The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 92, Issue 9

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 • VOLUME 92 • ISSUE 9

The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929

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Rally to save Irish museum P.2

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OPINION P.4: ‘THE GREAT RESIGNATION’

Arts & Life Editor Ashley Pelletier writes that amid a national worker shortage, companies need to show appreciation to their employees

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A&L P.6: LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH

QU Culture and the Gender Sexuality Alliance celebrate LGBTQ community on campus

MORGAN TENCZA/CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (2021)

SPORTS P.10: WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW Bobcats ranked No. 1 in preseason poll following several players’ breakout seasons

SGA cuts club budgets citing unsustainable finances

By WILLIAM GAVIN Staff Writer

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As Quinnipiac University’s student organizations plan to spend around $135,000 by the end of the semester, the Student Government Association (SGA) is looking to cut back on funding prizes and giveaways for events.

The SGA received approximately $80,000 worth of special appeals funding requests from student organizations before its general meeting on Oct. 20. The finance committee narrowed budget requests down to $14,000 from $40,000, on Oct. 19, said Cameron Davignon, vice president for finance, who will resign after a successor is elected.

Special appeals requests are considered based on their location with the highest pri-

ority going to on-campus events, followed by off-campus events, conferences, competitions and capital expenditures. Almost all offcampus events were automatically denied by budget reviews.

To reduce the amount spent on special appeals, the finance committee focused on cutting nonessential items, such as prizes and giveaways, Davignon said.

While SGA has not conducted a formal review as of Oct. 27, Davignon estimated that between 20-35% of approved credit card purchase requests were for giveaway prizes.

“As a result of the need to host virtual events throughout the long pandemic restriction period, student organizations started to lean more heavily on giving away lots of prizes to entice peers to attend their events,” Davignon said. “This shift is not sustainable for the SGA finance process, as it currently stands, specifically when it comes to purchasing and distributing the high-volume prizes.”

The cutbacks on prizes and giveaways will continue into the spring semester’s budgeting process, where Davignon recommends student organizations make their events attractive by providing food and “unique valuable experiences” for students.

This is not only an attempt to reduce the money spent on events, but also to decrease

organizations’ dependence on prizes to drive involvement.

“We hope this will help us return to the core of what SGA aims to deal with fund distribution, which is building community amongst the student body and impacting the most students possible with every dollar spent,” Davignon said.

Funding for student organizations is divided into block and non-block organizations. Block organizations are created by the university to “represent and support the entire student body,” and are given a sum of money with only general provisions and restrictions on how it is spent, according to the SGA bylaws. Non-block organizations have to go through line-item budgeting for any expenditures.

Non-block organizations such as the SGA, Multicultural Student Leadership Council, Community Action Project and Student Programming Board (SPB), were allocated $200,000 for the fall semester.

During its meeting on Oct. 20, SGA voted on a number of requests from student organizations including the SPB, Dance Company and the South Asian Society (SAS). Three organizations; Q30 Television, the SPB and the Fishing Club, requested over $5,000.

The SPB requested $10,000 for the “Dear World” event, which “aims to build community and develop a sense of self through reflection,”

and through participants sharing their stories and messages, according to its funding request. It also requested $5,000 which would fund prizes for “Mega Bingo.”

Quinnipiac’s Dance Company had previously been unable to perform its winter showcase for two years because of an unpaid debt to Hamden Public Schools, which made it difficult to re-book its usual space. Over the summer the organization paid off its balance through a combination of SGA funds and money from fundraisers.

SGA funded the organization $1,800, covering the cost of this year’s winter showcase, which had been denied by past SGA administrations.

“We are thrilled to finally have an in person showcase after a long time off,” said Sofia Adams, president of Dance Company. “Last year we did a video showcase which was great but I know all of the girls cannot wait to perform on a stage again.

The SAS requested $180 for a Diwali event, which is a major festival Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains celebrate with different meanings depending on the practised religion. SGA gave the SAS only $9.97 for Diwali, while approving $400 for an Eid dinner and Henna night event for the same club.

A representative from the SAS declined to comment at this time.

2| News

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 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.

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The Quinnipiac Chronicle

November 3, 2021

Over 100 rally against Great Hunger museum’s closure

By NICOLE MCISAAC and CHATWAN MONGKOL

With umbrellas in hands, over 100 people gathered on the streets of Hamden on a rainy Saturday sharing one goal — saving Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum.

“My heart is in the building, my blood is in the art,” said Frank McCarthy, former public safety officer who worked at the museum. “...

I love the art, and I love what it represents.

This isn’t fair.”

The rally on Oct. 30, came after Quinnipiac University’s announcement of the museum’s closure that resulted in a community outcry. Over 100 individuals, some from the Committee to Save Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum, stood in front of the museum waving Irish flags, performing Irish music and dances, portraying street art, offering food and additional informational activities.

Hamden police patrolled the event. After rally-goers took photos in front of the museum’s entrance, officers instructed the group to stay off the property at Quinnipiac’s request.

Turlough McConnell, the museum’s former curator, organized the protest. He said he wanted to make Quinnipiac aware that the closure was “one of the biggest public relations disasters” it has made.

“We’re very concerned that it shut down without any connection to the community,” McConnell said. “The community has come out today to say we wanted to be in that discussion.”

McConnell told The Chronicle that this rally was not an anti-Quinnipiac movement but rather was to voice reasons why the university should reconsider the decision.

“We’ve got bad university policy right here,” McConnell said. “We want to say ‘correct it, think about it, change your mind, be part of something positive.’”

Associate Vice President for Public Relations John Morgan said the university is not releasing any statement in response to the protest.

The university shut down the museum because it generated 25% of its operational fund.

President Judy Olian established a financial self-efficiency goal for the museum in 2019, and she said the goal was not accomplished over the past three years.

Lynn Bushnell, Quinnipiac’s former vice president of public affairs who argued against such financial goals, attended the rally. She thought the museum was too young to be financially sustainable as it opened in 2012.

“I think that it is, can and should be a huge resource for students,” Bushnell said. “... I just think there are so many ways it could have been developed, and I don’t think the effort was made to have that happen.”

Olivia Flynn, a sophomore nursing major who attended the rally, said she only learned of the museum this year after being enrolled in an Irish studies course at Quinnipiac. After realizing the grasp the museum had on the community, she said “it’s a shame that it’s shut down.”

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Rally-goers hold Irish flags outside Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum to protest Quinnipiac University’s decision to shut down the museum.

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The demonstration started after the group submitted letters to Quinnipiac University and the Connecticut attorney general to oppose the closure and call for an investigation.

“I would have definitely made a visit, even a class visit,” Flynn said. “I’m hoping it gets reopened.”

Community members, including former Quinnipiac President John Lahey, said they are disappointed with the effort put forward to utilize the museum within the university’s community and the surrounding town of Hamden.

“The thing is that (President Olian’s) priorities are different from Dr. Lahey’s,” McCarthy said. “I don’t understand the board of directors and the Board of Trustees that the university has. I believe (it’s as if) none of them have come through the museum before the decision was made to shut it down.”

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is looking into the closure, and Morgan told The Chronicle the university has been

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) attended the rally to show support for the protesters.

cooperative with the office.

“I can confirm we have an open and ongoing inquiry into this matter, but cannot comment beyond that,” said Elizabeth Benton, Tong’s spokesperson.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), one of the event’s guest speakers who also served as Connecticut’s attorney general from 19912011, urged the university to reconsider the decision in efforts for Irish Americans and all of the people of Connecticut.

“This is a moral reckoning, it is a moral imperative,” Blumenthal said. “Put aside the legal inquiry that is ongoing. There is a moral obligation here to the people who worked hard for this museum, who contributed to it, who sacrificed to make it possible.”

Blumenthal said that the museum is not just a part of Irish history, but instead a living part of American history. During his speech, he said “a great American university doesn’t walk away from a museum about Irish history.”

“Why would we walk away from educating people about discrimnation and bigotry,” Blumenthal said. “It isn’t right.”

Whether or not this protest affects Quinnipiac’s reconsideration, the museum-saving committee is waiting for what Tong’s investigation could reveal.

“We feel at best Quinnipiac was sloppy in how it dealt with this,” McConnell said. “At worst, it could be criminal … that they have taken works for a non-profit institute and museum and turned them into (its) own property without regard of those who gave them and for the purpose that they were given.”

Until then, Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum’s supporters mourn the loss of the museum and wait to see if their public objection to the closure will impact the decision.

