The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 92, Issue 13

DECEMBER 8, 2021 • VOLUME 92 • ISSUE 13

The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY AUTUMN DRISCOLL/QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY

DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

Holiday Season Send-off

NEWS P.2: UNDERSTAFFED PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety’s staff shortages and recent departures led to overworked officers and unattended areas

A&L p.6-7

INFOGRAPHIC BY CONNOR LAWLESS

OPINION P.4: OXFORD SHOOTING Editor-in-Chief Michael Sicoli discusses the need for parental accountability regarding school shootings

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ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE, ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS AND PEYTON MCKENZIE

SPORTS P. 11: WINTER SPORTS GRADES

The Chronicle’s sports section breaks down the success of the basketball and ice hockey teams going into the holiday break

QU anticipates holding booster clinic, no mandate planned

By JACKLYN PELLEGRINO Staff Writer

Quinnipiac University plans to host a COVID-19 booster clinic on campus in January, despite the university not mandating the additional shot for students and faculty.

Dr. David Hill, senior medical advisor for COVID-19 task force, said even though the booster shot will not be mandated, students who aren’t vaccinated should reconsider their thoughts about being exempted from the vaccine and consider being vaccinated and continue to wear a mask in public.

“At this point, we’re not going to mandate it,” Hill said. “We are going to try to encourage everyone who’s eligible to get vaccinated, and we’re planning on having booster clinics in January. The problem with mandating it for students perhaps over the winter break is many students may not be six months beyond their second dose.”

Hill said that there are not currently any specific details about the potential booster clinic because it is still being planned.

“We’re looking to outsource it, have someone come on campus, as we had with the flu vaccine,” Hill said. “It probably wouldn’t be CVS but maybe another provider. But beyond that, we’re in the discussion steps so hopefully by the end of next week we’ll have that confirmed.”

The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention recommended all adults who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least six months ago to get a booster shot. For Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients, they are recommended to get a booster dose at least two month after the first dose.

The CDC said people can receive any of the authorized vaccines for their booster dose.

When it comes to the new omicron COVID-19 variant, Hill said there are still many unknowns as to how it will impact our community.

“It’s likely that omicron will prompt us to continue to wear masks through the spring semester,” Hill said. “Unless omicron disappears, which it seems unlikely, that we will be able to not wear our masks but we should be able to continue doing what we’re doing.

We’re going to look at this new data when it comes in, we’ll assess it and we’ll have this good period around the Christmas, winter break, to see how widely spread the virus is.”

The CDC reported Dec. 7, that the omicron variant has now been found in 50 countries and 19 states including Connecticut, noting that the number is expected to increase.

Governor Ned Lamont confirmed a second positive case of the variant in the state Dec. 7. As a result, Connecticut’s COVID-19 positivity rate jumped to 8.33%.

According to National Public Radio, the omicron variant was reported to the WHO on

Nov. 24, and has since been detected in over a dozen countries and several continents.

“We can’t really say anything definitive right now because we’ve only been looking at it on a global basis for the last week or so,” Hill said. “As information comes in, we’ll understand more about what the risk is.

We expect vaccines to still be effective, and whether they’ll be less effective against this variant remains to be seen.”

Hill said one of the barriers to immunization, at Quinnipiac and beyond, is access, so having a vaccine clinic on campus “makes it so much easier.”

Jessica Rokhsar, a sophomore occupational therapy major, said she will wait before she gets the booster shot.

“As of now, I don’t think they should mandate it, just highly recommend it at this See BOOSTER SHOT Page 2

DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends Moderna and Pfizer booster shots six months after a second dose.

2| News

MEET THE EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Sicoli MANAGING EDITORS Emily Flamme Toyloy Brown III CREATIVE DIRECTOR Connor Lawless DIGITAL NEWS EDITOR Chatwan Mongkol NEWS EDITORS Nicole McIsaac Melina Khan ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Katie Langley OPINION EDITOR Xavier Cullen

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

December 8, 2021

Public Safety staff shortages leave officers working overtime, union says

By CHATWAN MONGKOL Digital News Editor

Quinnipiac University Public Safety Department’s officers had a total of 154 overtime shifts in November due to staff shortages and the departure of several officers in recent months.

Michael Romano, vice president of the Public Safety Officers Association, told The Chronicle those hours did not include shifts at sporting events.

“Almost every shift resulted in the officer working a 16-hour day,” Romano said. “If the university was not shut down for Thanksgiving week and a skeleton staff were used, all the numbers would have been higher.”

ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR Michael LaRocca

constantly assessing the department’s longterm resource needs to support the safety and security of our university’s operations and its students, faculty and staff.”

If those 10 vacancies are filled, the total number of officers at Quinnipiac will go up to 48. However, prior to the unionization of the officers in 2015, the department had 75 non-administrative officers.

“Since the PSOA was formed, it appears the university has allowed our numbers to purposely dwindle, as the campuses (and) enrollment have gotten bigger,” Romano said.

Associate Vice President for Public Relations John Morgan did not make any current

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Ashley Pelletier ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITORS David Matos Neha Seenarine SPORTS EDITORS Riley Millette Peter Piekarski ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITORS Cameron Levasseur Ethan Hurwitz PODCAST PRODUCER Brendan Samson PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Daniel Passapera DESIGN EDITOR Amanda Riha ASSOCIATE DESIGN EDITORS Peyton McKenzie Emma Kogel COPY EDITOR Aidan Sheedy 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.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter, by emailing Michael Sicoli at michael.sicoli@quinnipiac.edu.

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Officer shortages have impacted staffing at several campus locations, including Hogan Lot, which is the primary spot for delivery and carpool services.

While Romano said the ideal number for active public safety officers is 65, Quinnipiac only has 38 officers – excluding administrative and supervisory positions – to patrol all three of Quinnipiac’s campuses, as of Dec. 2.

Chief of Public Safety Tony Reyes confirmed officers work up to 16-hour shifts depending on the need, but they typically work 8-hour shifts. Reyes told The Chronicle the department has 10 vacancies for both armed and unarmed officers.

“We are actively recruiting to fill all current open positions within the Public Safety Department,” Reyes said. “As chief, I am

public safety officer available for an interview about their work conditions.

Reyes was going to conduct a full department-wide audit to determine the appropriate staffing level and ways to be more efficient, as The Chronicle reported in October. Reyes said the assessment is still ongoing.

The staff shortage has impacted campus patrolling. Several locations, including Hogan Lot, are no longer staffed during evening and midnight shifts, Romano said. Hogan Lot is the primary lot for students’ use of carpool and delivery services on the Mount Carmel campus.

BOOSTER SHOT from cover

Quinnipiac should mandate the booster shot.

Regardless of the university’s policies, she said she will still get the shot and that possibly having a booster clinic in January is “a great idea, makes it easier.”

Hill said the main message is to get vaccinated, get the booster if eligible and take

point,” Rokhsar said. “Maybe eventually, but for right now probably not.”

Puneet Sidhu, a sophomore chemistry major, said that having an on-campus booster clinic will be beneficial for students, especially first-years.

“I think that would be really nice because it would give students the option to get it on campus,” Sidhu said. “It would make it more accessible for them than having to go out of their way to go get it because I know some kids, especially freshmen, don’t necessarily have cars, so I think that would be a really nice option if they open that in January.”

Avery Simonds, a sophomore interdisciplinary studies major, said that she thinks that

“We expect vaccines to still be effective, and whether they’ll be less effective against this variant remains to be seen.”

“We all attempt to perform our jobs to our fullest, however officers working 16 hours a day, with some working 40 hours extra a week, may cause us to not be as sharp as usual,” Romano said. “At the end of the day, we are all human.”

A 2012 study shows that fatigued officers tend to sleep on duty, make mistakes on departmental paperwork, have difficulty in communication with supervisors and are more likely to be in on-duty accidents.

Public safety officers are assigned to work at the main entrances of the Mount Carmel and York Hill campuses and desks at the law and medical schools at North Haven campus. They also patrol all areas on three campuses in patrol vehicles.

“While some lots do not have public safety officers staffing the gate, officers and supervisors routinely patrol these areas, especially at night and on the weekends,” Reyes said.

With recent incidents including multiple break-in attempts at off-campus housing, catalytic converter thefts and vandalism, students became more concerned about their safety and security on campus.

The Public Safety Department has been losing its officers in the past months. As The Chronicle reported on Oct. 21, there were 43 officers. Romano later told The Chronicle that two officers left their non-administrative positions on Oct. 31, and another three left on Nov. 17.

“Pay and new policies have contributed to many departures,” Romano said. “I can tell you that many officers that have been here in a full-time capacity are not even making a $20 an hour base pay.”

Morgan did not make anyone in Human Resources available for comment. However, the latest collective bargaining agreement between the university and the union that began February 2021 shows that the pay rate for unarmed officers starts at $15 and $21 for armed officers.

