The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 92, Issue 6

OCTOBER 13, 2021 • VOLUME 92 • ISSUE 6

The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929

On-campus pub to reopen next Monday p.2

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

OPINION P.4: POSTHUMOUS ALBUMS Music labels are unethically profiting off the legacies of dead artists

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

A&L P.6: MULANEY MANIA Celebrities’ actions can impact us, demonstrated in recent discussions about John Mulaney

MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (2021)

SPORTS P.10: ROAD TO THE SHOW

DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

Alumnus Colton Bender was selected in the 10th round of the MLB draft by the San Diego Padres

Three students report catalytic converters stolen

By NICOLE MCISAAC and MELINA KHAN

Three students were identified as having their vehicle’s catalytic converters stolen on Quinnipiac University’s Mount Carmel and North Haven campuses from Oct. 5-6, according to an email sent Friday by Chief of Public Safety Tony Reyes.

In response, Reyes said the university will increase its patrolling on campus to mitigate future incidents.

A catalytic converter is a device attached to a vehicle’s exhaust system. Thieves target these devices since they are made out of highly valuable metals, typically platinum, palladium or rhodium. Stolen catalytic converters are sold for $50 to $250 each, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. For the victims, the replacement fee of the catalytic converter costs $2,000, per Public Safety’s incident reports of the recent thefts.

A student on the North Haven campus reported the first incident on Oct. 5. According to the incident report The Chronicle obtained, the student arrived on campus at 10 a.m., parked their car in the parking garage and did not return until 9:50 p.m. that night.

The student explained to the responding

public safety officer that when beginning to drive their car, a 2010 Honda CRV, a loud noise came from their engine. The student said they subsequently pulled over, concerned the car was unsafe to drive.

Upon examining their vehicle, the student realized the catalytic converter had been cut out of the car and alerted Public Safety. The public safety officer contacted the North Haven Police Department, who filed a theft report.

The following day at 3:20 p.m., a Quinnipiac public safety officer responded to another report of a stolen catalytic converter from a Honda CRV in the North Lot on the Mount Carmel campus.

The driver of the car similarly reported that they had gone to class earlier that day and when they returned to their vehicle and began driving, heard a loud noise coming from the exhaust. The student then examined their car and found that the catalytic converter had been forcibly removed.

After contacting Public Safety, the student surveyed another nearby Honda CRV and noticed its catalytic converter had also See CAR PART THEFT Page 2

DANIEL PASSAPERA/CHRONICLE

Quinnipiac’s Public Safety is increasing campus patrols after three seperate stolen catalytic converter incidents.

2| News

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

On the Rocks to return, liquor permit pending

MEET THE EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Sicoli MANAGING EDITORS Emily Flamme Toyloy Brown III CREATIVE DIRECTOR Connor Lawless NEWS EDITORS Nicole McIsaac Chatwan Mongkol ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Melina Khan OPINION EDITOR Xavier Cullen ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Ashley Pelletier ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITORS David Matos Neha Seenarine SPORTS EDITOR Riley Millette ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Peter Piekarski PODCAST PRODUCER Kalleen Rose Ozanic ASSOCIATE PODCAST PRODUCER Brendan Samson COPY EDITOR Katie Langley ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR Daniel Passapera 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.

October 13, 2021

By CHATWAN MONGKOL and JACKLYN PELLEGRINO

After facing closure throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinnipiac University’s oncampus pub will reopen on Oct. 18, regardless of the bar’s alcohol permit status.

The university applied for a liquor cafe permit with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) on May 13.

Caitlin Anderson, director of DCP’s Liquor Control Division, told The Chronicle that the application is pending, and the DCP has not submitted it to the Liquor Control Commission (LCC) for consideration.

Quinnipiac Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett said the university is finalizing the documents for the permit, and he anticipates receiving the approval before the opening.

Kaitlyn Krasselt, the DCP’s communication director, told The Chronicle there is not an expected date for the application submission to LCC yet. She said the length of the process depends on the complexity of the application.

The next hearing the commission will hold is on Oct. 21, but it’s not for Quinnipiac, which means the university most likely won’t get the permit before the opening.

However, Ellett said the pub will open nonetheless.

“We’re excited,” Ellett said. “We’ll probably do two to three nights a week and then augment it with special nights such as game nights.”

The permit Quinnipiac looks to obtain allows the mixed usage operation, which means both students of age and underage can be in the space, but students under 21 can’t be in the bar area. Ellett said the university is still waiting for the permit before determining what kind of alcohol the pub will serve.

On the Rocks will feature live entertainment, including live bands, comedians, magicians, DJs, acoustics and karaoke, according to the permit application The Chronicle ob-

tained from the DCP through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Associate Vice President for Public Relations John Morgan said the university spent approximately $1 million designing, constructing and furnishing the pub.

Megan Fonseca, a senior advertising and integrated communications major, said she is excited about On the Rocks reopening because she lived on York Hill last year, and it was an amenity she would have wanted to use.

“I think it should be pretty exciting at least for me personally because we got sent home... so no one got to use it, which was kind of upsetting,” Fonseca said.

The university can do a lot with the space, Fonseca said, especially broadcasting popular sports games such as those against Yale University where not everybody gets tickets.

Despite having an on-campus pub, Fonseca said she will still go out to nightlife venues in New Haven because they are “two different environments and two different atmospheres.”

Melina Maldonado, a first-year media studies major, said even though the on-campus pub will not stop her from going to New Haven, it’s a great add-on to the university.

“Having On the Rocks on campus would definitely interest me because I can take the shuttle there from the main campus (where she lives) and not have to spend money on an Uber,” Maldonado said.

Ellett said student organizations can host events at the pub as well, but they will be charged a fee. He did not say how much the fee is, but it will be waived if the clubs meet the minimum threshold of the amount of food that needs to be sold.

The university is working with the Student Programming Board (SPB) and other organizations on holding events in the space, Ellett said. SPB President Shannon Flaherty said she hasn’t heard anything about the fee and

that SPB typically doesn’t have to pay to host events on campus.

Flaherty said she found out last week that On the Rocks is accessible to SPB. Potentially, she said SPB will move its late-night programs to the pub, as well as host watching parties for sporting events at On the Rocks.

“In the past, we have streamed the Yale game, but obviously since that is over holiday break, that’s not as doable since no one will be here,” Flaherty said. “But it is definitely a possibility to do Quinnipiac games, Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football, especially because we don’t have football on campus.”

Maldonado said she would like to see On the Rocks host events after sports games so she could go to a hockey or basketball game and then walk over to the Rocky Top Student Center and hang out with friends.

Even though On the Rocks is a space for events, Ellett said the university looks to make it another destination for food and gathering.

Students can use meal points to buy food there but not alcohol. “(Chartwells) has created a specialized menu for the location, which would be different offerings than anything that would be offered in the dining halls from a menu standpoint,” Ellett said.

The pub will serve kitchen sink nachos, carnita quesadillas, bang bang bao, loaded tots, buffalo chicken wedge salads, “Q” cobb salads, sliders, Bavarian pretzels and chicken wings, according to the menu The Chronicle obtained through FOIA. On the Rocks opened to the public on Feb. 29, 2020. It was an initiative the Student Government Association 2019 senior class cabinet pushed forward. The pub was in the original concept for the Rocky Top Student Center. It never reopened after the university closed because of COVID-19.

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Despite pending a liquor permit, On the Rocks will open for students of all ages on Oct. 18.

CAR PART THEFT from cover been stolen.

Braydon Seaburg, a junior advertising and integrated communications major, was one of the students who had his catalytic converter stolen. He said he initially found out about the incident after receiving an email from Public Safety stating what happened to his vehicle and asked him to meet them.

Seaburg said he was initially “a little confused,” but was “not happy” after discovering his car was vandalized.

“I felt really frustrated when I found out my car had been vandalized,” Seaburg said.

“I just put the converter on my car about a month ago and now my car may have to be totaled after all of this.”

In an interview with The Chronicle, Reyes said that police in New Haven, North Haven and Hamden are reporting similar incidents and the “string of thefts” could potentially be linked to the same suspect or suspects.

“It is not uncommon when we see thefts like that of things as specific as a catalytic converter, it’s not uncommon for there to be a rash of,” Reyes said.

Reyes said thefts of catalytic converters typ-

ically happen quickly but are loud, as thieves have to use a reciprocating saw for removal.

However, Reyes said it can be difficult to catch criminals in the act because they often look for desolate areas.

“Our campus is pretty porous, especially in the Hogan (lot) area, it’s very accessible,” Reyes said. “It’s not as staffed as North Lot.” Emily Prodromakis, a junior nursing major who frequently parks in the North Haven campus parking garage, said she is feeling “very nervous and on edge” after the three incidents occurred.

“I feel that when I am in the classroom, I should not be worrying about if someone is going to steal parts of my car,” Prodromakis said. “I don’t even know much about car parts, so if some of my car parts were stolen, I’m not sure if I would even know.”

When it comes to her safety, Prodromakis said she can only keep her “fingers crossed and hope for the best” that potential incidents do not occur.