November 3, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

News |3

Law school panel discusses voting rights

By KRYSTAL MILLER and JACKLYN PELLEGRINO

Advocates, activists, engagement strategists and elected officials discussed potential threats to voting rights at a symposium hosted by Quinnipiac University’s School of Law on Oct. 28.

Over 380 attended the event with several panelists including state Rep. Randal Gaines of Louisiana and Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabama’s first Black congresswoman.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 that Sewell introduced was heavily discussed throughout the event. The bill is meant to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The bill’s main goal is to give the federal government power to oversee state voting laws to prevent discrimination and will require officials to publicly announce all voting changes at least 180 days before an election.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in August by a vote margin of 219-212, but it still needs approval by the Senate before President Joe Biden can sign it into law.

The 1965 act has been weakened over the last decade by the two U.S. Supreme Court decisions of Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, restricting future voting access.

Two U.S. Supreme Court decisions have weakened the 1965 act. The Shelby County v.

Holder decision ended the rule that required jurisdictions with histories of racial discrimination in their voting practices to get approval from the Department of Justice or a federal judge to make any changes to voting regulations. The Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee decision outlawed out-of-precinct voting and ballot collection.

Gaines emphasized how the 2021 voting rights bill will help the regression of voting rights of minorities.

“We are currently witnessing the most aggressive pushback against African American voting rights that we have seen in the last 50 years,” Gaines said. “Particularly a pushback against African American political progress.”

When the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was ended in July 2013, eight states sent notice to pass voting laws that were previously outlawed by the act. Gaines said there are now no protective provisions to protect minority voting interest.

“This year alone, in 2021, more than 400 bills were passed by 49 states attempting to pass obstructive and restrictive voting laws that particularly target minorities or targeting voting patterns of minorities,” Gaines said.

In Georgia, a law enacted in March prevents proactively sending mail ballot applications to voters, requires voters to submit identification with their application and shortens the time frame for the application. Some states, including Georgia, have restrictions on giving food or water to people in line for voting.

Sewell, who represents Alabama’s seventh congressional district, spoke about her relationship with the late John Lewis. Lewis was a civil rights activist and former U.S. representative who helped pass the original 1965 voting rights law. This year’s bill will be named after him to honor his work fighting against inequality.

“If you had told me when I was a little girl that I would grow up to become Alabama’s first Black congresswoman, I would’ve said ‘no,’” Sewell said. “But, if you had told me that I would have the opportunity to call John Lewis my colleague and my dear friend and mentor, I would have definitely said ‘no.’”

Sewell said though she gets to represent her hometown, that representation is not just about protecting and securing more resources and op-

portunities for people. She said it is also about protecting the legacy of her district.

“We need people to get out and vote, volunteer, organize, turn out and elect officials that will do the right thing,” Sewell said. “Not officials that will put up barriers but officials that will actually make it easier to access the ballot box.

Our vote is our voice in this representative democracy, and no one’s voice should be silenced.”

Panelist Rhonda Briggins, the co-founder and board member of Vote Run Lead, a nonprofit organization that trains women to run for political office, said her organization has reached over 36,000 women across the U.S. In December 2016, she was elected as the first female African American president of the Georgia Transit Association.

“We’ve had so many things coming against (minorities), so this is not the first challenge to us in our communities and so yes, they are try-

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ing to suppress our vote,” Briggins said.

Briggins said educating the public about their rights and on the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is important to get people to vote.

“We’re not going to let our community be discouraged,” Briggins said. “We’re going to stand hand in hand with them, because we must vote, and they must have the right to exercise that right to vote.”

Dov Wilker, regional director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and national director for Black Jewish Relations, said every level of government is responsible for using their voices to encourage voting. He said people should engage with people across the political spectrum, because everyone has a vote.

“One of the things we always have to remember is that advocacy is about engagement and about sharing your viewpoints,” Wilker said.

Hamden businesses bloom with fresh customers

By CORINNA PAZZANESE Contributing Writer

Last year, the absence of students at Quinnipiac due to the pandemic was a prominent factor that affected Hamden’s small businesses. With more students back on campus this year, these businesses are getting back on track.

Quinnipiac University’s Associate Vice President for Public Relations John Morgan said the university had around 1,000 fewer students on campus during the 2020-21 academic year compared to this year.

“Now that we’re fully back to in-person, inclassroom instruction there is definitely an increased presence of students on campus and in the local community,” Morgan said.

COVID-19 created many new obstacles to small businesses, such as challenges getting certain resources into the stores, according to an article from the New York Times.

Alyson Kern, the front end manager at Funcle’s Cafe, a breakfast and lunch restaurant popular among Quinnipiac students, said it seems like, “everything is out of stock.” She said that the weekends are still extremely busy in the cafe.

Mack Cianciolo, the co-owner of Fresh Greens & Proteins, a new eatery near the Mount Carmel campus, agreed that one of the

biggest challenges that is still occurring is getting products into the store. He said that certain products are unavailable and some have even tripled in price.

“The last thing we want to do is relay the cost to the customers,” Cianciolo said.

Maneuvering the new shortages of goods and increase in prices is certainly a challenge for these businesses. Like many, these local businesses have had to learn to think outside of the box and adapt to their current situations.

The manager at Pretty Woman Outlet, Hannah Yoou, said that her store had to close fitting rooms due to COVID-19 precautions.

Several negative Google reviews cite difficulties to the shopping experience as most people want to try on clothes before purchasing.

Down the road, Spuds Your Way is a takeout restaurant that provides food trucks as well. The availability of catering events for Spuds greatly depleted since most parties and events were cancelled during the pandemic.

“All of our catering took a massive hit,” said Jared Cohen, chef and owner of Spuds.

“We shut the trucks down until we partnered up with Food Fleet.”

Food Fleet provides mobile food and beverage options for corporations and organizations

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Funcle’s Cafe, which was founded early in the pandemic, is a popular choice for students.

around the country. Spuds’ food truck frequents the Quinnipiac campus. Cohen credits his partnership with Food Fleet for allowing his business to continue during the pandemic.

The Spuds food truck is able to promote the store front with its presence on the Quinnipiac campus. This is a considerable change from last year. Cohen said that he only did 50% of the business he could have last year if the pandemic never happened.

Although the challenges of the pandemic are not over for these small businesses, the return of students to campus this fall brought back business opportunities.

“The weekends are super crazy, and it all started on the first move-in weekend,” Kern said.

Kern said Funcle’s Cafe’s phone and app services have been overwhelmed with orders over the weekends since students returned to campus.

At the Pretty Woman Outlet, the university shuttle comes to the parking lot frequently.

“It’s great to see kids getting excited to go out again,” Yoou said.

During the school year, a significant portion of some small business’ customer bases are students. At Pretty Woman Outlet, Yoou predicted that around 15-20% of customers are Quinnipiac students.

Throughout the weekend at Funcle’s Cafe, Kern said the majority of its customers are students.

Kristen D’Ariano, a junior double major in physical therapy and psychology, said she often goes to local businesses, especially restaurants.

“Last year, it was a little more difficult to find places to go to,” D’Ariano said. “I was a little unsure — not feeling too well and safe … Now, it finally feels like it’s slowly getting back to normal. I feel more inclined to go out and especially to some of my favorite restaurants I used to go to before the pandemic.”

For Fresh Greens & Proteins, Cianciolo said Quinnipiac students’ return not only allows valuable employees to join the team, but also brings in a consistent flow of customers since students get out of classes at different times throughout the day.

D’Ariano said she loves going to Fresh Greens & Proteins on the weekends.

“Everyone is super friendly and welcoming, so I really like the environment within it,” D’Ariano said.

Cianciolo said he is happy to have the Quinnipiac community supporting his business.

“The students being back really helps spread the word about us,” Cianciolo said.

Spuds Your Way has both a takeout location and food truck options.

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44 | O p i n i o n

November 3, 2021

Opinion Employers, not workers, caused ‘The Great Resignation’

BY ASHLEY PELLETIER Arts & Life Editor

All across the country, businesses large and small have signs in their windows and doors reading “We are short-staffed,” “Please be patient” or “Nobody wants to work anymore.”

The world is in the middle of the largest worker shortage in recent history. There were 10.4 million job positions open in August 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, 4.3 million people also quit their jobs.

There is clearly something going on, but what is causing this weird trend in the workforce?

There are many reasons that the workforce is seeing mass strikes, people walking out of jobs and new positions not being filled, but a majority of them tie back to companies not being supportive of their workers.

