The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 91, Issue 19

APRIL 14, 2021 • VOLUME 91 • ISSUE 19

The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

COVID-19 vaccine side effects News p.2 SCREENSHOT FROM INSTAGRAM @EMILYMAC.DESIGNS

A&L P.6: STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS Students who own small businesses share tips about how to be successful

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL CLEMENT

A&L P.8: COMMUNICATION IS SEXY Establishing an open line of communication can improve your relationship and sex life

Difficulty registering for the vaccine Opinion p.4

By NICOLE MCISAAC

MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE

SPORTS P.11: THROUGH TO THE SEMIS The No. 1 men’s soccer team and No. 2 women’s soccer team cruised through the MAAC quarterfinal round

Quinnipiac postpones commuter parking fee after facing criticism

Associate News Editor

After students protested, Quinnipiac University postponed the $90 parking fee policy to the spring 2022 semester rather than implementing it during the fall 2021 semester, according to the Student Government Association (SGA).

The SGA announced this through a post on the its Instagram on April 1. The decision came following several student protests, petitions and student organization involvement in taking a stance against the university’s decision.

“This change was a result of multiple meetings but not the preferred outcome,” the SGA wrote in the Instagram post. “Parking fee revenue will be used to support both QU capital and academic projects benefiting both commuters and resident students.”

Comments under the post displayed dissatisfaction among the Quinnipiac community for still having the $90 commuter parking fee implemented in January 2022. However, some students are seeing this update through an optimistic lens.

“I think the recent parking resolution was a step in the right direction,” said Jeremy Gustafson, a junior political science and economics double major. “I am personally hopeful that ad-

ministration and student leaders continue to have conversations surrounding ways to better engage and include commuter students in university-led events and plans.”

Despite seeing the positives of the new measure set in place, Gustafson emphasized that he wants the university to do more for commuter students, especially being one himself.

“We as students pay to come to this university and we spend a great deal of time on campus, therefore, it would only make sense to talk (to us) about new policies or events that are unpopular among the student body,” Gustafson said. “In addition, students deserve to be heard and have a voice at the table, and they should use all their resources to promote positive and long-lasting change.”

Sophia Marshall, president of the SGA, said that she has been extremely vocal in her position within the organization during this matter. Marshall said once the decision was released and student feedback followed, the SGA felt compelled to represent students.

“My biggest concern was that the administration did not consult students beforehand when making the decision,” Marshall said. “After See PARKING FEE Page 2

CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE

Commuter students at Quinnipiac University will have to pay a $90 parking fee starting in the spring 2022 semester instead of the fall 2021 semester.

2| News

MEET THE EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brendan O’Sullivan MANAGING EDITORS Toyloy Brown III Jessica Simms CREATIVE DIRECTOR Connor Lawless NEWS EDITOR Emily Flamme ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS Nicole McIsaac Chatwan Mongkol OPINION EDITOR Michael Sicoli ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Emily DiSalvo ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Ashley Pelletier SPORTS EDITOR Riley Millette ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Peter Piekarski DESIGN EDITOR Michael Clement PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Morgan Tencza PODCAST PRODUCER Xavier Cullen ASSOCIATE PODCAST PRODUCER Kalleen Rose Ozanic COPY EDITOR Melina Khan 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 Brendan O’Sullivan at bgosullivan@quinnipiac.edu.

Search “Chron-versations” and “Chronicle Weekly Report” on streaming platforms for the latest news.

THE CHRONICLE is distributed around all three university campuses every Wednesday when school is in session except during exam periods. Single copies are free. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline. Please report suspicious activity to university security (203-582-6200). For additional copies, contact the student media ofice for rates.

ADVERTISING inquiries can be sent to advertise@quchronicle.com.

Inquiries must be made a week prior to publication.

SEND TIPS, including news tips, corrections or suggestions to Brendan O’Sullivan at editor@quchronicle.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be between 250 and 400 words and must be approved by the Editorin-Chief before going to print. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit all material, including advertising, based on content, grammar and space requirements.

Send letters to editor@quchronicle.com. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Chronicle.

SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING ON

QUCHRONICLE.COM Our award-winning website since 2009

JOIN US

Staff Meetings on Tuesdays at 9:15 p.m. on Zoom

CONNECT @quchronicle The Quinnipiac Chronicle @quchronicle

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

April 14, 2021

The side effects of staying safe: How the QU community has weathered the vaccine

By NICOLE MCISAAC Associate News Editor

Quinnipiac University students became eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Connecticut on April 5, and have since been receiving their doses, which can cause varying physical side effects.

The university encouraged students to register for their vaccinations while living on campus and they can obtain the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventation (CDC) recommended pausing use of Johnson & Johnson on April 13, after six women ages 18-48 got blood clots according to the CDC. Connecticut followed suit, canceling or postponing all Johnson & Johnson appointments.

Depending on the individual, their post-vaccination symptoms and reactions may be contingent on the vaccine they receive.

“These vaccines do have side effects, even though these side effects are mostly local,” said Dr. David Hill, senior medical advisor. “Maybe a sore arm, some swelling, discomfort or the next step feeling fatigued or feverish for a day or so. But beyond that there really isn’t much.”

Hill said that although students might withhold from getting vaccinated due to their personal fears or rumors about COVID-19 vaccinations, it is important to validate those feelings while also locating trusted information and sources to fully educate oneself on all aspects of the vaccine.

“So much about vaccine hesitancy is (a) lack of reliable information, trusted information,” Hill said. “It’s one thing to kind of look at the facts on a piece of paper, and it’s another thing to have someone you trust to talk that through.”

Rebecca Perez, a junior nursing major, received her second Moderna vaccine dose in February and said she has always been a firm believer in trusting science and vaccines.

“About six hours after receiving the first shot, I felt tired and my arm was very sore,” Perez said. “That night before bed, I had the chills but never had a fever. These symptoms last for about 48 hours, and I took Tylenol to help with the symptoms.”

Perez said she was eligible for the vaccine in December through the university’s School of Nursing program and was not given the choice of which vaccine brand she would receive. She was able to use Connecticut’s Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) to book her appointments but found herself facing side effects both times.

“The second dose I felt very tired and achy

Common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines

Headache

Arm soreness

Exhaustion

Fever

as well,” Perez said. “I felt very sore and didn’t want to get out of bed, but again, never had a fever. I took Tylenol again to help. My symptoms were the same as the first dose, however, they were more intense and heightened.”

Meanwhile, other students who received the Pfizer vaccine reported having fewer side effects. Senior nursing major Julia Orlofski said she experienced a minimal reaction after getting both shots earlier this semester.

“I had basically none (after the first dose), just a sore arm and maybe some tiredness,” Orlofski said. “Honestly I had less side effects the second time than the first. Just a sore arm, but it was less painful than the first shot.”

On the contrary, junior political science and international double major Ohidiani Imevbore said she received one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and she had extreme side effects.

“I was very sick, I had chills and a really bad headache as well as very weak,” Imevbore said.

“I had a slight fever and was very lethargic.”

Despite enduring some physical side effects post-vaccination, Imevbore said she was eager to receive her dosage to become

INFOGRAPHIC BY CONNOR LAWLESS

fully vaccinated.

“I didn’t really have a choice as that was the only vaccine available on that day, and I wanted to get it as soon as possible,” Imevbore said.

With more individuals receiving their COVID-19 vaccination, some students feel there should be more discussions within the university’s community regarding the side effects that come with it.

“I have heard a lot of people are hesitant to get the vaccine since most vaccines are developed in 15 years and the COVID-19 ones have been developed in only one year,” said Kayla Sica, a senior elementary education major.

“I’ve also heard a lot of people talking about what if there are adverse side effects like 10 years down the line from COVID-19 vaccines.”

The university plans to hold informative forums for students about vaccination side effects in addition to previous forums that have already been held regarding vaccines, according to Hill.

Students are urged to schedule their COVID-19 vaccination appointment through Connecticut’s VAMS, a local pharmacy, a medical provider or by calling the vaccine appointment assist line at 877-918-2224.

Gustafson: ‘I think administrators need to hear students and actually meet the students that their decisions are personally affecting’ PARKING FEE from cover hearing massive student feedback condemning the parking fee, the executive board made the decision that a resolution needed to be released to combat the situation with parking. Over the course of two meetings, commuter student feedback, and multiple drafts, we ultimately released the parking resolution.”