“Stealing car parts is very dangerous, especially for car owners who are not educated on the mechanics and parts of a car,” Prodromakis said. “For all I know, I could start driving my car and it begins to smoke or blow up.”

DANIEL PASSAPERA/ CHRONICLE

“I feel that when I am in the classroom, I should not be worrying about if someone is going to steal parts of my car.”

– Emily Prodromakis

JUNIOR NURSING MAJOR Despite the incidents, Reyes said he is hopeful that since students are informed of what to look for, there will be increased vigilance on campus.

“The best way to prevent things from happening is to try to create awareness so that people can take any action whatsoever to minimize being victims,” Reyes said.

Reyes encourages students to report any suspicious activity to Public Safety, as well as to submit anonymous tips to QU@tipnow.com.

October 13, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

News |3

QU addresses parking, transportation concerns Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 21, to present its case for installing eight 50-foot Quinnipiac University administrators light poles, which is a part of the relocation demanded students take an active role in plan. Nothing is scheduled for the relocadecision making, at a Student Government tion of the tennis courts as of publication.

Association (SGA) town hall on transporStudents also asked about the shuttles tation and parking last week. and how the university is planning to Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett, make them more reliable.

Chief of Public Safety Tony Reyes and In response, Reyes touted the “good Assistant Vice President for One Stop and communication” between the university Registrar Josh Berry were in attendance at and ProPark Mobility, the shuttle vendor the event. Students asked questions about contracted by the school. Due to drivers betransportation and parking, which senior ing assigned consistently to particular days, economics major and SGA Vice President there is an additional layer of accountability Chris Longchamp called “the biggest issue as it is easy to find out which driver is workfacing students this year.” ing on a given day, Reyes said.

Students used the website Slido to When asked about the New Haven anonymously ask the panelists questions. shuttles’ cancellation, Reyes said that there Administrators were repeatedly asked was a low ridership that did not “justify” how the university will fix the parking iskeeping the shuttle and that the shuttles sues on the Mount Carmel campus since were often “trashed.” the North Lot is frequently saturated dur“More importantly, on the New Haven ing the week due to the influx of students. side, it required us to have officers there Ellett defended the university by sayto be on the shuttle because ProPark will ing that parking has always been an issue, not allow someone that is intoxicated on but added that part of the problem is that ALEX BAYER/ CHRONICLE the vehicle,” Reyes said. “And so if, if we first- and second-year students are able Tom Ellett (left), Josh Berry (center) and Tony Reyes (right) said students should are doing (a shuttle), they require a pubto bring their car to the campus this year. participate in parking and transportation decision. lic safety officer to be on the shuttle (if “If we’re not happy with the current anyone is intoxicated) and that’s just an Due to the relocation of the tennis courts, situation, let’s go through what we could do it relates to cars, is having cars on campus untenable policy.” to ameliorate the current situation,” Ellett said. going to be a right or privilege?” Ellett said. Berry said around 300 spots in the North Lot In September, senior political science “You have to make a decision, but you should will be temporarily lost.

After the reloca“Do we go back to the 2019 policy of first-years tion, the lot will lose 145 spots permanently. and economics major and SGA President and sophomores can’t come with a car, Monday be the ones making the decision.”

While speaking about the parking fee for Berry said that the university is working Nick Ciampanelli told The Chronicle that through Friday, down to Mount Carmel?” the former chief of Public Safety slashed the While the university has a combined commuter students and whether or not they with Hamden Planning and Zoning Com- budget for transportation to New Haven in would be guaranteed parking, Ellett reiteratmission to work out formalities concerning 4,451 parking spots on the Mount Carmel response to the COVID-19 pandemic. and York Hill campuses and nearby off-cam- ed that the solution should not be up to him the renovations to the new recreation center.

The SGA conducted a survey of 475 stu“We are dependent on the town approval pus lots, there are 2,702 spots for students or the university. dents in September about the shopping shut“At the end of the day, it’s really this process and given the current schedule of on its main campus. tles. While only 45% of students are currently community and the larger communities (who meetings the soonest we could expect apEllett also deferred the question to stuusing the existing shopping shuttles, over 81% dents and alleged that it should be the re- should make the decision), because those proval would be at the end of October,” of respondents said they would like to see the sponsibility of the overall community, rather students are the ones that are affected,” El- Berry told The Chronicle after the town hall. shuttles go to Union Station in New Haven. than One Stop or the administration, to de- lett said. “So I know you keep hearing me “We will not be able to confirm until someThe university added a loop to Union try to push it off, but my experience has time after we get approval in late October or termine the solution.

Station twice a day on Friday, Saturday and “(S)o if you all determine what’s the most always been if we (the community) make a early November at the earliest.”

Sunday on Sept. 24, after The Chronicle The university will go before the Hamden important thing for you as a community, as decision, it’s better than a binary decision.” published an article regarding its absense.

By WILLIAM GAVIN Staff Writer

Thanksgiving housing fee irks foreign students QU to charge students $50 per day to stay during break

By CHATWAN MONGKOL News Editor

As Thanksgiving approaches, sophomore biomedical science major Yamna Siddiqui plans to stay in her dorm during the holiday break because it’s too expensive to go back home to Niamey, Niger. That means she could be paying as much as $500 to remain on campus.

Quinnipiac University will charge students $50 per day if they wish to stay in their dorms during Thanksgiving break. International students who have no choice but to stay are unhappy with the policy.

“International students (who) cannot leave campus should not have to pay the fee,” Siddiqui said. “The payment is by force since the students do not have a choice.”

Students who live on campus received an email from Residential Life on Oct. 7, that all university-owned housing will close from 6 p.m. on Nov. 19, to 10 a.m. on Nov. 28. Students can request to stay, leave later or come back earlier, but that comes with the fee.

“Even if I want to go elsewhere, I cannot since I do not have a car and cannot go back

home for a few days,” Siddiqui said. “I have to live on campus.”

Siddiqui said the university should waive the fee for international students or at least give some sort of reward or reimbursement by providing food for them during the break.

“If laundry can be free, so can living on campus for a few days when students have no choice,” Siddiqui said.

Senior game design and development major Son Nguyen from Vietnam said he never had to pay in the past years for staying during Thanksgiving break. He plans to stay on campus this year too.

“I don’t understand why they start charging students staying over break,” Nguyen said. “This never happened before.”

Since the announcement of the fee came after Nguyen signed the housing contract for the break, he said there is nothing he can do besides paying.

“I already registered for staying,” Nguyen said. “But if I can cancel, I think I will find some Airbnb out there with my friends. Way more cheaper.”

Another international student from Nigeria, sophomore political science major Zahra Murphy, said she plans to go stay with her aunt in Windsor, Connecticut, during the break. Even though she isn’t directly affected by the fee, she still said it’s not fair for international students.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

“I’m lucky that my auntie lives here,” Murphy said. “But there are many international students that don’t have family close by, or they don’t have family here and don’t have anywhere to go.”

Murphy, who also is an international student senator in the Student Government Association, said she hasn’t heard any concerns directly from students but international student organizations on campus are working to get the fee waived.

“The International Students Association sent out a newsletter, and in the newsletter, they have this survey to gather trends and information to be able to waive it for the international students,” Murphy said. “I think that it’s a very big concern for international students.”

The Department of Cultural and Global Engagement (DCGE) emailed international students on Oct. 8, asking them to complete a survey about their plan for the break. The email stated that the DCGE is advocating that the university remove the fee for international students.

While Murphy prefers that Quinnipiac rescind the fee, she said the university should at least “drastically reduce” the price.

Associate Vice President for Public Relations John Morgan did not make anyone in the DCGE or Residential Life available for an interview.

“This fee is consistent, and in many cases, less than what other universities charge for staying in university-owned properties during a break period,” Morgan wrote in a statement.

T hTeh eQ Q uu i ni nnni i pp i a cc CChhr or no inc il ec l e

44 | O p i n i o n

October 13, 2021

Opinion

Let dead musicians rest in peace

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

BY MICHAEL LAROCCA Staff Writer

Listening to music is comparable to drinking water to me. In turn, I tend to care about the artists I listen to the most. Right now, my audial faucet has been dispensing plenty of the late Chicago rapper, Juice WRLD. Listening to Juice WRLD’s music made me reflect on the considerable number of artists, especially in the hip-hop genre, that we have lost over the past half-decade. But with the way the industry moves, you would never know they left us.

From month to month, we hear too much about pieces of music coming from the estates of artists who have passed away.

They mostly come in the form of short features on other artists’ music, but the real problems come in the form of larger projects.

Posthumous albums, which are produced after an artist’s death, have been one of the bigger trends in the music industry over the past several years. The inherent concept of them has good heart behind it, with them traditionally being released as a way for the artist to give a final goodbye to their fans from beyond the grave. However, the climate of the modern music industry has caused this definition to become blurred beyond recognition.

I first got into Juice WRLD’s music last summer after the release of his first posthumous album, “Legends Never Die.” The album itself was critically praised at the time, and for my first time listening to his music, I was thoroughly impressed.