To make a long story short, the COVID-19 pandemic led workers to reevaluate how much abuse they will take from their employers.

The best example of this change is the number of strikes that we have seen within corporations such as Frito Lay and Nabisco in the past few months. The most wellknown union-company conflict was the proposed strike by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

All the movements urged for better treatment of employees, including increased time off, pay raises and the end of “suicide shifts” where workers only get eight hours off in between shifts.

It shouldn’t come to mass walkouts for companies to give their employees reasonable pay raises and one day off a week. If thousands of workers are willing to risk their jobs by walking out, what does that say about the working conditions they have dealt with for months or years to get to that level of frustration? It is completely understandable that people have reached their breaking point, but companies are choosing to ignore that and continue pushing their employees.

However, those are just examples of mass movements to win rights for a group of workers. There is a further trend of employees being more willing to leave jobs over things that wouldn’t necessarily have been dealbreakers prior to the pandemic.

“Rude customers, overly demanding bosses and long hours are not worth a stagnant, minimum wage.”

– Ashley Pelletier ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

In what has been dubbed “The Great Resignation,” almost 3% of U.S. workers left their jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While there are many reasons for someone to leave their job, there is a running theme among many: high expectations with little appreciation.

“I do believe there are thousands of individuals who are just fed up,” said Jay Zagorsky, senior lecturer in markets, public policy and law at Boston University, in an interview with the BBC. “They are overworked, they feel underappreciated. Because many workers are in high-wage industries and are working incredibly long hours, there is a significant number of people who are just quitting.”

Underappreciation can be a major reason that employees choose to quit their jobs, but there are a number of other reasons that can lead to that point. For instance, food service jobs and other areas of work where employees have faceto-face interactions with customers saw the largest increase in resignation rates. Whether it be from on-the-job abuse or COVID-19 concerns, these workers are quitting faster and not getting replaced soon enough.

Who can blame these workers for not wanting to deal with the high stress of those jobs? Rude customers, overly demanding bosses and long hours are not worth a stagnant, minimum wage. While many states are making an active effort to raise their minimum wage, the federal minimum wage has been at $7.25 since 2009.

PHOTO FROM FIBONACCI BLUE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Fast food workers in St. Paul, Minnesota, went on strike to protest for a $15 minimum wage, paid sick leave and union rights on April 14, 2016.

On top of that, a majority of these workers never had an applicant may never hear back from an employer, but some an opportunity to prioritize their safety during the pandemic. of these reasons are increasingly problematic.

Grocery stores, pharmacies and takeout restaurants never For one, a majority of companies, especially those shuttered their doors how offices could, so their employees who get a lot of applications, use artificial-intelligenceremained on the front lines of a pandemic that has caused based software to screen applicants before a human even over 750,000 deaths. looks at them. If a resume does not have the right keywords Working from home is more accessible than ever. Ac- or phrases, they will get screened out, no matter how qualicording to a December 2020 report from Pew Research Center, fied for the position they may be. around 70% of respondents were working from home at the time. Looking forward, around 54% of them wanted to continue working from home once the pandemic ends.

However, many companies are eager to bring their employees back into the workplace. According to LaSelle Network, 74% of businesses report that they want their workers back in the office, but that doesn’t line up with what a majority of employees want.

Why deal with a crappy food service job when you can seek out jobs that have better pay, better working conditions and a more flexible atmosphere?

While job applicants are being more selective about which positions they consider, employers are also convoluting the hiring process. Vox writers Rani Molla and Emily Stewart told the story of a man who applied for hundreds of jobs, but barely heard back from any of the companies he applied at, in ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS an article published on Sept. 20. There are many reasons that

Minimum wage only!

The lack of human touch early in the application process often leads to the mass removal of qualified candidates from the application pool before their actual skills are assessed. The average corporate job opening has around 250 applicants, according to Glassdoor. Only around five applicants will actually get an interview.

Overall, the entire worker shortage is an issue that everybody should have seen coming. Employees are tired from facing a pandemic that has put their lives and livelihoods at risk for almost two years, and who can blame them?

Workers are being forced to not only do their normal work, but fill in the gaps of jobs that are going unfilled because of the condition of the job, the pay or just that there is nobody to fill the positions, which isn’t even considering the hundreds of thousands of people who have died of COVID-19. It is unreasonable to be asking this of people without facing justifiable pushback.

Companies need to be more compassionate and more effective at handling employees needs and wants. If they don’t, The Great Resignation will only continue to impact our communities.

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November 3, 2021

Opinion|5

Opinion The Chicago Blackhawks and the NHL failed Kyle Beach and other sexual abuse survivors All of the front office members involved should never hold another position with the My respect for how the NHL operates has NHL or in hockey, in general, for their failure been gradually declining, and with the recent to address the allegations and decade-long suphandling of the sexual assault allegations inpression of Beach’s situation. volving the Chicago Blackhawks, my confiJoel Quenneville, the Blackhawks’ head dence in NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is coach at the time of the allegations, stepped fully depleted. down from his current position as the head Hockey as a whole has always been a sport coach of the Florida Panthers. where locker room behavior and conversations At this time, no one involved with knowlstay within the locker room. Unfortunately, this edge of the allegations is with the Chicago has led to several instances of toxic clubhouses Blackhawks. However, Kevin Cheveldayoff as well as racist comments and actions, most remains undisciplined by the league and is still recently with situations surrounding former the general manager for the Winnipeg Jets. professional player Akim Aliu as well as the Of those players, the one that jumps out as disgusting gesture made by Ukrainian hockey someone who should have stepped up and talkplayer Andrei Deniskin made toward Jalen ed to the organization was captain Jonathan Smereck in an Ukranian hockey league game.

Toews. Upon hearing the situation preceding Putting the team’s success first does not the 2010-11 training camp, Toews believed it mean an individual must remain silent in any had been resolved with the resignation of Alserious case. This time, keeping quiet has led drich and never felt the need to reach out to the to one of the most egregious incidents in the front office to confirm.

PHOTO FROM HOWSMYLIVING/FLICKR history of the NHL. He also failed to contact Beach about the Former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville cared more about winning For 11 years, the Chicago Blackhawks ig- the Stanley Cup than his player being sexually abused by an assistant coach. incident and what had happened. nored a sexual assault allegation by Kyle Beach Chicago named Toews captain for a reason. It’s very rare for against the team’s video coach, Brad Aldrich.

Just days after winning the Stanley Cup, Beach’s allega- any NHL team to award the captaincy to a 20-year-old player.

Beach explained the incident as Aldrich invited him tions reached a human resources official, which led to the But Toews received it to be the leader and voice of the team. over, proclaiming he’d be the one to convert Beach from a team allowing Aldrich to resign from his position to avoid a “Had I been more connected in any way to the situation reserve to a roster player for the playoffs. potential investigation from the NHL investigation. He re- and known some of the more gory details of it, I’d like to say, Aldrich proceeded to turn on pornography and make ceived the remainder of his salary through the end of that yeah, I would’ve acted differently in my role as captain, for sexual advances to Beach, threatening his career and his summer, along with severance pay, and his name was en- sure,” Toews said after Chicago’s loss to Toronto Oct. 27. ability to walk if he did not comply.

He failed to be a leader, and he let down his team for not graved on the Stanley Cup. I am woefully disappointed in the punishment enacted After resigning, the Blackhawks allowed Aldrich to cel- taking more responsibility. That’s the danger of the whole by the NHL — just a $2 million fine for the organization. ebrate with the team where he then in a separate incident “keep it in the locker room” mindset because serious situaHalf of that is being donated to the Chicago area toward sexually and physically touched an intern without consent. tions are avoided for the sake of the team and a good image. organizations that provide counseling and training for sur“To me, Stan (Bowman) and Al (MacIsaac), make any Following that, Aldrich began working with USA Hockvivors of sexual and other forms of abuse. ey and the Women’s National Program. Despite requir- argument you want, they’re not directly complicit in the acThe fine is embarrassing for Bettman and for the league ing background checks, USA Hockey failed to contact the tivities that happened,” Toews said. “I just know them as as a whole. In 2010, Bettman fined the New Jersey Devils Blackhawks about Aldrich’s departure from the team. people, and I’ve had a relationship and friendship with them $3 million for cap circumvention.