Unarmed officers would be making $18 an hour five years after hiring, $23.52 for armed officers, according to the same agreement.

Reyes said recruitment and retention in policing and in public safety have been challenging across the country in recents.

“We continue to attract great talent to the university, and I’m proud of the public safety officers currently in our department and how strong their commitment is to serving our students and the university community,” Reyes said.

basic precautions for protecting yourself with face masks and hygiene.

“Boosters are important, but it’s equally important, if not more important, that everybody who hasn’t been vaccinated get vaccinated so that’s the goal,” Hill said.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 booster recommendations: All recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two months ago or prior should get a booster dose.

All adult recipients of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least six months ago should get a booster dose.

People can receive any of the authorized vaccines for their booster dose.

– Dr. David Hill

SENIOR MEDICAL ADVISOR Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention INFOGRAPHIC BY EMILY FLAMME, ILLUSTRATIONS BY EMMA KOGEL

December 8, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

News |3

SGA calls on administration to remove controversial ‘Legend of the Bobcat’ “The legend is a story that was appropriated from Indigenous culture for the sake The Student Government Association is of marketing and rallying some definition of calling on Quinnipiac University to remove community — a definition that excludes the the “Legend of the Bobcat” from all online and wants, needs and well-being of Indigenous physical university-affiliated locations because students,” Colello said. it commandeers Native American culture.

The university currently has two enAfter making several efforts to pro- graved plaques next to the Bobcat statues mote Indigenous inclusivity, the university in front of the Bobcat Den and the People’s overlooked potentially insensitive remarks United Center. Quinnipiac’s official athletic placed on campus such as the legend. website also has the legend posted online.

The Quinnipiac Indigenous people beQuinnipiac renamed its athletic teams and lieve that the hills of Sleeping Giant State mascot from the Braves to the Bobcats in 2001 Park were the resting place of the evil due to its problematic nature because the name spirit Hobbomock. The university changed is associated with Native Americans. the story to include that Hobbomock was Vice President for Equity, Inclusion and “doomed to eternal sleep” by a spell, and his Leadership Development Don Sawyer told devoted bobcat watches over him and brings The Chronicle he was unaware that the good luck to students. plaques and website had still been up. SawIndigenous Student Union President Ga- yer said he emailed Director of Athletics briella Colello told The Chronicle the legend Greg Omodio to remove the webpage and is cannot unify the entire community because working to ensure the plaques are removed. of its history.

The SGA voted Dec. 1, to send university administration officials a letter recommending they remove the legend from all public places.

“I’ve had other conversations with different administrators and different people within the university about the Legend of the Bobcat,” said Jeremy Gustafson, SGA vice president for inclusion. “At this point, it makes sense for (the) student government to focus some of our efforts on making sure that it’s DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE not on any websites The ‘Legend of the Bobcat’ plaque on the Mount Carmel campus is and remove it from the statues.” a remaining university-affiliated item referencing the story.

By WILLIAM GAVIN Staff Writer

DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

SGA voted to ask the university to remove the ‘Legend of the Bobcat’ from all physical university-affliated locations.

After the SGA’s inclusion committee consulted with the ISU on Nov. 18, the committee concluded that the legend is unnecessary and appropriative of Indigenous culture.

Colello said the SGA should not only request the removal of the legend, but also refrain from developing a new one. The SGA should also support efforts by Indigenous students and the Indigeneity Initiative instead of making its own.

Gustafson initially planned to send a letter to members of the administration to discuss the removal process and its costs, on Dec. 2. Gustafson did not send the letter until Dec. 7.

While this letter would recommend the removal of the legend from public spaces, Quinnipiac already decided to stop teaching the legend around two years ago, Sawyer said.

An internal discussion between Sawyer and campus life administrators ended the

practice of teaching new students the legend at orientation. A large banner displaying the legend in the Carl Hansen Student Center piazza was also taken down around that time.

In response to questioning from an SGA senator, Gustafson rejected the possibility of replacing the plaques in the piazza with any other messages, including an Indigenous land acknowledgment. Gustafson said the “university isn’t really at a point where land recognition” is on the table.

Colello said she also couldn’t support a land recognition statement, noting that an acknowledgment needs to be supported by substantive change.

“There is so much work being done, but until this work is also facilitated by those in power at the university, it would be inappropriate to just ‘check off’ the land acknowledgment box,” Colello said.

QU commemorates Irish poet Oscar Wilde 121 years after death

By AIDAN SHEEDY Copy Editor

The life and legacy of Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde resonated with Quinnipiac University students, faculty, and administration as they gathered in the Arnold Bernhard Library’s Oscar Wilde exhibit Nov. 30, to celebrate the 121st anniversary of his death.

To honor Wilde, participants read aloud his 49-stanza poem “The Ballad of Reading Gaol,” which he wrote on his imprisonment experience and published under his prison identification number: C33.

Since opening in March 2020, the exhibit held key university figures, including President Judy Olian and Provost Debra Liebowitz with a chance to share a cultural experience with the students. Seven student volunteers, most from history professor Christine Kinealy’s Irish studies class, attended and read aloud a passage of one of Wilde’s most potent works.

Quinnipiac has built a history of promoting Ireland’s antiquity through art like Wilde’s writing. A prominent example of this is Kinealy.

She was the founding director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute and a frequent contributor to Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, which controversially shut down in August.

“I’m sad because … when I came to Quinnipiac in 2013, it had been open for only a year, and I came to help support the works of the museum,” Kinealy said. “What made Qunnipiac so special was no other university in the world has what we have.”

Erika Yaverski, a senior history education major, volunteered to be one of the readers and said she found the event to be a gratifying experience. Yaverski previously took Irish history with Kinealy and said she was already familiar with the piece. To Yaverski, not just reading, but learning the history of the story is just as important.

CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE

Quinnipiac University showcased Oscar Wilde for his contributions to Irish culture and gay history.

“A lot of his literature was not very popular at the time (it was published),” Yaverski said. “But his experience as a gay man and the oppression he faced made his words so much more powerful.”

Liebowitz said she was captivated by Wilde’s words and read the piece aloud with vigor.

“As I was reading, I was struck by the intensity,” Liebowitz said. “The feeling of the intensity was visceral.”

Liebowitz also said she found the historical aspect of the poem to be crucial to contemporary times.

“It is really about how you help folks today understand the validity and importance of the lessons that history brings,” Liebowitz said.

“History isn’t just about a book, it’s about helping us make sense of today.”

The poem was about convicted murderer Charles Wooldridge who was hanged in the Reading Gaol prison in 1896. Kinealy said Wilde’s voice throughout the poem is of compassion and empathy, though he knew the man killed someone.

“He has so much compassion for a man he’s never met, yet he understood (the man’s) predicament,” Kinealy said. “Even though we talk about things (particular) to Ireland, these are universal lessons.”

Public service librarian Robert Young found Wilde’s words to be more personally relatable.

“We’ve had exhibits like this in the past, but this one holds a special place in my heart because I am gay, and I’ve always enjoyed and appreciated Oscar and what he has done,” Young said. “I’m just glad to be able to participate in this event.”

According to Time Magazine, Wilde was charged and imprisoned for “gross indecency” for his personal relationships in 1895. This occurred just five years before his premature death at age 45 due to meningitis.

“Not only is (Wilde) a literary genius, he paved the way for being homosexual to be an everyday conversation,” Kinealy said. “Through his suffering, it really paved the way for gay activists, (though) it took a long time.”

Wilde was also discriminated against for being Irish, a common experience for many immigrants for much of the 19th century.

“Ireland is a country that has suffered greatly,” Kinealy said. “One of the great things about Ireland is its resilience.”

The Great Potato Famine, in particular, caused poverty for thousands of Irish people. As a result, many went elsewhere to create a better life, often moving to the U.S. and the U.K. “Even though we talk about things (particular) to Ireland, these are universal lessons,” Kinealy said. “These aren’t stories of just Irish immigrants, it’s a story of all immigrants.”

For Olian, she said attending this event was fulfilling her mission as president to open the students’ minds and expose them to many historical perspectives. “(Wilde) has a lot to teach us,” Olian said.

“Part of our goal at Quinnipiac is to bring as broad a perspective as possible.”

Yaverski said she wants other students to take notice of the importance of studying not just Irish history, but history all together.

“He’s not just an isolated figure. He represents a lot of oppression of Irish history as well as the oppression of the gay community,” Yaverski said. “So I think setting that history within a broader narrative is how we can remember his legacy.”

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44 | O p i n i o n

December 8, 2021

Opinion

PHOTOS FROM TWITTER/FACEBOOK/VSCO/FACEBOOK

(From left to right) Oxford High School students Tate Myre, Madisyn Baldwin, Hana St. Juliana and Justin Shilling were killed during a school shooting Nov. 30.