The more I listened to the record and the rest of his music, though, the more I began to wish I was listening to tracks that Juice WRLD had actually been present for the completion of.

To my knowledge, there are four late artists since 2018 who have had posthumous albums released that have gained significant traction: Mac Miller, Pop Smoke, XXXTentacion and the aforementioned Juice WRLD. For the majority of these artists, their first posthumous release was seen positively in the eyes of the public. But once the artists’ former studios decided to come out with more material after that initial release, that is when they go from honoring the artist, to attempting to profit off their life.

When a posthumous album is released, it basically has

a coin-flip chance of being good or bad.

Albums like Juice WRLD’s ‘Legends Never Die” and Mac Miller’s “Circles” both found the perfect balance of quality of work and care put in, leading to their deserved critical praise. On the other hand, Pop Smoke’s “Faith” and XXXTentacion’s “Bad Vibes Forever” came off as poorly crafted exploits of their original artist’s talent, hijacking their legacies in order to bring in major guaranteed revenue.

When more music is released, fans of these artists — including myself — were able to see the productions for what they are, absolutely bare. In both Pop Smoke and XXXTentacion’s second posthumous albums, the main artists are almost nowhere to be seen. The thinning amount of content left in their catalogs became more evident as we saw the majority of each album’s runtime be occupied by swarms of features from fellow artists.

According to HipHopNumbers, Pop Smoke accounted for 63% of the lyrics on “Faith,” which was down from 68% on “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,” a posthumous album that contained 14 features in 18 tracks.

XXXTentacion’s river of unreleased music ran dry a long time ago. His final appearance on a song most likely came in August 2021 when he had a verse on Trippie Redd’s song “Danny Phantom,” the verse itself being the focal point of the track.

Pop Smoke was a victim of this as well. When talking about the release of “Faith” on Aug. 17, Pop Smoke’s friend, Mike Dee, said: “In my opinion, instead of dropping all 30 songs, I would have waited. Maybe 10 now, 10 the next year, that way his name would stay alive, instead of dropping it all at one time … I’m guessing this is it, what he had left in the vault, this is the end.”

Hearing stories like this are what makes me want to dislike posthumous releases as a whole. Milking an artist for everything they left behind, just to make more money, is unethical to the highest degree.

A single posthumous release, like what we’ve seen with Juice WRLD and Mac Miller, is the only moral way to go in these situations. Even then, the managers for both artists have stated publicly that there are more posthumous

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releases on the way for their clients, undoing the closure they had given the fans previously.

Even the artists of today feel the same about this component of the industry.

R&B artist and rapper Anderson .Paak showed off a tattoo in August 2021 that simply stated, “When I’m gone, please don’t release any posthumous albums or songs with my name attached. Those were just demos and never intend-

“Milking an artist for everything they left behind, just to make more money, is unethical to the highest degree.”

– Michael LaRocca STAFF WRITER

ed to be heard by the public.”

None of these artists need to have this much released after their death. Each of them, with the possible exception of Pop Smoke, have done enough for their legacies while they were alive for people to be satisfied with what is available to them. Juice WRLD’s second studio album, “Death Race for Love,” is one of my favorite albums of all time. I would be fine if I could only listen to that album for the rest of my life.

Posthumous music is at its best and most warranted when it is released with the same level of care and attention that the actual artist would have used if they were still alive. It loses its impact when it is released recklessly and in abundance. At that point, if managers don’t know when to stop releasing the music, then they shouldn’t release it at all.

Letters to the Editor are 150-300 words long, and they can discuss any topic from any section. Your letter might be published in the Opinion section, but submitting a letter does not guarantee it will be published.

The Chronicle reserves the right to edit all material, based on accuracy, grammar and space requirements.

Send letters to thequchronicle@gmail.com. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily The Chronicle’s.

T hT eh eQQu ui innnn ii p ii aacc CCh h r or noi nc li ec l e

October 13, 2021

Opinion|5

Opinion

Facebook is too big to be left to its own devices Congress should regulate social media giants

BY STEPHANIE SUAREZ Staff Writer

The negative effects that emerge from social media have been floating in public for a long time, but the level of damage that they cause haven’t been clearly digested.

That was until a Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, provided over three hours of testimony during a congressional committee hearing. Haugen told about the damage that Facebook has been knowingly causing teenagers.

However, Haugen’s testimony did not open the public’s eyes to the fears or the damage that social media causes, but rather, it emphasized everything we already knew.

Enough damage has occurred. It’s time for Congress to step in to take action by creating restrictions that limit the power that social media companies hold.

When Haugen cut ties with Facebook, she was armed with evidence, including research reports, virtual employee discussions and presentations drafts for their senior management. It clearly displayed how employees of all levels within the company were aware of the toxic problems Facebook was creating and the lack of action taken within the company to address the rising issues. It’s an injustice to Americans who use these applications on a daily basis but aren’t aware of the full consequences and harm that emerges from using these social media applications.

Facebook has been the topic of discussion for a congressional hearing in the past, yet the lack of congressional action allowed for the company’s flaws to snowball and cause more harm on a greater scale.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg presented himself before Congress to testify for a hearing on March 30, 2021, for trust issues against the website. Cambridge Analytics, a data firm connected with former President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign team, obtained access to nearly 50 million Facebook accounts without the users’ awareness. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough impact to create an agreement on both sides of the aisles to take action to regulate social media companies.

Regardless of social media being owned and managed by private companies, Congress has the power from the Constitution to set up regulations when acting in the name of the public good. Social media has integrated into our lives

PHOTO BY ANTHONY QUINTANO/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has too much power over impressionable young people. and has transformed into a booming industry so much that society has evolved to require congressional action to be executed to regulate the companies’ power.

In John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government,” he establishes that people have natural rights that are fundamental to a functioning society. Even when people are in a state of nature, with an absence of government, there is no deficiency of natural rights. The framers of the U.S., they made a written list for the people that became known as the Bill of Rights.

When the founders were drafting the powers of the three branches of government, they wanted to ensure that there was a system of checks and balances and separation of power between each branch to avoid one holding too much power over the others.

We are no longer using these platforms to post envious vacation pictures or create blogs with our favorite bands and express teenage angst. Social media has grown to become a platform where impressionable youths are growing up surrounded by Photoshop and digesting news stories in 30 seconds without knowing if the information is factual. without a lack of regulations, how can we allow impressionable children to use these platforms when we actively know the damage they’re causing.

Congress can step in to regulate social media companies when they are acting in the name of the public good and it’s incredibly vital for legislative action to be taken because these companies have gained too much power.

Dave Chappelle makes oppression a competition The comedian’s transphobia is both troubling and disappointing

BY XAVIER CULLEN Opinion Editor

I respect Dave Chappelle a lot — or, at least, I once did.

I used to think he was one of the most thoughtful comedians in the world. He attacked racism with no-holds-barred in “The Chappelle Show,” which is still one of my favorite shows of all time. While many people were against his comedic methods, calling them too provocative or edgy, I saw through the jokes and understood the intricate points he was making.

With that respect comes a high bar of expectations, and Chappelle failed to reach that in his latest comedy special, “The Closer.”

Chappelle’s most harmful statements were aimed toward the LGBTQ community and transgender people specifically, backing transphobic celebrities like J.K. Rowling, who supported the belief that gender is a biological “fact” that can’t be changed.

He went as far as to say he is “pro-TERF,” which stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.” How can Chappelle claim he is supportive of trans rights when he proudly puts his seal of approval on people who are anti-trans?

This is where the dissonance between Chappelle and his critics — like myself — sparks from. On one hand, Chappelle will say he supports the LGBTQ community, but he will then turn around and pit its struggles against that of the Black community.

Every time he talks about the progress that the LGBTQ community has made, he compares it to the persistent oppression that Black people still face. Those points are valid, and the world still has a long way to go to achieve racial equality. However, the fights for LGBTQ and Black rights are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand in hand.

Over 20% of Black trans women will be incarcerated at least once in their lives, and trans women represented 73% of the victims of hate violence homicides in 2013, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality and National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, respectively. Trans people were also seven times more likely to experience police violence than their cisgender counterparts.

This intersectionality between gender identity and race is

so interwoven that you cannot talk about one without the other. People do not fit into only one group, we are all complex creatures with our own personal identities that make us unique.

Disregarding other forms of oppression is incredibly reductive.

If the LGBTQ and Black communities’ issues with discrimination and police brutality are directly linked with each other, why does Chappelle make it seem it isn’t? I’d like to think that Chappelle is ignorant and doesn’t have any malicious intent.

Regardless of the reason he gives, there is no excuse for this. Chappelle might want to frame his jokes as a sign of jealousy towards the LGBTQ community, but they come off as dismissive of the struggles that they still face.

Throughout all these issues, however, there is one argument that Chappelle’s supporters always seem to fall back on: he’s a comedian, and what he says is just a joke.

That defense is incredibly disrespectful to Chappelle and what he has done. He is so much more than a comedian.

People look up to him as an influential speaker without any filter, so when he tells a joke, it’s not just to make his audience laugh. Yes, that does play a factor, but every joke has a point, it’s not there to only elicit a chuckle.

