OCTOBER 16, 2019 • VOLUME 90 • ISSUE 8
The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929
OPINION: JUNIOR HOUSING P. 5
SPORTS: NOTHIN’ BUT NET P. 12
DT: FALL FEST P. 6 & 7
Fall Fest REVAMPED To learn more about the changes, see pages 6 & 7
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Quinnipiac to launch a new website next fall based on feedback from the community
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Quinnipiac’s main website, qu.edu, will launch its redesign in the fall of 2020. “The website really is kind of the key into the university,” Jim Ryan, associate vice president for the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications, said. “It’s the one place where (people) get to go to see exactly what our university has to offer. We have an incredible story to tell and I think it’s very important that we make sure we get that story right.” The website’s redesign was approved in April. Ryan said that it will no longer be targeted mainly at prospective students. It will now be aimed at the entire Quinnipiac community, from prospective students to alumni, and everyone in between. “We have a new president, we have a strategic plan, the university of the future,” Ryan said. “We need to make sure the site reflects the things that are important in that plan, the four pillars of that plan.” The new website is currently going through the design phase and the university is hoping to allow the entire community to give feedback. The process will include oneon-one and group interviews, focus groups and university-wide surveys. Associate Vice
President for Information Services Janice Wachtarz said the process will help discover how the community envisions the website. “I’ll take in everyone’s ideas, what they want and expect from the website and then narrow it down to an MVP,” Wachtarz said. “We need to launch our most viable product.” Ryan stressed that the website will be in a state of constant improvement and that the new site will be easier to adjust and change as time goes on. “No website’s ever perfect and no website’s ever done,” Ryan said. “We’re never going to be, OK, we built it, we’ve launched it, see you later. Right? That’s just not reality. That never happens.” This will be the sixth iteration of Quinnipiac’s website. Wachtarz says that the average website lasts around four years. The current version of qu.edu will turn three in November. Keith Rhodes, former chief digital officer of the university, was in charge of creating and launching the current website in 2016. He said that the current website is doomed to fail. “Quinnipiac is a tuition-dependent university and the university website is the primary vehicle and communications flagship – where students actively learn about the See WEBSITE Page 2
Staff Meetings on Tuesdays at 9:15 p.m. in SB123
SCREENSHOT FROM QU.EDU
Keith Rhodes, former chief digital officer, designed the current qu.edu, and he said he stands by his work.
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INDEX
Associate News Editor
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By STEPHEN MACLEOD
Opinion: 4
Arts and Life: 8
Sports: 10
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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 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.
Ice cream and acceptance Gender and Sexuality Alliance celebrates National Coming Out Day
By KALLEEN ROSE OZANIC Contributing Writer
National Coming Out Day is a day for members of the LGBTQ community to celebrate and embrace who they are, and Quinnipiac students joined in on the festivities this year. “When people come out, it takes a lot of bravery and it is often an emotional and scary event because you can only guess how the person you’re telling is going to react,” Lindsey Downey, president of Quinnipiac’s Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), said. “For some people, coming out isn’t an option, and for others, they might just not be ready to come out to people yet.” National Coming Out Day aimed to make the statement easier for LGBTQ individuals. GSA celebrated National Coming Out Day at Quinnipiac University on Oct. 11. In the upper level of the cafeteria, the organization gathered to celebrate the occasion with ice cream sundaes, music, friends and the family that has been built within the GSA. All were welcome to attend, as members of the LGBTQ community were encouraged to remain strong and celebrate their identity while straight attendees were encouraged to identify themselves as allies of the community. Austin Calvo, president of the Student Government Association, asserted that National Coming Out Day is indeed a day of celebration and pride. “National Coming Out Day is an opportunity to empower people to come out,” Calvo said Though he planned to come out on National Coming Out Day, his mom ended up finding out about his sexuality before the day. When he did come out officially, though, it had a considerable effect on his life. “It just made me happier. Getting all of that off my chest and being open and honest about who I was was the best thing I’ve ever felt,” Calvo said.
GSA wanted to create a welcoming and supportive setting that encouraged a similar uplifting reaction and caring environment, according to Downey. Upon entering, attendees were greeted by a pride flag hanging from the ceiling near the ice cream. Members of the GSA were gathered around the flag as they doled out frozen treats and exchanged laughs and conversation, welcoming anyone seeking community or acceptance, which are key to supporting an individual coming out, according to Downey. Attendees signed their names on a banner that showed their endorsement and support of the LGBTQ community – either as members or allies. The litany of names sprawled across the banner attracted others to sign and support the community in a safe environment. Attendees reclined at tables and on sofas enjoying ice cream, conversation and good company. Oct. 11, was the 31st annual National Coming Out Day, which is the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979, acccording to the Human Resources Campaign. Downey said she was lucky to have had a supportive family and support system when she came out. She recognized that not all members of the LGBTQ community have shared a similar experience in coming out. The goal of the ice cream social, according to Downey, was to create a safe place where individuals can come out and be supported. Downey said Quinnipiac still has work to do when it comes to being a safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQ community. “I think that while Quinnipiac is pretty friendly and supportive of the LGBTQ community, there’s still a lot of progress to be made,” Downey said. “The LGBTQ community isn’t always very visible on campus, which makes it really easy to not take us into account when it comes to policies and how people act.” Downey explained that the problem is less
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October 16, 2019
KALLEEN ROSE OZANIC/CHRONICLE
Attendees of the National Coming Out Day celebration were greeted with ice cream and pride flags.
KALLEEN ROSE OZANIC/CHRONICLE
Downey, president of GSA, said she wanted to create a welcoming environment for people to come out.
institutional and more a matter of culture – where the main aggressors are often students within campus. Downey asserts that Quinnipiac needs people to be more accepting and understanding towards the LGBTQ community. Downey said that she has often heard derogatory terms in reference to the LGBTQ community at Quinnipiac and people refer to “something they don’t like as ‘gay,’ which is always upsetting,” Downey said. Downey said much of the discrimination against LGBTQ people on college campuses cannot be punished, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. “It’s not against the code of conduct to stop inviting your roommate to dinner,” Downey said. At first, Downey explained, she was more passive with her sexuality. She didn’t want it to be a “big deal.” Now though, she said she has fully embraced who she is. “I have pins on my backpack and a flag in my room, so (my sexuality is) not something I’m hiding in any way. I want people to know that I’m queer,” Downey said. “I put pins on my bag, I wear a rainbow lanyard at work during the summer, and I ran for this position because I want everyone to know that I’m queer.” Downey believes that through the increased presence and visibility of LGBTQ individuals, she can help change Quinnipiac’s culture and foster acceptance toward the community. Though National Coming Out Day has passed, the opportunities to support the LGBTQ community have not. GSA will continue its celebration of LGBTQ history month with Spirit Paint Night on Oct. 16, at 8 p.m. in the dining hall. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays at 9:15 pm in Tator Hall 114.