Marshall said she believes the decision the university made is permanent despite the stir it has caused in the community. She said it is best to focus advocacy on ensuring that the university uses the money to better the commuter experience and the overall experience at Quinnipiac.

“I feel that I said absolutely everything that I could to the administrative body to advocate on the students’ behalf — it has always been my priority to communicate incredibly accurately when it comes to the students’ emotions and feelings, and I feel very strongly that the conversations that were had were incredibly candid, and realistic to the student perspective,” Marshall said.

In correlation to using the fee toward enhancing the university’s community, students are persistent in wanting the university to follow through on their improvements to further support commuter students on campus.

“Commuters deserve a lounge that is more than the current area outside of Starbucks,” Gustafson said. “In addition, I believe there should

be commuter-centric events, where commuters can get to know each other and hopefully make long-lasting friendships.”

Similar to Marshall, Gustafson believes that it is extremely important for students to engage in discourse with the administration when there is a change that is seen as being detrimental to the student body, especially for the benefits of commuting students.

“I think administrators need to hear students and actually meet the students that their decisions are personally affecting,” Gustafson said.

Students are encouraged to reach out to the SGA with any additional concerns or questions for further clarification or discussion.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

April 14, 2021

News |3

Unpacking roommate relationships First-year students explore their roommate options for next year

By MELINA KHAN Copy Editor

For incoming first-year students, living with a roommate is among the most nerveracking yet exciting aspects of the college transition. But when the outcome of freshman year roommate relationships are not positive, students are thrown back to square one.

Last week, members of Quinnipiac University’s class of 2024 made their room selections and roommate requests for the 2021-22 school year.

Krithi Goud, a first-year biology major, had to find a new roommate for the upcoming year since her current roommate plans to commute next year. However, she said she recognizes the situation can be more complicated for others when they don’t get along with their roommate.

“Some people do not know what it’s like living with the other person until it’s in action,” Goud said. “There may be some disputes between the two which causes the stu-

dent to look for someone else.”

A study suggests roommate relationships are generally successful. Research firm Skyfactor found in a 2015-16 survey that out of the 20,000 students from 15 institutions with varying roommate assignment protocols, over half of the respondents said their freshman year roommate relationship was successful and only 10% of them requested a roommate change during the year.

During COVID-19, the stakes of roommate relationships were raised as students spend most of their time with their family unit.

“The pandemic has complicated living with roommates as my only friend group was the people I was living with, and I was not able to branch out to get to know others on campus,” Goud said.

Goud found her new roommate after posting in the Quinnipiac class of 2024 Facebook group. Quinnipiac administrators created the

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

group during the admissions process for students to connect with one another.

Sarah Dusse, a first-year nursing major, said she has also used social media to meet new people who could be potential roommates.

“I tried using Facebook and then would add people on Snapchat or Instagram,” Dusse said. “It was great getting to know people, but it was still hard to become close and see if you’d be a good fit.”

Mark DeVilbiss, director of residential life at Quinnipiac, said he encourages students to use My College Roomie, a roommate compatibility software, rather than using social media.

“I think social media often portrays life at its best and isn’t necessarily the full picture of who the person is,” DeVilbiss said. “Social media can be a great production, but I think before making a decision about whether I would like to room with someone or not, it’s best to have a conversation and just talk about if there are certain issues that are essential.”

DeVilbiss said Quinnipiac’s Residential Life office does not keep track of how many students switch roommates throughout the year.

“I know that for the vast majority of students, their roommate relationships do work out, and there are sometimes cases where roommates discover that they’re not as compatible,” DeVilbiss said.

When roommate relationships are unsuccessful, students can contact Residential Life to request to move. DeVilbiss said there are a variety of reasons why students may move midyear and that they are not always negative.

“Sometimes people want to change buildings because there’s another group of friends that live in that building, sometimes there would be a conflict with a current roommate over some aspect of living together, sometimes the person needs to be with others who are in their major,” DeVilbiss said. “So they’re moving toward something versus moving away from their current roommate relationship.”

Alex Parkhouse, assistant professor of sociology, said there are different variables that can impact roommate relationships depending on the individuals.

“It’s almost like a relationship in the sense

that, when you look at relationships in general … satisfaction in a relationship is a really important quality of that relationship,” Parkhouse said. “Same, too, goes with the relationship of roommates. The quality of the relationship matters, so what might work for some in terms of pairings in the roommate scenario doesn’t necessarily work for others.”

Parkhouse said it’s not surprising that students tend to rely on social media to find roommates.

“I don’t think it’s so much about the image that the person is ‘shopping’ for, rather I think it’s the domain,” Parkhouse said. “I think the use of the internet to locate a roommate is just like everything else — we use the internet to find a doctor/physician, we use the internet to find a particular university that you want to attend. I think that looking on social media or other domains online (is) the way of which I would say that cohort of students conducts their everyday life business.”

All sophomore housing options for Quinnipiac students are suite-style, with anywhere from four to six roommates in one suite depending on the residence hall.

“I like the idea of living with five other girls,” said Caitlin Conahan, a first-year psychology major. “If I don’t get along with one of them, hopefully I’ll get along with one of the other four.”

DeVilbiss said sophomore year housing selection differs from first-year’s options because students choose their housing location.

“For all returning students, we allow students to choose anyone that they wish to room with, and so typically students will use their own personal networks to invite people to be a roommate with them, and people either go with full or partial groups to live in the various places on campus,” DeVilbiss said.

Though students can pick their own roommate or opt for a random assignment, DeVilbiss said most students choose their freshman year roommate. However, many institutions including New York University, Colgate University, Tufts University and Duke University do not allow students the option to choose their roommate.

Quinnipiac may get $13.6M federal grant, per ACE’s projection

By CHATWAN MONGKOL Associate News Editor

Quinnipiac University may receive a $13,616,000 federal stimulus check from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) III under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), according to the American Council on Education’s (ACE) stimulated distribution.

Even though the United States Department of Education has not released the final allocation plan, ACE based its estimation on the act’s language itself.

The ACE predicted that Quinnipiac would receive $7.6 million from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and $5.4 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), which was almost accurate

to the actual numbers.

According to the ARP, at least 50% of the total amount allocated for a nonprofit university must go toward student financial aid funds, while the rest can go toward institutional expenses. That means Quinnipiac students might receive around $6.8 million.

The Chronicle reached out to John Pettit, associate director of public relations, about how much the university anticipates receiving from the ARP but did not receive any response at the time of publication.

President Joe Biden signed the ARP into law in March. It included around $39 billion for the HEERF, the most among the previous COVID-19 relief acts. Of $39 billion, 91% is for public and nonprofit colleges with almost the exact same allocation method from the CRRSAA, ac-

cording to Bellwether Education. Around 7.5% of the total fund is dedicated to historically Black and minority-serving colleges.

Quinnipiac recently received $7.6 million from HEERF II under the CRRSAA, in which $2.6 million was allocated for students.

According to the university, 4,224 students with high financial need determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid are eligible for the funds. The university has not distributed the money to students as of April 5.

Students with a total family income of less than 250% of the federal poverty line for a family of four ($66,250) will receive $700. The university estimates that 2,801 students are in this group. Students who are not in the first group with an expected family contribution of $15,000 or less will

receive $500. The university estimates that 829 students are in this group.

Students who are not in any of the two categories may also apply for funding of less than $500.

The university is also legally required to report the usage of $4.9 million from HEERF II allocated for institutional expenses. Pettit also did not respond to questions about when the first report is expected to come out.

Quinnipiac also received $5.3 million from the first HEERF under the CARES in 2020. As CARES mandated, the university awarded $2.6 million to 1,981 out of 4,251 eligible students as of April 8.

The university used the other half of the fund for tuition and housing refunds, safety and operations and technology.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

4| O p i n i o n

April 14, 2021

Opinion VAMS: Very Annoying Medical System

The struggle of scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment

BY MELINA KHAN Copy Editor

uling vaccination appointments should be self-explanatory.

They should not require extra explanation and strategies to optimize usage.

Being the first of my roommates to successfully schedule my appointment, I’ve also been trying to help them with the process. When I tried the CVS method again, it didn’t work because there was no state with availability, so I couldn’t even get to the steps of inputting information to find availability in Connecticut. The fact that I had to rely on another state with availability just to get to the proper page is ridiculous.