After a brief stint there, Aldrich volunteered at a high for a long time as part of the Blackhawks family. People like So manipulating the salary cap is a greater offense than school in Michigan where he assaulted a minor in 2012, re- Al and Stan have made coming to the Blackhawks one of the hiding a sexual assault allegation for a decade? Good to ceiving nine months of jail time and a sexual offender des- special places to play hockey.” know where the league stands on supporting its players.

Comments like Toews’ prove how little hockey has ignation in the state.

Disturbingly, the Blackhawks’ front office decided to Multiple people had been sexually assaulted because an or- evolved in terms of supporting its players. Coaches and handle the situation three weeks after the allegation hap- ganization failed to hold a member of its staff accountable. The players around the league from opposing teams provided pened. A playoff run and eventually winning the Stanley front office failed Beach and the two other people that were more supportive and accepting responses, casting a darker Cup remained the only priority for the Blackhawks. sexually assaulted, but the lack of accountability in the locker shadow on the Blackhawks organization.

After those three weeks, the team decided not to investi- room following the situation with Beach is revolting. gate Aldrich and his actions.

BY PETER PIEKARSKI Associate Sports Editor

Students deserve silverware, not plastic utensils

BY MILTON WOOLFENDEN Staff Writer

College food will never beat a home-cooked meal in taste or quality. However, students should at least eat with the same utensils at college as they do at home.

While every dining hall is going to differ from college to college, one thing should remain the same: students should use real silverware and plates, not plastic or paper alternatives.

Students are paying tens of thousands of dollars a semester to eat like third graders in an elementary school cafeteria.

After I get off the shuttle I start thinking about what I want for breakfast. I grab my usual order, pancakes, sausage, and bacon. After grabbing my plastic fork and knife, I have to cut through my pancakes like someone trying to fell a tree.

That points toward the lack of quality food, but it also highlights the reality that plastic utensils just don’t cut it — literally.

Quinnipiac and Chartwell officials said in 2019 that dining on the go makes it hard to avoid plastic utensils.

While this can be seen as a concern for universities who don’t want students stealing their expensive silverware, it doesn’t dismiss the fact that adults should use adult utensils.

When COVID-19 first struck last year, the entire world hit the pause button. As vaccination rates rose and cases went down, businesses started reopening.

However, no matter the industry, businesses now face a major problem: many Americans don’t want to return to work. A CNBC article cited two of the biggest reasons people aren’t returning to work are COVID-19 concerns and savings.

Americans have been getting more money from stimulus checks and unemployment benefits than they would if they were actually working. Families also have more money in their bank accounts as a result of many entertainment venues being closed during the height of the pandemic.

While plastic utensils and paper plates are viable options with less staff, it doesn’t say much about the university. In the 21st century, everyone is concerned about being green and trying to “save the planet.” If a university is using plastic and paper to this extent, it’s not helping the cause one bit.

Every plastic fork and plate students throw out are just going to sit in landfills and slowly degrade.

While there is no exact number, Pela Case and Chariot Energy estimate plastic bottles and styrofoam take around 450-500 years to completely degrade.

Innovate Eco estimates it takes at least 200 years for plastic utensils to completely degrade, and Plastic Pollution Coalition reported they take up to a thousand years.

Environmentalists are commonly associated with the phrase “leave it better than you found it.” They are believers that due to our pollution and emission of greenhouse gases we are quickly destroying the planet that future generations will inherit.

Regulations regarding the environment have become a hot-button issue in the world of politics in the 21st century, with more and more countries pledging to become net zero.

In America’s political spectrum, Democrats are typically more concerned with the environment and climate change than Republicans.

How states vote in presidential elections is far from a perfect science, however recent data points to New England as a Democratic-leaning region of the country, which has gone blue in the last eight elections.

Quinnipiac, a university in the heart of Democrat country, is going against one of the party’s core values, but how college students dine doesn’t have to be a political issue.

ILLUSTRATION BY PEYTON MCKENZIE

6|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

November 3, 2021

Arts & Life A lesson to be learned QU Culture and the Gender Sexuality Alliance held a celebration for LGBTQ History Month

By DAVID MATOS

Associate Arts & Life Editor

History class is often convoluted with boring discussions about war and white men in white powdered wigs. But what history books often abandon is the many contributions of a group of people who are often left out of the conversation — the LGBTQ community.

Quinnipiac University’s QU Culture initiative and the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) celebrated LGBTQ History Month with an informational table in the Carl Hansen Student Center and an open discussion with Vincent Contrucci, director of community service, on Instagram Live Oct. 26.

The annual month-long celebration is meant to acknowledge the unrecognized past achievements within the LGBTQ community. This is not to be mistaken with Pride Month which is meant to pay tribute to the 1969 Stonewall riots that kickstarted the gay liberation movement.

“I think the biggest difference between (LGBTQ) History Month and Pride Month is that Pride Month is more of a celebration of who we are because we couldn't celebrate before. Meanwhile, History Month is (about) teaching others,” said Satine Berntsen, a sophomore film, television and media arts major, GSA event coordinator and QU Culture film committee member.

Members of the GSA and QU Culture stood behind a decorated table with free pride merchandise, educational flyers and bookmarks for every passerby. The brilliant display helped create a learning environment and safe space for students on campus.

“I think in college, especially, people can feel very alone,” said Isabella Foley, a sophomore film, television and media arts major and QU Culture film committee member. “Especially when their communities aren't being represented. And I think it's important as students to make sure everybody is feeling that they're accepted and included.”

This year’s event connected with students and exhibited the progression within the LGBTQ community.

“Somebody today at the very beginning of this event came over to me, and (said) ‘when I saw a rainbow, I knew this was for me,’” Berntsen said. “And that’s what we want.

We want to show these things we fought for so long. Just to have a rainbow flag on a table on campus, and that is considered a normal thing. And people walk by and they're like ‘whatever’ — that is the coolest thing ever.”

Berntsen later hosted a discussion with Contrucci on QU Culture’s Instagram Live. They examined some engaging topics regarding gender identity, resources on campus and the value of LGBTQ History Month.

Contrucci began the open discussion explaining the history and significance behind LGBTQ History Month.

“LGBTQ History Month is an opportunity to recognize and to celebrate the contributions of people throughout history … Worldwide history, not necessarily just U.S. history,” Contrucci said.

LGBTQ History Month was founded by Rodney Wilson, a Missouri high school teacher, in 1994. Wilson selected October to celebrate LGBTQ contributions throughout

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

history as it falls during the academic school year, unlike Pride Month in June. Other notable LGBTQ holidays also transpire in October such as National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) and Spirit Day (Oct. 21).

LGBTQ History Month can be celebrated in a variety of ways. Contrucci said whether it be participating in Spirit Day or a seminar about queer history, “it's ultimately up to individual members of the community to identify how they wish to celebrate.”

Berntsen said celebrating with no restrictions is on brand with the community but taking the time to learn about historical events during LGBTQ History Month is crucial as it keeps it from falling into obscurity.

“I think a lot of people, DAVID MATOS/CHRONICLE when they hear about some historical event, QU Culture and GSA members (left to right) Skylar Haines, Satine Berntsen, Isabella Foley and they immediately think Glenna Gobeil educated students on LGBTQ history in the Carl Hansen Student Center on Oct. 26. about Stonewall and then Being informed about the present is just as crucial. that's about it,” Berntsen said. “So, hearing about all these Getting involved in politics and discussions about the future different and interesting events that we don't typically hear is something everyone should do even outside of LGBTQ about is incredibly important. So, we know our own history History Month as regression within the community is far because that often gets erased.” too common.

The stories of monumental figures within queer history “(Allies and members of the LGBTQ community) need to are not common knowledge due to the simple fact that most follow the news,” Contrucci said. “They need to be involved of the public schools across the nation have notoriously left in politics. Because politics is what gives you your rights LGBTQ voices out of the required curriculum. or takes them away, and you don't want to be caught on the According to a 2019 survey conducted by GLSEN, other side when suddenly one of your rights is stripped from an advocacy group for American LGBTQ students, only you and you're like, ‘why did that happen?’”

19.4% of respondents reported being taught about positive Many people think the rights and privileges within the milestones and people within the LGBTQ community in their LGBTQ community today have always been present — schools. Currently, a mere six states require LGBTQ history which is not the case. Every single right has been fought lessons within their public school curriculum — California, for, and the community still does not have equal rights.

New Jersey, Nevada, Oregon, Illinois and Colorado.