Rhodes: ‘It has to be emblematic of the brand, driving prospective students through the decision tunnel’ WEBSITE from cover university throughout their consideration process,” Rhodes said. “It has to be emblematic of the brand, driving prospective students through the decision funnel: awareness, interest, preference and choice.” Rhodes said that qu.edu should remain targeted at prospective students and that the university should instead look at redoing or building sites that target different parts of the Quinnipiac community. “The external website is not for current students, faculty and staff – this is why you have MyQ, which the team (at Quinnipiac) failed to properly redesign,” Rhodes said. “Alumni should use a website built just for them, so that their experience is also relevant.” The university has limited details at the current time. There is no clear timeline for plans on the digital side, but Ryan and Wachtarz both said that the long-term goals of redoing the university’s digital landscape are to help have a better way for the university to communicate with stu-
dents and faculty. “You know, I think what we’re really looking at is a strategy for full digital transformation, right?” Ryan said. “And what does that look like? Yes, it’s a website, but it’s also if this is the foundational piece, we want to look at MyQ next, we want to look at mobile applications and we want to look at the digital signage around the campuses, right?” Ryan said he also wants to look at the community as a whole, and make sure that the entire community is being communicated to effectively. “How are we surrounding our students, our faculty, our staff, visitors, sports fans?” Ryan said. “How are we surrounding them with a digital experience?” Rhodes said he stands by his work and believes that efforts would be better spent redoing MyQ and building spaces for each audience. “As an award-winning marketing executive, an alum of the university, a former university Cabinet and Senior Leadership Team member, I am embarrassed by this waste of money,” Rhodes said. “That (money) could be going to
student services or to funding faculty programs. It’s just a shame and example of the gross incompetence at the most senior levels there.”
“...what we’re really looking at is a strategy for full digital transformation...” – JIM RYAN
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE OFFICE OF INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
October 16, 2019
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Wednesday, Oct. 16 Gabriela Garcia Medina Poet and spoken word artist Gabriela Garcia Medina will be performing as part of Hispanic Heritage Month at 8 p.m. in the Piazza. The Student Programming Board (SPB) and Latino Cultural Society (LCS) will be having free food and snacks for students to enjoy.
Thursday, Oct. 17 Self-Defense Class The Quinnipiac Mixed Martial Arts club will be hosting a self-defense class taught by Robert “RJ” DeSilva at 9:15 p.m. in 207 AC. This class will benefit anyone looking to learn self-protection.
Friday, Oct. 18 Beat Shazam! Want to put your music knowledge to the test? SPB is hosting a game show in which teams of four can race against the clock to identify the biggest hit songs of all time. Those in the winning team will win a $100 Ticketmaster gift card. The event will be held in the Lower Cafe at 10 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 22 Black Student Union Artfest The Black Student Union (BSU) will be hosting its annual discussion of current events at 9:15 p.m. in the Piazza. Students will be encouraged to express their thoughts and opinions on issues that they face on and off campus.
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News |3
Beyond the job description
Quinnipiac’s first Bobcat of the Month takes being a Bobcat and an EMT to the next level By EMILY DISALVO News Editor
Megan Taylor was sitting at a table at the front of her chemistry class Sept. 18, when she noticed her professor acting strangely. “One of the students went up to ask him a question, and he just didn’t look OK,” Taylor, a sophomore health sciences major, said. Taylor said the professor seemed to be fading in and out of consciousness. Taylor received EMT training over the summer so that she could work as an EMT in her hometown of Staten Island, New York, and her instincts to help others in an emergency kicked into overdrive. She monitored the professor’s condition and eventually instructed her roommate, who was also in the class, to call 911. “I felt like I was probably the only one who had the training to do so,” Taylor said. “I just took charge and did it.” Her roommate, Olivia Murphy, didn’t forget how Taylor had taken charge at a moment when the rest of the class was scared and confused. She nominated Taylor as Bobcat of the Month and on Oct. 6, Student Government Association (SGA) announced her as the winner. Jamien Jean-Baptiste, SGA vice president for public relations, said the selection committee searched for someone who went beyond traditional expectations of a student. “We are looking for someone that takes leadership on campus, that makes Quinnipiac a better place just by their presence, inspiring other people,” Jean-Baptiste said. While the selection committee thought Taylor acted heroically, she said she was just doing her job. “I’m just doing what I’m trained to do, but it’s awesome for them to give me this recogni-
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN TAYLOR
SGA awarded Taylor with a plaque and a $250 bookstore gift card.
tion,” Taylor said. SGA members surprised Taylor with the award at the chapter meeting of her sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. She was given a $250 gift card to the bookstore and showered with balloons and confetti. Jean-Baptiste said Bobcat of the Month is not entirely new to Quinnipiac. SGA hosted a similar program several years ago. He said they brought the idea back because it’s a way to recognize students who live the Creed. The Creed is a promise to demonstrate the values of integrity, responsibility and academic excellence. All students recite the Creed at fresh-
man orientation pledging to “Live the Legend.” “We decided to incorporate (the Creed) because it’s kind of like after orientation it disappears and you don’t really hear from it again,” Jean-Baptiste said. “We wanted to really involve that entire thing into the selection so people are constantly reminded to live by the student body Creed and even go above and beyond it.” SGA received over 70 nominations in the September applicant pool, but Jean-Baptiste said Taylor stuck out. “I thought that someone that had that kind of character to step up and do that on a daily basis and have that commitment, I thought she would be the perfect person to be the first Bobcat of the Month to lay that groundwork for the rest of the submissions,” Jean-Baptiste said. Murphy said Taylor’s character is deeper than that one instance in chemistry class. She said Taylor is involved in her sorority, president of the new club volleyball team and committed to her friends. “She just gets along with so many people,” Murphy said. “It’s that personality of her being personable with people that really stood out.” As for next month’s star Bobcat, Jean-Baptiste encouraged all students to submit nominations on DoYouQU. Submissions that were not chosen for September will be added to a list and have a chance to win in future months. Taylor said she hopes the next Bobcat of the Month will embrace what it means to live the Creed. “Someone who is involved, somebody who takes pride in being a Quinnipiac student and just somebody who is really doing a lot for the community,” Taylor said.
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October 16, 2019
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Don’t let Daryl Morey be a scapegoat How seven words jeopardized a multibillion dollar partnership By MICHAEL SICOLI Staff Writer
Seven words can be enough to ruin someone’s entire career. Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted, “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” on Friday, Oct. 4 and set off a firestorm that engulfed the NBA and China alike. As a result of the tweet, China has slammed both the Rockets and the NBA with threats and criticisms. Not everyone is aware of the situation in Hong Kong. Residents of the city have been protesting since June against efforts to gradually integrate Hong Kong into China. In the past, the former British colony had operated under a “one country, two systems” deal that was set up by Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China in the 1980s. Now China is trying to force extradition laws and other Chinese traditions upon Hong Kong. Fearing a threat to their independence and democracy, Hong Kong residents have rebelled. In other words, it is a delicate yet explosive situation. And Morey lit the fuse. Morey deleted the tweet shortly after it was posted and apologized, but the damage was done. The Rockets were under attack for having a prominent figure in the organization express a political viewpoint about a foreign country. Many even argued that Morey’s lack of conviction worsened the situation. The way his tweet was rather vague, and the way he deleted his tweet also made him sound less genuine. Some are calling for his resignation. I call bullshit. Morey has assembled a playoff team every year as a Rockets executive outside of a three-year span from the 2009-10 season to the 2011-12 season. He brought star shooting guard James Harden to the Rockets and created the “true shooting percentage” statistic that is recognized and used around the league. Morey promoted the use of analytics in modern day basketball and is a big reason why the Rockets have been an offensive powerhouse in years past. But it’s about more than his credentials. While some in the public are criticizing Morey for speaking up in support of the Hong Kong protests, the NBA is scrambling to mend fences with China. According to David Carter, executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute, China makes up 10% of the NBA’s yearly income. Carter estimates that China could make up to 20% of the NBA’s yearly income by the year 2030. Right now, the NBA preseason is taking place in China. Tens of thousands attend each game. China is already a big part of the NBA’s profits and having an overseas interest is difficult to manage. For example, it has taken the NFL well over a decade to garner the viewership they have in London, and even that is minimal. Given the projected growth in popularity in China for NBA basketball, the league has a major stake in maintaining this relationship. The 15,992 Chinese fans that attended the game on Oct. 10 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets were given Chinese flags to wave during the game in a movement of patriotism instead of any Lakers or Nets spiritwear. Brandishing Chinese colors in the stands is just the type of solidarity China wants to showcase. The post game conferences were canceled for the game, and there wasn’t any other media availability in China afterwards. It’s safe to say that China is not too happy with the NBA. China’s consulate in Houston stated, “We have lodged representations and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Houston Rockets, and urged the latter to correct the error and take immediate concrete measures to eliminate the adverse impact.” Simply put, China wants Morey and the Rockets punished. Chinese companies may cut ties with not just the Rockets but also the NBA. Li Ning, a sportswear brand that legendary guard Dwyane Wade wore, announced that it has suspended its ties with the NBA. Anta, another sportswear brand that has worked with stars such as Klay Thompson and Gordon Hayward, announced it would suspend contract renewal talks with the NBA, according to Reuters. China also canceled the preseason game between the Rockets and
