The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 91, Issue 12

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 • VOLUME 91 • ISSUE 12

The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929

CHRONICLE ARCHIVES

Are sports being prioritized? p. 6-7

CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (2019)

NEWS P.3: CONTINUING QTHON QTHON plans to operate in a hybrid format this year amid COVID-19 regulations

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

OPINION P.5: WEATHER WORRIES Quinnipiac University needs to handle inclement weather better for its commuter students

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A&L P. 8: SUPER BOWL SPECTACULAR

Driving to get your diploma

The Weeknd’s halftime performance was one to remember

Class of 2020 and 2021 commencement plans announced

By EMILY FLAMME News Editor

Graduating seniors, class of 2021, will have in-person commencements in May while 2020 graduates will participate in a drive-through ceremony.

“So what we did for commencement 2021 is really try to preserve as much of the experience as we can,” said Bethany Zemba, vice president and chief of staff. “For our seniors, we recognize that this is such a pivotal moment for graduates to be able to walk across the stage to be able to get the diploma, and really have that closure for all of the hard work that they put in over their time at Quinnipiac.”

The class of 2021’s ceremonies will be held at the People’s United Center on York Hill campus from May 7-10. Students will wear a mask and be spread apart in accordance with the state’s social distancing guidelines.

Guests are not allowed at the ceremony.

Families and friends can watch virtually.

“When I first received the email about commencement, I was pleasantly surprised,” said Gina DiVito, a senior political science major.

“This last year has been so hard due to COVID-19, and I really didn’t think we would get any sense of normalcy for graduation.”

Karla Natale, associate vice president of university events and community partnerships, said that the virtual program will have a “digital yearbook page” where the graduates can upload photos and videos of them along with writing about their favorite memories from their years at Quinnipiac.

It will also include an individual virtual chat room so members of each graduate’s family can interact with each other. There will be other features such as trivia questions about the graduate before the ceremony and confetti when their student walks across the stage.

Zemba said she worked with current and former students to see what everyone would want for the commencement ceremonies.

Members of the senior class government sent out a survey during the fall 2020 semester to all current seniors about what they would want their commencement experience to be like. Only 155 students filled it out.

DiVito said that she filled out the survey and voted for the options that included an inperson aspect.

“I am looking forward to my parents physically seeing me walk across the stage,” DiVito said. “I think Quinnipiac has spent a lot of time

planning and putting effort into making this as best as they can.”

Olamide Gbotosho, a senior management major and senior class president, was on the commencement committee.

“I was there to represent the students and voice their concerns mainly,” Gbotosho said. “We also gave ideas and suggestions for not only graduation itself, but events leading up to graduation.”

Gbotosho said she received messages from students that were both positive and negative, but she hoped students understood that having a hybrid ceremony was more than what other schools have planned.

For example, Rhode Island School of Design’s commencement ceremonies will be completely virtual.

Senior class Vice President Emily MacDonald said she knew students in the classes of 2020 and 2021 would be disappointed about their ceremonies in some capacity.

“The biggest surprise was that some people in the class of 2021 want the experience the class of 2020 will get and vice versa,” MacDonald said. “It’s hard to feel like you’re letting people down, especially since I thought being able to See COMMENCEMENT Page 2

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2| News

MEET THE EDITORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brendan O’Sullivan MANAGING EDITORS Toyloy Brown III Jessica Simms CREATIVE DIRECTOR Connor Lawless NEWS EDITOR Emily Flamme ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS Nicole McIsaac Chatwan Mongkol OPINION EDITOR Michael Sicoli ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Emily DiSalvo ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Ashley Pelletier SPORTS EDITOR Riley Millette ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Peter Piekarski DESIGN EDITOR Michael Clement PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Morgan Tencza PODCAST PRODUCER Xavier Cullen ASSOCIATE PODCAST PRODUCER Kalleen Rose Ozanic COPY EDITOR Melina Khan THE QUINNIPIAC CHRONICLE is the proud recipient of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors’ award for College Newspaper of the Year in New England for 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2015-16.

