have an appreciation for all the items on display,” Deleonardo said. “Every item that is being brought in has a story behind it, and they mean a lot to the veterans that own them. Whether it be uniforms, medals, old weapons, helmets, etc, they all mean something. Also it’s ‘living’ history. I believe physically seeing historical artifacts allows us to remember and never forget the past, and to honor those that have served and at one point had to use those artifacts.” For O’Hare, especially, the topic of veterans’ history means a lot, but in her eyes, having these Quinnipiac veterans contribute will hopefully spread the idea that military service is more than just history— it is also a part of the present. “It is just so close to my heart because a lot of it is family, but again the recognition and what I would like to see happen is students on campus realizing that their classmates have actually served too and to talk to them about it because they have such rich experiences that they can share,” O’Hare said. “It’s tough. They’ve been through a lot. The person that comes home is not the person that left."
PERSONAL LIBRARIAN TO STUDENT VETERANS
The exhibit displayed items provided by student veterans and O'Hare's family treasures.
JESSICA SIMMS/CHRONICLE
November 13, 2019
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
7|Arts and Life
A SHOW ON THE HULU FRONTIER Hulu releases an adaptation of the book 'Looking for Alaska' BY MATTHEW TRAVIA Staff Writer
Need a new show to start binge-watching? Hulu has got you covered. Hulu has a new original mini-series that you can start watching right now. Season one of “Looking for Alaska” is out and you don’t want to miss it. The show is a romantic teen drama that is rated for mature audiences. There are only eight episodes in the first season of the series, each being just under an hour long. This is based on John Green’s 2005 book, “Looking for Alaska.” The book won the Michael L. 2006 Printz Award, 2006 Teen’s Top 10 Award, A Booklist Editors Choice Pick and many more accolades. The book may seem dated since it was from the mid2000s, so the show tried to put in some modern day elements that more people can relate to. It relates to the problems that teenagers today are facing. This show, along with shows like “13 Reasons Why,” “Sex Education” and many more sitcoms and dramas that may have a controversial topic shows the importance of certain topics. It doesn’t ignore the problems that people are facing, it shows the problem and addresses it for the viewers. The main character, Miles Halter, played by Charlie Plummer, doesn’t enjoy his life at home. He finds his life to be boring and wants to experience more in life, so he decided to attend a boarding school in an attempt to experience the adventure he’s seeking. He enrolls at Culver Creek Academy, and from the start, he finds the excitement he has been looking for. Miles’ motivation for wanting to find adventure in his life is based off the quote, “Great Perhaps,” which means to try finding deeper perspectives in life. With help from Miles’ friends, he seems to be having a
Hulu's new mini-series is based on John Green's 2005 book, 'Looking for Alaska.' great time at his new school until he meets Alaska Young. Alaska, who is played by Kristine Froseth, captured Miles’ attention from the moment they met. Mile's roommate, Chip, introduces him to her and they instantly become friends and without knowing, Miles starts to fall in love with her. Throughout the first semester of the school year, Miles gets to know Alaska a lot more from pulling pranks on the Weekday Warriors to just hanging out on the bridge.
PHOTO FROM HULU MEDIA
He finds out she isn’t as normal as she may seem. Alaska appears to be more complex than he had imagined. Then tragedy strikes campus, and it’s all that everyone is talking about. Even worse, it involves Alaska. Miles and his friends try to get to the bottom of things and figure out if Alaska is alright. What happened on campus? Who was involved? What does this mean for Alaska? The thrilling teen drama is streaming now on Hulu. Make sure you check it out as your next show to binge on.
LIVE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, IT’S SETH MEYERS
Seasoned comedian challenges himself on the stand-up stage By RYAN MILLER
Associate Arts & Life Editor
For years, audiences have seen Seth Meyers behind a desk donning a suit and tie. In fact, Meyers even likes to joke that they might not even recognize him any other way. However, on Nov. 5, when Netflix released “Seth Meyers: Lobby Baby,” viewers saw a whole new comedian, and not just because of his long sleeve shirt and jeans. Made famous from his role as an anchor on Saturday Night Live (SNL) segment “Weekend Update” and for his latest gig hosting NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” the 45-year-old comedian decided to try his luck at his very first stand-up Netflix special. “Lobby Baby” ran just over an hour long, but the quick quipping comedian made that time fly by. Majority of the topics Meyers covered in the routine were casual such as his family, a clear switch-up from his usual headline-grabbing content from his late-night talk show. Meyers also had a recurring joke in the segment about “mansplaining,” and he introduces it each time by asking the women in the audience if they recall what it meant. The reason for the joke is a habit Meyers said he had with his now-wife during their five years of dating.