“The U.S. was built upon the foundation of freedom. There is a reason television is not forced through a state-run channel in the U.S. like it is in China. There is a reason why Twitter is banned in China and not in the U.S.” – MICHAEL SICOLI
STAFF WRITER
the Dallas Mavericks in response to the tweet. Meanwhile, the United States has also responded. Members of the United States Congress have asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver in the form of an open letter to cease all relationships with China until “government-controlled broadcasters and government-controlled commercial sponsors end their boycott of the NBA activities and the selective treatment of the Houston Rockets.” Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports is reporting that multiple teams fear “a scenario in which the cap for the 2020-21 season could drop between 10-15% due to the current situation between the NBA and China.” Seven words. That’s all it took to make a multibillion dollar company bleed. The NBA has a lot to lose if this damage festers. The branch that manages the league’s businesses, NBA China, has an estimated value of at least $4 billion, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, a man who simply spoke his mind may be sacrificed to save the NBA’s profits. LeBron James doesn’t seem too sympathetic for Morey. He told reporters on Monday, “I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand and he spoke. So many people could have been harmed, not just financially but physically, emotionally, spiritually. So just be careful what we tweet and what we say and what we do, even though yes, we do have freedom of speech, but there can be a lot of negative that comes with that too.” James recognizes that freedom of speech is important, but the ramifications can be dangerous. Not everything is covered under freedom of speech. Still, this is a very fine line to cross. Morey did not tweet out hate speech, or anything that would warrant censorship. The United States was built upon the foundation of freedom. There is a reason television is not forced through a state-run channel in the U.S. like it is in China. There is a reason why Twitter is banned in China and not in the U.S. Ironic, right? That controversial tweet was not even seen by the people of China on the social media platform. It had to be reported. China is a communist country that does not allow freedom of expression. If Morey feels pressured to resign or, even worse, is forced to resign, the U.S. is no better than China. To the NBA’s credit, Silver has supported Morey. “The NBA will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say on these
issues,” Silver said. “We simply could not operate that way.” The commissioner is stuck between supporting freedom of speech and supporting the investments the league has made in China. Stating that the NBA is “not apologizing” shows that Silver is making the right choice by putting morals ahead of business. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta tweeted that Morey, “does NOT speak for the Houston Rockets” while maintaining that the team is, “NOT a political organization.” It’s clear that Fertitta wants to distance himself and the organization from Morey. But regardless of what Silver or Fertitta says, there is pressure to relieve Morey of his duties. A pressure to do whatever it takes to re-establish relations and bring those businesses back. It would be a slap in the face to Morey and everything this country stands for if this was to occur. It is somewhat ironic that Yao Ming, arguably the best player to emerge from China, spent eight years with the Rockets. The legendary center could be used as a bridge between the Rockets and China without making Morey jump off that bridge into unemployment. This should be the next step. However, Silver did note that Ming was “extremely upset” with the situation. Ming runs the Chinese Basketball Association, and would be vital towards lowering tension between the NBA and China. Mending the relationships between the NBA, Morey and Ming should be paramount, especially given Ming’s prestigious career. Regardless of the future, Morey should not be fired for his tweet. Not only is there nothing wrong with expressing one’s opinion but supporting democracy and sovereignty is a noble cause. My only issue with the tweet is that he backed down when deleting it. Seven words is all it took to jeopardize the NBA millions of dollars, but it should not cost Morey his job.
PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA
Daryl Morey tweeted, “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” on Oct. 4.
October 16, 2019
Opinion|5
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
From April to November
Juniors should not have to select housing in the fall semester By TOYLOY BROWN III Opinion Editor
With the already constant pressures of maintaining strong academic standing, having a buzzing social life, handling club responsibilities, carving out time for valuable relaxation and dealing with more day-to-day concerns, deciding on where you live next year is a stress that may put anyone over the edge. Especially if that comes five months sooner than expected. On Oct. 4, sophomores received an email from Associate Director of Residential Life Melissa Karipidis saying that housing selection for rising juniors will occur in November. Specifically, she said that selection numbers will be posted on MyHousing on Nov. 12, and that room selection would begin Nov. 18. In comparison to last semester, selection numbers for the rising sophomores were posted on MyHousing on March 27, and room selection began on April 8. Last year, rising juniors’ housing selection started March 26. The difference in time between when selection numbers were given and when room selection happened is nothing short of massive. Yet, an email with such important news discreetly arrived in students’ inboxes on a Friday at 7:45 p.m. Whether you are impacted by the date change or not, it is quite staggering that Quinnipiac would suddenly decide to move the time when sophomores choose where to live next year. A five-month move-up in the timeline for sophomores to choose where and who they will live with is, in layman terms, “crazy.” As a sophomore, this change in the housing selection date is very impactful. Quite expectedly, I did not fully read, let alone absorb, the information described in Karipidis’ email Friday evening. However, once I did sit on the details described in the message, I came to the conclusion that I understand what Quinnipiac is trying to do, but I’m mostly not in favor of the change. The idea behind moving the date earlier can be described as commendable on Quinnipiac’s part. In a previous article in The Chronicle, Director of Residential Life Mark DeVilbiss said, “I think a lot of students are interested in solidifying their housing options for next year and we wanted to be sure that they could do that with QU housing.” Allowing students to choose where they want to live earlier than the last month of the spring semester may alleviate some of the stress people have around that time of the year. I could roll with that even though choosing where and who I dorm with
in April wasn’t an issue last year as a freshman. However, this date change from April to November feels like an over-correction to the concern that students should solidify their housing earlier. Having juniors decide where they want to live three months into a seven-month school year is unreasonable. For example, those who want to live off-campus and decide not to put down a housing deposit or sign a contract by Nov. 12, may find themselves in a predicament if something goes awry between November and April of the following year. A roommate that originally planned to be in an off-campus house may not follow through for reasons that may vary from financial to personal. This could lessen the likelihood of everyone else remaining in the house. This scenario can occur in November right before the housing deposit and contract are due or after April. The reason this hypothetical is meaningful is because the time frame for roommates to find a house, still want to live together and not agree to live on York Hill is much slimmer. Also, that may even pressure people to stay committed to something they may have agreed to five months too soon. A roommate may no longer want to stick with the plan and may fear backing out since they had agreed to not living on campus in November. Something else that cannot be overlooked is the “who” aspect the people you want to live with. The personal relationships involved are at risk. Conversations about who wants to live together among sophomores who live in a suite must happen earlier no matter what decision they decide. Similar to the aforementioned scenario, everyone may be all for living together again in November, but months after making the decision they may regret it later. In the reverse, some people may make it clear or a possibility that they do not want to live with a roommate. The talk required to tell someone you do not want to live with them is not an easy one. But now that this happens so much earlier, the residual damage it will have on a friendship when you still see the person on a daily basis is agonizing to even think about. Straight-up telling someone that living with you is no longer something he or she may want to do is a tough reality that can happen five months earlier than it normally would have been. A student could also quite simply not know yet if they know
PHOTO FROM OFFICE OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE FACEBOOK
Cresecent and Westview are among the choices for junior housing.
who they want to live with. Choosing so early could lead to a wrong move by the person who just needs more time. To be fair, in the earlier article story relaying the news about the junior housing change, DeVilbiss said that students will be able to make changes to their rooms as soon as this fall if students change their minds about who they want to live with.” Until exact details are given on how to change the dorm originally selected, I will remain skeptical about the process being quick, easy and free of charge. Housing is another level of stress that all residential college students experience, but this worsened the stress. It’s nice that Quinnipiac wants students to have comfort in knowing what their future living situation will be early on. It is also in their best interest to know how much room and board money is retained from students who choose to live on York Hill Campus. From my perspective as a rising sophomore, selecting housing in November is way too soon.