It shouldn’t take maneuvering the system to schedule an appointment for a vaccine that so many are still not eligible for.

It’s important to note that all of these struggles come down to one fundamental problem: vaccine availability. That is a whole other can of worms that deserves its own piece, but limited availability of the vaccine itself does not excuse the problems that come with scheduling systems. These systems need to be perfected so that consumers can schedule their appointment regardless of what time of day it is.

The systems available to the general public should not require such extensive effort. Because there is a section of the population that does not want a vaccine, it is all the more important for those who are pro-vaccination to receive theirs in order for society to reach herd immunity. When there are barriers in scheduling, not everyone is going to be as relentless as I was in trying to schedule my doses. I fear there are some out there, including some in the Quinnipiac University community, who will push off receiving their inoculation because of the challenges of scheduling it.

Vaccines are providing hope for an end to COVID-19, but obtaining a vaccine is unnecessarily hindered by futile scheduling systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) to aid Americans in scheduling their vaccination appointments. However, considering it’s overseeing the largest-ever public health campaign, the system is wildly ineffective. The appointments made available on VAMS are added at obscure hours and taken within seconds.

In addition to VAMS, Connecticut residents can schedule their vaccine appointments through Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, Stamford Health, Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid and Walmart.

Since becoming eligible to receive the vaccine in Connecticut on April 1, I’ve experienced heightened anxiety between looking for appointments at midnight, waking up at 4 a.m. to look again and see increased social media posts on the subject.

I grew up in the age of the internet, and yet I’ve never been so anxious staring at a screen.

As someone who copes with anxiety, living through a pandemic has been a challenge. Not only does receiving my vaccine bring me a level of peace, it also means I’m doing my part to end COVID-19. That’s why it was so important for me to schedule my appointment, and yet that was the hardest part.

With each morning that passed, I grew more and more frustrated with a process that should have been easy. I reached out to anyone I knew who successfully scheduled an appointment and took notes on what methods worked best for them, all the while exRite asperated I had to go to such lengths in Aid Rite Aid (Cheshire) the first place.

After airing my annoyance on Twitter, one classmate sent me inGet Notifications No Appointments structions on the most effective method to book an appointment at CVS. It was a step-by-step, multi-page document complete with screenshots. The Hartford HealthCare (Oakdale Theatre) fact that it needed to be organized as such wasn’t even the most baffling part about it. The worst part was that in order to schedule an appointment Get Notifications No Appointments in Connecticut, you had to go through the system as if you were scheduling in a different state that had availabilWalgreens Pharmacy (North Haven) ity. You would not enter your zip code to find an appointment until the last page.

Though I was able to schedule Get Notifications No Appointments both of my appointments, the process was challenging, and it shouldn’t have been. In the digital age, sched-

“I grew up in the age of the internet, and yet I’ve never been so anxious staring at a screen”

– Melina Khan COPY EDITOR

David Hill, Quinnipiac’s senior medical adviser, has said the university is exploring the possibility of having a vaccination site on campus later this month depending on accessibility to the vaccine. Even though my two doses are already scheduled, I am very hopeful that this becomes a reality for the sake of other students who can’t or won’t go out of their way to find an appointment otherwise. Convenience is key, and if we have on-campus vaccinations, I’m confident that more students will receive the vaccine, bringing us one step closer to normalcy as a university.

If you’re still trying to schedule your appointment, don’t stop trying. Be persistent. It will happen eventually. Know that I empathize with you.

If you haven’t tried to schedule yours, please don’t let me discourage you. Your individual act of receiving your vaccine has a larger impact than you realize. In a pandemic that has altered everyone’s life forever, this is what you can do to help others.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

Bobcat Buzz The QUad’s beauty

BY MICHAEL SICOLI Opinion Editor

I may be a second-year student, but this is my first spring at Quinnipiac University.

And I’ve got to say, it’s certainly a vibe.

The blankets are out on the Quad and every patch of grass up on York Hill. People are taking classes outside, having picnics and throwing Frisbees. For the first time in a long time, college looks and feels normal.

That obviously hasn’t been the case for quite some time. But thanks to students practicing the precautions to keep COVID-19 cases relatively down, the spring semester has continued as planned. The results have left me feeling optimistic for the first time in a year.

After all, this is what college should be like. Taking some classes in an atmosphere you feel comfortable in,

playing a sport or even just watching a Spikeball game on the Quad is an uplifting feeling that I desperately needed. I longed to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I see it here at Quinnipiac.

Do I miss what could have been? Yes — I think about it every day. But all you can do is look to the future and control what you can. I’m here at Quinnipiac, and if 2020 taught me anything, it’s to make the most of my time.

So, I’m going to play intramural soccer. I’m going to laugh with my friends. All the while, I’ll exercise COVID-19 precautions, so when I walk on to campus in the fall, I’ll have a chance of doing it maskless.

I thought the Quad was beautiful when I first came here as a prospective student. Truthfully, it has never looked more picturesque than it does now.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

April 14, 2021

Opinion|5

Opinion All work, no pay

Don’t be proud about not getting paid for internships This has led to a lot of misplaced hatred among the working class. Whenever a McDonalds or Amazon worker fights Unpaid internships are a scam. for a $15 minimum wage, swarms of Twitter and Facebook As a college student, I am having every dollar users will comment that they get paid less money, work more squeezed out of me, from rising tuition costs to room hours and complain less than them, so they should just shut and board. The last thing I can afford to do is to up and work harder if they want to make a liveable wage. spend dozens of hours a week for a job that is payLabor unions have fought bloody battles, like the ing only in experience. After all, time is money.

Haymarket riots, to get us the rights we have today. From Unfortunately, unpaid internships are comthe 40-hour work week to the minimum wage, hundreds mon for people who are looking to get into their of lives have been lost because American workers fought dream field, especially for journalism majors for equal and fair treatment. Promoting unpaid jobs unlike myself. This has been an ongoing trend for does so much of that progress. decades, perpetuated by employers that see an Unpaid internships are the embodiment of that opportunity to get quality labor from hardhustle mentality. working, passionate young people while But these opportunities to gain experience not paying them a cent. and connections are only available to people While some people denounce this Quinnipiac who can afford it. Rent and housing prices exploitative practice, many people have been increasing, and meeting the bauniversity still defend it because they have alsic needs of living is growing more exready done their time as an unpaid pensive. Someone who is struggling with intern. They believe that everyone paying bills might not be able to work a should struggle just like they did. part or full-time, unpaid job.

The idea of “hustle culture” Luckily, places such as Quinthat states that you nipiac University have tried to need to put in counthelp those with an unpaid inless hours of thankternship to actually get paid less, back-breaking with the Internship Scholarship work for little to no pay Program, but that is only awarded has infected the minds of so to one School of Communications stumany people.

BY XAVIER CULLEN Podcast Producer

Writer 4 hire

dent for $900. Students should not have to rely on the generosity of third parties paying for their hard work.

The student loan debt crisis has surpassed $1.7 trillion this year, and not everyone has parents that can pay for housing and food while their child can have the luxury of what unpaid internships have to offer.

College students have a lot more to worry about as their time on campus comes to an end. We’re expected to begin our careers right when we graduate, usually with several internship experiences already under our belt, and if we hesitate even just a little bit, then we’ll be drowning in bills and student loan debt.

Unpaid internships are a classist roadblock for so many people who can’t afford to spend a summer or a year working for a company that refuses to pay for their hard work.

I understand that some places might not be able to afford to pay for interns, especially as COVID-19 has forced many places to downsize. But just because you are strapped for cash, doesn’t mean that you can get away with scamming impressionable students out of their valuable time and effort.

To the people that wear this exploitation of their labor as a badge of honor, you can simultaneously work hard for something you are intensely passionate about while also getting paid. Struggling to make ends meet is not a requirement to make it in life.

Nobody should be proud that they had to endure unpaid internships. Instead, we should be in solidarity with those fighting for better wages and working conditions.

ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA KOGEL

Pushing to relax COVID-19 restrictions is selfish

BY EMILY DISALVO Arts & Life Editor

It’s getting warmer, vaccines are becoming widespread and well, COVID-19 is still here. Thanks to the new strain, B117, cases are popping up across the country causing some medical experts to call it a “fourth wave.”