Five years of dating? Well, he touched upon that too, adding that it was way too long to keep her waiting before he popped the question. Meyers followed that up with acknowledging that any couple watching the special just had their night ruined, as even if the man was still looking at the screen after the joke, they’d definitely feel their significant other’s annoyed gaze locked in on them. The bit the entire routine is named after, the delivery of Meyers’ second child, was also a zany tale. A few years after the birth of their first kid in an Uber, Meyers and his wife supposedly made arrangements to prevent something similar happening the next time around. Alas, when his wife felt her water break and they began to head from their apartment to call an ambulance, they couldn’t get much further than the lobby. Again, the theme of mansplaining came up, as Meyers recounts assuring his wife that there was still plenty of time until he realized he was wrong yet again. Perhaps the joke that landed the best of the entire special, Meyers jokes that after speaking with an operator of 911, it may have been one of the first times the operator ended the emergency call with “congratulations.” The special even ends with a photo of Meyers, his wife, their newborn and a firefighter first responder laying on the floor of the apartment lobby.
DAVID SCHNACK/NETFLIX
Seth Meyers' Netflix stand-up comedy special covered a variety of topics, including dating and the birth of his second child.
Meyers’ clear strength in his standup is his familyoriented material. When he moves on to the topic of parenting, he thrives talking about how the ideal couple for him and his wife to hangout with has more than three kids. No matter what happens in the other room or how many crashing noises that can be heard, the experienced parents will shrug it off saying, “they’re kids, they’re gonna learn” or “kids will be kids.” As the special was produced by Netflix, Meyers couldn’t avoid touching upon the streaming giant. During a set about cancel culture and the Catholic church, Meyers reminds us that the church’s solution for concerning priests is often to simply move them somewhere else. He jokes that, “when Netflix removed Kevin Spacey from ‘House of Cards,’ they didn’t move him to ‘Stranger Things.’” Another way Meyers took advantage of his deal with Netflix was to implement the option buttons at the bottom made famous by “Black Mirror’s” “Bandersnatch.” When he moved to a more familiar topic of politics and President Trump, Meyers emphasized that he knows some audiences are tired of jokes about the current administration. That’s when an option appeared on the screen to skip the political humor. After allowing a few seconds for viewers to make their choice, Meyers went on about our current president. Bringing church back up, Meyers added that Trump probably could never sit through mass and in a Trump impersonation kidded, “Jesus didn’t own any hotels” and that he couldn’t even get a room at the inn when he was born. He also spoke about his roasts at the infamous White House Correspondents Dinner during Obama’s second term in office. He was mad at the time that he wasn’t getting headlines due to the killing of Osama Bin Laden, but now that articles are coming out that that night fueled Trump to begin his campaign for the presidency that “it’s all Obama’s fault.” After the Trump jokes ended, Meyers decided to play a trick on those that skipped over the segment ending things on “so I think I misjudged him” and that he’s doing a great job, prompting people who skipped to be tricked into rewinding to watch. The special was filmed during one of Meyers’ shows in The Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis. Meyers even enjoyed poking fun at the city throughout when he told a joke that almost fell flat but still garnered a few laughs adding, “I told them it would hit in Minneapolis.” Even though thousands of more viewers will watch from home instead, Seth Meyers still found a way to make “Lobby Baby” feel like he was performing right in your living room.
8|Arts and Life
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
November 13, 2019
DID YOU ‘ATTEND’ ‘BALTIMORE’? Quinnipiac Theater’s production of ‘Baltimore’ forces audiences to consider what it means to be ‘seen’ By EMILY DISALVO News Editor
In the glow of a projector naming Quinnipiac the No. 1 university for “Little Class/Race Interaction,” Quinnipiac Theater brought the messy and uncomfortable side of race relations on college campuses into vibrant, unmistakable color. Quinnipiac’s statistics on race relations faded from the screen, but the memory remained clear in the audience’s mind as the actors entered into the world of Sudbury University in Baltimore, Maryland, that just hired its first black dean. Don Sawyer, vice president for equity and inclusion, played Dean Hernandez in, “Baltimore,” a drama written by Kirsten Greenige. “This play is very timely,” Sawyer said. “Not just for college campuses across the nation, but for our college campus, things that people are facing on our campus, so it is very real.” Sawyer’s two kids attended the opening show on Thursday, Nov. 10, to support their father. His daughter, Safiyah Sawyer, is a 13-year-old attending Hamden Middle School. She said her father used to act when he was younger, but not recently. She agreed that the play has an important theme. “I feel like it’s a closer look at things that are happening, different experiences for minority students,” Safiyah said. The play started with Shelby, a resident assistant at Sudbury, meeting with Hernandez for an interview for the school paper. The interview didn’t go well because Shelby kept getting texts and calls from her residents. Shelby was also black, but she vehemently disagreed with Hernandez’s research and work regarding racial experiences and how race affects one’s identity. Hernandez pushed Shelby to “attend” to life. He encouraged her to “attend” his lectures about race, “attend” to her residents and ultimately “attend” to her true identity. He didn’t want her just to show up and check off the boxes. Instead, he wanted her to absorb what it meant to be black, or white, or Latino and consider how these identities can impact one’s life. Shelby believed race didn’t matter. Her childhood home had no mirrors, and she said her appearance was never emphasized as she was growing up. She expressed that when race enters the picture, things “get messy.” She majored in sports medicine because she only had to check off boxes and