For example, the Supreme Court only legalized same-sex “Once that (LGBTQ) history is being taught in our marriage in 2015. Being involved in open discussions about schools, it becomes a greater validation of the struggles of the future of the LGBTQ community, as well as the past, the community — of who are members of the community — is a step forward in the right direction for positive change and what is discussed is something that is valued,” Contrucci for society. Though preserving LGBTQ is imperative, we all said. “When it's not discussed, it's not valued.” have the power to make history.

There are numerous LGBTQ resources on campus for “LGBTQ+ History Month is important because we're not individuals who are seeking to educate themselves, guidance only are we talking about our previous history, we're talking or support. Some include the Department of Cultural and abou how to go forward and preserve that history and make Global Engagement, counseling services and a variety of our own historical moments to build on and to get equal faculty and staff, like Contrucci, who are members of the rights,” Berntsen said. community or supportive allies. The New Haven Pride Center The Instagram Live ended with a discussion about is also a great place to seek local support outside of campus. finding your identity.

Quinnipiac made progress in building a more inclusive It’s not uncommon for people to find it difficult to search environment for all identities on campus such as creating for a label that represents them. Everyone goes through gender-inclusive housing, gender-neutral bathrooms life figuring out who they are and where they stand within across all three campuses and providing students with the society. It’s normal to grow attached to certain labels, but opportunity to choose what name they want to have on it’s also commonplace to grow out of other labels as well — their QCard and email. However, the needs of students that’s just part of life. Some people don’t identify with any are unique to the individual which is why groups on labels at all. campus like the GSA are a fantastic way to connect “It's not a race, you don't have to know tomorrow,” and demand change.

Contrucci said. “... Enjoy the journey and be patient with “That's exactly what GSA is for,” Berntsen yourself. You will come to an understanding when it's the said.“You can go to them and you can say ‘hey, I time to come to that understanding and that understanding don't really like this,’ or ‘this happened to me,’ or ‘I can change as you grow.” think this might be a good idea,’ and they’re (GSA) If you’re struggling to find your identity, you have completely welcoming to it.” a community that will support you at Quinnipiac. Take One of the discussions that’s happening right now advantage of the resources on and off campus. Finding what within the LGBTQ community is whether saying labels and pronouns work for you is not something that “preferred pronouns” is inclusive or not. Some people needs to be figured out overnight. don’t have preferred pronouns whereas others have History is ever-changing. Educating yourself on the multiple. This debate among members of the community people and events that helped progress the community is a shows just how often the community is ever-changing and great way to make up for the lack of LGBTQ education in why a month that celebrates queer history is necessary as schools. LGBTQ rights can be taken away at a moment's it’s being made every day. notice, which is why it’s also important to stay informed on “A lot of people think historical events are always in current events. LGBTQ history is happening every day and the past,” Berntsen said. “But they can be happening at the while we need to keep the legacy of its past alive, we need to current moment.” also continue in the fight in building a better future.

November 3, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|7

NAITANA: 'AT ONCE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC'

Quinnipiac modern language professor releases bilingual book of poems

By KATIE LANGLEY Copy Editor

A professor of modern languages, Filippo Naitana has brought Italy to Quinnipiac University with his debut collection of poetry, “Viceversa.”

The volume, published Oct. 3, bridges the gap between two cultures by alternating between Italian and English poems with Italian translations. “‘Viceversa’ took shape between Italy, where I grew up, and the United States, where I have lived for more than twenty years,” Naitana wrote in the author’s note.

The style Naitana uses is called exophony, meaning it was written in a language that is not one’s mother tongue.

“The decision to include the original English is intended both to document the writing process as it developed, and to offer a perhaps less usual view of living and writing between two worlds,” Naitana said.

In “Viceversa,” Naitana shares his “physical, linguistic, anthropological (and) spiritual” journey with readers.

“The poems included in the volume were written between the U.S. and Italy over several years — mostly between 2018 and 2021— but build on a much wider life canvas,” Naitana said. “One where time and space can be blurred.”

This transit is most apparent in the context of language in Naitana’s poem, “Keeping a Low Profile.” It opens with, “It’s ten o’clock on my first night in America. Words flying at immoderate speed, unsupervised, hard to catch.”

Similar to the challenges immigrants face, the subject of the poem explains the struggles with being thrown into a new language. Naitana refers to his “deck of flashcards,” imagery familiar to anyone who has studied a foreign language.

The poem concludes with a moment of victory over language. When the subject uses the idiom “I am trying to keep a low profile,” he surprises himself with the Americanness of his speech and is “marinating in pride.” For Naitana, this pride is autobiographical. “‘Keeping a Low Profile’ is based on an exchange that actually happened my first night in New Haven, when I came to the U.S. for graduate school,” Naitana said. “It is about the mixture of displacement and exhilaration of someone who is first attempting to negotiate a new language and culture, as much as it is infused with nostalgia for that sense of discovery.”

Poems like “Snow” are especially local. In the poem, Naitana relates New Haven to his hometown of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy. In New Haven, Naitana observes snowfall as well as

gentrification. In Oristano, he recalls rare snowflakes and snowball fights. Naitana is “at once on both sides of the Atlantic.”

“In ‘Snow,’ two very different kind of flakes end up falling on the page: those very familiar to us who live in Connecticut and the ‘fiocchi’ (flakes in Italian) I experienced as a miracle of sorts as a schoolboy in the coastal town where I grew up in Sardegna (the island of Sardinia) and where I’ve never seen snow since,” Naitana said.

Naitana’s poems cross historical and cultural boundaries to express universal ideas of family, change and memory. Even as a non-Italian speaker, one can find themselves relating to Naitana’s themes.

“B-side” compares the strange to the familiar like two sides of a record, reminding us that change is temporary and love persists despite it.

Naitana explores an alternate universe in which “Madam President is on Charlie Rose,” “Caesar died in Egypt of old age” and “poetry will kill the internet in a showdown.”

However, he reminds us to not regret what we don’t have.

“On the other side, history still looks familiar, and you are still you,” Naitana writes.

Poet Ann Lauinger writes in a preface to the book that Naitana’s writing in Italian and English is a “cross-cultural PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY FILIPPO NAITANA conversation with himself.” “(The book) raises, far from Quinnipiac professor of modern languages Filippo Naitana released a theoretically, questions about what it book of poems titled 'Viceversa.' means to command (or be commanded knowing in what language that first sparkle of a poem will by?) more than one language,” Lauinger wrote. “Can only take shape,” Naitana said. one of those languages be the writer’s ‘original’ tongue?”

And sparkle, they do. Naitana pauses English poems In “Viceversa,” it is inconsequential which language is in the middle and switches to Italian then brings it back “original” and which is second. Instead, the languages are seamlessly to English. Distinctly American figures like Rose intertwined. exist in the same stanza as Italian movie director Sergio “In some ways, ‘Viceversa’ — as the title and cover are Leone. We travel between North Haven and the island of meant to convey — is about living across cultures, which Sardinia without needing to take a plane. Naitana shows sometimes involves looking at the U.S. through Italian that, though we are all multifaceted, we are more alike than eyes, and others at Italy with American ones, without ever we may think.

MIXING UP HALO-WEEN Quinnipiac’s Asian Student Alliance held an event celebrating Filipino culture through dessert

By KATIE LANGLEY Copy Editor

Jellied fruit, red and white beans, shaved ice, evaporated milk and a bright purple sweet potato ice cream called ube all come together to make a sweet, delectable treat.

The Filipino dessert of halo-halo was the star of the show at the Asian Student Alliance’s (ASA) Halo-Haloween event on Oct. 27.

“It was a great experience,” said Genesis Iscoa, a junior political science major who attended the event. “I got to learn a bit about halo-halo, about the culture behind it.”

Halo-halo, or “mix-mix” in the Austronesian language of Tagalog, is made in many different ways depending on the region of the Philippines. It can even include flan and coconut strips.

The Japanese introduced these shaved ice treats to the Philippines during World War II. Japan has its own take on the dessert called “Kakigōri.” However you mix it, halohalo is a decadent testament to Filipino history.

October is National Filipino American History Month, a time to celebrate the culture and contributions of the FilipinoAmerican community. Filipinos are the third-largest group of Asians in the U.S., totaling over four million people.

While students enjoyed their halo-halo, the ASA displayed a presentation about the honorary month.

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian island nation in the western Pacific Ocean. Formerly a Spanish colony, the U.S. annexed the Philippines after the Spanish-American war.

The nation gained independence from America in 1946.

Filipinos have a long history in America, inhabiting the country since 1587, when they traveled to California with Spanish colonizers.