It starts at home: Parents of school shooters should be held responsible

By MICHAEL SICOLI Editor-in-Chief

The U.S. is no stranger to embarrassments, and nothing has been more sad recently than the scourge of school shootings.

School shootings are an epidemic that make me ashamed to be an American. Nowhere else in the world is this occurring with a similar frequency. A CNN-led analysis of news reports found from that the U.S. had 57 times as many school shootings as the leading industrial nations from 2009-18.

That comes out to at least 288 school shootings in that span. The next closest country with viable data is Mexico with eight.

It’s tough to find the words for it, because it’s all been said. From Columbine to Sandy Hook to Parkland to the recent shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan that left four high schoolers dead and seven more injured, every angle has been talked about.

Resolutions are argued in courts as ineffectively as they are argued at the dinner table. Protests rock local areas, patches are worn on shirts and promises are made. But a week or two goes by, and everyone forgets.

A month passes, and another shooting occurs where children are gunned down, most of the time by a classmate.

Unless it hits a certain prominence or body count, it won’t receive nationwide coverage. Nobody realizes that there have been 32 school shootings since Aug. 1. That averages out to over two school shootings

every week over the four-month span.

I don’t want my future children growing up in this environment. I don’t want them to become a statistic.

School shootings remain one of the blackest marks on the U.S.’ record, and it should be pinned on those who know the shooter. Parents of school shooters should specifically bear much of the blame, and they should be held responsible for the deaths of young Americans and teachers.

With all these shootings, there were signs leading up to them. The shooter made threats against others, bragged about their access to firearms, suffered from chronic isolation or loneliness, etc. It starts in the home, and promoting awareness to parents to be more attentive would go a long way toward stopping the bloodshed.

The Oxford shooter posted a video the night before the shooting saying exactly what he ended up doing. The Parkland shooter had enough warning signs that there are thousands of words dedicated to the ignored red flags alone. The Secret Service even investigated 67 “disrupted plots” targeting grade schools from 2006-18. It found school shooters showed “clear and consistent” warning signs that led authorities to prevent a tragedy thanks to community reports.

Oftentimes, parents and family members see these signs the most due to the close proximity of which the shooter lives. A hardened mindset of “My kid would never do that,” leaves concerns shoved under the

bed like an unpaired sock. When the tragedy happens, it’s always “I had no idea.”

You did. There were signs, and they went ignored.

The Oxford shooter had a journal dictating what he planned to do. School administrators had flagged him for behavioral issues. Social media channels showed him practicing with a Sig Sauer handgun. Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald said she is “confident” that there was heavy premeditation before the day of the shooting. The shooter’s parents texted their son “Don’t do it” after reported shots became public. Too little, too late.

Hell, students themselves tend to be aware of it beforehand. It’s often stereotyped as the quiet kid wearing black clothes.

I’m no longer surprised when that student turns a gun on classmates, but I’m outraged that officials let it happen.

Police arrested the parents of the Oxford shooter on several counts of involuntary manslaughter. The charges are based around the allegation that the gun was not secured in the house. McDonald alleged that the gun was an early Christmas present. Holding guardians accountable should remain the norm, but preventative measures should not stop at parental responsibility.

Reporting more of these signs means that law enforcement must investigate credible tips. The FBI failed to follow proper protocol just a month before the shooting at

Parkland where 17 people were killed and 17 more were injured.

Implementing red flag gun laws, which allow police or family members to petition a judge to remove firearms from someone that poses a threat to themselves or the people around them, could prevent this from happening again. As any gun control measure stands it is a hotly debated issue, but it stands to reason that this would limit the amount of guns in the hands of unstable people.

Most likely, little will change with this recent shooting. As sad as that is, a 14-yearold, a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds were killed in their school, and little is going to change to prevent future school shootings.

Just this past week Hamden High School — five miles from Quinnipiac University’s Mount Carmel campus — closed its doors for three days due to two separate threats of gun violence. It plans to reopen with metal detectors. While I thoroughly applaud the initiative the school took, the mindset being you can never be too safe, it should rattle people that this is happening right in Quinnipiac’s backyard.

It’s clear that reporting dangers within your community is a way to save lives. It’s not prying or invasive to report a concern you have — it’s a protective measure. If you find yourself in that spot, ask yourself a simple question:

“What if I’m right?”

United States

School shootings between 2009-18 Numbers from CNN

Mexico

Canada

France INFOGRAPHIC BY CONNOR LAWLESS

December 8, 2021

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Opinion|5

Opinion

MLB lockout epitomizes US’ labor issues

By ETHAN HURWITZ Associate Sports Editor

As former baseball team owner Bill Veeck once said, “There are only two seasons. Winter and baseball.” Well, it looks like winter may be an all-year occurrence now.

After decades of being the country’s most popular sport, Major League Baseball has done the one thing it could not afford to do — shut down. The ninth work stoppage in the league’s storied history and fourth full lockout comes on the heels of a new collective bargaining agreement not being fully agreed upon this offseason.

A disappointing stalemate between the owners, who will not pay mid-tier players, and the players, who want higher compensation, is a gloomy start to December for all baseball fans.

This lockout is terrible for the players, the fans and the sport and is symbolic of labor disputes in this country. It is absolutely horrible for the game when you compare baseball to the rest of American sports.

In the social media age, football and basketball have skyrocketed in popularity.

Hockey is now taking a step forward, thanks to the new ESPN partnership and baseball has taken a step back.

The league is downright terrible at marketing the game to the younger generations. Even when it attempts to show its flashy young stars in advertisements, the MLB struggles to showcase these young stars on a national stage. It limits fans’ ability to watch games by blacking out, or restricting, games across the country, making the games impossible to watch. Games won’t be nationally televised, meaning that the only way to watch out-of-market games would be to purchase a streaming subscription.

Players across the league have already struggled to market themselves. Now, the league’s very own players are poking fun at the entire organization. Due to the lockout, every

MLB-affiliated site has changed its pictures of players’ faces to a generic grey face. Players are posting and tweeting about their grey headshots, which have gone viral on social media.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred took the beloved sport and threw it down the toilet.

Worse than that. He did a full Andy Dufresne, swimming through sewage and waste pipes, something straight out of “The Shawshank Redemption,” to soil MLB’s long-standing legacy, leaving it to rot in his trail.

This is an issue affecting the entire country, and MLB is just the latest to fall victim.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has counted 12 work stoppages involving at least 1,000 workers since January 2021. The MLB’s lockout is one of the biggest stoppages and leaves thousands of free agents without any job security. Under normal circumstances, ballplayers not signed to a team would meet with their agents and professional teams all winter to discuss contract details.

Now, teams cannot even look in the direction of players. With a wave of a magician’s magic wand, it is like the sport vanished into thin air.

As a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, and a baseball fan, I feel disappointed that I cannot look forward to the new season. In the past, no games have been skipped because of these lockouts, but now there is no certain future for the sport.

Jameson Taillon, a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, took to Twitter Dec. 2, and described how he is affected by the work stoppage.

“Since MLB chose to lock us out, I’m not able to work with our amazing team physical therapists who have been leading my post surgery care/progression,” Taillon tweeted.

This battle between billionaire owners and millionaire players projects what is going

ILLUSTRATION BY PEYTON MCKENZIE

on at a more personal level throughout this country. Big corporations do not have their employees in mind when making decisions that can affect workers’ livelihoods. Looking back at the baseball aspect, this decision will affect every minor league player who is not making tens of millions of dollars each year.

In the era we live in now, people are more inclined to project their voices and fight for their beliefs. What many call “The Great Resignation” in the U.S. affects thousands upon thousands of people but will not get as heavy recognition as the MLB. Jobs are at stake, and most people do not view athletes as “regular humans.” However, they rely on a steady income just as much as the average American, even though their average income is usually in the seven-figure range.

For example, what would you do if McDonald’s and its employees entered a work stoppage, and there were no McDonald’s until the dust had settled? You would move on to Burger King.

For professional baseball, there is no alternative option for American fans. Unless you want to watch baseball taking place in Japan with a 14-hour time difference, nobody gets their daily baseball intake.

Lockouts are bad publicity for any business, and the time period in which we live seems to place workers and the public against the big corporations. That is exactly what is happening here with MLB. Fans are irate at the teams for taking away the sport they love, and rightfully so.

The CBA, which expired Dec. 1, can be adjusted and re-accepted. Until then, nothing is set in stone.

Granted, there is still time before the 2022 season is in full swing, but this lockout shows how moronic the sport of baseball has become in the eyes of the American public.

Imagine a world without the McDonald’s of sports.

Can’t catch ‘em all

Resellers make it hard for kids to have a childhood

By XAVIER CULLEN Opinion Editor

As I start up another playthrough of the Sinnoh region, this time in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, I constantly reminisce about all the great memories I made as a child playing the trading card game and the original Pokémon Diamond.