All people have rights
Supreme Court examines protection of transgender rights By MAGALI AGUILAR Staff Writer
People all over the country were able to come together to celebrate their identities, on Friday, Oct. 11. National Coming Out Day is celebrated annually to raise LGBTQ awareness. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that the right to marry is guaranteed to same sex couples by the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This was a huge achievement for the LGBTQ community, but that hasn’t made its acceptance in society much easier. In 2018, a bakery in Colorado refused to provide a wedding cake for a gay couple based on the owner’s religious beliefs. The case went to the Supreme Court where it was decided in a 7 to 2 decision that the bakery owner had a right to deny service to the gay couple based on his First Amendment right to freely practice a religion. Members of the LGBTQ community still have a long way to go before they fully obtain equal rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. It prohibited racial segregation in schools, employment and public accomodations. While racism is still seen in some aspects of society today, segregation isn’t as common as it used to be. Discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community happens more often than not. The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, is famous for riots that took place there in 1969 against police officers who raided gay bars. Violence against members of the LGBTQ community has not slowed down since the movement against it began. In June 2016, Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. To this day, it remains the deadliest incident of violence against LGBTQ people in U.S. history. Acceptance of gay people has increased, but transgender people still receive a lot of hate and have a harder time being accepted into society. On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether gay and transgender people are covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is unclear whether or not discrimination based on sex applies to sexual orientation
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and gender identity. A debate infamously known as the “bathroom debate” was one of the first to receive widespread attention regarding the rights of transgender people. It is commonly argued that people should be able to use whatever bathroom corresponds with their gender identity, but in February 2017, President Donald Trump revoked protections for transgender students to exercise that right. This past August, Trump took a step toward legalizing transgender discrimination by telling the Supreme Court that federal law allows employers to fire workers solely for being transgender. The Justice Department says there is no federal law that offers protection to transgender workers who endure discrimination because of their gender identity. There was no consensus on what the word “sex” meant when it was used in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and courts have yet to determine how that term exactly applies to people who identify as transgender or members of the LGBTQ community. The treatment of transgender people and all members of the
LGBTQ community need to change. Transgender people are human beings too. The way in which they choose to identify themselves should have no influence on whether or not they are able to fit into society as a “normal” person, able to obtain and keep a job, what bathroom they are allowed to use or any other activity that all people in this country perform on a regular basis. People should be accepted regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, race, gender identity or any other aspect that makes up who they are. In September, Bee Love Slater, a black, transgender 23-yearold from South Florida, was murdered. She is the 18th transgender person to be murdered in the United States this year according to the Washington Post, and the number is slowly, but dangerously increasing. In Florida, the hate crime statute does not apply to people who are attacked because of their gender identity. However, people who are attacked for being gay are covered by the hate crime statute. This is unfair to people who are transgender or identify with a gender that people don’t accept. YouTuber Trisha Paytas recently caused some controversy when she uploaded a video explaining that she is a trasngender male because she does not fit feminine stereotypes. She called herself a gay man because she likes men but also identifies as a man. Many people were offended by her statements, saying she should not be using such a sensitive topic for attention. Coming out as transgender or as a different gender identity than the one you were assigned at birth is not a joke, and it’s not something that should be said lightly. Transgender people and all members of the LGBTQ community need to be accepted and treated like human beings. They are like everyone else and their gender identity and sexual orientation should have no influence on how they are treated or how they’re able to function in society. It’s time that all members of the LGBTQ community receive equal treatment. They should not be targeted for being unique.
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The Quinnipiac Chronicle
October 16, 2019
Covers an DESIGN BY JANNA MARNELL
Fall Fest was revamped this year into an entirely new experience with it being held on the Quad for the first time ever. Cover bands, The Sulls and Those Guys, were the opening acts for main artist, Cale Dodds. Fall Fest created a whole new atmosphere for QU students.
PHOTO BY RHEA GHOSH
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
October 16, 2019
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nd Country BY EMILY FLAMME Staff Writer
Fall Fest, Quinnipiac’s big concert of the fall semester experienced a change-up that made it into an event centered around fall-themed activities. Upon entering Fall Fest this past Saturday, Oct. 12, there was an arch of yellow, orange and red balloons, followed by tables set up with blankets and shirts for attendees to take. Continuing onto the Quad, there were activities and numerous food options ready to go at noon. Free food trucks, doughnuts, candy apples, were all for the taking. There was a mechanical pumpkin, as well as cornhole and ladder toss to entertain the students while they enjoyed the crisp fall afternoon. Since 2013, Fall Fest has been an event centered around a musical artist that would put on a big performance. Each year, the concert took place in South Lot on the Mount Carmel Campus. The lot would have to be closed down for the weekend to accommodate all the people in attendance — usually over 1,000 students. Taylor Sniffen, the mainstage chair of the Student Program Board describes Fall Fest in the past as having an intense, chaotic vibe. “It started out as a concert in the South Lot in early September, so it was very hot,” Sniffen said. “You were usually pushed up against barricades, and it was supposed to be more of the banging concert feel. So instead of everyone pushed against a barricade, we were like, ‘why don’t we get out on the Quad and have everyone chill for a day?’” In the past years, there have been artists such as the Plain White T’s, AJR and Timeflies. This year, The Sulls, Those Guys and Cale Dodds played. Each group played for about an hour. The festival attendees heard a mix of pop, country and rock-n-roll as they sat on blankets and watched. “I really love the vibe they’ve created on the Quad today. It’s not just a concert, it’s also activities, the food, people just hanging out,” Leah Lavin, graduate student in the 3+1 communications program, said. “In the past, you would have to rush over to the South Lot, get through security, get in line. I like how this is more free-flowing. The atmosphere is a lot better.” The first hour of Fall Fest was filled with
people enjoying the food trucks, with the music playing over the speakers. The food trucks were crowd favorites such as Spud’s, Taco Pacifico and Ice Cream Emergency. “The potato truck is what brought me here,” Regan Lundy, freshman Biology major, joked. “It’s been fun to chill outside today and enjoy the music.” At 1 p.m., the first act came on stage — The Sulls. The local band kicked off the concert by performing covers of rock songs. The brother duo was voted best rock band in CTNow Best of Hartford Reader’s Poll. Their simple sound of vocals, guitar, bass and drums made for a powerful sound. Their performance provided a great soundtrack for Fall Fest.