This is serious business, especially considering that many states, including Connecticut, have relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, drawing backlash from public health experts.

The argument that restrictions need to be relaxed, particularly for young healthy people, is misguided. Every case of COVID-19 is tragic, whether or not the person who contracted it dies. It ensues panic in those who have contacted this person. It can lead to the spread of cases in the community. But, for that person, even if they survive, their life may never be the same.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists several possible “long-term” effects of COVID-19 such as shortness of breath, joint pain and cough. But other symptoms are less obvious. Some people who had COVID-19 have experienced long-term “brain fog” or difficulty concentrating.

Others have no sense of smell or taste. Some face depression, mood changes, sleep issues and memory problems that did not exist prior to the disease.

This is scary stuff that can affect people of all ages, not just old people. But if it was just old people affected, does that make it any better? I am tired of people saying we should reopen because it is only the elderly who are dying of COVID-19. First of all, that isn’t true. Second of all, don’t those lives matter too?

Let me answer that for you — those lives do matter. Elderly people deserve the same value and appreciation as young people, if not more. If young people are forced to stay away from their friends to prevent an old person from contracting COVID-19, it is entirely worth it.

Taking COVID-19 seriously isn’t just about preventing deaths.

It is about thwarting long-term health effects, protecting our elders and making our communities safer for everyone.

I can acknowledge that some people feel that lockdowns are so detrimental to people’s mental health that it is not worth it to keep things closed. I would counter this on multiple fronts.

First of all, keeping restaurants, in-person entertainment venues and other businesses closed or at a reduced capacity is not a lockdown. It is a moderate inconvenience for everyday people and a huge inconvenience for people who work there, but it has nothing to do with mental health. The only “lockdown” existed last March and April.

Secondly, I understand the importance of mental health extremely well. And I think the stress a full reopening would place on people with the fear of getting sick is just as concerning as the depression that isolated people face. With the anxiety I have about germs and full capacity stores and restaurants, a reopening would keep me relegated to my home more

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL CLEMENT

than a lockdown would. For some people, the fear of getting sick is just as severe as the sadness of facing restrictions.

But why are we even comparing hardships when lives are at risk? A death from COVID-19 is a harrowing, painful death of suffocation. Any small inconvenience we face is nothing if we can save even one life because of a restriction.

Who are we to plea for normalcy when it is our decisions, along with lackadaisical mitigation measures, that have made this pandemic drag on so long? Complaining is selfish, especially when we have so much to be grateful for — the vaccine, nice weather, outdoor dining. Things are looking up, but if we rush the recovery, we will stumble.

6|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

April 14, 2021

Arts & Life

QUCHRONICLE.COM/ARTS-AND-LIFE ARTSLIFE@QUCHRONICLE.COM

Student business owners share their secrets to success

By LEXI PEPE Staff Writer

Small businesses during the pandemic Through COVID-19, many small businesses shut down as they could not afford to maintain staff bills and other expenses.

According to the Wall Street Journal, one out of three small businesses closed in Connecticut. To revive economic damages, Connecticut has implemented a $50 million small business grant program which will reimburse up to $5,000 to over 10,000 businesses. Residents and business owners are trying to have faith in the new vaccines and the warm weather.

However, there are already some positives fostered from the pandemic when it comes to business. Joshua Finkel, a firstyear finance major who owns Finkel Auto Detailing, began his company in May 2019.

“COVID has actually helped my business,” Finkel said.

“Since most people are now working from home, it has made scheduling details for my customers much easier now that most people leave their cars at home all the time now.”

Many have found COVID-19 to be the perfect opportunity to start something new as Emily MacDonald, a senior political science major, started her business, Emily Mac Designs, in March 2021. MacDonald decided to launch her business when she got a Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine which allows her to cut out different unique designs on vinyl to customize clothes or other products.

“All of this is just a hobby for me, and trying to expand it into a small business has been pretty fun so far,” MacDonald said.

Entrepreneurship allows others to start their own businesses and explore their passions at a relatively low risk.

“However, for long-running business success, there needs to be a desire for one to keep doing what he/she is doing. It is exciting to start a new enterprise, to hire friends and family, then add to employees as the business expands.”

While starting a business can be invigorating, maintaining and managing it comes with important questions that entrepreneurs must acknowledge to enhance their company. Goralski referred to the previous owners of Ben & Jerry’s as an example and how they had to make a vital long-term decision for their company.

“They enjoyed being entrepreneurs, traveling around the country giving out ice cream and introducing people to their product, and they enjoyed the day-to-day running of the

business, but when it came time to expand and to keep Ben & Jerry’s flourishing, they decided to turn it over to people who were better at that phase of growth,” Goralski said.

The main reason why people shy away from their ideas is a lack of understanding of the market, economy and consumer wants and needs. While some of this knowledge is beneficial, personality and passion are also important. Finkel said the most successful business owners he has known carry ambition, a driven will, the ability to take risks and a desire to improve or grow. These qualities are what make the business unique.

“I’m not a business major and I’ve never taken a marketing or advertising class, so I had to do some research on my own,” MacDonald said. “Anyone can open a small business. I think you just need to be willing to dedicate time and be patient with the process.”

Students who are looking to pursue their dreams should consider what is best for them. It is never too late to take a leap of faith and open a business. If other small businesses can survive a global pandemic, rest assured, with a dream in mind and a go-getter personality, you can take the initiative. What are you waiting for?

Starting and maintaining long-term businesses

Starting a business requires an idea and some drive to build a brand or company to include everyone. Professor Margaret Goralski, an assistant teaching professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at Quinnipiac University, shared some advice for those who are timid about diving into a new business.

“For a startup, there needs to be a desire to be innovative and fill a perceived gap,” Goralski said.

SCREENSHOT FROM INSTAGRAM

Business ideas can come from anything from hobbies to a need in the market.

SCREENSHOT FROM INSTAGRAM

Starting a business requires an idea and some drive.

‘Worn Stories’ shows the impact clothes can have

By DAVID MATOS Staff Writer

Netflix’s newest docuseries, “Worn Stories,” unfolds the diverse histories of treasured clothing from people’s closets.

This show is unique as it brings forth the common connection a person can have with an article of clothing they held onto due to its personal historical relevance.

The first season of “Worn Stories” premiered on Thursday, April 4. It is based on the 2014 New York Times bestselling memoir of the same name written by Emily Spivack, who is also one of the executive producers of the show. Her book is a collection of first-person narratives from real people ranging from celebrities to the everyday storyteller. Every person has a piece of clothing with a backstory, and her memoir includes a surplus of them told in relatable ways.

Each 30-minute episode takes on a different theme — community, losing and finding yourself, beginnings, growing up, uniforms, chance, survival and love. Every episode has a different group of unrelated individuals who tell their story about a specific article of clothing that relates to one of the eight themes. Similar to the memoir, the series has a diverse cast, ranging from Tina Turner’s ex-saxophone player to a New York City writer with a history in sex work to Charo, the Spanish American actress.

In order to include as many different stories as possible into one episode, each one is told in a unique way. Some of the tales are told through narrative voice-over animation, which are

usually shorter segments. Many of the stories, however, bring the audience into the physical lives of the cast members where we can get a better visual and understanding of their piece of clothing and how it relates to the person they are today.

While binge-watching this series, I started to think about the articles of clothing I kept. Many of the pieces that stood the test of time are ones that represent a monumental moment in my life such as a graduation, the suit I wore to my sister’s wedding or the last sweater I kept before losing over 100 pounds.

All of these pieces I kept also represent new beginnings, the general theme for the third episode of the series. The third episode features Spivack, who discusses the first outfit she’s ever worn as her mother has held onto a bunch of her baby clothes.

Similarly, my mother also kept much of the clothing I wore as a baby, like my Baptism outfit and first Halloween costume.

It’s intriguing how these simple pieces of fabric can represent so much, invoking a memory that would’ve otherwise been lost.

This show undoubtedly plays with your emotions as you witness the deep impact clothes have on people’s lives.

The must-watch docuseries shows that clothing truly can define us. I recommend everyone take the time out of their busy schedules to not only watch this show but to quite literally open your closet and take a trip down memory lane. Find those pieces of clothing you’ve been holding on to and reflect on how each piece has defined who you are today.