That’s why when he solemnly talks to his audience about how Rowling is right and that gender is a “fact,” we have to take it as seriously as if he was a politician speaking at a rally. His words have that much power.

This is not an attempt to “cancel” Chappelle. That word is used so ubiquitously that it has lost all meaning. I write this as a fan of his older work and the messages that he brought to the forefront through jokes that often toe the line between offensive and hilarious. I write this in hopes that you will see that not everything a comedian says is a joke, that Chappelle saying “I’m pro-TERF” is a serious statement.

Too many trans people die every year from hate crimes and violence that come from a pit of deep anger and ignorance. While Chappelle is far from promoting that, he is unwittingly supporting the people that turn the other cheek.

PHOTO BY RAPH_PH/FLICKR

Comedian Dave Chappelle’s most recent Netflix special, ‘The Closer,’ has a lot of transphobic jokes and statements.

6|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

October 13,2021

Arts & Life

T h e g r e at c e l e b r i t y g o s s i p d e b at e Famous people have a real impact on our personal emotions.

But when does it go too far?

By ASHLEY PELLETIER Arts & Life Editor

Have you ever found yourself a little too invested in celebrity drama? I know I have.

When comedian John Mulaney announced his divorce with artist Anna Marie Tendler in July, I thought it was unfortunate — several of his jokes were centered around his relationship with Tendler — but divorce happens.

However, when Mulaney’s relationship with actress Olivia Munn was reported the same month, I was more upset than I ought to have been considering I have never met any of these people in my life.

After some reflection, I realized that I projected my life experiences onto Mulaney’s experience with drug addiction and his presumed affair. I had no stakes in Mulaney’s private life, but I felt strong emotions as though I did.

I was not the only person who felt like this. Twitter users took the platform to share their thoughts and concerns for Mulaney.

“How are we feeling about the whole john mulaney situation??” user @mamasgoldenmilk tweeted. “Personally, although i love john mulaney, i’m sad that him and anna broke up and he seems to be rushing into this relationship with olivia and a new baby. recovery is never linear and i don’t want his child being hurt.”

Others showed more frustration than concern.

“I ate what John Mulaney sold and I thought it was soul food,” tweeted user @hextacyhextacy. “Now I'm throwing it all back up.

As a viewer and a (consumer) of his shows, I don't buy it and his virtue anymore simple as that.”

It is no surprise that it took a global pandemic to elicit such a critical look at our relationships with celebrities, according to Amanda Kehrberg, a media studies professor at Arizona State University.

“One nerdy tidbit that’s interested me a lot during the pandemic (is that) studies of Terror Management Theory (TMT) (have shown) that when we’re reminded of our own mortality, we

Mulaney’s life changes — filing for divorce and having a child — show that he is doing one of the important things addicts are advised againts at the beginning of their recovery: making big changes. According to an article published in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, addicts should not be making significant life changes before regaining their perspective of their place in life. His drug addiction likely affected his decision making, but it does not excuse his actions.

According to an article from Slate, our culture has recently changed when it comes to how we treat others on the internet. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was easy to see people minding their own business after witnessing others be harassed on social media. Now, those doing the harassing may see more pushback, and it’s going to extreme levels. There were those who would leap to defend him, claiming that being publicly critical of or disliking Mulaney’s actions is a bad thing, including another Slate article titled “John Mulaney Doesn’t Owe You Squat.”

“The EXTREME DISCOMFORT I feel hopping onto any social media platform right now and seeing the intense ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS parasocial relationship people have with John Mulaney,” cling much more passionately to our symbols, whatever those may user @shinjaninja tweeted. “You literally do not know John, be,” Kehrberg said in an interview with Vox. or Anna, or Olivia. Having a strong opinion about their situation is I loved Mulaney because I saw him as a trustworthy man. His a big ol Yike from me.” vocal love for Tendler and the couple’s dog, Petunia, made me feel Parasocial relationships are one-way relationships where secure. However, he showed that the image that I had created of the other person does not know that the other exists. These him in my mind was false. relationships are actually very common in fans of celebrities, but I Kehrberg said that celebrities are already viewed as symbols don’t think that the discourse surrounding Mulaney is a symptom of our beliefs and culture. When they break our symbolic image of that. of them, it can be mentally taxing. For instance, I always viewed I don’t claim to know Mulaney. I understand that he will likely Mulaney as the wholesome family man as he portrays himself in a never know I exist, but the personal connection I made with his number of his bits. When he broke that image in my mind, it was comedy specials continues to have an impact on my life. Despite surprising how emotional I felt. I felt bad about supporting him his humanity breaking my internal image of him, I genuinely hope when he turned out to be the kind of guy that leaves his wife for that he finds happiness in his new relationship, but I definitely another woman. have weird feelings about it.

GOING GHOST Ghosting is the first sign someone is not into you

By NEHA SEENARINE

Associate Arts & Life Editor

If you have never been ghosted before, congratulations.

However, there are many people patiently waiting by their phones for a buzz that will never come from someone special.

The most subtle form of rejection is to ghost someone, announcing your lack of feelings for someone without saying a word. There are people who find confrontation anxietyinducing. It is difficult to look someone in the face and tell them you’re not interested, but I know I would rather have a person tell me they don’t like me instead of viewing my Instagram story like nothing ever happened.

Ghosting may be a silent execution, but it leaves a lasting impact of confusion. An unanswered message might take time to settle in before you realize that person is just not that into you. The person left with unanswered texts wonders where they went wrong or contemplates sending another message.

We are quick to assume that if someone does not reply in a reasonable amount of time, they’re ignoring us. In some cases, they could have a busy schedule or not have an excessive amount of screentime. Then again, when we are invested in another person, we make excuses for why we haven’t heard back when the other person is actually not that into us.

Sometimes words are better left unsaid. The person you’re ghosting may give you the “ick” factor, and it would be rude to confront them and list out all the things you can’t stand. Also, you just might not find them attractive.

People have very different personalities, and their vibes can be miscommunicated. I’m sure I have stopped talking to someone because I didn’t like the way they sent Snapchats. The minor details have a larger impact, and we can’t control how people see us through their phones.

It is also better to ghost someone rather than lead them on. If you don’t have the same feelings toward someone, don’t bother them. It is nice to get attention from someone who conveys interest in you, but it’s actually damaging to the other person.

It gives them false hope that there might be a romantic future when in reality, you’re using them for compliments.

When someone ghosts you, it is best to move forward.

Chasing another person can be perceived as embarrassing. I know there were times when I would tell my friends about someone constantly reaching out to me. I don’t owe them an explanation of why I’m not interested. The hard truth is no one owes you anything even if you put in the time and effort.

You can’t wait around your phone all day for closure because it may never come.

Ghosting can happen outside of potential romantic relationships. There have been times where I stopped answering others because I got uncomfortable. I had a co-worker that constantly asked me to buy them coffee before I started my shift. Money was not an issue, and I didn’t mind the first few times. However, it came to the point where it became excessive, so I came up with an excuse saying I wouldn’t have the time for a coffee run. It was a nice way of saying “no.” I didn’t have the courage to reject someone I worked with professionally every day. After that, I was asked a handful of times and I just stopped answering. My silence was loud, and I was never asked again.

People can be persistent, and it is not fair for someone to stress you out on your own phone.

There are many ways people can handle online situations.

However, it might lead to unexpected consequences and conversations you want to avoid. Ghosting is an effective way to leave a situation without saying a word.

ILLUSTRATION BY PEYTON MCKENZIE

October 13, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|7

Compliment thy neighbor Praising others should be the next big trend

By ASHLEY PELLETIER Arts & Life Editor

Even when we’re young, we seek approval from others.

We want our parents to tell us we did a good job at eating our vegetables, following directions or getting a good grade.

As we get older, other people’s opinions become even more important. We want our professor to praise our hard work. We want our crush to compliment our outfit. We want to be recognized for what makes us special.

The biggest example of our approval-seeking ways is social media. We are often disappointed when our posts don’t do as well as we want. I know I get upset if my tweets

ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA KOGEL

don’t get as many likes as I think they deserve.

Yet, so often we find that praise is hard to come by.

When we do get compliments from others, they tend to be remembered fondly. I remember the time a woman told me I looked like Miley Cyrus when I was 8 years old, and it still sticks with me to this day.

People are often reluctant to give compliments to others for a variety of reasons. They are worried about how their comments may be perceived, when in reality most people find small compliments improve their day. A study from the Personality and Psychology Bulletin found that we underestimate positive reactions to compliments and overestimate how likely it is that the recipient will be uncomfortable with the compliment.

This, of course, is not taking into account “catcalling,” when a man shouts obscene comments or compliments at a woman on the street, which are not OK under any circumstance.

Another reason we don’t regularly give compliments is because receiving them can surprise us. People often freeze when they receive praise, making the complimenter believe that it is unwanted. Others go for the “no, you” response, deflecting the praise onto the other person despite having earned a genuine compliment.