As event coordinator of the ASA, Jinxia Lin, a sophomore biology major, put the night together.

“It’s our first Filipino event, so that’s really big for us, because obviously Asian Student Alliance is all about

spreading awareness of different Asian cultures,” Lin said.

The coordinators said that Southeast Asian issues are often silenced in conversations about Asian awareness. The club hopes to change this and teach people that the term “Asian” doesn't only apply to East Asia. It encompasses many people and countries on the continent.

“We’re trying to increase our diversity and inclusivity by having our first Southeast Asian event,” said Ashley Hong, the

KATIE LANGLEY/CHRONICLE

Asian Student Alliance members prepare halo-halo, a Filipino dessert made with jellied fruit, evaporated milk and other ingredients.

vice president of ASA and junior occupational therapy major.

The coordinators also spoke about a big component in any culture: local foods and cuisines. They described Filipino cuisine as “East meets West,” drawing on many influences such as Spanish and those of the different ethnic groups of the Philippines.

When it comes to the dessert itself, halo-halo is unlike any American ice cream sundae. Personally, I loved the taste and hope to get the opportunity to enjoy it again.

Iscoa, who is an international student from Honduras, said that her culture has similar culinary components. “(Halo-halo) has evaporated milk, ube which is yam fruit, which we also eat in my culture,” Iscoa said. “So it’s kind of an alternative to what we usually get here.”

Iscoa said she really enjoyed the dessert, and it was “nice to learn about the importance behind different cultures.”

Cultural awareness was central to Wednesday’s event.

ASA shared photos of famous Filipinos such as Olivia Rodrigo, Darren Criss, Bruno Mars and Bretman Rock.

“We hope that (students) got the experience to try halohalo for the first time and be more educated about the history and general experiences of Asian Americans,” Hong said.

Aside from being educational, the event was also a lot of fun — complete with raffles and great prizes for three lucky winners.

“I hope (students) learned a little bit more about Filipino culture, and I hope they enjoyed the food,” Lin said.

Lin said she is excited for ASA to have more in-person events now that student organizations are returning to normal.

“I hope that they get a sense of normalcy from being at home for the past almost two years,” Lin said.

The club has a ramen night and a poetry reading planned this semester as well as a Lunar New Year celebration in the spring. Hong said she hopes these events bring “bonding” and “awareness” of diverse Asian cultures.

8|Arts and Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

November 3, 2021

Young Thug delivers a melodic masterpiece with ‘Punk’

By CAMERON LEVASSEUR Staff Writer

After months of anticipation, “Punk,” the sophomore studio album from Atlanta rapper Young Thug, did not disappoint.

Following the April release of “Slime Language 2,” a collaborative project put out by Young Stoner Life, the label Young Thug founded in 2016, “Punk” offered a tone switch from the upbeat party rap to a more melodic flow.

The album opens with the track “Die Slow,” perhaps Young Thug’s most personal song on what is undeniably his most vulnerable album. In the unraveling monologue, he tells listeners of his brother’s time in prison and of his mother’s close shave with death in what feels like a disordered rant.

After rapping about his family problems for four minutes, the song flows into another mellow guitar beat for track two, fittingly titled “Stressed,” where Young Thug raps about how he’s, well, stressed. The song includes a J. Cole feature, and like always, he doesn’t miss. J. Cole’s raspy tone contrasts perfectly with Thug’s high-pitched vocals to make it one of the best songs on the album.

Containing 20 tracks, “Punk” is Young Thug’s longest solo project since releasing “1017 Thug” in 2013. While it delivers several typical Thugger-esque hits, such as “Bubbly” with Travis Scott and Drake, many tracks, like “Recognize Real” with Gunna and “Droppin Jewels,” see the Atlanta native expressing his emotions over a introspective beat.

With over 12 million streams on Spotify in just over a week, “Bubbly” is the album’s premier track. The Travis Scott-Young Thug duo proves to be unstoppable once again. This song joins the ranks of other classics from them such as “Pick up the Phone,” “OUT WEST” and “Floyd Mayweather.” Drake’s feature on “Bubbly” is solid, but Cactus Jack’s performance overshadowed the Canadian rapper.

Another feature-heavy track is “Livin It Up,” featuring Post Malone and A$AP Rocky, which uses a harp alongside a twangy guitar rhythm to create a summertime vibe in October. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good song, but if Young Thug was looking for a Billboard hit, this was not the time to release it.

The album ends on its strongest three-track run, starting with “Love You More” with Gunna and Nate Ruess, a song that’s best described as a trap love ballad.

The church bells of “Hate The Game” follow, where Young Thug’s braggadocio lyrics return for one last hurrah

PHOTO BY TOM ØVERLIE, VIA FLICKR

Young Thug's sophomore album 'Punk' did not disappoint anticipating fans. over strong 808s, rapping “Just left the Cullinan at Capaco, The album’s shift from the upbeat tempo of “Slime Rolls-Royce sittin’ on my wrist, and, yes, in plain gold.”

Language 2” and 2019’s “So Much Fun,” Young Thug’s Capping off the project is a track entitled “Day Before” debut studio album, allows the artist to explore a different with Mac Miller. The song was recorded a day before side of rap as he continues to prove his ability to spit fire in Miller passed away in September 2018. Coinciding with any genre. the Oct. 15 release of Miller’s 2014 mixtape “Faces” on While not perhaps the instant classic his previous solo streaming platforms, “Day Before” leaves the listener release was, “Punk” is still one of the best albums to be pondering the album long after it concludes, finishing released this year. Its replayability and catchy melodic flow the explorational LP with the bar “just a couple things I cement this project as a late-night masterpiece, and one thought about.” that’s sure to grow in popularity as time goes on.

The production on “Punk” is tremendous, including big name producers T-Minus, Metro Boomin, Pi’erre Bourne, Wheezy and the producer formerly known as Kanye West. All these producers showed why they're some of the best in the game.

4/5 Stars

IS KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN BARKING UP THE RIGHT TREE?

By ANYA GRONDALSKI Staff Writer

The least popular Kardashian sister got engaged for the first time Oct. 17, despite being best known for a previous nine-year relationship.

Kourtney Kardashian, founder of the multimedia lifestyle platform Poosh, said yes to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. The pair has been dating for less than a year, but know that they want to spend forever together, per both of their romantic Instagram posts from the proposal.

Kardashian's engagement is monumental, but that’s not a shock. They have the budget.

The female identity is often overshadowed by that of men. Women are often asked about their relationships instead of their accomplishments on and off the red carpet, and this reality remained true for Kourtney until now. Her previous relationships have focused on the men and their accomplishments, the breakups and the make ups. Now, the media is highlighting the partnership Kourtney shares with Barker and how it’s making both better people.

Her most notable relationship before Barker is with socialite Scott Disick. The two met at a party in 2006 and were hot and cold until 2015 when they split for good.

Disick and Kourtney have three children together.

They may always love each other, but Kourtney’s identity has been tied to Disick for over a decade, despite not being together for six years. Their relationship was clearly toxic.

They broke up multiple times because of Disick’s repeated infidelity and substance abuse issues.

In the season 10 finale of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” Kourtney said. “I’ve worked so hard to keep this family together, it just makes me sad for the kids. He’s not being a good partner to me. I could never rely on him, depend on him for one single thing and I don’t want to show my kids that that’s OK.” The final straw for their relationship was a month-long partying binge, during which Disick never came home.

Disick is just one force overshadowing Kourtney, as the Kardashian sisters are constantly competing to remain relevant and make money. Kourtney is often outshined by her family, having the least amount of Instagram followers at 148 million.

In a well-remembered “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” episode, while the famed family is planning a Christmas card photoshoot, Kim Kardashian tells Kourtney she’s “the least interesting to look at.”

It’s finally time she is remembered for being loved by a man that respects her.

Her relationship with Barker is a huge step in the right direction. It demonstrates Kourtney’s self-growth.

People magazine reported back in March that Kourtney was interested in Barker because she was “ready for a relationship with a more mature guy.” He’s clearly an upgrade from Disick.

Barker brings his own sense of self into the partnership.

He was previously married to 1995 Miss USA runner-up Shanna Moakler with whom he shares his three children.

Kourtney and Barker are both in their 40s and are bringing lived experiences and wisdom into their partnership.

Barker has not only given Kourtney a secure and healthy relationship, but he’s been supportive of change in her career. Kourtney’s fashion style has become edgier since they paired up, as she’s been seen wearing darker colors, tighter fighting clothes and lots of leather. This is a stark contrast from her preppy, colorful and ditzy matching outfits with Disick from the 2000s.