5/5 sentimental t-shirts

PHOTO FROM TWITTER @EMSPIVACK

'Worn Stories' is a Netflix series dedicated to sharing people's sentimental relationships with clothing.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

April 14, 2021

Arts and Life|7

Cracking the Starbucks code

By NEHA SEENARINE Staff Writer

Starbucks is a staple to Quinnipiac University students and the United States overall, but I can’t seem to figure it out.

The Starbucks menu is a different language. I am used to ordering my coffee by just deciding on the size and how much cream and sugar I want. However, when I walk into Starbucks, my minimal coffee knowledge leaves my brain.

David Ferrara, a 19-year-old ex-Starbucks barista, got the hang of learning orders when he started working for Starbucks at Clemson University.

“I went to Starbucks a lot before, so it wasn't too hard to pick it up,” Ferrara said. “A lot of the drinks, they're all based on the same recipe, so the learning curve once you get past this — pretty easy.”

The three basic espresso drinks: a latte, a macchiato and a cappuccino have the same ingredients but remixed.

“Espresso drinks are basically the same thing, but just in different orders and then they use a certain amount of pumps based on the size and how much detail you want to give,” Ferrara said. “The only difference between the three drinks is the order of the milk, espresso and the flavor is put in.”

The new drinks introduced by Starbucks are already on the menu, though. It is a marketing ploy for customers to rush through the door trying the latest menu item.

“A lot of times when they'll talk about a new drink, it already exists,” Ferrara said. “The new shaken espresso has been on the menu since Starbucks started. It’s called a Starbucks double shot.

They took it, remade it and remarketed it because no one really knew about it.”

I stick to ordering an iced tea with peach juice. It tastes good, but I see other students ordering coffee drinks that look delicious. I’m uncomfortable walking up to them and asking what they ordered so instead, I looked up Starbucks orders on Pinterest.

The Pinterest results are filled with Starbucks recipes you can make at home. However, the majority of the searches are secret menu orders, which are drinks with a twist. You can add and remove ingredients. There are drinks to resemble the taste of different treats.

“I think I have one person that came up to me, he was like, ‘Can you make me a cheesecake for frap,’” Ferrara said. “I’m like that doesn't actually exist, like go back on Pinterest and look

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY DAVID FERRARA

David Ferrara used to work as a barista in a Starbucks at Clemson University.

NEHA SEENARINE/CHRONICLE

Starbucks is notorious for mispelling customers' names, but the baristas still make enjoyable drinks.

up what it is. If you tell me exactly what it is, I’ll be more than happy to make it. Honestly, I’ll probably make some extra and try it because I like to taste test.”

The dreadful part of ordering Starbucks is telling the barista my name. I watch them write my name incorrectly every time.

To be fair, I do not have a name you would see on keychains at tourist attractions. However, I am given a new identity at every Starbucks purchase.

“I used to ask people how to spell their name,” Ferrara said.

“Then it got to a point where I couldn’t spell everyone’s name right. There are so many different ways to spell ‘Katie” for some damn reason. I realized somewhere along that way that there was no way I was going to spell her name right unless I was willing to win the lottery.”

Ferrara recommended a “Dirty Chai” to broaden my Starbucks beverage horizons. I ordered an iced chai with sweet cold foam, brown sugar sprinkles and a shot of espresso. I would not drink this daily, but the warm flavors would be perfect for the fall.

Lil Tjay describes why he’s ‘destined to win’ on his second studio album

By BRENDAN O'SULLIVAN Editor-in-Chief

Over the past few years, a number of notable New York rappers burst onto the scene, reminding the world of the state’s prominence in hip hop.

Lil Tjay is one of them. The 19-year-old Bronx native started his career in 2017 and has since released two studio albums under Columbia Records.

His second album, “Destined 2 Win,” was released on April 2. As the title suggests, Lil Tjay details his determination to be great, while also boasting about his already successful life.

The album begins with its namesake as a minute-long song.

The song samples 1970s R&B artist Margie Joseph’s “Who Gets Your Love,” while Lil Tjay adds a few “oohs” and says he’s “destined to win.” One could also hear a man, whose identity is unknown, hyping up Lil Tjay.

PHOTO FROM TWITTER @LILTJAY

Lil Tjay's second studio album 'Destined 2 Win' illustrates his determination for greatness.

“We destined for a win and we … straight out the trenches, destined for a win,” the man said.

This theme continued into the second track, “Born 2 Be Great,” as Lil Tjay rapped over his hums throughout the song.

The humming leads nicely into the first verse in which Lil Tjay says that it feels like the people he knew the best were the people who brought him down, reminiscing on the dreams of “cap and gowns.”

A few lines after this moment, he picked up the pace, beginning to brag about his wealth.

“Drippin’, I’m the flyest, you could never call me sherm/ This Louis V on me cost me like nothin’, I could burn,” Lil Tjay rapped.

While heavily considered a rapper, Lil Tjay mixes in some singing into his work. As he finishes his rap verse noting that people can learn from him, his whiny singing enters in the chorus. He sings, “I was born to be great/ And I won’t let nobody tell me I ain’t.”

It worked for the song, but to say it was my favorite part is a lie. He bounced back with a strong second verse, which actually began with Lil Tjay incorporating his own version of Drake’s verse from Rihanna’s 2016 song “Work.”

It was smooth and made the next part of the verse even more potent as the beat dropped and he sped up again. He concluded the song with a drowned-out version of the chorus.

The next song, “Calling My Phone,” was enjoyable throughout and was my second favorite track behind “Born 2 Be Great.” Understandably so, both songs were released as singles before the album dropped.

While the song, which features 6LACK, is smooth and lacks a lot of the whiny singing from Lil Tjay, it takes away from the thesis of the album. Lil Tjay and 6LACK discuss their past relationships and how they’re attempting to move on.

None of that connects to the idea that Lil Tjay presented in the first two songs and the album’s title. There’s a number of songs that focus on love or rather the lack thereof. Not only did I not enjoy them, but it took away from the general theme.

Lil Tjay is at his best when he uses his melodic vocals to rap over a quick beat. When slowed down, he becomes irritable.

This was most noticeable in “What You Wanna Do.”

This version of Lil Tjay’s singing disappeared for a few songs as he returned to rapping about his rise to fame. In “Go Crazy,” Lil Tjay begins with a few “oohs” but quickly changes speed in the first verse.

“Only 19, they expectin’ me to change shit/ Started chasin’ dreams, in a year, I was famous/ Youngin’ on that Billboard, came a long way from the gang shit,” Lil Tjay rapped.

CuBeatz and 808 Melo produced a melodic 808 beat that Lil Tjay boasts over. This continued in the whole song, but it was most notable at the end of the first verse when Lil Tjay took a shot at someone.

“I been knew I would pass you,” Lil Tjay rapped. “You just should’ve been my little bro, bro.”

Although it’s not confirmed who this was directed at, people suspect that it’s at A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, since the two have had beef.

In early May 2020, Lil Tjay claimed he snatched a Highbridge The Label chain from one of its members. The label consists of multiple members, most notably New York rappers A Boogie, Don Q and Trap Manny, all of whom clapped back via social media.

Lil Tjay also mentioned A Boogie’s child’s mother, Ella Rodriguez, noting that he could have slept with her. Rodriguez denied this.

In a tweet, he furthered the division between A Boogie, who is also a melodic rapper, after crowning himself the king of New York as his upcoming mixtape “State of Emergency” was set to release on May 8.

Though the tweet was about a year ago, the thought still seems to be there. However, Lil Tjay is still in the backseat compared to A Boogie, who released a song “King Of My City” on his latest album, “Artist 2.0.”

With that in mind, I can’t say that I enjoyed the album. There were certainly songs that stood out like “Born 2 Be Great,” “Calling My Phone” and “Headshot,” but that’s three of 21. It wasn’t a strong enough album overall, and it has me wanting more of what he showcased in the three aforementioned tracks.

Maybe I’m just an A Boogie fan, though.

2.5/5 stars

8|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

April 14, 2021

Recharge your relationship with communication

By NICOLE MCISAAC Associate News Editor

Sex. It can be a very uncomfortable topic to talk about, especially if you are critiquing or giving suggestions to your partner. But, believe it or not, these conversations can take your relationship and sex life, to the next level.

Creating a clear line of communication serves as a route to deepen bonds and rekindle sparks between you and your partner.