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said. “I think it should be advertised more because I’m having a great time.” At 2 p.m., the next act came on stage — Those Guys. The group of three men performed a mix of early 2010s pop throwbacks and classics that have been around forever. They had high energy and made their time on stage fun and nostalgic. For everyone listening, they were transported to their early teen years when songs such as “Happy” and “Problem” were on the radio. Some people even got up and danced to the songs Those Guys played, while some laid on their blanket and soaked up the experience. Once Those Guys left the stage, Cale Dodds entered. Dodds is an up and coming country singer from Georgia. He had charisma that captivated the people in the audience. Before introducing his original songs, he would make jokes about them. At one point, he called out to the crowd, “Anyone here ever been on a bad date? If you’re not raising your hand, is it because you’re with the person the bad date was with?” He continued with his set, singing upbeat country songs interspersed with more jokes. At the end of his performance, Dodds told the crowd he would see everyone at Toad’s afterward. The three acts were unique in their own ways and made for a festival feeling. There was a diverse range of music that would appeal to almost anyone. “This year we were going for a different vibe, and we wanted to make more of a festival feel,” Dan Bahl, General Manager of WQAQ, said. “We put out a survey for our members where we can get an idea of what they were looking for, what they wanted to hear from Fall Fest. We used that information and settled on what we have today.” The new and improved Fall Fest featured three acts that played different genres of music and much more. “I think that it’s really inclusive for a bunch of different people,” Mallory Sanderson, freshman finance major, said. “There’s music, food, activities, so there's a lot for everyone.”
So instead of everyone pushed against a barricade, we were like, ‘why don’t we get out on the Quad and have everyone chill for a day?’”
– Taylor Sniffen Mainstage Chair of the Student Programming Board
As students wandered around the Quad, they enjoyed classic covers from two guys who showed they know how to rock. During the first act, people were still wandering around, taking in what Fall Fest had to offer. It was a new experience for everyone there as the event was no longer just about the music. It was about the atmosphere, the overall environment. The new Fall Fest rebranded itself into being about the event itself. “I like the fact that there’s a lot of vendors, and we get free food. I feel like this is the first time I’ve actually been able to enjoy the quad as a freshman,” Dylin Marano, occupational therapy major,
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8|Arts & Life
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
October 16, 2019
Arts & Life
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SWIMSUITS AND LAWSUITS Speedos, swimming and ethics converge at the Quinnipiac Theater Department’s production of ‘Red Speedo’ By EMILY DISALVO News Editor
Vomit splattered across the stage, water splashed into the stands and baby carrots were thrown. And thrown again. The Quinnipiac Theater Department immersed the students, faculty, staff and families in “Red Speedo,” the story of an Olympic-bound swimmer who becomes entangled in the use of performance enhancing drugs. The play ran Oct. 10-13, in the Black Box Theater at the Theatre and Arts Center. The swimmer, Ray, was played by sophomore theater major Liam Devlin who said he’s far from an Olympic athlete. “He’s a very interesting character because I am not very athletic so putting myself in the mind into one of the greatest athletes in the world is kind of interesting because I’ve never really dealt with that sort of perspective on things,” Devlin said before the show, wrapped snugly in a bathrobe. When the play opened, Ray’s brother, Peter, played by Joseph Powell, a senior game design and development major, was talking with Ray’s coach. Ray’s coach was played by Julia Brignano, a junior Spanish major in the MAT program. Immediately, Peter established himself as quirky and assertive. He was a fierce advocate for his brother, but to a point where the coach was becoming uncomfortable. That’s when Ray entered, sans bathrobe. He wore a tight red speedo and his back was plastered with a tattoo of a dragon-like creature. He was crunching noisily on a bag of baby carrots, which prove to be his go-to snack. The audience quickly learned that Ray is not the legal scholar that Peter is. In fact, he never went to college and has a hard time forming intelligent sentences.
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Previously, Ray’s poor judgement and intellect motivated him to take performance-enhancing drugs from his exgirlfriend, Lydia, played by Elizabeth Miller. Miller, a senior health science major, said she and Lydia, while both tough, are very different. “How she speaks is different,” Miller said. “Her background is very much different and her situation is very different and it’s been an interesting journey kind of figuring out her as a person and how I can portray her in the best way possible.” Throughout the play, Ray is torn between his conscience and Peter, who encourages him to keep the drugs a secret to avoid destroying the sponsorship deal he just made with Speedo. In his pursuit of the Olympics and a custom dragonprinted Speedo, Ray ingested cat medicine, proposed to Lydia and learned more about who he was. Ray eventually disclosed that he’s been sleeping in his car and feeling generally hopeless. He felt that swimming is the only thing that will ever bring him success. And even swimming, he had done with the assistance of illegal drugs. We see the inherent weakness in someone who seems to have it all.
Sophomore Liam Devlin played the main character, Ray, who is a hopeful Olympian. After a bloody fight, during which Ray almost drowned Peter to death in the pool on stage, Ray made a decision. The play ended with Ray’s voice ringing in the audience’s ear as his bloodied lips proclaimed, “I’m tired of winning.” The stage then went dark. Other than the riveting and realistic storyline, “Red Speedo” was filled with many subtle intricacies that made the experience more real. The intimate Black Box Theater places the audiences an arm’s length away from the action, and sometimes less. At times, the actors stood in the center aisle or sat on the steps at the feet of the people in the front row. When Ray pushed Peter’s head into the pool repeatedly, the audience had to duck to avoid being soaked by the spray of water. The entire production, which lasted 90 minutes, only included four actors, but their words didn’t tell the story alone. Emma Hubbell, a junior game, design and development major, was responsible for operating the sound board. She said being a part of the play is a great experience, no matter how you’re involved in it. “It’s exciting to be a part of any of these productions because everyone works so hard, so it’s cool to be here,” Hubbell said. Sound played an integral role in creating the mood during the play. The crunching carrots signaled Ray, a rapidly clicking pen was characteristic of Peter and the clink of metal necklace was associated with Lydia as she fidgeted with the jewelry. These sounds often meant the actor was contemplating a difficult decision. Each scene change was signaled by dimmed lights and the urgent, incessant clicking of a clock. The scene changes came suddenly – sometimes mid-conversation. The large timing clock hung prominently on the wall next to the pool. The script in the play was also distinct. It was characterized by an almost dancing series of interrupted phrases in which actors would exchange short portions of sentences continually cutting one another off, but then picking up where they left off when it was their turn again. Since the entire production took place on the pool deck, the conversations made the experience come to life. The set and props were realistic and detailed. Stage manager, Camille Manley, a sophomore law in society and theater major, said she played a role in the organization of the production as well as putting out props. One of her roles on the night of the show was to station the vomit bag and the fake blood so it was ready for the scene. Prior to the show, Manley encountered some real blood. “I’m bleeding all over my fingers and I have orange paint on my hands,” Manley said. “We were trying to make the vomit bag and I cut the scissor through my finger.” Thanks to Manley’s efforts though, the show went off without a hitch.
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“That was the best run the actors have ever given and I thought the audience, hopefully, they seemed to be really engaged in the story and responsive to the energy and the questions the play posed,” Mariah Sage, director and adjunct professor of theater at Quinnipiac, said. Kevin Daly, director of the theater program and associate professor of theater, said he chose “Red Speedo” based on Sage’s recommendation. “She said it spoke to her on a level that she thought would resonate on a Quinnipiac campus,” Daly said. “It was about privilege and cheating and getting what you want for no regard for the costs. Our students could really dive into that type of material, relate to that type of material and be engaged by that type of material.” Students who attended the play said they enjoyed the performance and marveled at the talent of the actors. “I thought it was really put together and I really enjoyed the actors and the scenes,” Jack Zemlanicky, sophomore computer science major, said. “I was really surprised at how much time and effort seemed to be put into the stage itself and how much the actors rehearsed.” Miller said she was cast Labor Day weekend, so rehearsal for the play started right when school did. She emphasized that students should come to the performances to support the hard work of their classmates. “It’s incredibly important for students to come to the show,” Miller said. “It lets us show our art, what we’ve worked so hard on. We also cover super important topics in a lot of our shows.” Daly acknowledged that the theater building and program are still growing but said student involvement is the only way to keep improving the program. “We are growing fast, the theater program is pushing the boundaries of what we can do and in many ways we need more student participation to keep growing the way we want to,” Daly said.