“People may divert praise as a way of protecting from future failure, disappointment or rejection from others,” said Denise Marigold, associate professor of social development at the University of Waterloo in Canada, in an interview with Harvard Business Review. “The fear is that if I allow myself to let in a compliment, and feel good about it, and end up disappointing others or myself in the future, I risk taking a bigger bite out of my self-esteem.”

However, some people just don’t like receiving compliments. If you are one of those people, know that the reason people compliment you may not necessarily be about you specifically.

By complimenting others, we acknowledge the impact that others have on us. For instance, if I tell a girl that I like her outfit, I am recognizing the joy that her fashion sense brings me, not necessarily the girl herself. However, that doesn’t mean that my compliment wouldn’t improve her day, that’s just a happy side effect.

The world would be a better place if we became more comfortable complimenting each other. Such a simple action can make the giver feel good about themself and the receiver, more often than not, also feel good.

Next time you see someone with a hairstyle you like or a tattoo that looks awesome, tell the person. Even if they seem stunned by your compliment, they’ll likely think about it for a long time after.

“The world would be a better place if we became more comfortable with complimenting each other.”

Ashley Pelletier, Arts & Life Editor

All squid no game Korean Netflix series 'Squid Game' is a smash hit

By KATIE LANGLEY Copy Editor

It’s fair to say that Netflix’s Korean thriller “Squid Game” broke the internet.

In the three weeks since its release, Twitter has produced endless memes, from recipes for the dalgona candy featured in one of the show’s infamous challenges to fans pondering if they would survive the red light, green light game.

Honestly, I only watched the show because my Instagram Explore page wouldn’t let me hear the end of it.

“Squid Game” is projected to be Netflix’s most-watched show in any language, and it’s worth the hype.

Despite all the memes, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk presents a chilling commentary on capitalistic excess. In a world ruled by the ultra-rich, normal people must fight for their lives in the Squid Game. To put it lightly, this show is not for the faint of heart.

The survival drama stars Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, better known as player 456, a down-on-his-luck father who accepts an invitation to a sinister game for the chance of a big payout — several billion dollars.

Though Gi-hun’s journey is an interesting look into poverty, gambling addiction and family ties, he is sometimes difficult to like. I found myself begging him to make good choices and be a better father to his daughter, Seong Ga-yeong.

What truly adds depth to the show are the side characters, particularly Gi-hun’s competitors. The most intriguing story for me was that of Kang Sae-byeok or player 067, portrayed

by Jung Ho-yeon.

The first time we meet Sae-byeok, a North Korean refugee, she is an elusive thief. But as the series continues, Hwang reveals the different layers of player 067. A loving sister, she is forced to enter the Squid Game to pay off a broker to smuggle the remaining members of her family across the Korean border.

One of my favorite moments of Sae-byeok’s development was her friendship with player 240, or Ji-yeong. The two meet and immediately bond over their pasts, a scene that will leave you in tears. For me, 067’s struggle is a testament

to Hwang’s writing. But Sae-byeok’s story is not the only one about the struggles of immigration.

Abdul Ali, known to us as 199, is a kind-hearted character. Played by Anupam Tripathi, Ali is a Pakistani foreign worker who is mistreated and underpaid. He enters the game in order to support his wife and young child.

When in the game, Ali shows morality in a fundamentally immoral system of assigning worth to human life. He does not purposefully try to sabotage his opponents, but rather he helps them in many instances to advance in the game.

The side characters left me wanting to know their stories, which shows how strong the cast is.

Speaking of the versatile cast, I recommend Englishspeakers watch “Squid Game” in its original Korean with subtitles for a more authentic experience. There is a level of authenticity that will be lost in any translation of such a well-written show, however. But in the words of Bong Joon Ho, Golden Globe-winning director of “Parasite,” “once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Like “Parasite,” “Squid Game” fits into the category of post-capitalist dystopia. We see a world where the rich have accumulated so much wealth that they can manipulate the

poor to their own will. There is no doubt that these tropes have been used before. To take an American example, “The Hunger Games,” but even darker.

Despite its familiarity, “Squid Game” offers a lot of new ideas. Where Hollywood is afraid to go, Hwang breaks barriers.

For example, the masked guards are unknown minions to us. They seem to have no moral qualms about killing hundreds, but have a group identity of obscurity.

The villains of the show get to the root of what fear is. When it comes down to it, the players had a choice to participate, and the higher-ups of the game weaponize this choice. But, was it really their own decision if most of the participants had no way to escape debt in their regular lives?

Take Gi-hun, who, before entering the game, was threatened within an inch of his life by loan sharks. For him, it was either play or die.

This commentary on the cycle of poverty and the indifference of the “1%” is why “Squid Game” is such an important show. The game runners could have helped people like Gi-hun, but instead, they had them kill each other. This is an incredibly poignant message for our time.

4 / 5 Guards

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

8|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

October 13, 2021

Time to watch Bond

By LACHIE HARVEY Staff Writer

It’s been a grueling wait for Bond fans but fortunately for them, the wait has, mostly, paid off.

The new James Bond film “No Time to Die,” directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, was released to theaters on Oct. 8. The film was delayed from early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daniel Craig’s performance as Bond is the most essential part of the film. This is Craig’s final appearance as Bond, with “No Time to Die” marking his fifth film in the franchise.

Needless to say, his performance had high expectations tied to it.

Craig’s last cinematic appearance was in the 2019 film “Knives Out” for which he received a fair amount of praise. Craig makes that performance look pedestrian when compared to his latest outing. He shined in “No Time to Die,” bringing emotion, depth and endless charisma to the character of Bond.

While it is a masterful outing for Craig, it does differ from his other performances in the Bond franchise. He was 51 years old when the film was shot, quite old for the quick and energetic spy he has portrayed over the years. Craig embraces this, as does Fukunaga. Bond takes a far more calculated and wise approach to situations he encounters in the film. That being said, Craig still leaps around scenes as if he was still in his 30s. Overall, Craig is easily the most valuable and memorable part of the film.

Nomi, the new 007 played by Lashana Lynch, does exceptionally well in every respect. She perfectly bounces off of Craig throughout the runtime, while never overstepping to drag the viewers’ attention away from its titular character and the core story. Lynch is also the first Black and first female 00 ever seen in the franchise.

Unfortunately, the same praise cannot be given to the film's villain Lyutsifer Safin, played by Rami Malek. He does fairly well with the material he is given, but his character

feels far less genuine and more like an odd choice of antagonist with no real purpose within the narrative.

Again, this isn’t truly a reflection on Malek, who by no means performs poorly, he just doesn’t quite fit the role.

Paloma, played by Ana de Armas, doesn’t get a lot of screen time in the film, but she does well with what she has. Her dialogue was a little out of place when compared to everyone else around her. A few of her lines had me scratching my head, but she covers all the bases she needs to.

The rest of the supporting cast performs well, but none really stand out from the crowd.

This film’s visuals are exceptional.

Like its 2015 predecessor “Spectre,” PHOTO BY GLYN LOWE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS long-sweeping landscape shots are Daniel Craig's final performance as James Bond is exciting and charismatic sprinkled throughout the film and they considering his age. are utterly gorgeous. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren, who also worked on “La La Land” in 2016, deserves immense applause for his work in “No Time to Die.” So, where does this film sit within the rankings of Craigled bond films? Right in the middle. It solves the slow nature that plagued “Spectre” with a handful of fast-paced action sequences and avoids a dull plot like the one that ruined “Quantum of Solace.” It also can’t quite compete with the thrill ride that is “Skyfall,” or the intricate and well-crafted story told in “Casino Royale.”

As a huge Bond fan, it’s nice that I got to say goodbye to Craig with a good final entry.

5/7 Double 00’s

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

Let there be a record The box office success of 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' conceals the film's unbalanced nature fails to properly set up the majority of jokes. The punchlines either fly past too quickly or never fully arrive, and most of the pair’s supposedly funny lines fall flat as a result.

The saving grace for the film is its action, and Serkis’s efforts really come alive throughout the third act. Though the final battle’s choreography and story implications are not particularly extraordinary, its visual presentation is far better than the first film.

Cinematographer Robert Richardson, who has won three Academy Awards to date, was brought in behind the camera this time around, and his technical expertise is evident in nearly every frame. The extended fight sequence between Venom and Carnage is lit with precision and style, as their CGI bodies are rarely lost amidst the chaos around them. The muddy presentation of the first film is almost entirely absent here, which makes for a much more polished viewing experience.

The action can only go so far, however. It is all-too-common nowadays for comic book adaptations to rely on well-crafted battles to cover for their messy and inconsistent plotting. “Let There Be Carnage” is one of the worst examples of this trend.

As stated earlier, Carnage’s presence in the film is empty at best, which diminishes the stakes in the conflict between himself and Venom. Michelle William’s Anne Weying, Brock’s exgirlfriend, is given little merit, and falls victim to the tired “damsel in distress” cliche as the film draws to a close.

Also, any genuine opportunities for emotional growth between Brock and Venom are squashed by a litany of ill-timed jokes and gags throughout, which depletes Venom’s character to a level below even that of Ryan Reynold’s absurdly self-aware Deadpool.