I fondly remember when I battled against my friends after school and bragged about the rare cards we collected and strong Pokémon we caught. But that was years ago, and the way the world views these nostalgic moments has been skewed significantly.

Resellers, hoarders and collectors have been solely focused on making a profit instead of enjoying the love we had for our childhood toys. Pokémon cards have never been more expensive than they are now — a whopping 466% price increase in cards worth over $50. Scalpers have spent ludicrous amounts of money to buy all the stock of new Pokémon cards.

It has gotten so bad that earlier this year, Target temporarily halted all sales of Pokémon cards in its stores because of safety concerns.

Scalpers would rush in and assault other competitors who were trying to buy the limited supply of packs that were available. It’s a Black Friday rush every time a new card set is released.

Grown adults getting in bloody battles over cards made for children is disturbing. Not only are resellers artificially increasing the prices, they are taking away the possibility for today’s children to enjoy the card game that I loved growing up. I loved seeing the new releases in local game stores, but that experience might disappear if cards are flying off shelves only to

ILLUSTRATION BY PEYTON MCKENZIE

be resold for a massive profit only a few hours later on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

If adults are waiting outside McDonald’s at 5 a.m. to buy boxes full of cards included in Happy Meals, then the community has a serious problem.

One solution that is particularly popular in the Magic: the Gathering card game is the

use of proxies — fake cards that represent authentic ones. This could be as simple as writing the name of an expensive $200 card on the face of a 50-cent one, or it could be as complex as custom-printing elaborate, original artwork on cardstock.

However, that is just for actually playing the games, and for many people, nothing com-

pares to having officially-licensed cards. The joy of opening a pack and getting a rare card can’t be replicated with a pen and paper.

This might all seem so trivial in the grand scheme of things, but this is just one example of a much bigger problem — American consumerism.

Everything from Pokémon cards to paintings and non-fungible tokens are being sold at ridiculous prices. These things hold little intrinsic value, but people who look to join in any get-rich-quick scheme have convinced everyone else that what they’re selling is worth thousands, if not millions, of dollars.

It starts with just one exorbitant purchase for everyone to give these resellers credibility in marking up things that were once reasonably priced. A tacky “Bored Ape” NFT shouldn’t be worth anywhere near the millions of dollars that some of the most expensive ones are being sold for. However, rich investors have convinced the world that they are, so those people continue to profit.

The same can be said for Pokémon cards.

Rich collectors convinced everyone that these cards were worth so much because their high bids got national news coverage, and celebrities like Logan Paul are gatekeeping average collectors who don’t have an endless supply of money like he does.

Everything is being viewed as a way to make a profit nowadays, and it’s sad to say the least. I want kids to have a great childhood just like I had. I loved the cards I collected — both Pokémon and baseball — but the rich are ripping that away from today’s youth.

Can’t we let the kids have fun?

6|Arts and Life

December 8, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Illuminating the Quad

By KATIE LANGLEY Associate News Editor

A mob of shivering students, staff and families scrambled to put up their phones and press record as Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian counted down the seconds before pulling the switch to turn on the delicate icicle lights that lined the Quad.

A hush fell over the crowd as Olian reached number one. Then, nothing, no lights flickered to life beneath the library clocktower.

Anticlimactic sighs filled the chilly air. Suddenly, voices of “look behind you” and “turn around,” and the crowd shifted to find that the white lights on the student center roof hadn’t failed like the rest. As students oohed and aahed and resumed their Snapchat story videos, the rest of the Quad illuminated in holiday lights, and the cheers were heard across campus.

The moment was not unlike the college experience over the past two years, certainly not perfect, with moments of disappointment and stress, but also with a community that persevered and overcame challenges in the end.

The university lit the Arnold Bernhard Library, Carl Hansen Student Center, Echlin Center and Lender School of Business snowy white during the Quad lighting event on Dec. 1.

“I’m excited there’s a bunch of Quinnipiac kids coming together,” said Alexa Herzog, a graduate molecular and cell biology student, who was at the lighting. “It’s actually my first time coming here to the lighting, I’ve been here for four years.

Very excited to see it, everyone having fun.”

Complete with a speech from Olian and plenty of entertainment, the event aimed to promote just that: fun and community bonding in a time where many students are cramming for finals and missing holiday preparations with their families at home. “(The event) was just getting everybody into the Christmas spirit,” said Jennie Koutsouras, a first-year health science undecided major. “I know a lot of us are really excited. A couple of us are a little homesick, given we had a week home and now we’re here for a couple weeks and then we get that long break, so I think little things like this happening around campus just makes everybody excited and in the holiday spirit.”

The lights weren’t the only draw for students, many of whom came to take advantage of the free cookie and hot chocolate bar, which was swarmed quickly after the sun set over Sleeping Giant

State Park. If you were lucky enough to get a cup, the drink provided a needed hand warmer in the December temperature. “(The hot chocolate was) really good. It’s needed on this night,” said Amanda D’Ambrosio, a sophomore nursing major.

As students lined up to score hot cocoa and take pictures with Boomer the Bobcat in Santa’s sleigh, groups of Quinnipiac singers provided the soundtrack to the evening.

The Note-able, the studentrun choir, opened up the performances with its rendition of “What Christmas Means To Me,” a tune about all things festive and bright, popularized

by Stevie Wonder in 1967.

CONTRIBUTED BY AUTUMN DRISCOLL “We decided to choose Students gathered to see performances during the Quad lighting event on Dec. 1. songs that we believed would get chance to perform for almost two years now,” Morrow said. “We everyone in the holiday spirit,” said Alexia Heurtelou, a senior were so happy to be back performing for the community.” psychology major and the president of Note-able.

The choir groups were one of the memorable parts of the night Bringing it back to the 2010s, The Legends A Capella had for sophomore sociology major Naomi Gorero. a soulful take on “New Rules” by Dua Lipa, a fan favorite that “It was a wonderful event because multiple people from QU certainly got the party started. The Legends closed out the evening gathered together to see the lights,” Gorero said. “The lights were on a harmonious note with the traditional Christmas song “Mary, really amazing, we had a lot of festive music.”

Did You Know,” earning much praise from the crowd.

For those who stuck around after the music, there were even Stephanie Morrow, a senior international business major more perks, including holiday trivia. Lucky winners brought and the president of The Legends, said that the event was a home Quinnipiac merchandise. Many also made off with free resounding success. tickets to the Dec. 1, Quinnipiac women’s basketball game after “We loved the turn out,” Morrow said. “Feeling the support the lighting, handed out by the Quinnipiac cheerleading team. from fellow students is what makes all of the rehearsing time The Quad lighting allowed students to gather and share a worth it, and being together of course.” communal space for one of the first times since the COVID-19 Like many artistic groups, The Legends have only recently pandemic. The university’s newest light installations will provide been able to return to singing together in person. brightness to the dark December nights leading up to the semester “We were so excited to perform because we haven’t gotten the break, and spread some holiday cheer, too.

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

By MICHAEL SICOLI Editor-in-Chief

The good ol’ holidays.

Everyone yearns for them, but the truth is that one can’t return to the past. All that is left are memories, clouds of nostalgia that float through consciousness. The best way to remember those moments are to establish traditions, something the holiday season is no stranger to.

Traditions are important mainstays that create or maintain the best memories.

Picking out a Christmas tree and decorating it to the tune of Christmas songs is one of my favorite customs. It encompasses family, fun and festivities all into one.

Occasionally, there will be eggnog and rarely an outside guest, but the core premise always remains the same.

These traditions created some of the best memories of my childhood, and it inspires me to keep it going when I have kids. I have a great appreciation for a ritualistic approach to life, which is something I’ve brought with me to Quinnipiac University.

I’ll take my Tuesdays, for example.

Every morning I wake up early as it’s time to create the new issue of The Chronicle.

Knowing my roommate is a light sleeper, I leave my clothes — always the same beige khaki shorts and grey quarter zip — on the table in my common room. I turn on my

Keurig and brew a cup of coffee, which is all set up the night before. I grab my keys, wallet and charger from left to right off of the table and head out for the Mount Carmel campus from York Hill no later than 7:15 a.m. At the end of my long day, at around 7:30 p.m., I call and treat myself to a General Tso’s chicken combo.

I, like many, crave structure. Traditions and rituals have become commonplace in my life, exemplified by a holiday season that offers the best of them.

For myself, that means going to church on Christmas Eve, a tradition disrupted by COVID-19. It also means opening presents in the new pajamas that my grandparents gifted my brothers and I the night before while my mom takes pictures. It’s the little things that seem more precious year after year.

It’s no less true after a pandemic-tainted year — rather, traditions carry more weight than ever.

Traditions like celebrating Mass were disrupted. Christmas dinners might have empty chairs. It might feel like those traditions families once coveted have been permanently sent off the rails, but the value they bring should not be forgotten.

Appreciate your traditions, and don’t be scared to start new ones. They serve as an important milestone throughout the year that serves as gifts that keep on giving.