help patients — she didn’t actually have to think about race or anything deeper. Nothing ever got messy. Until it did. Shelby received a text alerting her that one of her white residents drew a racist picture on the door of one of her black residents. Shelby, instead of returning to her hall to face the problem, let her phone continue to buzz while chaos ensued among the first-year students. She took a nap on a bench near Hernandez’s office to avoid them. Shelby’s best friend, Maryam, became frustrated with how Shelby hides from messy situations throughout the play. After seeing how Shelby avoided confronting the issue regarding the racist drawing, Maryam became angry with Shelby and asked her if she truly “saw” her. Maryam was wondering if Shelby understood that being Palestinian was part of her identity, and if she had ever noticed the struggles she endured because of her ethnicity. Most importantly, Maryam was wondering if Shelby understood how her cultural identity shaped who she was as a person. Haneen Hamdan, a senior English education major, played Maryam in “Baltimore.” She defined being “seen” as understanding someone at a deeper level. “If someone isn’t able to acknowledge every aspect that makes you, well you, then they aren’t seeing you,” Hamdan said. “Everyone has history behind them and being able to see these aspects of a person, then you are able to understand what history laps over onto them and what makes them, them.” For some audience members, the idea of truly being seen is what resonated with them the most. “The one quick phrase that stuck with me that kind of summarized the whole thing was when the gentleman said, ‘I see you, and I agree that you have worth. I see you, and I agree with that you have worth,’” said Martine Middleton, mother of Tyrell Latouche, who played one of Shelby’s
Quinnipiac Theater performed 'Baltimore' in the Blackbox Theater Nov. 7-10. residents. “That really put everything together as to what everyone was trying to get across.” For a while, Shelby wasn’t “seeing” anyone. No one understood this more than her resident, Rachel, played by Nicole Mawhirter, first-year graduate student in the physical therapy program. Rachel was Latina and was extremely angry when she saw the racist drawing on her floor-mate’s door, because she understood how racist jokes aren’t funny. She told Maryam that Shelby was hiding from her problems and needed to face the music. Mawhirter was adopted from Mexico as a baby, and she went to a primarily white high school. She said she has experienced first-hand how one’s race does affect how people treat others, so playing a Latina student at Sudbury hardly felt like acting at all. “My grandma used to help out in the cafeteria when I was in elementary school, and I constantly got questions, ‘You don’t look like your grandma, are you sure she’s your grandma?’” Mawhirter said. Mawhirter wasn’t the only actress who related to the character she played. Hamdan, who is Palestinian, also connected personally with her role. Hamdan, like Maryam, struggles with being a minority and balancing American lifestyle with the cultural demands from her family and religion. During the scene when Maryam is begging Shelby, who she considers her best friend, to reassure her that indeed, she “sees her” Maryam sheds tears. After the play, Hamdan admitted that these were real tears because this is a struggle she faces on a daily basis. Hamdan is a first-generation American. Her parents gained political asylum because of the war back in Palestine. “I am so blessed for what my parents have done for me, but the bullying is hard sometimes,” Hamdan said. “It’s hard to fit in, and you try to morph a little.” Hamdan referenced her costume — leggings under ripped jeans — as an attempt to balance American culture with the demands of her religion. Neither Maryam or Hamdan wore a hijab. She said she wore a hijab in middle school, but someone ripped it off of her head. “My parents kind of sat down with me and said, ‘When you’re comfortable, do it,’” Hamdan said. “‘We don’t want to push you, you already go through so much here.’” While Shelby’s residents — white, black, Latino, Palestinian, gay, straight — were engaging in a passionate debate back at the
EMILY DISALVO/CHRONICLE
hall about whether or not the drawing could be taken as a joke, Shelby finally woke up. Shelby finally got WOKE. Well, it wasn’t quite that easy. She did, though, return to the hall to address the problem. For the first time, she realized that issues related to race wouldn’t go away, no matter how long she napped or put her phone on silent. The issues would still be there when she woke up. The issues would always be there. Sometimes, though, to address them, one has to get messy. This play is timely in this particular moment at Quinnipiac. Just months after the Princeton Review rated the university No. 1 for “Least Race/Class Interaction,” the Office of Residential Life sent out an email to all students about, “the alleged use of derogatory and racist language by Quinnipiac students.” Senior international business major Joy Alino said that being a black student at Quinnipiac is far from easy. Similar to the discussion in the play, she said it’s common for white students to assume minorities only got into college because of affirmative action. “The one thing I was not expecting (to see in the play) – not to the same extent – but how it reflects Quinnipiac in a way,” Alino said. “In the beginning, they were talking about their struggles as being seen as individuals and students and not being seen as quotas or exceptions. I can definitely talk from the black experience like at a predominantly white university like Quinnipiac to put your foot down and say, ‘No, I worked hard to be here.’” Daymyen Layne, director for multicultural education and training, said administrators at universities like Quinnipiac should “sprinkle” the same kind of awareness about race that Shelby eventually developed by the end of the play. “As they are going into adulthood, I think we try to sort of push the envelope with them in terms of their own development and growth, and we saw that with Shelby in real time,” Layne said. The director of “Baltimore,” Aleta Staton said that having diversity on college campuses, like Quinnipiac, means nothing unless the diverse groups are interacting. “There are people of different races here,” Staton said. “If those people of different races, cultures and other intersectional elements don’t interact, it’s still artificial. You are just there.”