GRAPHIC BY HAYLEI COTTON
October 16, 2019
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
9|Arts & Life
'THE LITTLE MERMAID LIVE!' Disney’s 'The Little Mermaid Live!' will air on Nov. 5
By MELANIE CARERI Contributing Writer
About 30 years ago, Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was released in theaters and is still regarded as a massive success, reaching millions of viewers. On Sunday Oct. 6, ABC tweeted out the teaser for “The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live!”, which is the new live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” to celebrate its 30 year anniversary. The program airs on ABC, the ABC app and ABC.com on Nov. 5. Even though the actors for King Triton and Flounder haven’t been announced yet, the rest of the cast is official. Current “Rise” star, Auli’i Cravalho, who also voiced the popular Disney character, Moana, will be starring as Ariel. Other Hollywood stars were cast as well, such as Queen Latifah, who will be playing the Ursula, along with Shaggy as Sebastian, John Stamos as Chef Louis and Graham Phillips as Prince Eric. Queen Latifah even posted on Instagram a picture of herself as Ursula holding a golden shell with a caption stating, “‘Fortunately I know a little magic.’ Excited to be a part of ‘The Wonderful World of Disney Presents the Little Mermaid Live!’”According to Variety and Playbill, Disney also announced that they will have former “Glee” fan favorite and current “Little Shop of Horrors” star, Amber Riley, emcee for the production. Overall, the casting alone seems to already be making fans excited about the program. On social media there has been a lot of positive feedback and excitement. According to TeenVogue, one fan tweeted, “I am so looking forward to Queen Latifah as Ursula." Another fan also tweeted having Auli’i Cravalho casted as Ariel is “genuine excellence." One of the more important elements of “The Little Mermaid” is not only its cast, but also its music. The live-action version will not only have songs from the movie, but, according
Auli'i Cravalho will be starring as Ariel in 'The Little Mermaid Live!' to CNN Entertainment, “The live musical event will feature music from the original animated film and the Tony Awardnominated Broadway stage version, originally composed by eight-time Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken.” This version of “The Little Mermaid” is unlike any other previous version. According to CNN Entertainment, ABC describes the live-action version as a, "never-beforeseen hybrid format that will take viewers on a magical adventure under the sea as live musical performances by a star-studded cast are interwoven into the broadcast of the
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original feature film." TeenVogue also states that it will, “... feature elements of the movie alongside live-action singing, which should make for a completely enchanting under-thesea experience.” “The Little Mermaid Live!” is not the only remake of “The Little Mermaid.” This version is only the introduction to the new live-film version, featuring Halle Bailey as Ariel, with production already starting in early 2020. The liveaction version can give viewers a taste of Disney’s new image of Ariel and the rest of the characters.
BRANTLEY GILBERT TAMES HIS WILD SIDE The country star has settled down since he went ‘Bottoms Up’ in 2010 By EMILY DISALVO News Editor
Brantley Gilbert’s new album “Fire and Brimstone” shows a mature and nurturing side that one can only explain as a necessity of being a husband and a father. While he was previously known for songs like “Bottoms Up” and “The Weekend,” focused on drinking and “living it up for the weekend,” the songs that are destined to make it big in his new album are not party songs. Gilbert married Amber Cochran, a schoolteacher from his hometown, in 2015. In 2017, Cochran gave birth to a son. In my opinion, these pivotal life events caused the tone of his music to pivot as well. “What Happens in a Small Town” with Lindsay Ell from “Fire and Brimstone” has already been a chart-topping success. This song offers glimpses into a softer, more emotional Gilbert that is typically masked by his tough-guy persona in his older songs. Gilbert, a 6-foot, burly, heavily tattooed man with a hefty beard, allows the listener to feel an intimate connection to a small town and the pain of breaking up with a girl he grew up with and wondering whenever he sees her car if there’s someone else in the passenger seat. While we feel a personal connection to this girl, in “Bottoms Up,” the song refers to a woman as a “pretty little mama looking at you like that.” His marriage may have inspired him to sing songs about one specific girl, and his relationship with this girl is more than just someone to go “Bottoms Up” with. Besides “What happens in a small town,” the other songs on the album portray Gilbert as an unapologetic bad boy, willing to tame his wild side for a special girl. There are a few songs with a heavy rock feel or even some rap-like singing, but many of the songs are softer. The best example of his new style is “Man of Steel.” The song exhibits his raspy, distinct voice in a new way. Rather than using it to shout, “Live it up for the weekend,” he uses it to almost whisper, “I’m gonna be your man of steel.” The song shows him channeling his masculinity as a protector and guardian rather than as a reckless cowboy. The song uses less vigorous drumming and instead has a very steady bass beat in the background that sounds like a heartbeat, rather than a drum solo. Another notable song on the album is “Never Gonna be Alone.” It has a more intense chorus than “Man of Steel” which involves heavy drumming. But when it comes time to say, “You’re never gonna be alone” he uses that same
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Brantley Gilbert's album, 'Fire and Brimstone,' received a score of 70 out of 100 by Album of the Year. whisper as “I’m gonna be your man of steel,” and just like that Father Bear Brantley is back. The song opens with, “I can’t promise you my wild side won’t show up from time to time,” which I feel is a motif for the entire album. While he is confessing to being more tame now, he acknowledges that every now and then, the “Bottoms Up” singer will make a comeback. And he does. "Fire and Brimstone" contains a few songs t characteristic of his old style. If I didn’t know better, I would have actually thought “Fire’t Up” was from his old album. He goes back to phrases like “Country queens do your thing” which sounds like it could come straight out of “Bottoms Up.” I like the new Gilbert. His older songs were pump-ups, but his new songs are principled. He sticks to a theme – bad boys can be tamed – and I don’t think there is any better
theme to represent his music or his personality. I loved getting to hear the quiet, emotional side of his voice. If you want to truly experience the transition, listen to “Small Town Throwdown” from his old album and then follow that up with “What Happens in a Small Town.” You will realize that small towns can be places for wild parties, but they can also be places where one can’t drive around without a memory of someone who made that town feel like home.
4/5 STARS
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
10|Sports
RUNDOWN MEN’S SOCCER QU 5, Marist 3 - Wednesday Simon Hillinger: 1 goal, 3 shots, 3 SOGs Brage Aasen: 2 assists, 3 shots, 3 SOGs QU 0, Niagara 0 - Wednesday Jared Mazzola: 2 saves, 0 GA Henry Weigand: 2 shots, 2 SOGs WOMEN’S SOCCER QU 3, Fairfield 0 - Wednesday Olivia Scott: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 SOG Meaghan Phillips: 7 saves, 0 GA QU3, Niagara 0 - Sunday Kayla Mingachos: 1 goal, 1 shot, 1 SOG Olivia Myszewski: 1 save, 0 GA FIELD HOCKEY Villanova 2, QU 1 - Friday Julianna Cappello: 1 goal, 3 shots, 1 SOG Hedda Biermann-Ratjen: 2 saves, 2 GAs Maine 4, QU 0 - Sunday Bianka Strubbe: 2 shots, 1 SOG Mack Vorel: 7 saves, 1 GA VOLLEYBALL QU 3, Marist 1 - Wednesday Maggie Baker: 19 kills, 12 digs Rider 3, QU 0 - Saturday Alejandra Rodriguez: 13 digs, 3 kills QU 3, Saint Peter’s 0 - Friday Aryanah Diaz: 17 assists, 13 digs, 12 kills MEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU 3, AIC 2 - Friday Nick Jermain: 1 goal, 5 shots Keith Petruzzelli: 25 saves, 2 GAs QU 3, AIC 2 - Saturday Wyatt Bongiovanni: 1 goal, 4 shots Petruzzelli: 28 saves, 2 GAs WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU 3, Maine 2 - Friday Sadie Peart: 2 goals, 5 shots Abbie Ives: 16 saves, 2 GA QU 0, Maine 0 - Saturday Taylor Girard: 5 shots Ives: 23 saves, 0 GA
GAMES TO WATCH MEN’S SOCCER QU vs. Canisius - Saturday, 2 p.m. WOMEN’S SOCCER QU at Saint Peter’s - Wednesday, 3 p.m. QU at Iona - Saturday, 1 p.m. VOLLEYBALL QU vs. Canisius - Saturday, 1 p.m. QU vs. Niagara - Sunday, 1 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY QU at Providence - Friday, 6 p.m. QU vs. Yale - Sunday, 2 p.m. MEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU vs. Maine - Friday, 7 p.m. QU vs. Maine - Saturday, 7 p.m.