By CONNOR YOUNGBERG Contributing Writer

The Christmas season is in full swing, and the holidays should be cherished a little extra this year.

In 2020, lots of people lost their Christmas spirit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families, including my own, were forced to forgo their usual Christmas traditions and celebrate the holidays remotely.

Families getting together for Christmas festivities ran the risk of catching COVID-19. According to USA Today, new cases surpassed 300,000 on Jan. 8, just over two weeks after Christmas.

Every year, my family and I have many traditions throughout the holiday season, especially during the week of Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, we host a massive party for friends and family on my mom’s side. My dad makes cookies, pies and more snacks for my family to enjoy before we exchange gifts. When we were kids, we used to track Santa through a website before we had to go to sleep.

A couple of days after Christmas, my dad’s side of the family gets together and exchanges gifts while enjoying my grandma’s classic fruit punch.

Christmas is usually packed with holiday traditions that are the highlights of my year, but in 2020, it was a letdown instead.

The only thing I did was binge watch Christmas movies, and although I love them, it was the only thing I could do to celebrate before the holiday. Before I knew it the

holidays were over. Christmas passed, then New Year's Eve and everything just felt off.

The January blues kicked in earlier than usual, and it made me realize how much I enjoy being around my friends and family during this time of year.

Fortunately, the majority of families can enjoy their Christmas festivities together this year for the first time since 2019. Although we are still in a pandemic, vaccines have made it easier for families to enjoy the holidays.

Christmas traditions should be appreciated this year because if there is one thing the pandemic taught me, it’s that life can change in an instant and it’s out of your control. We should make the most of every moment this holiday season.

This year, all of my normal traditions that my family have done since I was a kid are kickstarting again, and I plan on cherishing them this year, as I suggest we all do.

I know Christmas can be a stressful time for a lot of people. Between setting up decorations and running around all over the place to buy gifts, I understand how the holidays can leave a lot of people burnt out.

However, this year, people should try their best to stay happy during the holidays.

So try your best not to be a Scrooge this holiday season. Throw on some Christmas classics like “Polar Express” and “Elf,” and get ready to make some memories with your friends and families this holiday season.

If there is one thing I’ve learned from the past two years, it’s to not take things like Christmas for granted.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

December 8, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|7

CHRONICLE HOLIDAY PICKS As The Chronicle releases its final edition of the semester, the editorial board shares its favorite holiday media.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

Connor Lawless, Creative Director - “Year without a Santa Claus” It was a staple of my family growing up during the holiday season, and the claymation style is both cute and timeless.

Ethan Hurwitz, Associate Sports Editor - “Christmas in Harlem” by Ye It flies under the radar as one of Ye’s songs, but it’s one of his most meaningful. The rapper talks about being with his loved ones for the holidays and how much he appreciates them.

He talks about the materialistic memories that a family can make, but also the ones that aren’t tangible: parties, parades, love and affection. The hook by Teyana Taylor also gives it a very wintery vibe, making it the perfect Christmas song.

Aidan Sheedy, Copy Editor- “The Goldbergs: A Christmas Story”

Ashley Pelletier, Arts & Life Editor - “The Santa Clause” “The Santa Clause” was just one of those movies that I always loved growing up. The title is a great pun. Scott Calvin’s relationship with his son, Charlie, is absolutely precious. I love Scott’s progression from apathetic businessman to loving father for both Charlie and the elves. Not to mention, the movie is just as fun now as it was when I was little. I love the entire “Santa Clause” series but the original is always the best.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

Toyloy (TJ) Brown III, Managing Editor - “Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas” The original animated Grinch short is a Christmas classic that I have watched upwards of 20 times. The green grouch's character resonated with me even though I've always enjoyed the holiday season, unlike him. The redemption arc, as well as the heartwarming feeling from the ending, makes this an easy choice.

Although the title of the Season 3 episode of “The Goldbergs” mentions a beloved Christmas movie, the entire storyline revolves around Goldberg’s family Hanukkah celebrations. It is very rare to see content on channels like ABC that represent the Jewish traditions during Hanukkah. In short, Beverly, the mother, competes with a neighboring family in creating a “Super Hanukkah” for her kids. The problem is, she ends up turning the tradition into a Christmas-esque celebration. The best lines in the episode come from Pops, the grandfather, who explains to the family that Hanukkah is best celebrated to honor the Jewish customs and family that came before them. The episode makes me laugh every time, and I love seeing characters in movies and TV celebrate Hanukkah rather than Christmas.

Every year since I was little, my family and I always kicked off the holidays by watching “Christmas Vacation” together. It became a tradition for all of us to do together, especially while we decorated the house. Anything that can go wrong goes wrong, making this movie absolutely hilarious. Just make sure your Christmas tree doesn’t resemble the one in the movie.

Michael LaRocca, Associate Opinion Editor - “Christmas Vacation” It’s my favorite because I believe that it is the only Christmas movie that captures the true essence of the holiday.

Nothing ever goes perfectly during the holidays, and no movie portrays that better than “Christmas Vacation.”

Will Ferrell is the greatest. His comedic timing and instincts are perfect, and it shows here. It has the Christmas spirit to appeal to young ones and the comedy gold to make me laugh.

They cut down a tree from Central Park! It’s absurd!

Emily Flamme, Managing Editor - “Feliz Navidad”

Katie Langley, Associate News Editor - “Happiest Season”

Neha Seenarine, Associate Arts & Life Editor - That Christmas “Spongebob Squarepants” episode When I was younger, I looked forward to Nickelodeon showing its holiday specials. The one that resonated with me the most is the 2000 “Spongebob Squarepants” special. Although I couldn’t tell you what the episode is called, I appreciated Squidward going the extra mile to ensure Spongebob had the best Christmas ever. Squidward literally was borderline homeless toward the end of the special.

Honestly, I just don't like many other holiday things. “Elf” seems to be the one thing that is consistently a part of my holiday season. Every year I watch that movie; not on purpose, it just happens. Will Ferrell has a lot of funny moments in it, and it is honestly just a classic movie. The movie is also a piece of media that I can bear to consume unlike a certain Mariah Carey song.

Nicole McIsaac, News Editor - “Christmas Vacation”

Riley Millette, Sports Editor - “Elf”

“Happiest Season” is a lovely queer romcom featuring Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis and Aubrey Plaza. It’s cute, festive and funny with a great message about family and togetherness. Dan Levy provides great comedic relief to serious subject matters of coming out and living up to the expectations of family. From a lover of Hallmark Christmas movies, “Happiest Season” has all the great parts of the cheesy romances with the added bonus of a great cast and an on-screen queer relationship. Though the film only came out last year, I can see it becoming one of my holiday staples for years to come.

Peyton McKenzie, Associate Design Editor - “Elf”

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Michael Sicoli, Editor-in-Chief - “A Charlie Brown Christmas” The 1965 classic was a mainstay in the Sicoli household growing up. Between the charming cartoon and the lovable characters it has everything you want in a Christmas movie.

It carries a wonderful message symbolized by Charlie Brown picking out the smallest, weakest tree of the bunch to star for his friends. Even though the tree could barely hold a single ornament, with some love and attention, it became the shining star that Charlie Brown always knew it was.

It’s my mom’s favorite Christmas song because she is Puerto Rican, and I have so many memories of her blasting it in my kitchen while she whipped up cookies or her famous chocolate cake. I always thought it was a fun song to represent my family’s heritage during a very Americanized holiday season.

Daniel Passapera, Photography Editor - “Dominick The Donkey” It's a classic funny holiday song — ever since I was little I thought it was great, and years later I still find myself blaring it around my house for the holidays. What's not to love about a Christmas donkey?

Brendan Samson, Podcast Producer - “Home Alone” Give me a movie with Joe Pesci that’s family friendly, and you already have me sold. I watch this every year without fail, sometimes twice. The one-liners are amazing and the plot is captivating. Would I choose any other movie to watch at Christmas? Ma’am, I don’t think so..

David Matos, Associate Arts & Life Editor - “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”

ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA RIHA

IIt’s rare that a sequel film is as good as its predecessor, but Home Alone 2 defied the status quo. The film oozes nostalgia and the Christmas-time in New York vibes are strong. Also, watching Catherine O’Hara scream “Kevin” never gets old.

ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA RIHA

8|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

December 8, 2021

COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE

By EMILY FLAMME and JESSICA SIMMS

With dozens of coffee shops around Quinnipiac University, it's no wonder we made a weekly tradition out of trying them all. We’re restless people and are always on the lookout for something new to do and what better way to satisfy our thirst for adventure than with a cup of coffee.