November 13, 2019
9|Arts and Life
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
MAJESTIC ‘MAGDALENE’ FKA Twigs’ ‘Magdalene’ is her best and most honest album yet By TIM POWERS Staff Writer
Through a meditation and marination of love and desire, FKA Twigs creates a sensual and cinematic masterpiece with the release of her second album, “Magdalene.” FKA Twigs, whose birth name is Tahliah Barnett, continues her signature sound introduced in her first solo album, “LP1,” while elaborating and expanding on the ideas she originally played with. The best way to describe her music is a cross between Lana Del Rey and Janelle Monae, while also still having her own experimental vision. The theme of desire flows through every song, from a desire of someone else to a desire of herself. It is a tremendous exploration and character study of love and how it has affected her. This new album brings together a tremendous orchestration of different sounds that create a beautiful sense of emotion— giving listeners a unique experience. While listening to her album, you will feel like you’re floating through space. You feel encapsulated in the darkness of her mind slowly passing each individual star and spot of bright light that illustrates the pictures of her mind, allowing you a moment in her shoes and witness her experiences and desires. The album’s lead single, “Cellophane,” is definitely the album’s best and most impactful moment. The track comes at the end, and it brings the show to a stopping halt, allowing the audience and Twigs, herself, to contemplate “the everything” — everything she knows about herself and everything she knows about her relationship. It is an implorably moving examination of weakness and strength, detailing her inability to please her partner and her partners inability to please her. “Cellophane” details the experience of trying to climb to perfection while ultimately falling to a sort of doom in yourself. Twigs’ vocal performance is full of different levels of raw, stripped-back emotion, swinging from low to high notes like a pendulum. It is rare to see this level of detail in a vocal performance in today’s musicians, especially in pop music. Another one of the album’s promotional singles, “home with you,” explores the same aspect as “Cellophane” but focuses more on a direct situation. With striking and heartbreaking lyrics like, “I didn’t know that you were
FKA Twigs' album, 'Magdalene,' received a 9.4 out of 10 rating on Pitchfork. lonely/ If you’d have just told me I’d be home with you,” it is one of the more beautifully written songs on the album that builds the overall theme of love, desire and expectations. Her narration is affective and distinctive while also feeling universal. It makes Twigs feel like one of the most important voices in music. In the final single, released before the album, “sad day,” Twigs explores the widening gap between herself, her love and her hopes of closing it. There is a clear darkness that looms over this song. While Twigs is attempting a happy change, she knows that it is not truly possible. With lyrics such as, “You are turning ‘round and ‘round/ You see, it’s a sad day for sure/ taste the fruit of me/ make love to all you see,” Twigs desires the love she once felt but knows that it no longer exists, and the end is near. I feel like the subject of the song is so overdone in music, but because of Twigs distinctive vision, the song is able to move beyond a generic state and enter into something grander. This album brings together Twigs’ most poignant and
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raw work yet. She explores her feelings openly and in great detail by moving through time and space at her own pace, with her own desires and of her own volition. Twigs remains one of the few artists that have stood out from the pack of musicians that have risen from the alternative, experimental cloth in the last decade. While others have gone on to commercialize their art, Twigs has evolved further down a path similar to Bjork, making avantgarde, non-commercial music. “Magdalene” is a magnificent portrait of a woman sticking to her own and exploring the effects of that act.
5/5 STARS
REMAINING ‘FOREVER EMO’
Mayday Parade wows fans with timeless covers and prized originals By ALEXIS GUERRA Managing Editor
ALEXIS GUERRA/CHRONICLE
Mayday Parade started its 'Forever Emo' tour in Athens, Georgia, on Nov. 1.