Not to mention, taking the time to sit down to talk about intimacy will ultimately improve the sexual needs that your desired relationship is wanting to fulfill in the bedroom.

Researchers in a scientific study published within the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, examine this theory and validate that clear communication is key to developing high levels of satisfaction during sex. And while consent must be indicated prior to any acts of intimacy, communicating verbally or nonverbally to your partner is the way to go if you're seeking to amp up the pleasure you’re already experiencing.

“Much of the extant research focuses on verbal communication within a relationship as a predictor of sexual satisfaction, yet some people feel more comfortable communicating nonverbally, perhaps especially during sex,” the researchers said in the study.

“Regardless of the communication style (verbal or nonverbal), satisfaction with one’s communication style with a partner also seems to be linked to sexual satisfaction.”

While the study offers many different suggestions on ways to introduce a more communicative lifestyle for the sake of your bedroom life, it also emphasizes how those exact communication styles will vary depending on the individuals and the current situation occurring in their relationship.

“Our findings suggest that use of verbal or nonverbal communication, specifically, is less significant to one’s sexual satisfaction when individuals are satisfied with their sexual communication,” the researcher said in the study. “In other words, trying to ascribe to a particular communication style may be less important than simply being satisfied within a relationship with a particular communication style.”

Even though one form of communication isn’t superior to the other, the research also reveals that creating open discussions helps eliminate societal roles to make room for future desires and possibilities. “... If people, and women in particular, were to verbally express their sexual desires during sex, they would be deviating from their role as the ‘passive gatekeeper’ in the traditional sexual script,” the researchers said. “As passive gatekeepers, though, women’s sexual needs may not be realized or their satisfaction considered as important by their male partners.”

Now, you may be asking yourself: “How do I get myself to even do this?”

Your feelings are valid. A lot of other people are in the same exact situation you are finding yourself in right now.

It comes as no surprise that incorporating these discussions might bring awkwardness, hesitation or even worries that it will affect the relationship you and your partner are currently in.

Maybe, just maybe, that might be the reason as to why you are currently reading this article.

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL CLEMENT

But if there is a will, there is a way and this is the way you will be able to seek the dream sex life you’ve been wishing for. Here are a few tips to create a positive chat about sex with your partner.

Understand your surroundings Pick a time and place — this is crucial in successfully completing this mission. Make sure to pick a private place where you and your partner are relaxed and at ease, preferably not right after having sex or in the bedroom together. This will help all involved parties to feel comfortable and for that moment to essentially not be ruined.

Conversation starters This point relates back to the previous mentioned section and ties hand in hand with talking about sex with your partner. Ease into the conversation as much as you can. Although you may feel comfortable enough bringing it up out of nowhere — and if that's the case, that might be your best option. But for others, try to wait for a moment when sex is brought up in conversation so that way no one is caught off guard.

Be specific as can be Don’t be vague by just telling your partner to try something new or be kinkier. The more specific you are in what you are looking to add to your intimate practices, the better your sex life is going to be. I can promise you that your partner can’t read your

mind, so provide details about what you are looking to do.

Avoid blaming or using “you” statements The last thing you want your partner to feel is attacked or targeted, even if you have no intention in doing so. Instead of addressing your partner using the word “you,” try using “I” phrases, such as “I am interested in doing this.” This will save some headaches for you and your partner and steer clear of any future arguments.

Understand your relationship Your partner is your partner for a reason. Have trust and comfort in your relationship and try not to stress about how they will react. At the end of the day, your partner’s intentions are most likely geared toward making you happy and would respect your willingness to be open with them.

Granted, we do now live in more of a sex-positive society compared to years ago, but there is still a gray cloud above sexuality and the discussions around it. Trying these tips will allow you to break past those boundaries in your relationship and improve it in the ways you deem best.

So, if you’re looking to heat things up between you and your partner, you can put down the risque lingerie and handcuffs, and instead, pick up the conversational skills needed to relieve some tension occurring in your relationship.

Book of the Week

‘You Me Everything: A Novel’ is a cheesy title for a book full of depth and personal exploration

By EMILY DISALVO Arts & Life Editor

When I saw this book, I did what I always tell others not to do.

I judged it based on its cover.

The cover had some nice nature-themed artwork, but the title, “You Me Everything,” sounded like a lame romance novel involving two people who fall madly in love for no apparent reason other than it’s fun to read about. I almost put it down, but I read the summary and realized it had a lot more complexity.

After tearing through it in two days, I can attest that it is an amazing book with a bad title. Catherine Isaac artfully tells the story of a single mom, Jess, and her 10-year-old son, William, as they begin to reconnect with William’s birth father, Adam.

When Jess had William at 22, Adam wasn’t there. He stumbled into the room after William was born, lipstick on his neck, his clothes rumpled. Jess, furious, began to distance herself from her boyfriend of three years. Eventually, she told him to leave, and she chose to raise William herself.

Meanwhile, Jess’ mom’s health is declining. Her mom’s moods are changing wildly, and her coordination is off. Eventually, she is diagnosed with the genetic disorder, Huntington’s disease, which is deadly and has no cure. By 53, she is dying with her heartbroken husband at her side. Her final wish is that Jess will let her son try to reconnect with his father.

In the last 10 years, Adam has built up a sprawling hotel and multi-cottage venue in France, so Jess and William go to visit. In his 30s, he’s dating someone 15 years younger than him — still as carefree and unaware of the feelings of others as he was when Jess sent him away. Nonetheless, William loves him. At 10, he is obsessed with his father’s athleticism and the authority he has at the hotel.

At first, Adam does not seem to understand how to be a father.

One day, he tells William he will take him rafting and when he doesn’t show up, Jess finds him in a cottage on top of his girlfriend.

Jess realizes that he may never change.

Over time, Adam begins to realize some of William’s positive qualities. He is intelligent, determined and infatuated with his father. Adam begins to consider that he became this amazing while Jess raised him.

Jess, meanwhile, is exploring a relationship with another guest at the cottage, Charlie, while grappling with the deteriorating condition of her mother. She considers heading home to check in on her mom, but her father reassures her that she should stay.

In addition to her mother’s failing health, it quickly becomes clear that Jess’s discomfort with being at the cottages is also related to her feelings toward Adam. As she explores a relationship with Charlie, Adam, who is becoming very close with William, is constantly on her mind.

The readers get a surprise when Jess reveals that she carries the gene for Huntington’s disease and may have passed it down to her son. As she falls in love with Adam again, she is hesitant to tell him the truth — that falling in love with her would be a ticking time bomb. Her life expectancy is only 10 to 30 years after she starts to show symptoms.

This book combines themes of sickness, love, motherhood, absent fathers and forgiveness all in one. Everything changes when Adam tells Jess the truth about where he was the night of William’s birth.

This may seem like a play-by-play of everything that happened in this book, but Isaac weaves in so many subplots and themes that you will need to read the book yourself to understand the full beauty of it.

EMILY DISALVO/CHRONICLE

'You Me Everything' sounds like a lame romance novel at first, but the complex plot draws readers in.

April 14, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|9

Spring at QU

DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

COLOR

MAZE

50 by 100 orthogonal maze

Copyright © 2021 JGB Service, http://www.mazegenerator.net/

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

10|Sports

April 14, 2021

Wolff’s Wire: Standout Bobcats Three QU baseball players who improved their outlook this weekend

By JORDAN WOLFF Staff Writer

After losing a doubleheader to Fairfield on April 7 and splitting a series with Siena this past weekend, three Bobcats specifically stood out. Let’s look at these three Bobcats.

Graduate student outfielder Andre Marrero was one of many important offensive pieces the Bobcats had this weekend. During the Fairfield doubleheader, the Bobcats lost game one 6-3 and 17-6 in game two. However, Marrero’s bat didn’t go quiet.

Marrero went a combined 3 for 6 with a home run, one run batted in (RBI) and three runs scored. That type of production is hard to maintain over a stretch of six games, but in the Siena series, Marrero took it up another level.

The Massachusetts native went a combined 8 for 16 with six RBIs, three doubles and two home runs. In terms of the MAAC, Marrero ranks fourth in slugging percentage (.678), third in hits (21), second in RBIs (17) and third in home runs (5).

During his postgame press conference, Marrero explained how a change of mentality at the plate made a big difference.