ILLUSTRATION BY PEYTON MCKENZIE

Cheshire Coffee — 210 Old Towne Rd, Cheshire

Southington Coffee House — 51 N Main St, Southington

Jess and Emily: Pumpkin Spice Iced Lattes with whole milk

Bread and Chocolate — 2457 ​​ Whitney Ave, Hamden

To be honest, despite our budding tradition to try a place’s coffee, we chose Southington Coffee House because it had crepes. We both enjoyed our drinks, but thought the pumpkin spice flavor was a little bitter. The coffee itself tasted good; it was smooth and didn’t have an overwhelming flavor to it. Also, in case anyone was curious, the crepes were delicious.

The Bean Coffee Roasters — 118 S Main St, Cheshire

Jess: French Toast Iced Latte with whole milk and whipped cream Emily: Cinnamon Bun Iced Latte with whole milk and whipped cream

Jess: Cappuccino Emily: Hot Mocha The drinks we got were good, but they were piping hot for at least an hour. The following is not an exaggeration: we got our drinks and sat down to eat our pastries and talk. When we left, there was still steam coming off the drink, and we had the lids off the whole time in hopes it would cool down. Once we could finally try our drinks, they tasted rich and smooth, so at least the wait was worth it.

This is where the story begins. We went to Cheshire Coffee the first week of the semester because we have been there already and knew we liked it. This shop’s specialty is its seasonal lattes, with whipped cream, of course. Because it was the beginning of the fall, we took advantage of the seasonal lattes, and we both loved them. The flavors are rich and sweet which is what we want out of a seasonal drink.

Lions Den Coffee Shop — 57 W Main St, Plantsville

Jess: Pumpkin Iced Coffee with whole milk Emily: Caramel Iced Coffee with whole milk We heard there was another coffee shop in Cheshire, so we had to try it out. This place was a hole-in-the-wall, but it deserves much more recognition. The coffee was delicious and flavorful. The ambience of the shop was super relaxing and decorated for the fall season.

Funcle’s Cafe — 3584 Whitney Ave, Hamden

Moonrise Cafe — 2 Broadway, North Haven

Jess: Iced Nutella Coffee Emily: Gingerbread Hot Latte This place is super cute and creates a cozy atmosphere for people to eat and drink in. Above a beautiful fireplace was a painting of a lion, which was fitting because of the name of the shop, and a variety of comfy chairs and booths to choose from.

The coffee was not overly sweet, which we both prefer, and they had some unique flavors to choose from, such as eggnog, gingerbread, nutella and cinnamon. We would recommend this place to anyone who wants a solid cup of coffee, but wants to shake it up a little.

Jess and Emily: Frozen Mocha

Jess: Iced Cinnamon Bun Latte with milk and sugar Emily: Brown Sugar Cinnamon Hot Latte

The coffee was decent, but after discussing it, we both felt like there was a powdery texture on our tongue afterward. It was strange because the initial sip tasted like a normal cup of coffee. We want to try it out again in the future to see if it was that particular batch of coffee. Also, bonus points — the Perkatory Roasters — 168 Center St Suite 108, Southington workers wrote a cute message on the iced drinks.

Jess: Iced Pumpkin King (One of its fall themed drinks) Emily: Lochness (Frozen cold brew and salted caramel) This was the most unique shop we went to. The place is decorated like it’s Halloween year-round, with spiderwebs and purple lighting. We went just before the holiday, which was fitting for the atmosphere. The drinks were tasty and had a smooth texture. The flavors of the coffee and the syrup were strong, which we thought was good since one part of the coffee didn’t overpower another.

This is four minutes from Mount Carmel campus, and we still wish it was closer. The frozen mochas were to die for. It was the perfect blend of the espresso and chocolate flavors.

The size of the cup Funcle’s gives is the perfect amount — 16 ounces. For food, we both got omelettes that came with pico de gallo and a Funcle’s special sauce. You’re missing out if you haven’t stopped by yet.

Crossroads Coffee House — 1878 Hartford Turnpike, North Haven Jess: Iced Chai Latte Emily: Cappuccino To make a long story short, do not order a chai latte from here. Jess and two of our friends who came with us ordered chai lattes, and none of them enjoyed it. The flavor did not taste like chai, and the overall drink was a little watery. Plus, the lids were hard to use and the drink would leak out of the cup. As for the coffee, the cappuccino was good, so Crossroads’ strong suit is definitely espresso.

December 8, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|9

The Wimpy Kid legacy continues

By NEHA SEENARINE

Associate Arts & Life Editor

No matter how “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” is adapted, Greg Heffley will always be the worst friend.

Disney+ released an animated adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s graphic novel “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” on Dec. 3. The animations are vibrant but the 2010 live-action is undefeated.

The novel was published in 2007 and although the target demographic is children, it still has a hold on me 14 years later. One of my guilty pleasure movies is the first liveaction film. I remember watching the movie in elementary school, and I still put it on just to feel alive.

Also, I never got over my childhood crush on Devon Bostick’s portrayal of Rodrick Heffley, but that’s besides the point.

Typically a film goes from animation to live-action, but "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" flipped the script. It’s strange for me to see characters I’m familiar with go from actors to illustrations. We’ve seen examples like Disney turning the 1994 classic “The Lion King” into a live-action adaptation in 2019, managing to get Beyoncé on board.

Kinney had complete control over the new adaptation regarding character designs, writing the screenplay and running production.

I can imagine that this film is exactly what he envisioned considering he is still cranking out “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books to this day.

This film was executed neatly. It was easy to tell the difference between Greg’s point of view and voice-over scenes that were cut to the illustrations in his diary. The

film’s settings, like the Heffleys’ house and Westmore Middle School, looked somewhat realistic, and my eyes could not leave the high saturation from the screen.

The run-time was only 58 minutes. It felt more like a television special to me rather than a movie. The prominent plot line is focused around “the cheese touch.” Basically, if a student comes into contact with the icky slice of cheese during recess then they’re done for. I have no clue how swiss cheese doesn’t disintegrate in a school courtyard over the years, but more power to it.

experience is a living hell, especially during his school’s production of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” which was only mentioned rather than displayed. The best rock band of our time, Löded Diper, wasn’t acknowledged either. Also, the most iconic scene in the original film, when Rowley Jefferson ends his friendship with Greg, did not get its chance to shine.

I still find myself quoting Greg every so often.

There is one thing that is consistent between the two films — Greg is despicable. He only cares about himself and will manipulate anyone around him to get what he wants. Greg’s big goal is to make a name for himself in middle school. He turns against Rowley and makes him feel like he’s not good enough to be his friend.

Greg doesn’t support Rowley’s interests like pitching “Zoo-Wee Mama!” to the school paper, and he wonders why Rowley’s father doesn’t like him. Rowley breaks his arm because of Heffley playing a dangerous game with a ball. Greg then becomes envious of Rowley when he attains the popularity that he has been yearning for. Greg doesn’t realize that being nice goes a long way rather than trying to redeem a greater social status.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” holds a place in my heart in any form of media. The animation adaptation is an easy-watch, and I can imagine a new generation of children watching these beloved characters with ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS their families. However, I prefer the 2010 live-action because of how the actors bring the characters to life, It was disappointing to see my favorite scenes from the adding more dimension to the plot. I’m sure if Zachary Gordon live-action cut in the animation. Patty Farrell having zero didn’t do a great job portraying the 2010 Greg, I wouldn’t screen time in the recent adaptation was the biggest letdown.

Patty is one of the main reasons why Heffley’s middle school despise the character as much.

POLO G DELIVERS SUPERB SEQUEL WITH ‘HALL OF FAME 2.0’

By CAMERON LEVASSEUR Associate Sports Editor

Less than six months after the release of Polo G’s third studio album, “Hall of Fame,” the Chicago rapper returned to flex his lyrical muscles with a 14-song deluxe tracklist on Dec. 3, that topped the earlier project.

In an announcement video for “Hall of Fame 2.0” released on social media early November, Polo G stated that he wanted to cap off this first chapter of his career with a bang, saying “I feel like we should turn up one more time.”

That’s exactly what he did.

The album begins with the lead single, “Bad Man (Smooth Criminal),” released Nov. 12. The song pays homage to the late Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” sampling and modernizing the beat of the 1987 classic with Polo G referencing “The King of Pop” several times on the braggadocious track that stretches a mere minute and 45 seconds.

This upbeat tempo continues through the next few tracks, all ripe with features. “Don’t Play” featuring Lil Baby sees the Atlanta rapper deliver yet another classic verse on a song that feels very similar to his own “How it Feels,” which was released in June..

The fourth track, entitled “Heating Up,” includes a feature from relatively unknown rapper YungLiV, who is signed to Polo G’s own Capalot Records. Unlike the inclusion of fellow Capalot signee Scorey on the original album, which felt out of place, YungLiV delivers a flow and sound similar to a younger version of his mentor, making it a very cohesive song.

After airing his grievances on “Black Man in America,” Polo G returned to a more melodic, singsong tone for the rest of the album. That tone was a major theme in the original 20-track run of “Hall of Fame,” leading to the rapper being dubbed “Piano G” by some on social media who viewed him as unable to switch his flow.