While Toad’s Place is known for its Saturday night college dance parties, Mayday Parade had the venue bursting with energy on Monday, Nov. 11. The pop-punk band hit New Haven on its “Forever Emo” tour as it makes its way across the U.S. Wanting to revisit the peak of its career and to celebrate the anniversary of its 2009 album “Anywhere But Here,” Mayday Parade’s setlist consisted of covers from groups of the same genre and hits from its own albums. Although the show wasn’t set to start until 8 p.m., the dance floor was filled with showgoers dancing along to opener DJ Emo Night Brooklyn’s setlist. The DJ was determined, and later succeeded, in getting the crowd pumped for what was to come. Among the many songs he played in his hour-long set, fans sang along to cult-favorites such as “Shake It” by Metro Station and “Move Along” by All American Rejects. Knowing his audience, who were mainly adorned in Mayday Parade or Warped Tour t-shirts, Emo Night Brooklyn teased them with the (in)famous G-note from the beginning of My Chemical Romance’s “Welcome to the Black Parade.” In light of My Chemical Romance announcing its reunion tour, it's safe to say this was a great segway into Mayday Parade’s anticipated arrival. The stage, with “Forever Emo” spray painted in white, turned blue in preparation for the headliner. In an immediate response, fans pressed against the barricade screaming and cheering, waiting to catch a glimpse of the band that hasn’t been on a solo tour since 2015. After a short intermission, running onto the stage and being met with strong enthusiasm from the crowd, Mayday Parade quickly moved into its song “Oh Well, Oh Well.” Although the main vocalist Derek Sanders prefaced the performance with an announcement of his broken foot, it didn’t stop the musician from interacting with fans on both sides of the stage, as he danced with a microphone in hand. “That’s what I’m talking about,” Sanders said as the crowd had its hands up singing along to “Piece of Your
Heart” from the band’s album “Sunnyland.” While the band took the stage as the main act, neon lights and colorful balloons decorated in crying emojis surrounded the group. These little elements added to the nostalgia of the show, as the band continued to play songs from the early 2000s. After massive amounts of headbanging to Mayday Parade’s cover of “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” by My Chemical Romance, the band gave some context as to why it wanted to combine performing covers and its original music. “These songs mean so much to us,” Sanders said to the audience. “These are the songs that we listened to when we started this band. These are the bands that we looked up to and it really means so much to be up here playing these songs.” Mayday Parade then went into performing popular favorites such as “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers and “All The Small Things” by Blink-182. The member’s silhouettes darted across the stage, making sure to give each attendee an individual and unforgettable experience. Guitar players Brooke Betts and Jake Bundrick also strutted around the stage, moving effortlessly with their instruments. Throughout the concert, fans screamed lyrics to both the covers and originals — and in turn, Sanders pointed the microphone toward the audience, giving them their time to shine as well. During the hour-long set, attendees acted as if every song was Mayday Parade’s last to perform, from the band’s number one hit “Jaime All Over” to a cover of “Sweetness” by Jimmy Eat World. The band then exited the stage, leaving the audience to chant its name, never wanting the night to end. To no one’s surprise, the band took back the stage and performed the energy-inducing hit “Jersey” from “A Lesson In Romantics.” The band left the stage but not without leaving the audience on a positive note. “Take care of each other, be kind to each other,” Sanders said as he ended the night. Despite the setlist consisting mostly of music from a decade ago, the band created a night of nostalgia and left a lasting impact on an audience that isn’t quite ready to grow up yet — and to Mayday Parade, that’s perfectly OK.
10|Sports
RUNDOWN
MEN’S SOCCER QU 3, Rider 1 - Wednesday Jason Budhai: 1 goal, 1 assist Jared Mazzola: 6 saves, 1 GA WOMEN’S SOCCER Fairfield 1, QU 0 - Thursday Meaghan Phillips: 4 saves, 1 GA Kylie Lance: 2 shots, 1 SOG VOLLEYBALL QU 3, Saint Peter’s 0 - Saturday Olga Zampati: 9 kills, 5 digs Maggie Baker: 11 digs, 4 kills Rider 3, QU 0 - Sunday Georgia Tselepi: 10 kills Zampati: 7 digs, 6 kills RUGBY Army 54, QU 10 - Saturday Maya le Rossignol: 2 tries MEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU 2, Dartmouth 2 - Friday Ethan Leyh: 1 goal, 4 shots Nick Jermain: 1 goal Harvard 7, QU 2 - Saturday Jermain: 1 goal Wyatt Bongiovanni: 1 goal WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU 1, Dartmouth 1 - Friday Alexa Hoskin: 1 goal, 4 shots Abbie Ives: 16 saves, 1 GA Harvard 3, QU 2 - Saturday Kati Tabin: 1 goal, 4 shots Ives: 21 saves, 3 GAs
GAMES TO WATCH MEN’S SOCCER QU vs. Iona - Thursday, 1 p.m. VOLLEYBALL QU vs. Siena - Wednesday, 7 p.m. QU at Niagara - Saturday, 1 p.m. QU at Canisius - Sunday, 1 p.m. MEN’S BASKETBALL QU at Brown - Wednesday, 7 p.m. QU at Miami - Saturday, 2 p.m. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL QU at Yale - Wednesday, 7 p.m. QU vs. Bucknell - Saturday, 2 p.m. MEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU vs. Union - Friday, 7 p.m. QU vs. RPI - Saturday, 7 p.m. WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU at RPI - Friday, 6 p.m. QU at Union - Saturday, 3 p.m.