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NET from Page 12 may take some time to gel, but nobody on the team seems worried about the transition from past to present.
VETERANS The returners are proven players. Seniors like guard Taylor Herd and forwards Paige Warfel and Jaden Ward know what it means to play at Quinnipiac. The goals are set high, but not hopelessly. Every goal this team sets for itself is intentional. “Before coming here I was never detail oriented, but that’s really something stressed by (Fabbri) and by (assistant coach Brian Wilson),” Herd said. “So, just getting those freshmen to know that spots are really important for us, executing our plays, knowing where to be, knowing how to adjust, being adaptable has been I think the main thing we’re working on.” Herd appears prepared for her new role on the team. One year removed from taking home MAAC Sixth Player of the Year honors, Herd finds herself in the spotlight for her final season. Her leadership role is essential moving forward both in terms of winning now and developing talent for the future. “It’s been really fun trying to figure it out,” Herd said. “We have a lot of young players, but it’s young energy and I think that’s what has been most fun. It’s a different type of energy, and I think from the senior class we know what we want, which is that fourth ring, to make history. And, (the new players) want to continue that legacy, so it’s really fun putting that together and figuring it out.” When it comes to Herd’s personal goals this season, she hopes to bring a winner’s attitude and energy every night, even if her shot is off. Her shooting, though, is one place that will have to improve this season if the Bobcats hope to achieve the same success they have been in recent years. Herd shoots 35% from the field in her career and 31% from beyond the arc. Those numbers are respectable but need to climb this season. Fey and Strautmane each shot 43% from the field in their careers, and both shot 34% from three. Herd should aim to match these marks this season to truly blossom as a star and a leader, and take this team to the heights it wants to reach. The point guard situation is an aspect of the lineup that leaves little to be desired. DeWees and junior transfer Shaq Edwards both enter the season with confidence, and perhaps more importantly, skill. “I stepped in as point guard this year, and I had a great role model – Edel Thornton – who graduated last year,” DeWees said. “She really shaped me into the guard I am today, and as point guards, Shaq and I, we really have to be leaders. I think that right now we’re a new team, so we’re evolving and we’re doing the best we can, and we’re excited. The team is looking great.” It will be interesting to see which point guard shines brightest this season. DeWees has shown flashes of Thornton-like play, a style that’s proven to win. DeWees has more steals in her career than fouls, a stat that demonstrates a high basketball IQ.
Warfel looks to advance the ball up the court to an open teammate. At the same time, her 29 career turnovers outweigh her 20 career assists. A negative assist-to-turnover ratio is a worrying statistic, and DeWees’ ability to make smarter decisions this year could decide whether she fits into a starting role or continues to enter the game off the bench. Edwards came over from La Salle University last season and sat out every game. This year she’ll make her debut for the Bobcats. She’s drawn praise from her teammates and coaches, and her play speaks for itself. In her one year at La Salle, Edwards averaged nine points, three assists and three rebounds per game. “I have a big leadership role to step in to as an upperclassman,” Edwards said. “It’s going to be a big role, leading everyone, as far as this being my first year here and in the system. But I had last year to learn a lot from (Thornton) and (Martin) and even Jen Fay.” Either guard could start at the point, and both could play at the same time to form one of the best backcourts in the MAAC. No matter what Fabbri decides to do with these guards, each should have a positive impact on this team.
NEWCOMERS As for those who are yet to play a minute of college basketball, it shouldn’t be long before they’re making impacts of their own. That couldn’t be more true than with the bigs this year. Freshman Cat Almeida and sophomore Rachael Stovall both expect to meet adversity with confidence and grace on and off the court. “It’s been pretty different than high school, which I expected,” Almeida said. “It’s been great here, the coaches and my teammates have really been awesome at getting me used to everything. College basketball, playing against girls that are bigger than me, older than me, stronger than me.” With support from her teammates, Almeida hopes to come in and make an immediate impact. She enters the program well equipped to dominate down low thanks in large part to her father Mauricio, who stands at 6-feet-7-inches and once played for the Brazilian junior national basketball team. Almeida cites training with her father as the reason for her ability to play well against stronger opponents, plenty of
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which she’ll face in her first year of college. Almeida is the tallest player in the history of the women’s basketball program. Standing at 6-feet-5-inches, she has two inches on her closest teammates. Luckily for Fabbri and the rest of the Bobcats, Almeida’s play isn’t limited to that of a typical big. “I think I also bring a unique thing to the program, as I don’t just sit in the paint,” Almeida said. “I like to shoot, I like to play on the perimeter a little bit, so yeah, I’m excited for people to see.” Stovall adds a similar skill set to the team. After sitting out her freshman year due to injuries, she enters this season eager to show what she’s capable of. Stovall graduated from TPLS Christian Academy as the school’s all-time leader in points and rebounds, and second all-time leader in assists and blocks. She does a little bit of everything, but she’s most excited to put her defense and rebounding on display. “I think just reading the defense, and rebounding obviously,” Stovall said. “We’re good for (offensive) boards, and I love getting (offensive) boards, ’cause it’s just easy to get points off of (offensive) boards, and just discourages the other team a lot so I think that’ll help.” If Almeida and Stovall reach their potential this season, the Bobcats could be a force not just in the MAAC, but in the NCAA. It’s rare to see a team with two, modern bigs on the floor at the same time. The two should strive to learn how to coexist on the court, which would instantly transform Quinnipiac into a rebounding juggernaut. They both have the ability to step out and hit a three as well, adding a new layer to the offense. If defenders follow them out, then guards like Edwards, DeWees and Herd could drive to the paint for layups without taller defenders to finish over. Should the forwards step off of Quinnipiac’s bigs, then the guards could kick to the threepoint line where either big could knock down a three. No matter the scenario, it’s always advantage Quinnipiac with these two on the court. The Bobcats have themselves in a position to grow all season long, and that growth could happen exponentially. Once it starts to click, the team might look like it never missed a beat coming off last season. With so much new and young talent added in one offseason, it can be difficult to juggle personalities and egos, but this team hasn’t found either to be a problem early on. It’s been nothing but good vibes in the locker room and on the court. There are only a handful of coaches equipped to lead a group of young players with almost unheard of potential. Luckily for Quinnipiac, Fabbri is one of them. If it weren’t for Fabbri, who enters her 25th season this year, this team might take a step back, but with such a capable leader the Bobcats should be fine.
PREDICTION
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MAAC tournament championship, NCAA tournament first-round loss.
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October 16, 2019
DeWees takes a pull-up jumpshot over two Niagara defenders.