Playing into the criticism, Polo G titled the deluxe’s penultimate track “Piano G,” pondering and discussing life over three minutes of orchestral trap. The song begins with “He had it hard, now he’s just telling his story / Speak from the heart and I just tell ‘em, ‘Record me.” This poses an interesting switch from the third to first person, but flows well into the rest of the song, where he expresses thoughts such as “I wonder, ‘Would the love be the same?’ / If I couldn’t make no more hits.”

The last song on the deluxe tracklist, “Alright,” is the best out of the new additions to the project. The melody is fantastic, and it provides a lot of lyrical substance to build off the previous track.

Overall, “Hall of Fame 2.0” delivers as promised. The 14-song deluxe album provided a mix of both hardcore trap and melodious, storytelling rap, fitting the theme of the original 20-track project. None of the features seem out of place either, with all five fitting the flow and tone of their respective songs. As Polo G moves on into the second chapter of his career, he can be satisfied with how he closed out the first.

On “Alright,” he raps “What’s a vet to a G.O.A.T?” but with three studio albums and a deluxe in the books, Polo G might now be both.

SCREENSHOT FROM INSTAGRAM/ @POLO.CAPALOT

Polo G released the deluxe verison of 'Hall of Fame' on Dec. 3.

This article is for comedic purposes only. Actual names and likenesses used in this article are used in a parodic context, and are not a reflection of

any actual person.

By NEHA SEENARINE Associate Arts & Life Editor

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

CXO Tom Ellett to turn apartment into weekend nightclub

The party does not stop under the watch of Tom Ellett, Quinnipiac University's chief experience officer.

Ellett will make his newly renovated on-campus apartment available to students for a weekend nightclub, kickstarting in the spring 2022 semester. The intention is to enhance nightlife in the community without students having to leave campus. The club will be called the Bobcat Den. “We trademarked the name, we have to use it somehow,” President Judy Olian said.

The Bobcat Den will open from 7-10 p.m. Attendees that stay past closing time will be ineligible to register for classes for the following semester.

Ellett’s kitchen will be utilized as an open bar for Shirley Temples. The club will play Ellett’s favorite song, “Gasolina” by

Daddy Yankee for the entire three-hour duration directly from his phone with the occasional Spotify advertisements sprinkled in.

“There is nothing more I want to see than Tom Ellett getting jiggy in his living room,” sophomore chemistry major Matthew Frankel said.

The club requires a dress code. Attendees are expected to be well-groomed and wear clean clothing, free of holes, or tears. As per nightclub policy, clothing should not be too revealing or have inappropriate designs or stamps.

“The air conditioning is on at all times,” Ellett said. “I advise students to wear the same hoodie and khaki shorts combo they wear to their 8 a.m. classes in 34-degree weather.”

Boomer the Bobcat will greet students outside of the Bobcat Den for admission. Students can use their QCards, but they may be denied entry if they have outstanding balances on their accounts.

“I never had the chance to take a picture with Boomer since I came to Quinnipiac,” senior marketing major Roger Ortiz said. “I have a collage of mascots I met in my life and the fact I haven’t formally met Boomer is insulting.”

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

10|Sports

Scores & Schedule Wednesday 12/1 WBB won 61-59 vs. Yale

December 8, 2021

Caverly: ‘She’s 100% more confident in herself and such a strong player’

Friday 12/3

MBB lost 69-59 vs. Saint Peter’s MIH won 2-0 @ Rensselaer

Saturday 12/4

MIH won 4-0 @ Union WIT&F Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener (No team results)

Sunday 12/5

MBB won 90-73 @ Manhattan

Tuesday 12/7

WBB vs. Northeastern 6 p.m. (Results unavailable before publication)

COURTESY OF QU ATHLETICS

Inside Mikala Morris’ explosion from tentative freshman to Defensive Player of the Year NOV. 13

ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE

NOV. 15

CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE

NOV. 5

ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE

Upcoming

Wednesday 12/8 MBB @ Dartmouth 7 p.m.

Friday 12/10

MIH @ LIU 7:45 p.m.

Saturday 12/11 WIT&F @ Yale WBB @ Providence 1 p.m.

MBB vs. Maine 2 p.m.

MIH vs. LIU 7 p.m.

By ASHLEY PELLETIER Arts & Life Editor

Over 650 miles from her hometown of Springfield, Ohio, junior center Mikala Morris built herself a new foundation in basketball at Quinnipiac with the help of head coach Tricia Fabbri.

“I wanted someone who I could really learn from,” Morris said. “She’s just an awesome lady to play for.”

The Bobcats’ starting center averages 9.3 rebounds per game — good for fourth in the MAAC — and her 12.3 points per game places her as the team’s second-leading scorer. She had early success in her career, starting the majority of games since her first year.

While Quinnipiac felt like the right fit, Morris needed guidance from older players to adjust to the collegiate game.

“It was definitely a shock in the beginning,” Morris said.

“I played with Paige Warfel and Jaden Ward, and they were very good senior players. They pushed me every single day in practice.”

Fabbri noticed Morris’ potential through her willingness to improve as a player.

“She got here, and she was the talent plus the person,” Fabbri said. “She just has a work ethic to get better. She was able to come in and have a great knowledge and understanding to want to make an impact when she arrived on campus.

From day one, she had the ability to come in and do that.”

Being surrounded by upperclassmen fueled Morris’ drive to grow as a player, but she was intimidated by them. However, the supportive team dynamic soothed her anxieties.

“They were all really welcoming and when you’re coming in as a freshman, you’re kind of scared that they’re going to be rude and they’re not going to want you to outperform them, but every day is a competition and no one cares who wins as long as someone does,” Morris said. “They don’t care if you’re a freshman beating a senior or a senior beating a freshman, as long as someone gets the job done, it’s good.”

Senior guard Rose Caverly transferred to Quinnipiac at the same time that Morris joined the team as a freshman, sparking the beginning of a close friendship. Caverly recognized how hesitant Morris was at first, but how she has grown since then as well.

“I think that she lacked the confidence that she has in herself now on the court,” Caverly said. “She was a little tentative because she was a freshman, and now she’s 100% more confident in herself and such a strong player.”

Once Morris realized that her teammates were there to support her, she hit the ground running. Adjusting to the team’s drills and dynamics led to her feeling better about her game.

“As soon as I got (confidence), I was more consistent towards the end of my freshman year,” Morris said.

Her sophomore year, Morris broke out. She made the All-MAAC First Team and MAAC All-Academic Team on top of being named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year for 2020-21.

While she excelled on the court, the team needed to work hard to avoid the risk posed by COVID-19. Ironically, it brought the team even closer together.

“Last year with COVID there was such a strong focus on stay healthy, stay healthy, stay healthy,” Caverly said. “It was just 100% basketball.”

To help prevent unnecessary exposure to those who tested positive for COVID-19, the team lived together on the York Hill campus. Caverly and Morris became neighbors as well as teammates.

“We only lived two doors down from each other,” Caverly said. “She was always in my room and I was always in hers …

We all lived on York so we were right by each other. We spent almost 24/7 together.”

With an entire team just a hall away, the team’s close bond showed itself on the court. The team’s chemistry last year helped lead Quinnipiac to a 13-8 season and the second-best conference record in the MAAC (11-5).

“There needs to be that camaraderie off the court,” Fabbri said. “That leads to incredible bonds on the court when it matters most. Those winner-take-all moments, where it’s makeor-break time … it’s in those moments where I care because we’re together more than the other team.”

The year marked an adjustment for Morris as she came into her own both as a player and a leader.

“Last year was a breakout year for (Morris), and she hasn’t looked back,” Fabbri said. “She has those expectations for herself and is doing what she needs to do … She knows what her role is for this team and with that everybody else will follow.”

Morris’ style is to lead by example. Her initiative shows a growth in confidence she lacked in years prior.

“I don’t wait for someone to go (in drills),” Morris said.

“I’m one of the first couple of people to always get on the floor and start the drill rather than watch it because I know what I need to do.”

Fabbri mentioned that Morris’ willingness to lead by example is vital for the team. It continues the legacy of the program that has been built over the years.

“Leadership comes in multiple forms, and she really allows her actions to speak volumes, which I think is the best way to lead,” Fabbri said.

Looking back to 2019, Morris sees the change she has made as a person and player.

“I definitely feel more confident,” Morris said. “I know all of our offense and our defense so my confidence has really grown since my freshman year.”

However, one thing hasn’t changed — her drive. Caverly said that Morris’ tenacity has been consistent from the very beginning.

“She’s just a very relentless player, and I think that she’s been that way since freshman year, probably before college, because I don’t think she’s changed,” Caverly said. “She’s always going to give 100%.”

December 8, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports|11

Gifting grades

The Chronicle’s sports editors hand out their final assessments heading into the holidays

Women’s ice hockey

A DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

men’s basketball

C CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE

What do a Tiger, Bulldog and an Engineer have in common? They’ve all lost to the Bobcats.