@QUChronSports Jared Penna
@JaredPenna1 Brendan O’Sullivan
@BOSullivan25 Bryan Murphy
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@JordanWolff11 Peter Piekarski
@PiekarskiPeter Matthew Jaroncyk
@Mattt_j30 Matt Travia
@Matt_Travia026 Matt Nygaard
@MattNygaard1 Megan Maharry
@Megan_Maharry Riley Millette
@Ridrum59 Jacob Shiffer
@JacobShiffer
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
November 13, 2019
Whelan: ‘When he grows and develops, he’ll be a great player’
BRENDAN O’SULLIVAN/CHRONICLE
Freshman forward Tomas Svecula takes a sliding shot at the opposing goalkeeper. SUPERSTAR from Page 12 the finals in consecutive seasons. With a winning mentality in mind, Svecula said he and his teammates are continuing to push each other in practice, and doing everything to 120%.
“Playoffs are coming,” Svecula said. “We are ready, and we are going to fight and do everything to make it to the NCAA tournament.” Whelan said Svecula brings a confidence to the team that inspires his teammates. “Obviously as a newcomer you can be a little nervous,” Whelan said. “But a freshman
coming in and his counterparts saying, ‘Oh look at him doing what he’s doing,’ and the success that he’s having, I think that’s translated to them and their game.” Whelan said Svecula has taught him different playing styles and movements on the field he did not know before. In exchange, he has taught Svecula the importance of a calm presence on the field and how to enjoy every moment played in the game. “He’s got space to develop,” Whelan said. “But when he grows and develops, he’ll be a great player.” In his upcoming seasons, Svecula has more to prepare for. His offensive game is his focus going forward. He wants to score more goals and tally as many assists as he can. Ultimately, he wants people to know he can still do more. Da Costa also expects Svecula to continue to grow and develop. “I want him to be himself,” Da Costa said. “I want him to grow into whoever he is and let his personality be genuine and authentic and let that shine. And however that role grows overtime, we’re prepared to allow that to happen.”
Fabbri: ‘I think we have a lot to build on to get better’ NYLON from Page 12 were suiting up for Quinnipiac for the first time. Months of practice build chemistry, but it’s impossible to replicate game speed and intensity. “I think we are really new out on the floor, so we weren’t really sure what we were gonna do,” Fabbri said. “I mean, we’re a real work in progress … We’ve been really working hard and getting better every week. In a big picture, look behind the curtain where we’ve been growing week to week, it’s pretty nasty.” The Bobcats have established a solid foundation to build upon. One area to grow? Rebounding. Quinnipiac was outrebounded 43 to 35, costing the team numerous possessions. Quinnipiac matched Drexel in defensive rebounds with 24, but the facet of the game where Quinnipiac lost BRENDAN O’SULLIVAN/CHRONICLE was the offensive glass. Freshman forward Cur’Tiera Haywood enters a triple-threat position above the arc. Drexel secured 19 offensive rebounds. Quinstrength of ours,” Fabbri said. “So, obviously doesn’t start for another eight games, giving the nipiac only pulled down 11. Drexel’s 19 offenwe will learn from that and really point to that Bobcats plenty of time to refine their game besive rebounds led to 15 second-chance points. moving forward and continue to emphasize that fore the intensity picks up a notch. “We gotta get on the boards,” Warfel said. in addition to keeping Paige and (freshman for“I think it stung a little bit more for us “They had way too many offensive rebounds for ward Mikala Morris) off the boards in practice seniors because we’re so used to winning,” putbacks, and that killed us.” as we go forward.” senior guard Taylor Herd said. “We just gotFabbri expanded on the importance of reOne big reason the Bobcats struggled to grab ta teach the freshmen that sting almost, you bounding and shed light on the steps that will be rebounds was because of foul trouble. Three of know? They’re not used to that, so just get taken to improve. their best rebounders finished the game with four grittier and really emphasize that four points. “We just couldn’t corral it, we couldn’t fouls, one shy of an automatic disqualification. We could have had that game.” bring it in, and usually that’s really been a Warfel, Morris and freshman center Cat Once the fight is there, the talent will start Almeida all finished the game with four fouls. to shine even brighter. The roster is packed Morris and Almeida took just 13 and 10 min- with gifted individuals right now, which is utes to reach those marks, respectively. If the enough to earn some victories in the regular Bobcats want to improve upon their rebound- season. It was almost enough to start 1-0. ing performance against Drexel, they’ll have But once the playoffs begin, individual talto stay on the floor to do so. ent won’t be enough. The chemistry needs to “I think what really hurt us was when we got start clicking if Quinnipiac wants a chance at a into foul trouble, because that forced us to not fourth straight MAAC championship. play our strong defense up and on the ball, be“Tough one. Tough one right now to start the cause we were afraid to get into foul trouble,” season,” Fabbri said. “But a lot of new faces out Warfel said. “We’re gonna have to work on that.” there and you know, it was a good game against The fouls didn’t just prevent rebounds and a really good team.” allow second-chance points, but they also led to Moving forward, it’s important to realize that easy offense for the Dragons. They took 29 free- the entire season is a process. The goal is to come throw attempts during the game, one shy of dou- out as champions on March 14, 2020, and each bling Quinnipiac’s 15. Down the stretch, those game is just one step toward that accomplishopportunities proved vital. ment. The wins will come, but it’s important to In the fourth quarter, the Dragons went learn from the losses as well. 14-for-18 from the charity stripe. They only “We’re not hanging our head,” Warfel said. scored 19 points total in the last 10 minutes “I thought that we had great energy and just now of play, meaning just five points were scored we know what we can work on.” on field goals. If the Bobcats want to close out With one game under their belts, the Bobcats tight games in the future, they’ll have to find know what changes need to be made going forways to avoid gifting their opponents easy of- ward. Practices and games will lead to improved fense in crunch time. play and future wins, but it’s not a one-day operAside from free throws, the Dragons ation. With a head coach like Fabbri, the Bobcats scored only five points on 20% shooting will work out the kinks in their game, and find from the field in the final frame. The Bob- their way in to the win column some time soon. cats were doing the right things on defense, “Everything could get a lot cleaner, a lot it was just a matter of doing so consistently, smoother, and I think you’re gonna see that and ultimately they weren’t able to. unfold as we continue to go deeper into the BRENDAN O’SULLIVAN/CHRONICLE At the end of the day, there are 28 games process,” Fabbri said. Senior forward Paige Warfel plays on-ball remaining on the schedule. Conference play defense as Drexel sets up its offense.