“I decided to change my approach a bit,” Marrero said. “Just look for my pitch, look for location, not really worrying about what they throw at me. They throw me a lot of spinners, a lot of breaking stuff, just be ready for anything in the zone and that’s sort of what I did and it worked out well.”

As for Quinnipiac’s entire offense, it scored a combined nine runs in the Fairfield doubleheader. In the Siena series, the Bobcats scored 32 runs in four games, including a season-high 11 runs in the second game of the April 9 doubleheader.

In the first April 9 game, the Bobcats trailed the Saints 10-0 going into the final inning but scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, ultimately losing 10-6. The same thing happened in game three. After trailing 8-0 in the first inning, the Bobcats still lost 8-6 after a six-run fifth inning.

Marrero emphasized how important it was to get the bats going early in the game two 11-1 victory.

“We can’t just wait until the end all the time and try to beat the team at the end,” Marrero said. “It’s just getting our mindset to score early, jump on them early and do the best we can with that.”

Marrero’s bat will certainly be crucial down the stretch, but another important facet of this team is its bullpen.

In game two of the Fairfield doubleheader, the Bobcats’ bullpen struggles continued. In 2.2 innings pitched, the bullpen allowed 10 hits, 12 runs, three walks and struck out four batters.

Graduate student left-handed pitcher Colin Donnelly shared that the team had a meeting prior to the Siena series to discuss the struggles of the 2021 season. Donnelly acknowledged that he hasn’t done as much as he should.

“I admitted that I do have the most experience in the bullpen, and I have failed the bullpen in terms of being a leader and I need to lead by example better,” Donnelly said. “Building off that (last appearance in Siena series) and just leading by example

MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE

Graduate student outfielder Andre Marrero went 8 for 16 with six RBIs during the four-game series against Siena. will hopefully go a long way in helping the younger guys.”

Donnelly lived up to his words, because during this series, he pitched 7.0 innings, allowed three hits, two walks, struck out four batters and only allowed one run. This is a quick turnaround from how Donnelly performed against Fairfield, but he credited how Siena’s lineup just plays to his style more.

“They weren’t swinging at a lot of pitches in, which helped me get a couple strikeouts (Saturday),” Donnelly said. “I was able to work my changeup or fastball away, also flipping my slider over and sneaking two-seams on the inside half. (Siena was) just crowding the plate or not swinging at them, which really played to my advantage.”

One player that had tremendous hype entering this season was senior catcher and outfielder Colton Bender. He was nominated for the Buster Posey Award, which goes to the NCAA’s overall best catcher.

Bender also got nominated for the Senior Class Award, which goes to a student-athlete that is deemed the “best senior” in its respective sport. The hype around Bender also occurred because in 2019, he had his best statistical season.

Bender led his team in batting average that season (.322),

along with recording 66 hits and having 32 runs batted in. In the shortened 2020 season, the numbers dipped tremendously, just finishing with a .235 batting average and recording 12 hits, while driving in eight runs.

This season, Bender numbers have improved, as he currently holds a .317 batting average, recording 19 hits and 13 RBIs. In the Fairfield doubleheader, Bender went 2-5 with a double and four runs batted in. In the Siena series, Bender went 6-14, with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs. The lone home run came in a big moment, as Bender helped extend the Bobcats lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, just after three straight singles from senior utility player Ian Ostberg, graduate student third baseman and outfielder Evan Vulgamore and Marrero.

Bender admitted during his postgame press conference, sometimes he can let past at-bats affect his play. But, when it came to that situation, Bender knew he couldn’t let that happen.

“One thing I’m good at is my last at-bats are always my best,” Bender said. “My dad has always preached that, he said take your last at-bat like it’s your last at-bat of your life.”

Navarette: ‘She needed to finish the year with a feeling that she has done something there, not here’ YBARRA from Page 12 close to the pin for a smooth up-and-down, Ybarra is more of a prime Phil Mickelson, trying to dunk it in the cup.

Ybarra’s detail-oriented mentality has even culminated in friendly competition between her and O’Connor.

“Sometimes after tournaments or on some trips we just practice around, and then once we stop doing serious stuff, we chip around the green, but he likes it because I use all of my irons,” Ybarra said. “Some players only use a wedge and that’s fine, but I like to use all my irons, like I could chip with a seven iron. So we always like to do small competitions.”

This unique way of chipping has not always been in Ybarra’s golf bag. She learned it at the camp she attended in Orlando. For her, it is a way to stay controlled. Instead of changing her swing to account for distance, she can simply club up and keep the same smooth swing.

This season will mark Ybarra’s second year as the captain of the golf team. Last season, which was cut short by COVID-19, the team looked like it had its best chance in a long time to secure the MAAC. Ybarra and fellow captain Queenie Lai set up a one-two punch that was devastating for opposing schools.

At the start of this year, Lai transferred, leaving Ybarra as the lone senior on the team.

“I’ve been here two months as the only senior,” Ybarra said. “It was a bit different when I was back home. It’s been good so far, I’m very close with my juniors too, and one of them is also a captain with me, so communication with us has been good. But I tried to set the same example and kind of transmit to lower classmen what I’ve learned from the past.”

This lead-by-example mentality is what makes Ybarra such a great captain in the eyes of her coaches.

“Well, it’s obvious people look up to her,” O’Connor said. “I mean, she’s got the most experience, she’s the most familiar with how things happen. She’s competed in a lot of tournaments, and she’s very confident, having lived through three years of competition.

Being confident as a team leader is critical, and she does a good job of being confident, she sets a good example for the kids and they know they can look up to her.”

Ybarra spent the fall semester at home in Spain, but both her and her family saw the academic, social and athletic advantages in a return to Quinnipiac this spring.

“She really needed to be with her team, and she needed to compete,” Navarrete said. “She needed to finish the year … with a feeling that she has done something there, not here.”

After Quinnipiac, Ybarra is planning to attend a business school in France, while continuing to compete in social golf tournaments with her family in Spain. Golf will always be a big part of her life, since her mother, brother and father golfed their entire lives. She credits them for where golf has taken her thus far.

“I would say my family and my dad, especially he’s been playing all of his life, and it’s a sport he taught my brother and I since I was probably like 5 years old,” Ybarra said.

“So it’s been in the family, and we’ve been playing since we were very young.”

Now as a senior, Ybarra and the team have their eyes on the MAAC championship, and as Ybarra and O’Connor see it, their chances are high.

“We’ve had really good teams in the past and the reason we haven’t won conference is not because they were better than us, we just didn’t play good, and that’s a fact,” Ybarra said.

COURTESY OF QU ATHLETICS

April 14, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports|11

Through to the semis What went right for both soccer teams in the MAAC quarterfinals this weekend

By RILEY MILLETTE Sports Editor

What a weekend it was for Quinnipiac soccer.

Both the men’s and women’s teams played their MAAC tournament quarterfinals games this weekend, and both came out on top by a score of 1-0.

The No. 2 women’s soccer team played on Saturday, a 70-degree day without a cloud in the sky until the game concluded. The No. 1 men’s team didn’t get as lucky, as its kickoff on Sunday at 3 p.m. was met with gray skies and rain showers. Nonetheless, both teams ended with the same result.

The men will host the No. 5 Fairfield Stags, who beat the No. 4 Saint Peter’s Peacocks 1-0 (a lot of games end 1-0 in the MAAC for some reason) in its semifinal game on Wednesday afternoon. But unfortunately for the women’s team, it already played its semifinal game on Monday against Monmouth, losing 2-0.

The men’s soccer team (6-1 overall) has turned its impressive season into a top seed and a postseason run. This is a massive improvement over last year’s competition, as the Bobcats took a tumble out of the tournament in the first round at the hands of the Iona Gaels.

Quinnipiac men’s soccer coach Eric Da Costa emphasized the team’s strengths going into its next game against Fairfield.

“We think we’re good at possessing the ball and creating chances and just trust that and stick to it,” Da Costa said.

“And I saw some great composure from them.”

That’s exactly what the Bobcats displayed in their quarterfinal game. The final score wasn’t exactly indicative of the game script, as they piled on the shots in the second half.

They had eight shots in the first half and a whopping 16 in the second half, while the Saints only had five the entire game. The Bobcats controlled the possession for the majority of the game, which showed in the box stats.