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February 17, 2021

Quinnipiac logo has a look of QAnon

By CHATWAN MONGKOL Associate News Editor

While Quinnipiac University community members think of their institution when seeing the giant Q, people from the outside see something different. They see an extreme right-wing conspiracy theory, QAnon.

Multiple Twitter users reacted to the Q logo they saw when the polling institute released its polling results.

“Quinnipiac polling and QAnon need to just hash out who has exclusive use of this Q symbol,” @MattGlassman312 said on Twitter. “Because I am mixing it up half a dozen times a day and I can’t take it anymore.”

Quinnipiac Vice President for Marketing and Communications Daryl Richard said in a statement provided to the Chronicle that the university is committed to ensuring that all logos and brandings signify the distinctiveness of the institution.

“The ‘Q’ logo is a visible part of our brand identity and we’re exploring the many ways we can ensure the logo is not misrepresented and remains deeply connected to our academic mission and the Bobcat community,” Richard said in the statement.

QAnon is a conspiracy theory group that supports former President Donald Trump. It has been spreading false information online on many subjects such as COVID-19, the previous presidential elections and the Black Lives Matter movement. Its believers also took part in the insurrection in the United States Capitol on Jan. 6.

The letter “Q” used to lead the movement refers to a high-level government official who can access classified information with Q Clearance, the clearance code at the U.S. Energy Department that runs nuclear stockpiles.

Although QAnon’s adherents share baseless ideas with their followers, the BBC reported that thousands of people believe in them. As the supporters are willing to believe everything, associate professor of journalism Rich Hanley said it is “undoubtedly true” that there are people who believe Quinnipiac has something to do with QAnon.

“They’re always looking for messages, for symbols, for signifiers of Q’s power,” Hanley said. “If they see a

well-known, highly-regarded university such as Quinnipiac using a logo with just a Q on it, they’re open to receive that logo as a message, regardless of how false and phony and crazy it may sound.”

Sophomore political science major Genesis Iscoa said reading some of the ideas they shared makes her shake her head at how ridiculous they were. She also does not like the idea of comparing the two logos.

“I believe it may diminish the credibility of QU and the legitimacy the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute currently boasts as a widely renowned institution,” Iscoa said.

Even though it is never good for any logo to be confused with another brand from a public relations perspective, professor and chair of strategic communication Dr. Hilary Fussell Sisco said the similarity is not a threat for the university.

“I think that QAnon itself isn’t a strongenough-reputable brand that I would think would make an impact on an established university name,” Fussell Sisco said. “There’s so much skepticism about everything involving conspiracy theories, that it almost becomes questionable from the get-go.”

She said as the comparison was made on Twitter, it makes sense because its users would be familiar with QAnon more.

“None of the students think about it, it’s only really when these external kinds of social media things, people that aren’t familiar with Quinnipiac or don’t know Quinnipiac,” Fussell Sisco said.

Despite the suggestions for a new logo, she said the university should not make any change.

Hanley said similar things that the university should not react because only few people know what QAnon is while fewer take time to learn more about it.

“The principles and practices of conspiracy theory, it works to get mainstream institutions like the media and universities to talk about because what that does is amplify it,” Hanley said. “To change its logo and reaction to QAnon, it, in fact, is feeding that conspiracy theory.”

Because of more time people spend on the internet since the pandemic, Hanley said the conspiracy theories are on the rise. He said once people watch a video about it on YouTube, the algorithm will work its way to show them more similar videos. The more often they consume that content, the more chance they will act on that reality and share the beliefs with their circles.

As Hanley is teaching a journalism seminar course focusing on disinformation, he believes students are savvy enough to understand that the similarity is not a threat to the university’s and their identity.

“We also want our students to understand what drives people to conspiracy theories and to understand the mechanism that places people in a position to believe conspiracy theories,” Hanley said.

People who believe in conspiracy theory, as Hanley said, are suffering from some background of trauma in some ways. He believes that learning more about its mechanism will help students have more empathy toward other human beings.