November 13, 2019
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Sports|11
STANDOUT
As Quinnipiac’s fall sports teams start to wind down their regular seasons, Sports Editor Jared Penna takes a look at some key stats from each team.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY STAT: 3 Senior Michael Kiernan finished in the top 10 in three of his team’s five meets this season. Those include a third place finish at the Shawn Nassaney Invite, a fifth place finish at the Monmouth Invitational and a 10th place finish at the Paul Short Invitational. Kiernan also placed in the top 20 at the Stony Brook Invitational, finishing 17th.
VOLLEYBALL STAT: 15.7 With three games remaining, the Bobcats are averaging 15.7 digs per set. If they keep up that pace, it would be the highest mark in the history of the program. The team averaged 15.5 digs per set in 2010, and 15.24 digs per set in 1994. First-year head coach Kyle Robinson revamped the team this year, winning 11 games to date, two more than last season and the most since 2016 when the Bobcats went 21-13. Senior libero Alejandra Rodriguez leads the way for the Bobcats with 429 digs so far this season, good for 4.77 digs per set herself.
FIELD HOCKEY STAT: 31 The Quinnipiac field hockey team took 31 shots in a 2-0 victory over Sacred Heart this season on Sept. 14. That was a season-high for the Bobcats, led by graduate student midfielder Bianca Strubbe (eight shots) and freshman forward Julianna Cappello (six shots). The last time the Bobcats took that many shots in a game was in 2009, when they took 34 shots — also against Sacred Heart — winning that game by a score of 5-0. Despite there being more shots in 2009, both games featured 16 shots on goal.
WOMEN’S SOCCER STAT: 7 The women’s soccer team recorded seven shutouts this season. All seven of those shutouts resulted in victories. The last time the team recorded more than seven shutouts, including draws, was in 2012 when it had eight, one coming in a draw. The team matched the seven shutout victory mark in 2006 and 2000 as well. The last time the team had more than seven shutout victories was in 1999, when it recorded nine. Freshman goalkeeper Meaghan Phillips was a big contributor to the team’s success this season and didn’t allow a single goal in her first 212 minutes and 42 seconds as a Bobcat.
RUGBY STAT: 4 Sophomore wing Clara Lemal-Brown scorched Dartmouth’s defense for four tries on Oct. 12. Lemal-Brown’s four tries were the most by any player for Quinnipiac’s rugby team this season. Lemal-Brown matched her career-high in tries from last year, when she recorded four against Brown in an 85-3 victory. With those two performances, Lemal-Brown has the two highest-scoring performances in a single game over the past two seasons for any player on the rugby team.
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
12|Sports
Sports
November 13, 2019
QUCHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS @QUCHRONSPORTS QUCHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS @QUCHRONSPORTS
Slovakian superstar CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE
Breakout freshman Tomas Svecula has been exactly what the Bobcats needed this season By MEGAN MAHARRY Staff Writer
Freshman forward Tomas Svecula of the Quinnipiac men’s soccer team is making his goal of playing soccer while getting an education come true — and he’s doing it over 4,000 miles away from home. Svecula, originally from Trencin, Slovakia, came to the United States and Quinnipiac in order to study while playing soccer — an opportunity he does not have in Europe. He is currently studying athletic training. A former teammate who came to the U.S. and told Svecula about the opportunities that universities give their players. It was through this interaction that he realized there was a great chance for him to combine soccer and school. Quinnipiac men’s soccer head coach Eric Da Costa received an email with video clips from a recruiting service that helps students like Svecula gain exposure to college soccer. At the time, Da Costa was looking for a forward and Svecula seemed to match the mentality Da Costa said he was looking for. He thought Svecula could really succeed here both on the field and within the team. Prior to his inaugural season at Quinnipiac, Svecula was a two-year member of the Slovakian national team. He traveled often, playing teams from Germany, Ireland and other countries in Europe. This opportunity gave him lots of experience to expand his knowledge of the game. “He’s played at a high level both in his country and also the national team,” Da Costa said.