Through 18 games this season, the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team is 15-1-2 and was ranked No. 4 in the USCHO and USA Today polls. It’s the squad’s highest consensus ranking since the third week of the 2016-17 season.

The Bobcats’ well-rounded play keeps the train going. On the offensive end, a combined 43 points from their first line of forwards sophomore Olivia Mobley, senior Lexie Adzija and junior Jess Schryver has paved the way for Quinnipiac, leading it to sixth in the nation in goals for.

Defensively, the Bobcats have been just as solid, sitting in the same position for goals against while only allowing eight goals in their last nine games. The goaltending duo of graduate student Corinne Schroeder and senior Logan Angers has been excellent, with the former leading the nation in both goals against average and save percentage. Both combine to tally five shutouts on the season.

With No. 1 Wisconsin on the horizon in early January, Quinnipiac has a big test ahead of it. But if their play so far this season has been a sign of things to come, it is certainly up to the task.

— Cameron Levasseur, associate sports editor Non-conference matchups are always a fun surprise. One day you’re playing the Indiana Hoosiers, who were No. 4 in the country at the time, and then a week later you’re dominating Hartford by nearly 50 points.

The Bobcats’ success has come from their 3-point shooting, which has just been ruthless. The team is shooting an absurd .410 from beyond the arc. The next best 3-point shooting team in the MAAC is Fairfield at .310. Junior guard Sajada Bonner (8 of 16), senior guard Amani Free (8 of 16), junior forward Cur’Tiera Haywood (9 of 19) and senior guard Rose Caverly (13 of 30) have led the shooting barrage.

Those numbers are so good it’s tempting to believe they’re not sustainable, but why shouldn’t they be? Chalk it up to some soft out-of-conference competition if you like, but this team’s offense was always going to be built on the 3-ball. It’s a fantastic sign to see the team working to its strengths this early in the season.

A record of 4-3 may be uninspiring to some. But this team is what it was supposed to be: well-rounded, deep and disciplined.

Head coach Tricia Fabbri will want results soon, so an A grade is just out of reach, but the wins will come. — Riley Millette, sports editor

ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE

women’s basketball

B

The Quinnipiac men’s basketball team is an enigma. With a core that is primed for a tournament run, the Bobcats are a team on paper that can run the table in the MAAC. Well, kind of. The Bobcats played competitively against a Maryland team that was No. 21 in the nation and then rattled off a three-game win streak, emphasized with a 50 point win over Western New England. The Bobcats proceeded to pull off a three-game stretch where they were outscored 225-189 by opponents and fell back down to under .500.

The team’s 3-point shooting has been abysmal. Quinnipiac shot 27% against the Brown Bears on Nov. 28, and then followed that up by shooting less than 20% from beyond the arc against Saint Peter’s in the MAAC opener.

There are some highlights from this squad, one being redshirt junior guard Matt Balanc. The Maryland native dropped 31 points against Manhattan last Sunday and now leads the team in points per game (16.3), en route to being the favorite for the MAAC’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.

I expect the Bobcats to right the ship and find a way to be a top seed in the MAAC come playoff time. But for the time being, they just need to focus on the games ahead. — Ethan Hurwitz, associate sports editor During the first media day of the preseason, the theme mentioned most was to contend for a national championship.

Talk is cheap unless you go out and deliver. This Quinnipiac hockey team continues to roll, all the way up to the No. 2 ranking in this week’s USCHO poll. Now 16 games into the season with a record of 12-1-3 (5-0-1 ECAC), Quinnipiac’s only loss came against then-No. 6 North Dakota in a weekend where both teams split.

Quinnipiac’s main focus this year is defense, allowing the fewest goals (19) as well as the least goals per game (1.19). It helps that the Bobcats only give up 17 shots on goal against, which also leads the nation. This lockdown defense makes the goaltenders’ jobs easier.

On offense, the goals have come in spurts, but when your defense is this good, scoring three goals a game is enough to secure a win.

Quinnipiac’s focus has not and will not change. Winning the conference championship means nothing without a Frozen Four appearance. The Bobcats will rightfully fight for both and have the strength and ability to do so. — Peter Piekarski, sports editor

ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE

Men’s ice hockey

A

12|Sports

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

December 8, 2021

Sports @QUCHRONSPORTS

ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE, GRAPHIC BY CONNOR LAWLESS AND PEYTON MCKENZIE

How the women’s ice hockey team’s selflessness led to a program-record 15-1-2 start

By CAMERON LEVASSEUR Associate Sports Editor

When the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team hit the ice to kick off the 2021-22 season two and a half months ago, not even the Bobcats themselves would’ve predicted where they are now.

“I don’t think we were expecting it to come out like this,” junior forward Sadie Peart said. “I don’t even think we set that standard. That wasn’t our main goal.”

Regardless, here they are. Halfway through the regular season the Bobcats boast a 15-1-2 record, are atop the ECAC Hockey standings and ranked fifth in the USCHO and USA Today polls.

It’s the best start in program history, trumping the 2014-15 season where Quinnipiac won 14 of its first 18 games and tied three.

“We knew that this team had a lot of potential,” head coach Cass Turner said. “But I think the part that we didn’t quite know was just how this group was going to come together, and I think that’s the difference right now … they’re just so connected with one another and it’s showing.”

That connection has been noticeable on both ends of the ice, as the Bobcats are top 10 in the nation in both goals for (61) and against (21), outscoring opponents 14-4 in their last four games.

“We’ve been really dialing in on different offensive plays to do, like our weak-side (defense) diving down,” Peart said. “And now we’ve been watching some NHL scout video and doing a better job at … having three people go low rather than just doing a 2-1 forecheck to have close support.”

Peart, the team’s leading scorer, has more than doubled her offensive production from last year’s COVID-19-shortened season, posting six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in as many games.

The Grand Rapids, Minnesota, native attributes her success to a combination of preparation both on and off the ice.

“The assault bike, I’ve been doing that a lot, and morning skills with (assistant coach) Brent (Hill),” Peart said. “I’ve been really focused on my shot and just being the best player I can right now.”

For Quinnipiac, being the best player that you can means doing what’s right for the team. It’s a concept that has been crucial to its success all season.

“I’ve never felt so important, and I think any girl on our team could say that,” Peart said. “Everyone has a specific role and everyone is loving their role on the team, which is huge and I’ve never been a part of a team where everyone is happy with the role they’re in.”

Attaining that level of buy-in starts with the message the coaching staff is delivering to the team. For the Bobcats, it’s about the journey.

“We just want to take pride in the process,” Turner said. “To get better every single day and when we step on the ice for a game it really truly doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we want to play our best hockey.”

With 15 wins in 18 games, that process has been successful so far, but only recently have the Bobcats recognized how well they can compete.

“When we beat Cornell and Colgate, I could not believe how well we did that weekend,” Peart said. “That was a big step for us, especially with injured girls. Another big one was Princeton. That was the team we all hated the most, and so beating them in their home rink was an incredible feeling.”

The one loss that Quinnipiac suffered so far came during the back half of that weekend series with Princeton. Even then, the Bobcats’ morale remained unchanged.

“Right after the game we talked about it, but nobody’s mentioned that game since … we learn from it and move on,” Peart said. “That’s one thing that’s different about the ECAC, you don’t play the same team back-to-back like other leagues, so having to play the same team back-to-back is pretty challenging.”

The Bobcats will ring in the new year and begin the second half of the season with a weekend series against the two-time reigning national champion, No. 1-ranked Wisconsin Badgers on the road in Madison.

“Our team has had Wisconsin circled on the calendar for a long time,” Turner said. “Anytime we’re talking about much in our season, they’re talking about how they’re going to beat Wisconsin.”

With all the fanfare surrounding this Wisconsin team, the Bobcats have to make sure that they stay true to who they are.

“I think not putting them on a pedestal,” Peart said. “Any team is beatable, any game can go either way. So I think sticking to our game plan of being fast, tough, relentless, knowing what our team’s good at.”

While that series may be on the forefront of everyone’s mind, when Quinnipiac finally takes the ice in the LaBahn Arena, it will have gone 34 days without any game action. There’s a lot of work to be done between now and then to stay sharp when the time comes.

“Maintaining our fitness is important,” Turner said. “And then continuing to offensively grow as a unit of five and moving the puck quickly, how to gain more comfort scoring more goals in different ways than we have so far. It’s always an evolution throughout the season but those are the things we’re really working on.”

With 15 wins in the books headed into the holiday break, the Bobcats’ play has been an early gift, but they’re not done yet. There’s something special brewing on the ice in Hamden, and come mid-March, Quinnipiac might be skating into the NCAA tournament.

ALEX BAYER/CHRONICLE

The last time the Bobcats received a first-place USCHO vote was Oct. 10, 2016.