Overall, “Let There Be Carnage” is a thunderous disappointment, as it fails to develop its campy tone in a clever way, and instead resorts to outlandish antics to build upon the few positive attributes of its predecessor.

By JACK MUSCATELLO Contributing Writer

“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” released in theaters Oct. 1 to the tune of a $90 million domestic debut. The sequel now owns the title of the most successful opening weekend in the COVID-19 era.

The film surpassed Marvel’s releases of “Black Widow” and “Shang-Chi” from earlier this year, all but solidifying the fact that theaters are back open for business. However, it’s unfortunate that this important record for the film industry arrives alongside such an aggressively subpar action adventure.

“Let There Be Carnage” focuses on the frazzled relationship between Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist, and his companion Venom, an alien symbiote that has taken over part of his psyche, as they attempt to put aside their differences in light of a new threat from famed serial killer Cletus Kasady.

The story begins with a glimpse into Kasady’s background, including his separation from the love of his life, Naomie Harris’s Francis Barrison, also known as “Shriek.” Even with the opening’s deliberately quick pace, the editing feels unfocused and rushed, with several obvious moments of additional dialogue recording tainting a wildly fun performance from Woody Harrelson. The entire character development of Kasady and Carnage feels unfinished, and this impression results in an unsatisfying arc for one of Venom’s most intriguing nemeses.

Rather than build up Carnage’s role in the story, the film devotes a large chunk of its runtime to Brock’s struggle with Venom’s nagging presence in his mind, which is both the film’s greatest strength and its critical weakness. The slight comedic charm of their relationship in the first film is cranked up to 11, with screenwriter Kelly Marcel delivering several scenes of oddly witty lines and absurd physical comedy from Hardy.

This is a brilliant idea on paper — one particular “odd couple” moment in Brock’s apartment stands out as a fan favorite — but its execution is shallow and inconsistent. Director Andy Serkis

ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA RIHA

2/5 Venoms

October 13, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|9

Authenticity is key

By BENJAMIN YEARGIN Staff Writer

On Sept. 3, Drake released his sixth studio album titled “Certified Lover Boy” (“CLB”); it’s another fake, shallow album that was aimed at trying to sell the most amount of records.

The album garnered mixed reactions from the media with Pitchfork giving it a 6.6/10 and Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop giving the album a 3/10.

The album went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for albums and the most popular song titled “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug topped the charts for singles, giving Drake yet another No. 1 song. Yet, with all of Drake’s commercial success, something is still missing: authenticity.

In Drake’s more recent music, he fails to relate to the listener.

Lately, he only talks about what he has but never how he has gotten there or what sacrifices he’s had to make to attain his success. I find there is a responsibility by an artist to convey a truthful expression of themselves or their feelings at the time to the listener.

PHOTO BY ROB LOUD VIA FLICKR

Much of J. Cole's music contains authentic rap lyrics like in his recent song 'Heaven's EP.'

Take Jermaine Cole, who goes by J. Cole, as an example. He released “Heaven’s EP” on Sept. 21, which features Cole rapping over the instrumental of “Pipe Down,” a track from “CLB.” Cole has sustained success for over ten years by rapping about his own experience, ranging from the feelings of paranoia while cheating in “She Knows” to the story of the first time he had sex in “Wet Dreamz” and more recently to giving guidance to younger rappers in “1985 (Intro to the Fall Off).” In short, he knows how to tell a story.

Cole tells the truth to his audience. He doesn’t try to play himself off as some big playboy that’s always gotten the women or money, he’s made mistakes like all of us. An artist gains credibility and trust with the listener when they tell the truth about their life.

It makes their music better.

In “Heaven’s EP,” Cole addressed his feelings of inadequacy as a public voice as he has gotten more famous and how his attempts to maintain his private life, all over a silky smooth instrumental produced by the tandem Working on Dying and Leon Thomas III. Cole uses personal anecdotes of rejection to convey his message.

“Or has the money watered me down, that truth is hard for me,” Cole raps. “Like the second time, I got cut from the junior varsity. Fightin' back tears, I promised to switch gears and said to myself ‘Whatever you do, you won't do it partially.’”

When an artist breaks down and expresses their feelings of inadequacy or insecurity, it is more relatable to the listener than bragging about their success.

Drake has failed to exude this kind of authenticity since his mixtape “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late,” released in 2015.

His music has deteriorated dramatically since then.

Yes, there have been flashes of his authentic self in songs like “Do Not Disturb,” “When to Say When” and “7 AM on Bridle Path” off of “CLB,” but for every one of these songs, there’s a more successful song like “Toosie Slide,” “One Dance” and “Way 2 Sexy” that attempts to pander to a mass commercial audience.

Drake knows how to make a song sell, but fails to make songs with substance.

Even while Drake was hyping up the album, he got topped by authenticity. Drake leaked the unreleased Kanye West and André 3000 collab “Life of the Party” on Sept. 4 on his SiriusXM radio station “Sound 42” to add to his dispute with West. This move did not work in Drake’s favor.

In the song, André 3000 raps about the impact of losing his mom, Sharon. He connects the pain he feels about his mother’s death to West’s feelings about losing his own mother, Donda.

PHOTO BY MUSICISENTROPY VIA FLICKR

Drake's recent hits are all crowd pleasers that do not show the realism he is known for.

West uses his verse to directly diss Drake, talk about his values for his daughters and express pride in how he’s helped the Black community saying, “I can't stand it when there's talks about puttin' the kids back in Sierra Canyon when daddy got his own school.”

Drake is at an all-time low in his career. He released a mediocre album with no real substance and leaked a song from his archrival that was better than Drake’s entire album. He needs to channel the old Drake, and talk about the valuable perspective that he has as one of the biggest artists in the world.

Being truthful can and will break the shackles of mediocrity and confusion that is plaguing Drake’s modern music. Hell, being authentic does this for anyone struggling in life.

The only thing that will make Drake’s music better is authenticity.

Don Toliver's 'Life of a Don' falls flat despite stellar production

By RILEY MILLETTE Sports Editor

For all my chill vibe playlist listeners out there, this album is for you.

Rapper Caleb Zackery Toliver, known by his stage name Don Toliver, released his second studio album “Life of a Don” on Oct. 8, his first drop in a year and half.

I first listened to this album with my roommates at 1 a.m. with the lights low, the vibe I was expecting to match the tone of the album. I often find these types of albums to be underwhelming and leave me wanting more.

"The tool that made Toliver so different from the rest of the rap crowd, his voice, took a major backseat on this album."

Riley Millette, Sports Editor

And based on the first track, I was right.

The leadoff track “XSCAPE” was a very mellow, synth-driven track that intrigued me. I liked the production and Toliver’s presence was attention-grabbing, although somewhat minimalistic.

The third track,“Way Bigger,” was the antithesis of that first track. The bass-heavy, Sonny Digital-produced track snapped me right out of the slumped-into-the-chair funk that the second song “5X” lulled me into.

But most importantly, Toliver gave a taste of his biggest asset that made me want to listen to this album in the first place. Previous tracks of his like “Lemonade” and “2 Lil Shorty” feature some of my favorite verses in recent memory because his vocal passages were so bold and unafraid. His angelic voice in accompaniment of trap beats that admittedly are overused in today’s rap scene was a recipe for hit after hit.

Even though I hoped this was just the surface, Toliver’s vocals caught my ear at the end of “Way Bigger.” I concede that there was a fair bit of autotune at play, but it still fit the track and was calming to listen to.

“5X,” a mediocre track that has to perfectly match the low-key vibes of any function at best, was sandwiched in between the two tracks I enjoyed, but the highs at the top of the album were monumental compared to this one.

Before this album was released, I was banging the drum for Toliver. I thought he was an electric performer who had yet to reach his peak. But as much as I wanted to root for this album, it underwhelmed me.

Given his prior work and the fact that he’s a former understudy of rap megastar Travis Scott, I was expecting

Toliver to blow me away with grand production and killer verses. Scott and Toliver’s collaboration on Scott’s album “ASTROWORLD” is an unbelievable merge of talent and similar styles, and it created fireworks.

But Toliver leaned away from that on “Life of a Don.” Every track is a slow burn that leaves the listener wondering when the next banger will be. I have nothing against a slow jam, and Toliver does it well on multiple occasions on this record, but I just wasn’t expecting this change. The tool that made Toliver so different from the rest of the rap crowd, his voice, took a major backseat on this album.

Lyrically, Toliver doesn’t show much growth. On the track “Swangin’ On Westheimer,” Toliver reflects on where he came from before his rise to fame, but it doesn’t reach far past surface level. The lead single for this album, “Drugs N Hella Melodies” featuring his girlfriend, Kali Uchis, is just a steamy relationship track that’s personal to the two of them and leaves little to the audience.

I can appreciate the sentiment, but Toliver is far from the lyrical skill required to make a track like that engaging.

On the bright side, the production of this album is very clean. There are some star-studded names working behind the scenes, like Mustard, Metro Boomin and Mike Dean. They deliver some silky, buttery tracks that are pleasant to the ears and complement the 1 a.m. vibe that I had going for the Toliver listening party, but I know he’s capable of so much more.