Senior midfielder Simon Hillinger was a big part of the team’s success after he was subbed on in the second half, as he was a major facilitator through the middle of the field. A big part of the Bobcats’ attack is speed down the wings, primarily through the quick sophomore forward Brage Aasen.

Stick the 6-foot-4 sophomore defender Henry Weigand in the box to receive a cross, and it’s pretty tough to stop.

“It’s really difficult to penetrate through the middle,” Da Costa said. “So you have to go outside in, and the boys recognize that and we played to it and it’s how you get around the team that’s playing in behind the ball.”

Hillinger is a perfect compliment to that. If the Bobcats were to match up against an opponent with outside backs who can keep up with Aasen, Hillinger would bring the slow, calculated approach of stringing passes through the defense instead of the smashmouth crossing style that Weigand and Aasen have mastered.

But the Bobcats found the game-saving production from elsewhere on the pitch. Sophomore forward David Bercedo scored the only goal in the victory in the 78th minute, receiving a pass from defender Domen Bozic around 15 yards out, spinning on his weak foot and lofting a finish into the top corner.

Bercedo was one of the best players on the pitch during the game, constantly finding space around defenders and winning tackles in crucial spots. After chipping away at the

MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE

Sophomore forward David Bercedo scored the game-winning goal in the MAAC quarterfinal against Siena on Sunday. backline for nearly 80 minutes, Bercedo finally found the back of the net.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they got a tough draw against the Fairfield Stags. This is a strong defensive team that has played seven games this year and only allowed six goals, the second-best in the MAAC behind the Rider Broncs, who have only played four games.

But then of course, it’s probably tough for the Bobcats to be intimidated by any defense thrown at them. The team leads the MAAC in goals with 16, tied with Niagara who has played one more game. Quinnipiac is first in the MAAC in goals per game with 2.29. The No. 1 Bobcats have played soccer that’s worthy of the No. 1 seed, and it would be difficult to imagine any team knocking them off. They’re wellbalanced on both sides of the ball and are hungry after their first-round exit last year.

During the same weekend, the women’s soccer team won their quarterfinal game as well, playing to their No. 2 seed against Fairfield, a team consistently ranked among the top of the MAAC preseason polls. The game went into double overtime, as freshman forward Rebecca Cooke scored the game-winning goal in golden-goal play.

Cooke showed great poise, managing to stay onside while receiving a peach of a header from senior forward Kelsey Goldring. Cooke took the ball all the way to the penalty spot, outrunning all defenders in her area, then drew the goalkeeper off her line. Cooke calmly cut around the diving

CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE

The Quinnipiac women’s soccer team was heartbroken after its 2-0 semifinal loss to Monmouth on Monday.

set of gloves, finishing with her left foot to end the game.

Freshman goalkeeper Sofia Lospinoso made seven saves in the game, keeping the Bobcats in it. When it seemed like the Stags were ready to break the scoreless tie, Lospinoso came up in a huge way.

But the team’s semifinal game on Monday was a different story. It was scoreless going into the half, but it couldn’t hold on for the win. The Hawks came out and scored in the 47th minute, and the Bobcats had no answer. The Hawks scored the clincher in the 87th minute, punching their ticket to the MAAC championship on Friday on the back of the 2-0 win.

A big issue for the Bobcats was clock stoppage. They committed 21 fouls in this game, compared to the Hawks’ nine. Committing a foul not only lets the opposing team collect their breath and run a designed play that they’ve practiced at a pace that’s slower than game speed, but it also makes the Bobcats act with a little more caution.

Before the 80th minute, sophomore defender Kayla Mingachos, junior forward Emily Loney and Goldring were all issued yellow cards. The Bobcats were trying to make a push to even the game, but they were without some of their star pieces. Head coach Dave Clarke subbed off Loney six minutes after she earned the yellow card to avoid the risk of a red card, which would have put the Bobcats down one player while trying to climb back from a deficit.

Loney has been a valuable bench asset for Quinnipiac this season, collecting a goal and an assist in 212 minutes. It’s important to have a strong presence come in for other players after they’ve been playing for 80 or more minutes, especially when you’re trying to get a goal back late in the game.

Fresh legs make all the difference, but the Bobcats had to be wary, which cost them.

This is now the second straight year the women’s soccer team is looking forward to the next season in the locker room after the semifinal game. But Clarke hopes that the team is rounding into form. Only one major piece from the current team, senior defender Hannah Reiter, is leaving the team.

“We have a couple of good centerbacks coming in that are hopefully gonna slot in at the back, but it’s still a relatively young team,” Clarke said.

Another struggle that Clarke hopes to correct for the upcoming season is the number of close games that the team played. Since the Bobcats had one of the toughest schedules in the MAAC this year, they played a lot of one-goal games.

“We never took a 2-0 lead in any of these games,” Clarke said after the semifinal loss. “Even when we beat Marist it was two late goals, so we’ve been tested and you start to see that there’s a mentality there, and today it’s just, can we take that next step.”

The men’s soccer team will take that next step without its female counterparts to move along with them, but both made it at least as far as the semifinals. Although the women’s second loss in the semifinals in two years will sting, the men will try to redeem them on Wednesday against Fairfield — the school that eliminated the women from the tournament last year, for those keeping track.

12|Sports

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports

April 14, 2021

@QUCHRONSPORTS

COURTESY OF QU ATHLETICS

‘I had no idea she was even coming:’ Elena Ybarra’s journey to Quinnipiac wasn’t without its hiccups

By BRENDAN SAMSON Staff Writer

For most 18-year-olds, college is the final step before the real world starts. It is a stretch of time when you can feel independent but are protected by the university from the outside world.

Going outside of your home state can seem daunting, but for senior and captain of the Quinnipiac women’s golf team Elena Ybarra, a drive across states would have felt like a visit to her next door neighbor’s house.

Ybarra’s journey is unlike most. After standing out as a high school golfer in her home of Madrid, Spain, Ybarra began to talk to recruiting companies whose jobs were to connect international students with American universities.

The companies are usually contacted by families, and they match up the top overseas athletes with coaches who then conduct interviews with the prospective athletes. As Elena’s parents, Borja Ybarra and Cecilia Navarrete recall, the interview with Quinnipiac golf coach John O’Connor made up Ybarra’s mind.

Senior golfer Elena Ybarra averaged a score of 80.5 per round as a sophomore.

COURTESY OF QU ATHLETICS

“She was very lucky because she really contacted a very nice coach there in Quinnipiac, and he encouraged her to go there,” Navarrete said. “I think we were courageous that it would go well, and it really has been very well.”

Once Ybarra decided on Quinnipiac, a place that she had never visited, her next step in her journey had begun. In early August of 2017, she packed her bags and headed to Hamden, Connecticut, for international student orientation but not without overcoming one more challenge.

Before Quinnipiac, Ybarra had made two trips to the states, once at age 14 to Hilton Head, South Carolina, home of the Professional Golfer’s Association’s Royal Bank of Canada Heritage tournament and once to Orlando, Florida, at age 16.

In both of these cases, she was met with a driver and a sign welcoming her and guiding her to the hotel. When she arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on her way to Quinnipiac, she did not have that luxury.

“It was a typical airport shuttle that they booked for you, so they just booked that for me, and obviously I didn’t check the email,” Ybarra said. “I was looking for a shuttle university related, that wasn’t what was happening, so I was a bit confused with everything.”

The confusion that Ybarra felt turned out to be just the beginning as she was not even enrolled in the school when she arrived.

“When I got the email from her a week before classes saying, ‘I’m at JFK, where do I go?’ I had no idea that she was even coming,” O’Connor said.

Ybarra was far from detail-oriented when she arrived at Quinnipiac, O’Connor said. She just went with the flow.

She had a golf bag, a suitcase and no other information. Being from Spain, her phone chip was rendered useless, and she had to communicate through email with everybody at the school.

Fortunately, Abby Chase, another golfer at Quinnipiac who graduated in 2019, was also a Residential Assistant and helped sign Ybarra up for classes, find a dorm room and get all of the essentials for the college life at Target.

Now, however, details are of the utmost importance to Ybarra. When prompted with the question, “what is Elena’s best part of her golf game,” the answer was simple for her coach, family and herself — her short game.

The short game features chipping around the green and out of bunkers. While many golfers just try to put the ball See YBARRA Page 10