The couple has also been buddying up with hot celebrity pair Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly. Fox and Kourtney recently appeared getting close and personal in a SKIMS ad together, showing off Kim’s shapewear line.

Barker and Kourtney are great for each other. She’s finally getting to be the interesting sister, proving it’s never too late to find true love.

SCREENSHOT FROM INSTAGRAM/ @KOURTNEYKARDASH

Kourtney Kardashian said yes to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker on Oct. 17.

November 3, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|9

FALLING FOR QUINNIPIAC

By DANIEL PASSAPERA

Associate Photography Editor

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

10|Sports

Scores & Schedule

November 3, 2021

Caverly: ‘I want a ring’

Quinnipiac women’s basketball hungry for return to MAAC dominance

Wednesday 10/27 WSOC won 3-0 vs. Fairfield MSOC lost 1-0 @ Fairfield VB won 3-1 against Siena

Friday 10/29

FH lost 5-2 @ Providence WIH won 5-3 @ Brown MIH tied 2-2 @ AIC

Saturday 10/30

MXC 8th of 11 @ MAAC Championships WXC 3rd of 11 @ MAAC Championships RUG won 29-5 @ Mount St. Mary’s VB lost 3-1 vs. Fairfield MSOC won 4-1 vs. Manhattan WIH won 3-1 @ Yale MIH won 2-1 vs. AIC

Sunday 10/31

FH won 3-0 vs. Sacred Heart WSOC won 1-0 vs. Marist (MAAC Quarterfinals)

The women’s basketball team was ranked No. 1 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Desire.

OCT. 30

JACK MUSCATELLO/CHRONICLE

Upcoming Wednesday 11/3

MSOC @ Saint Peter’s 2 p.m.

Thursday 11/4

WSOC vs. Siena 2 p.m. (MAAC Semifinals)

Friday 11/5

MTEN State Championships WIH vs. Union 6 p.m.

MIH @ Yale 7 p.m.

Saturday 11/6

MTEN State Championships VB vs. Marist 1 p.m.

WIH vs. RPI 3 p.m.

MIH @ Brown 4 p.m.

Sunday 11/7

MTEN State Championships WSOC MAAC Championships, pending results on Thursday VB vs. Siena 1 p.m.

MSOC MAAC Quarterfnals, pending results on Wednesday

Tuesday 11/9

WBB @ Fordham 7 p.m.

MBB @ Maryland TBD

By BENJAMIN YEARGIN Staff Writer

That feeling resonated with the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team immediately after its upset loss to No. 7 seed Rider in the MAAC tournament last season and over the entire offseason.

The Bobcats are hungry to get back to the MAAC championship, to win the conference and to compete in the NCAA tournament.

Quinnipiac earned itself a reputation as winners, having won the MAAC four times from 2015 to 2019. After disappointing in last year’s conference tournament, there is a need to return to that, to be great again.

“There’s a true hunger from players one through 16 … for us becoming the best we can one day at a time, and they know the expectations there,” Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri said.

Fabbri is entering her 27th year with the program and is the winningest basketball head coach in school history with 461 wins. The leadership that Fabbri provides the team is second to none, as the players respect her and view her as a parent figure.

“I see coach as a mom and as an impeccable coach … she’s intense, emotional when she needs to be and she wants us to win,” senior guard Mackenzie DeWees said.

Fans will be back in the People’s United Center this year for the first time since March 2020, which will help Quinnipiac in numerous ways.

“It added another layer to how challenging (last season) was … the home court advantage and the atmosphere that we’ve become accustomed to … it added another layer of difficulty,” Fabbri said.

The Bobcats enter this year with a lot of hardware. Head coaches in the conference selected Quinnipiac as the No. 1 team in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Individually, DeWees is the reigning MAAC Player of the Year and was unanimously chosen to the MAAC All-First Team along with junior forward Mikala Morris. Senior guard Rose Caverly was selected to the All-MAAC Third Team.

However, individual awards have not shifted the focus away from team success.

“It’s always about winning the MAAC championship,” DeWees said. “It’s always about going to the NCAA Tournament … it’s all about winning as a team and losing as a team.”

DeWees said that she had a knee procedure done in July, so her work on the court over the offseason was shortened compared to other seasons. However, she said this should not impact her game as she is already practicing at full speed.

Along with DeWees, the Bobcats other two leading scorers, Morris and Caverly, are returning for their junior and senior seasons, respectively.

The core of upperclassmen mixed with incoming freshmen provide crucial depth. Freshman guard Reiven Douglas and freshman forward Korin Mereste are already earning their spots

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on this team and will be instrumental to the team’s success with their contributions off the bench.

“Our depth is a weapon, we’ve got incredible talent, exceptional returners and experience,” Fabbri said. “… We’ve infused (the team) with incredible young talent and a freshman class with Reiven Douglas doing a great job out there.”

Douglas, specifically, can bring energy to this team, regardless if she is vocal on the court or on the sidelines.

She has impressed coaches with her leadership and the adjustments she’s already made to her game going from high school to college basketball.

The depth will ensure the Bobcats continue to get back to the free-throw line and rebound the ball well, which Quinnipiac did exceptionally last year. The Bobcats outrebounded their opponents 866-782 and averaged 12.1 made free throws a game compared to their opponents’ 8.6 per game.

Quinnipiac will also premiere a new four-out one-in motion offense this year, forcing opposing defenses to stretch the floor.

The new system will create more spacing for the Bobcats and allow them to make different cuts and reads instead of solely relying on the pick-and-roll and off-ball screens.

A big part of that offense will be the 3-pointer, which Caverly can provide in spades, as she shot 39% from beyond the arc last season.

“Having somebody who can stretch the defense out takes pressure off of Mik (Morris) and Mack (DeWees),” Caverly said. “... It relieves some pressure.”

Onto Quinnipiac’s possible competition in the MAAC, two teams to keep an eye on are the Manhattan Jaspers, who were voted No. 2 in the MAAC preseason poll, and the Fairfield Stags, who are No. 3.

Fairfield senior forward Lou Lopez-Senechal was voted as the 2021-22 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and was also selected to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team for the second consecutive year. Also at Fairfield, senior forward Andrea Hernangomez was voted onto the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team.

Going down to Manhattan, the Jaspers had graduate student center Courtney Warley chosen to the first team, junior guard Dee Dee Davis selected to the second team and junior guard Emily LaPointe voted onto the third team.

Despite the stiff competition, it would be far from a surprise to see the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s basketball team win the MAAC championship this year.

The core of DeWees, Morris and Caverly mixed with underclassmen like Douglas, Mereste and sophomore guard Jillian Casey provide depth and offensive weapons beyond and within the arc that will have defenses scrambling.

Everyone on the team has one goal: to win a ring. The combination of a solid foundation, ambition and a new offense can allow the Bobcats to do so for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

“I want a ring,” Caverly said.

November 3, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports|11

Pete’s pond: New USCHO poll drops QU to No. 6 Power play woes continue to handcuff the Bobcats

By PETER PIEKARSKI Associate Sports Editor

Although Quinnipiac didn’t complete a weekend sweep over AIC, the ability to not surrender a loss to a buzzing Yellow Jackets lineup indicates how resilient this team can be.

Moving down one spot in the USCHO poll is appropriate due to the caliber of this Quinnipiac roster. There were opportunities for the Bobcats to win both games before overtime.

However, this home-and-home series happened to be the solid opportunity for a gritty AIC team to pick off a ranked team. Quinnipiac entered the weekend, playing three games in five days and exiting after playing five games in nine days.

Tired legs made for an excellent chance for AIC to take advantage. Despite only having one win this season against Army West Point, AIC battles hard every night and makes every game difficult for the opponent.

To open its season, the Yellow Jackets played and lost to then-No. 12 Providence and twice to then-No. 9 UMass.

On Quinnipiac’s end, the only aspect to its game that raises any concerns continues to be the power play. To this point, the Bobcats only have three power-play goals on 33 opportunities for a poor 9.1%, almost a third of last year’s 25% conversion rate.

I still firmly believe that the only way this power play will start filling the net is by swapping the position of graduate forward Oliver Chau and senior defenseman Zach Metsa. The two best shooters on the team, forwards senior Wyatt Bongiovanni and sophomore Ty Smilanic, are being attended to more than anyone else on the ice.