Seeing Toliver take such a step down as a vocal performer was a major letdown. This project lacks the uniqueness that his previous two projects had in abundance.

2.5 / 5 leather couches

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

10|Sports

Scores & Schedule Wednesday 10/6

October 13, 2021

Colton Bender’s road to the show

The alumnus is going where no other Bobcat catcher has gone before: the MLB

WSOC won 3-0 against Manhattan MSOC lost 4-2 against Rider VB won 3-1 against Siena

Friday 10/8

FH lost 1-0 against UConn WIH won 4-3 against Saint Anselm MIH tied with Boston College 2-2 (Ice Breaker Tournament)

Saturday 10/9

WSOC won 5-0 against Saint Peter’s WXC placed 4th of 23 at New England Championships MXC placed 16th of 24 at New England Championships VB lost 3-1 against Rider MSOC won 2-1 OT against Canisius WIH won 5-0 against Saint Anselm MIH won 3-0 against Northeastern (Ice Breaker Tournament)

Sunday 10/10

VB won 3-1 against Saint Peter’s

Monday-Tuesday 10/11-12 GOLF finished 1st of 12 at Quinnipiac Invitational

Upcoming Wednesday 10/13

WSOC vs. Canisius 2:30 p.m.

MSOC @ Iona 1 p.m.

Thursday 10/14 MTEN ITA Regionals

Friday 10/15

MTEN ITA Regionals FH @ Georgetown 1 p.m.

WIH @ Providence 3 p.m.

Saturday 10/16

MTEN ITA Regionals WTEN @ New Haven 2 p.m.

MTEN Wesleyan Invitational RUG @ Brown 11 a.m.

WSOC @ Siena 1 p.m.

VB vs. Iona 1 p.m.

MSOC vs. Niagara 2 p.m.

WIH vs. Providence 3 p.m.

MIH @ Vermont 7 p.m.

Sunday 10/17

MTEN ITA Regionals MTEN Wesleyan Invitational GOLF Sacred Heart Invitational 8 a.m.

VB vs. Manhattan 1 p.m.

Monday 10/18

MTEN ITA Regionals @ UPenn GOLF Sacred Heart Invitational 8 a.m.

MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (2021)

Colton Bender led the Bobcats to a MAAC championship in 2019 with a .322 batting average and 32 RBIs.

By ETHAN HURWITZ Contributing Writer

For every kid starting off their baseball careers, the ultimate dream is to make it to the big leagues. For Quinnipiac alumnus Colton Bender, he could not ask for more last summer.

The San Diego Padres called his name in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, making the catcher the third highest draft selection in Quinnipiac history.

Bender is one of the most decorated Bobcats in school history, racking up accolade after accolade in his four years in Hamden. As a senior alone, he was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team, Preseason All-MAAC Team and the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List. He achieved all three of these honors his junior year as well, which helped carve a real pathway towards his MLB aspirations.

“My junior year, I had an idea I may get drafted, but it was a matter of when and by who,” Bender said. “The process is a lot harder to understand when you’re projected later on in the draft.”

Bender was the first catcher drafted from Quinnipiac in school history and the fifth Bobcat drafted since Quinnipiac baseball head coach John Delaney took over back in 2014.

“I learned a lot from my two coaches, Delaney and (assistant coach) Pat Egan,” Bender said. “They helped me with opportunities with summer baseball and groomed me as a baseball player and man.”

Bender was an instrumental part of Quinnipiac’s 2019 MAAC Championship, leading the squad with a .322 batting average. He also had six total hits, including a 4-for-5 effort in the NCAA Tournament Greenville Regional against Campbell.

After getting experience at Lyman Memorial High School and then contributing at a high level at Quinnipiac, Bender found himself playing for the Bourne Braves in the legendary Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). The CCBL has been the premier summer league for collegiate players since 1885.

Bender was getting ready to play a CCBL game when he received the call that changed his life.

“Emotions were very high and tears were flowing,” Bender said. “My parents were on their way to my game to watch. They were the first people I called, and the second was my uncle.”

After getting that phone call, the goal changed from a pastime to a position of employment. It was something he has wanted since his days at Lyman Memorial High School.

“I fall in love with it (baseball) more and more every day,” Bender said. “The only difference is that it is my job now.”

Through 2019 and a COVID-19-shortened 2020, both Bender and Delaney had multiple conversations and meetings with professional scouts.

“They want to learn about you and let them know who you are as a person and player,” Delaney said. “Quinnipiac is a very

small school, so it is difficult for teams to know what pack of players are coming out of there. It takes guys a bit to figure out what Quinnipiac is about and that helped the process a lot.”

After plenty of minor league teams went under due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every pro team had to cut down their minor league systems to a select few teams. For San Diego, one of the remaining teams was the Lake Elsinore Storm. One of Bender’s teammates, outfielder and first baseman Matthew Acosta, could tell that Bender has developed into a pro.

“Colton has adjusted very well,” Acosta said. “College baseball will always get you ready for professional baseball to some degree.”

Playing for the three-time league champion Storm, Bender hit his first professional home run on Aug. 7, helping to lead his team to a 4-3 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bender hit seven home runs in a Quinnipiac uniform and brought a lot of power to both gaps to single-A ball.

“Colton is a funny guy and a great friend,” Acosta said. “He is always looking out for his teammates.”

Being there for others is something that was instilled in Bender from his youth. Before his days as a Quinnipiac student, Bender worked with children with special needs and Down Syndrome during both the baseball and basketball seasons. Bender also was the winner of the 2017 Eastern Connecticut Umpire Board Sportsmanship Award.

Bender is a leader in the Storm locker room, and it is certainly something that was learned here at Quinnipiac.

“He wanted to win,” Delaney said. “He was extremely determined to get the team in the right direction. From a leader’s standpoint, he wanted everybody to be locked in. That’s what you expect from your leaders and he was certainly one.”

The transition from college to the pros came naturally to Bender.

“The adjustment to Lake Elsinore was very easy for me,” Bender said. “Being a pro is something you have to want.

The people I meet every day are still people, and even the big leaguers, once you meet a few, they are no different from me and you.”

Those major leaguers that Bender once looked up to are now teammates of his. San Diego is also home to some of the game’s brightest and flashiest stars, including shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., third baseman Manny Machado and starting pitcher Yu Darvish. While Bender hasn’t reached the level where he plays daily at Petco Park in San Diego, he certainly has the support system and athletic ability to make it a possibility in the near future.

“Scouts were raving about (Colton),” Delaney said. “He has all the stuff we want at our level. He is getting what he deserves and he will only get better and better. In four or five years, we can be talking about the big leagues.”

October 13, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports|11

Pete’s pond: Bobcats deliver on high expectations The X’s and O’s of QU’s impressive Ice Breaker Tournament

By PETER PIEKARSKI Associate Sports Editor

The Ice Breaker Tournament was a major success for No. 8 Quinnipiac Men’s Ice Hockey. A shootout goal was the deciding factor in winning the tournament and finishing second overall.

Two crucial games for the Bobcats served as platforms to make a statement early in the season. Quinnipiac did precisely that, tying with No. 6 Boston College (BC) in a shootout and dominating No. 18 Northeastern.

An aspect of the game that still needs some fixing is allowing a first or last-minute goal in the opening frame or in important games. I’m sure the last thing Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey head coach Rand Pecknold expected or wanted was to allow a goal against in the season opener less than a minute after the first puck drop against BC. The opposite happened against Northeastern when Quinnipiac scored just 76 seconds into the game and never let up after.

“It’s a lot more fun to play with the lead, then try and catch up from behind,” senior forward TJ Friedmann said. “We got that first one, and then we’re off and running and never looked back.”

Outside of that, Quinnipiac’s game looked very strong in all aspects. Of course, there are areas that need tidying up, but overall, the Bobcats played two solid hockey games to begin the season.

The brightest spot from the tournament: sophomore goaltender Yaniv Perets looked confident between the pipes. Yes, in two very important games, Quinnipiac had its backup goaltender in, and he looked sturdy and promising. The expected starter, graduate transfer Dylan St. Cyr, suffered an injury before the tournament and is currently sidelined until further notice.

Pecknold said there was no timetable for his return.

Luckily enough, Perets was up to the task. He made several key saves in both games and even though he didn’t face a high shot volume, he saved every puck the team would expect him to. Perets only faced 38 shots in two games plus an overtime period. The only goals against were a rebound that kicked out to an unmarked forward and a deflection that popped off of junior forward Ethan Leyh.

Perets earned his first career win and shutout in his second career start against Northeastern.

“This was a great opportunity for Yanni to step up,” Pecknold said. “I thought he was excellent both nights. We’re excited about him, he’s a big talent, he’s focused, he’s locked in and he deserves what he got tonight.”

The defense did an outstanding job throughout both games by limiting shots. High-danger shots were almost non-existent as the defense tied up forwards trying to screen Perets or get a deflection, blocking shots and suppressing offensive zone time for BC and Northeastern.