“We were able to get a really firm grasp of the type of player that he was.” Perhaps the biggest challenge Svecula experienced was culture shock when arriving in the U.S., both on and off the field. Svecula noted people here are friendlier than in his home country. He was also told soccer here was played more aggressively. Da Costa knew Svecula would have to adjust quickly to not only the culture, but also the intensity of college soccer. Typically, players from Europe play games over a longer period of time as opposed to the two or three games played per week in college soccer. The question was: How Svecula could make that adjustment and still contribute. The answer: Svecula jumped right in. “His personality is fantastic,” Da Costa said. “He’s a funny guy, outgoing and he jumped into the culture and the fabric of the team from day one, and I think that makes it easier. When you’re comfortable and happy where you are, I think you’re able to perform at your level and higher.” The freshman has had a standout first season so far. He’s netted six goals throughout the season and has four assists. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week in October and was just the second Bobcat to be named MAAC Rookie of the Year, joining senior forward Eamon Whelan in elite company “It meets our expectations,” Da Costa said. “He was expected to contribute right away, play a big role, and he’s done that, so we’re happy
BRENDAN O’SULLIVAN/CHRONICLE
Freshman forward Tomas Svecula prepares to send a cross into the 18-yard box. with him so far.” Svecula made his debut as a starter in the first game of the season against Boston College. “It was a very tough game,” Svecula said. “Boston College is very good, but it gave me a lot of confidence. And after that game I was feeling very good. Every game I play now I am feeling more and more confident.” In the Bobcats’ game against Saint Peter’s, Svecula scored the game-winning goal. The Bobcats were tied 1-1 with Saint Peter’s in double-overtime when Svecula found the back of the net in the 107th minute. “When I scored, I was feeling so good, and I saw everyone running straight at me,” Svecula said. Svecula said it is a different type of emotion and celebration when scoring here as opposed to
his home country. He said when he and his teammates scored in his country, they did not celebrate as much, but here, everyone runs toward him and cheers. He and his teammates are now preparing for their MAAC tournament appearance on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. against Iona. The Bobcats won their final regular season game against Rider and clinched the No. 2 seed in the MAAC tournament, which earned them home-field advantage in the semifinals. The Bobcats hosted the MAAC finals last year but came up short against Rider. Svecula said the upperclassmen have talked about how disappointing it was to lose the finals last year and they do not want to feel the sting of losing in See SUPERSTAR Page 10
NOTHIN’ BUT NYLON
By JARED PENNA Sports Editor
“Couple plays short.” Quinnipiac women’s basketball head coach Tricia Fabbri wasn’t thrilled after losing the season opener at home. No coach would be, and neither would any player. But it isn’t the first time the Bobcats have started the season on the wrong foot. Just two years ago, Quinnipiac lost its first three games of the season by a combined 63 points. Yikes. The Bobcats turned it around, however, after playing some tough, out-of-conference opponents and only lost three more games the entire season, going undefeated in the MAAC. That might not be the case every time they
Patience is a virtue drop a season opener, but Tuesday’s game against the Drexel Dragons on Nov. 5, may not foreshadow what’s to come this season. “They all — freshmen, sophomores and upperclassmen — have tremendous talent,” senior forward Paige Warfel said. “That’s definitely not a reason why we lost (on Tuesday), but we do have a lot of growth. I think moving in the future, just playing together more and more, it’ll definitely help us in the long run.” The Bobcats didn’t look perfect by any means in game one, but they didn’t look all that bad either. As with any team after its first game, there are things to work on. Nobody comes out and plays perfect basketball from the jump, three time defending MAAC champions included. So, what are some wrinkles in Quinnipiac’s
game that need to be ironed out? For one — chemistry on the court. The Bobcats were responsible for 16 turnovers against Drexel. This likely won’t be the norm moving forward, but still, it was well north of last year’s average 12.3 turnovers per game. In the season opener against Drexel last season, the Bobcats coughed up 14 turnovers — not much better. The biggest difference was the assists. They still managed 10 assists in the 201819 opener, compared to just eight Tuesday night. That was partially due to the youth of the team. “I thought Drexel did a great job in terms of what we were doing with a little ball screen action that they really went after and chopped … It was problematic and disruptive in what we were trying to do with an offensive flow,” Fabbri said.
“We’ve got to be a bit more calm instead of trying to force the action. To be a little more patient with what they were doing and be able to face that double and then back it out and find the open person for the second pass, and the open person for an easier shot.” Just like getting over a heartbreak, the only thing that can help build on-court chemistry is time. The team simply needs to keep geling. The more that players share the court, the more comfortable they’ll become with one another. You learn a teammate’s tendencies best through experience, by making the wrong pass so you learn how to make the right one. Of the 10 players that got playing time, five See NYLON Page 10