If Quinnipiac wants shots to come off the blades of Bongiovanni and Smilanic, moving Chau to the ‘quarterback’ spot and dropping Metsa to the left faceoff dot is the best way to ensure that happens. Currently, Chau manning the left dot while being left-handed eliminates a one-time shot from him and thus allows the penalty killers more time to shift and clog lanes.

Since opposing penalty killers often use the diamond formation, they receive more time to react to whatever Chau does.

This allows the weak-side defender to tie up Smilanic in the bumper spot and get a body in the way of a cross-ice pass to Bongiovanni. Another option is that the top defender can drop

The men’s ice hockey team only has three power-play goals on 33 man advantages this season. down to tie up Smilanic, and the weak side can eliminate a onetime shot from Bongiovanni.

Switching Chau and Metsa creates an optimal setup for onetime shots from Chau, Smilanic and Bongiovanni when Metsa controls the puck. When Chau has it up top, Bongiovanni and Metsa will have shooting lanes.

The most significant difference between this season’s rough power play start and last year’s lights-out power play is the usage of senior forward Ethan de Jong. Since fewer shots are coming to the net from one-timers, de Jong isn’t being effectively used as a screen or dig for loose pucks and rebounds around the crease.

Last season, de Jong scored a career-high eight power-play

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goals. Several of those can be attributed to Quinnipiac using a right-hand shot in then-captain Odeen Tufto on the left dot and several different left-handed shots from the right dot.

Outside of the power play, the Bobcats look strong in all facets. The penalty kill continues to dominate, only allowing two goals on 24 chances for an impressive 91.7% rate.

Going forward, Quinnipiac only plays one more stretch of several games in a short period of time. That doesn’t occur until the first week of January when the Bobcats face Princeton twice, along with Brown and Yale in seven days.

ECAC Hockey matchups begin this weekend for the Bobcats with the first leg of the Battle of Whitney Avenue on Friday, Nov. 5, when Quinnipiac travels to Yale.

Salas: ‘We want to win a MAAC championship, and we have to keep showing that we are the best team’ WOMEN’S SOCCER from Page 12 defenders and two wingers, who were tasked with rolling back and contributing on defense. “You know when you’re playing a team like that, you’re going to get a lot of free kicks, or at least corners, so we probably should have scored one or two more, but I’ll settle for 1-0.”

But try as they might, the Bobcats just weren’t connecting on the crosses into the box, which happens. Soccer is a game in which one bounce can make or break a game, and all it takes is one good cross and one solid header to move on to the next round. Factor in the tournament atmosphere and emotion into this game, and that becomes even more true.

That’s what makes the Bobcats a scary team to go up against moving forward in the MAAC postseason. Even when the wing attack isn’t connecting, the central attack can eat teams up.

Though Cooke had a quiet day on the stat sheet (six shots, two shots on goal), she was a headache for the defense. She was determined to penetrate the 18-yard box and went on a handful of strong runs through traffic to facilitate a threat.The target is officially on her back.

Cooke’s tactical approach on the ball is outstanding to watch, and there aren’t many ways to watch this game without coming to the conclusion that her surgical dribbling is one of the Bobcats’ best weapons. But she had an effect on the Marist defense that very few players can control.

With other players on the squad, such as Salas and junior midfielder Markela Bejleri, the Red Foxes were content to give them a decent cushion of space. This doesn’t mean that these players don’t deserve attention; Salas comfortably paced the MAAC in assists with 13 this season. But that shows the type of player Salas is. She doesn’t try to dribble through you, she wants to dissect you with her field vision and let her teammates finish the job.

But Cooke weaved in and out of Marist defenders with ease.

With players like Cooke who has the ability to cut quickly with the ball at her feet, the defense’s mission is to close them down and take away that option. Marist threw bodies at Cooke nonstop, which worked. But again, the Bobcats have enough different ways to beat other teams. Between Cooke’s on-ball brilliance, Wendland’s crossing ability and Chochol’s height advantage in the box, they’re one of the hardest teams in the conference to defend.

Garnering all this talent is a significant achievement. Of course, though the job is far from done, on-paper talent is an important part of having a good team. But, as Clarke (and probably every other coach in the nation) has addressed, the ring-clad team

at the end of the tournament is usually the healthiest one.

Clarke praised his team for remaining healthy throughout this season. Despite playing as recently as the spring season because of COVID-19 delays, the 27 Bobcats on the roster have remained physically available all year long. This is exceptionally rare, perhaps even more rare than seeing a grown man in a tiger costume at a college soccer game.

It takes serious effort from both the training staff and the players to accomplish this, even though the long season might have caught up to a few players on Sunday. Senior forward Emily Loney was affected in the most visible way, as she pulled up limping and grabbing her leg making a run at a through ball in the 87th minute.

“It’s about being healthy, obviously, we’ve got three, four days to recover, we’ve got to ignore what’s going on tonight around campus,” Clarke said, referencing the fact that Sunday

happened to be Halloween. “They’ve got to do all the little things they’ve been doing all year, and come into the next game with all 27 players available … Yes, we got a few bruises today, but it’s more playing the game, so if we get 27 ready on Thursday we’ll have a good group.”

The Bobcats’ Thursday matchup is against No. 3 Siena.

Quinnipiac’s only matchup this year against the Saints was a 1-0 loss Oct. 16, but this is the playoffs. Nothing is the same when the postseason gets underway, and the women’s soccer team knows it.

“I think this game was a reminder that we can’t stop pushing,” Salas said. “We’ve got to keep finding our game and playing our game. We have to keep looking for that want to get those crosses and score those goals. It’s not going to be easy, but we want to win the MAAC championship, and we have to keep showing that we are the best team.”

The Bobcats will have a fully active roster free of injuries for Thursday’s game, a rarity in sports.

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12|Sports

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

November 3, 2021

Sports @QUCHRONSPORTS

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Bobcats bound for MAAC semis again

Why the women’s soccer team is still great even when star forward Rebecca Cooke isn’t scoring

By RILEY MILLETTE Sports Editor

Quinnipiac women’s soccer tends to attract a rowdy audience.

It’s natural to the sport, and Sunday’s MAAC tournament quarterfinals 1-0 win over Marist was no different. The Bobcats will now host the semifinals in Hamden, their third year in a row playing the penultimate tournament game.

And hey, how about the fan in the tiger onesie showing his support? Much like a real tiger, he remained camouflaged among his surroundings. But when senior forward Gretchen Kron scored the game-winning goal, he let out his roar and you knew he was there.

The student section was so prominent that you probably didn’t even see President Judy Olian in the background.

Olian was one of the last spectators on her feet clapping after Kron’s header in the 67th minute, assisted off a free kick by senior midfielder Selena Salas. The connection between the two seniors was a culmination of set piece upon set piece, corner kick after corner kick in which the Bobcats came up empty.

Throughout 90 minutes, the Bobcats piled up 12 corner kicks, but very few turned into meaningful opportunities. It was no secret before this game that the Bobcats are all about speed on the outside, save for sophomore forward Rebecca Cooke who has had a sensational season. Frankly. she has earned the right to try new things offensively.

Granted, the Red Foxes’ defense loaded the middle of the box to defend against the cross-heavy Quinnipiac offensive scheme so Cooke frequently came up empty attacking the central lane. But, let’s remember who we’re talking about here.

Cooke, who found the back of the net 12 times in 16 games this season, was one goal shy of the conference lead. That type of prolific scoring gave her the freedom to break free from being a pure forward, as her presence in the midfield during Sunday’s game was incredibly freeing for the Quinnipiac wingers.

Senior midfielder Lauren Wendland might as well have set up camp on the right-side wing of the field. Even playing against the 4-3-3 formation that Marist used, with the special attention ded-

Senior forward Gretchen Kron’s goal in the 67th minute sparked an uproar from the student section. icated toward protecting the middle of the field, it seemed as if Wendland whipped in a cross every four minutes.

“I think they did a good job scouting us and planning how to defend us, but I think we prepared well to turn the game around and I think we did a good job trying to play our game,” Salas said.

Pairing Wendland, who is 5 feet, 11 inches, with sophomore forward Courtney Chochol, who is the same height, is typically a

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recipe that strikes fear in smaller defenses. Count Marist as one of those, as none of the five defenders who received minutes against the Bobcats are taller than 5 feet, 7 inches.

“We knew they were going to play a back-six,” Clarke said, talking about Marist’s formation in which it was showing four See WOMEN’S SOCCER Page 11