In the offensive end for Quinnipiac, the forecheck appeared to be in peak form, more notably in the Northeastern game. The forwards put tremendous pressure on the opposing breakout and forced several turnovers in the process. That’s what allowed the Bobcats to come back against BC and to shut down Northeastern.

Quinnipiac played very physical in both contests, making the neutral zone a war zone. This slowed down the opposition and prevented shots off of zone entry.

“That’s just something we try to do game in game out,” Friedmann said. “We know our system works, we know we’re a good team, you know we work hard, and when we do that we’re going to find success. Those first two periods… we’re telling everyone, ‘Play our own game, we know what we got to do, we know we’ll be good and be successful with it,’ so we just stuck to the plan and

CONNOR LAWLESS/CHRONICLE

Sophomore goaltender Yaniv Perets was a surprise starter this weekend and impressed with a .947 save percentage. came out on top, so it was fun.”

The most impressive aspect of Quinnipiac’s weekend was the penalty kill, shutting down four BC power plays and another two against Northeastern, who finished fourth in the country with a 26.9% conversion rate last season. Not only that but many crucial shot blocks were made on the penalty kill.

Respective senior and junior defensemen Marcus Chorney and Jayden Lee put their bodies on the line in overtime, blocking multiple shots and clogging passing lanes against BC’s four-onthree man advantage.

At the other end of the ice, on the power play, it didn’t look as efficient as the rest of Quinnipiac’s game, but it also didn’t look bad. The Bobcats’ first unit of respective seniors, graduate and sophomore forwards Ethan de Jong, Wyatt Bongiovanni, Oliver Chau and Ty Smilanic and senior defenseman Zach Metsa, moved the puck decently but failed to generate prime scoring chances outside of a couple of one-time shots off the stick of Bongiovanni.

The power play did not generate enough movement to pull the defenders out of the 1-2-1 formation, allowing the penalty kill to stay relatively compact which undid most of the passing work the first unit completed. To add to that, the power play let up two short-handed breakaways, one of which occurred with less than a minute to go against BC. The confidence will come once the first power-play goal of the season gets scored.

“I think we can get a little bit cleaner and crisper on our power plays,” Pecknold said. “Boston College is a really good penalty kill team, they came at us hard and we just have to make some more plays, but that’ll come as we get our legs under us.”

The most common power-play formation in college and at the pro level is the 1-3-1, also known as the umbrella. This accounts for a point man, essentially the quarterback, to set up the best scoring chances for the power play.

Two more players position themselves on the faceoff dots, while the other two line up in front of the goaltender, one directly around the crease and the other in the slot, also known as the bumper position.

This setup allows the offense to create shot opportunities from multiple spots and opens up passing lanes that force the goaltender to move across the crease. Normally, the two players on the faceoff dots are on their off-hand, which opens up the opportunity for a one-time shot.

In Quinnipiac’s situation, it has Chau on the left dot. The issue is he’s left-handed. He does an excellent job creating space for himself to receive a pass by dropping back towards the blue line and skating in to take a shot or find another player to pass to.

The problem is, it eliminates a one-time shot from his spot, and it also takes longer to move back towards the dot, where he can pass the puck to Smilanic in the bumper or find Bongiovanni on the opposite dot.

This allows the defense more time to react and thus makes it more challenging for Quinnipiac. The best route would be to switch Chau and Metsa, making Chau the point man and putting Metsa on the left dot with a right-hand shot.

I would assume Pecknold has run it like that in practice, and it’s early in the season so he’s likely still experimenting. But if the power play struggles to convert at points in the season, it wouldn’t hurt to shake up the formation a little and keep the opposing penalty kill guessing.

Realistically, if that is the only major issue Quinnipiac has in its opening weekend, then that means Pecknold has the team prepared to compete all season long.

The wheels are rolling, now it’s time for Quinnipiac to keep the momentum going through this weekend at Vermont and into the following weekend when it hosts No. 7 North Dakota in the Bobcats’ home opener.

Maher: ‘I just love seeing girls who love the sport that I love so much’ RUGBY from Page 12 Heavirland has had a similar journey to Maher’s, a story that many U.S. rugby players have. After playing club rugby for two years in high school, Heavirland attended West Point for basketball. There, she only ended up playing one semester, and then switched over to rugby, where she felt a connection right away.

“I just fell in love with the team culture that was provided there,” Heavirland said. “I was getting asked to go to camps in Chula Vista, California, and I just knew that’s where I wanted to be. I want to be around all those hardworking athletes who had the same goal to play at their best and hopefully go to the Olympics.”

Heavirland and Maher’s journeys have paved the way for other female athletes to pick up rugby. Through social media, girls have reached out to Maher about their experience trying out rugby in college.

“Northeastern had a ton of girls at practice, I had a lot of girls who’ve been messaging me like, ‘I tried out for my rugby team’ so that has been really cool,” Maher said.

A big goal of the Olympic rugby team in Tokyo was not only to gain interest for the sport but also to cater to the younger generation.

“It’s growing and it’s very visible, it’s bigger each year, and that was the hope for the Olympics,” Heavirland said.

“One of the motivations is ‘let’s get young girls and boys to want to play rugby.’”

As of 2019, there were a reported 405 million fans of rugby worldwide, according to a global study from Nielsen. Maher has done her best to bring that global interest to homes in the U.S. “She brought it into the living rooms of people like ‘Oh, who’s this TikTok person they’re talking about? Oh, rugby, what is this? Let me turn on the channel and he watched some of the games,’” Carlson said. “The way a sport grows and how you know that you’re being successful is when the people that don’t understand rugby are actually flipping on the channel and interested in watching it, gathering the people that aren’t lifelong rugby people and bringing them over.”

Now Carlson is seeing this growth in the players she recruits.

“Five years ago, when I was recruiting, the average experience that they have is two years,” Carlson said. “Now I’m working on eight.”

Maher’s main tool has been social media to reach the masses, but whether it’s through TikTok or in person, she enjoys talking to girls who have a shared interest.

“I just feel like going there I can show them this is gonna be great, something fun that you can really do and there could be a professional route for this,” Maher said. “Just wanting to spread the word of rugby and I just love seeing girls who love the sport that I love so much.”

CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (2017)

12|Sports

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

October 13, 2021

Sports @QUCHRONSPORTS

Team USA and TikToks

CONTRIBUTED BY QU ATHLETICS

Rugby has 405 million global fans, and players like former Bobcat Ilona Maher are a reason why

By BRENDAN SAMSON Associate Podcast Producer

If you spend time on TikTok, chances are you’ve seen Ilona Maher.

The Quinnipiac graduate and player on the U.S. women’s rugby team recorded engaging videos documenting her time in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

If you take the time to continue to scroll through, you will find that her account goes far beyond her experience at the Olympics. Maher uses social media to promote body positivity and female rugby participation in the U.S. “TikTok’s an app that really can reach a lot of people,” Maher said. “I want to use it as a way to continue to spread rugby and to continue showing girls how amazing this sport can be for their self-confidence and body image.”

The Olympics reintroduced rugby in 2016, and since, its interest worldwide has been on the rise. There are over 2.7 million girls and women participating in rugby globally, according to the Mastercard Women in Rugby program. This figure includes girls who participate in grade school, a demographic that was nonexistent just a few years ago.

Grade school and high school students are the groups that Maher tries to reach, girls with little to no knowledge about rugby, but a bright future ahead of them.

Maher’s home in Burlington, Vermont, has allowed her to travel to different schools and universities to speak to young athletes about a potential future in rugby.

“It’s kind of been my way to give back, traveling to these schools,” Maher said. “It’s been really nice to spread the word about rugby and through the TikToks, through the Olympics, we got more girls into rugby.”

The ability to visit schools is uncommon. Just ask Maher’s USA Rugby teammate, Nicole Heavirland, who does not have this same privilege from her home in Montana.

“That’s awesome that Lo is able to do that,” Heavirland said. “It’s pretty neat because, being in Vermont you’re kind of close to all different little states. Whereas I was like ‘all right, I’m in Montana, what schools can I go to? OK, Mon-

tana State, five hours away.’”

Even Maher was unaware of the future rugby could provide her when she was in college. It’s a driving factor for her advocacy today.

Maher attended Quinnipiac for two main reasons: she wanted to continue playing rugby and she wanted to get a degree in nursing. Neither of the two took precedence over the other until her senior year, when she realized that rugby was something she wanted to pursue.

“Senior spring, I just put my all into it,” Maher said. “Worked with coach Carlson, Emily Webster, who used to be a strength

coach here, and made it my mission that I was gonna do whatever I could to get on the USA team.”

This new mission that Maher set at Quinnipiac was reflected in her work ethic, something that was clear to Quinnipiac women’s rugby head coach Becky Carlson.

“She got here, and she got into that high-performance environment and was able to take a look at the bigger picture and think beyond the ‘what if,’ and the ‘what if’ became ‘I can’ or ‘I will,’” Carlson said.

See RUGBY Page 11

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY QU ATHLETICS

Ilona Maher’s proximity to New England universities allows her to visit college rugby teams to discuss the future of the sport.