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The Quinnipiac Chronicle
October 16, 2019 SON from Page 12 can have on a child is immeasurable. That is the ideal upbringing in terms of someone being an example, and the portrayal of hard work everyday is something Skyler knew he could learn from because it was in front of his face every day. “When I was younger, it was huge,” Brind’Amour said. “I do my own thing now and have my trainer back home, but he’s always competing and having fun. He’s still got me beat by a little bit.” Being beat out by his father in the weight room is nothing to be ashamed of since he can squat and lift more than the majority of the players he coaches on the Carolina Hurricanes as well. It seemed as if Skyler would follow his dad’s footsteps to Michigan State when he announced his commitment there following the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, but there was a change of plans. “It just wasn’t the right fit anymore,” Brind’Amour said. “I was actually recruited by the previous coaching staff there, and
I just didn’t think it was right for me after that changed. Thankfully Quinnipiac had an open spot.” Quinnipiac’s open spot seems like the right fit for Brind’Amour if he’s looking for a consistent coach. Head coach Rand Pecknold has been at the helm of the Bobcats for 26 years, and a change doesn’t seem imminent any time soon. Quinnipiac is lucky to have added Brind’Amour to the squad because of how many key departures there were following the Bobcats’ Midwest regional final loss to the back-to-back national champion Minnesota-Duluth. Former Quinnipiac captain Chase Priskie is now a member of the Hurricanes organization after being drafted by the Washington Capitals. Multiple players from last years’ team are now at the NHL or AHL level as well, including defenseman Brogan Rafferty, who is on the Vancouver Canucks and Andrew Shortridge who is currently with the San Jose Barracudas. Despite missing the playoffs last season due to injury, former Quinnipiac defenseman and transfer from Boston University Brandon Fortu-
Brind’Amour played in the USHL before coming to Quinnipiac.
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Brind’Amour (second from right) stands with teammates before the 2019 alumni game. nato signed an entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators as well. The freshmen will play a pivotal role this season, and Brind’Amour may have an even larger role as a freshman with juniors experience in Canada. After losing so much defense, the Bobcats will need offensive players like Brind’Amour to play well to cancel out the losses on defense. Not being a true freshman like some others in the class will be another advantage for Brind’Amour, who has two years of experience with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He had 24 points in his first season and 44 in his second season, with 52 games played in each season. When asked about adjusting to the college game and a new role, Brind’Amour still wasn’t sure what to expect. “I don’t know what my role will be yet,” Brind’Amour said. “Right now it’s just whatever the coaches want me to do, whether it’s play wing, play center or kill penalties. Whatever I need to do to earn ice time, we don’t really have set roles yet.” Brind’Amour’s role is anything but established or consistent. He was the center
of the top line in a 4-4 exhibition game tie vs. Brock and then was the third line left wing when the Bobcats defeated AIC 3-2 on opening night. He got his first goal of the season the following night at AIC. Despite the lack of clarity surrounding Brind’Amour’s role and playing time, Pecknold said that he is grateful to have Brind’Amour and the rest of the freshmen on board. “It is really big to have Skyler Brind’Amour added to freshman class,” Pecknold said. He has the experience at the junior level that will be valuable, since it’s really hard for our 18-year-olds to jump in and compete.” As the season progresses, Brind’Amour’s role with the team will become clearer as every game comes and goes. In terms of the parental situation and advice Skyler has been presented with, it seems like that role will be a big one. “Ultimately, I was very fortunate to be around guys who played at the NHL level,” Brind’Amour said. “I think being able to see what they do and how they handle themselves was huge, and something I hope I can continue to benefit from.”
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The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Sports
October 16, 2019
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Like father, like son COURTESY OF QU ATHLETICS
Freshman Skyler Brind’Amour brings unique experience and knowledge to a young team By MATT NYGAARD Staff Writer
Freshman Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey forward Skyler Brind’Amour had anything but an average childhood. The nameplate “Brind’Amour” immediately pops off of the sweater for multiple reasons. Not only is it because of the rare apostrophe in the middle of the last name, but because it reminds those spectating about the legend of the name that came before Brind’Amour. His father, Rod Brind’Amour, was the captain of the hometown Carolina Hurricanes and helped deliver the first and only Stanley Cup in franchise history back in 2006. He is now the Hurricanes’ head coach and brought them to the Eastern Conference Finals in May 2019. However, Brind’Amour doesn’t look too deeply into that.
“I don’t really think about all that,” Brind’Amour said. “I like to stay busy all the time, focusing on school and learning there, then coming to the rink and working out and skating.” The even-keeled freshman has been cool, calm and collected since arriving in Hamden. Despite all the noise and buzz around his name, Brind’Amour has been able to stay on his path of focusing on school and hockey regardless of the outside noise. The moment never seems to be too big for him, and that may be a product of being on the ice with the Hurricanes right after they won the Stanley Cup when he was just seven years old. Even with his personal achievements, Brind’Amour doesn’t let the magnitude of the moment take over. That was proven when he opted to play golf with his dad
instead of attending the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, in which he was taken 177th overall by the Edmonton Oilers. “I didn’t want to just sit at home,” Brind’Amour said. “I wanted to just get out of the house and not just constantly think about it and watch it.” Brind’Amour has a leg-up on others because he was humbled multiple times at such a young age. Even though the pressures of getting drafted could seem daunting and uncomfortable, Brind’Amour makes it seem normal to have an NHL logo next to your name on the pre-game lineup sheet. “Getting drafted didn’t change my life or my thought process,” Brind’Amour said. “It was obviously a dream come true and a nice honor to be taken by the Oilers, but didn’t change the day-to-day for me at all.” To some, getting drafted is one of the
biggest days of their lives. To the son of an NHL legend, he knows that it’s only the beginning. Getting drafted is a great milestone, but those who know the league know that it is only your lottery ticket to try and compete at the highest level. Nothing from that point on is given, everything is earned. If anyone knows that, it is the ninth overall pick in the 1988 draft out of Michigan State, Rod Brind’Amour. From a young age, Rod prided himself with his off-ice training. He would work out everyday no matter what and said the key was “going on days I didn’t want to.” You can even find his famous workout videos and stories on YouTube titled, “Rod the bod.” Former teammates even described working out with him as the “scariest day of their lives.” The effect that a father figure like that See SON Page 11
NOTHIN’ BUT NET
Break it down, grow it By JARED PENNA Sports Editor
The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team just lost one of the greatest senior classes it’s ever fostered. Three straight MAAC tournament championships and one sweet-sixteen appearance later, those seniors have graduated and left gaping holes in a team desperate to maintain its historic success. This year’s roster is the first in four years that doesn’t boast now-legendary Bobcats Jen Fay, Brittany Martin, Aryn McClure, Paula Strautmane and Edel Thornton. That core five rattled off 52-straight wins in conference play, a streak that still stands today. They won three consecutive MAAC championships. The average margin of victory in those three championship games was over 15 points. But that’s all in the past. “New names, new faces,” Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri said. “We’re going to go through some real growing pains, as we’re
seeing right now, and turn the ball over a little too much. But, on the flip side, I’ve seen some incredible length, athleticism, some easy buckets on the inside and some incredible razzle-dazzle from the perimeter as well. “So, it’s a build it day-by-day, possessionby-possession, break it down, grow it, and trying to get some consistency within how we play basketball, which is pressure and pace and taking care of the basketball.” Coaches and players alike are buying into the future of their team. There’s no time to think of what was, only what still can be. “We gotta look forward,” sophomore guard Mackenzie DeWees said. “The past is the past, and right now we have great talent that came in, and we have returners that can play now. We have a great vibe on the team, a great chemistry, and we look forward to playing in the MAAC.” The incoming talent and the returners MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE
See NET Page 10
Fabbri and the 2018 senior class poses with the MAAC Championship trophy.