Iscoa said she acknowledges that misinformation is becoming more concerning and powerful and she said it is not something anyone should disregard.

“This phenomenon is influencing how people interact with each other, how they vote, how they go about their jobs and much more,” Iscoa said. “We cannot just shrug it off and ignore it.”

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Zemba: ‘So we are feverishly hoping that our students will continue to do the right thing’ COMMENCEMENT from cover walk in person was a win, since it’s more than the class of 2020 got last year.”

Zemba said that the reason behind students being unable to bring guests to commencement was that the COVID-19 task force decided that it would not be safe, according to the Connecticut state guidelines.

“We did talk about it, we talked about the possibility of testing and all of those things,” Zemba said. “But at the end of the day, there just isn’t enough space. And so the obstacles were too big, to be able to allow parents to join us. But we definitely understand that that is something that students will miss this year.”

Commencement plans for the class of 2020 include a drive-through experience in which students and four guests can stop their vehicle at certain points along the way to get out and take photos.

“We recognize that this is a feeling for a lot of our graduates that they didn’t really get that closure where they had the last picture with some of their friends in front of the Bobcat or that opportunity to walk across the stage,” Zemba said. “So we did want to try to find a way to make it special to allow those students to return to campus.”

Students and their guests will wear masks when they leave their vehicle and must observe social distancing rules when other groups are nearby.

Zemba and Natale emphasized that cere-

monies are dependent upon students following the rules throughout the spring to help keep campus from having a large outbreak of COVID-19 cases.

“So we are feverishly hoping that our students will continue to do the right thing,” Zemba said. “And you know, avoid large gatherings, social distance, wearing the masks, all those things that are so important so that we can have this

commencement experience, we will revisit it, there is a little bit of a clause in the message that went out that said that, you know, this is all subject to change.”

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February 17, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

News |3

QTHON finds ways to hold event amid pandemic

By NICOLE MCISAAC Associate News Editor

Quinnipiac University’s 2021 QTHON dance marathon is structured to run as an outdoor hybrid event on April 17, given the university’s COVID-19 guidelines and protocols.

The benefit is a year-long fundraising project led by the Quinnipiac students in hopes of raising funds and awareness in support of the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Despite facing new obstacles, students heavily involved with QTHON are determined to hold this year’s fundraiser to the same expectations as previous years.

“COVID-19 has definitely challenged our team to an extent,” said Jonathan Sweeney, a senior film, television and media arts major.

“We have an excellent management team who works hard every single day to do their part and are extremely flexible to the current climate.”

Sweeney, the multimedia chair for QTHON, said his responsibilities primarily focus on content-based work for the organization in relation to creating videos for their social media platforms. However, as a result of COVID-19, he said he has to adapt to different set-ups in order to get his work done.

“Usually I would film them (the videos) on professional equipment on campus,” Sweeney said. “Due to the pandemic, I’ve had to shift to a remote platform where videos are shot on cell phones and I edit that way. I’ve faced challenges on how to produce content, but I’ve always made it work.”

Similar to Sweeney’s experience, Madison Stout, a junior applied business and political science major, said her position of social media chair has altered severely due to the different format from the pandemic. However,

Stout said she recognized how important her position is now more than ever.

“Typically, most QTHON events have run on ground in the past but now with university COVID-19 regulations everything is virtual, which means that all promotions of the events as well as the events themselves rely heavily or entirely on the social media pages,” Stout said. “Currently, we use our social platforms and emailing to host and promote events.”

Using technology to their advantage, QTHON members have already found several ways to involve other students on campus in engaging and safe fundraising activities. Stout said she is confident with how the event’s changes have been portrayed to the student body.

“Most of our fundraising this year has focused on online orders and multiple selfpromoted things like bingo boards, challenges and incentivized competitions,” Stout said.

“So far, it worked really well and we have a ton more things planned!”

However, some students are saying that although they want to participate in the future event this year, they don’t know how because there is a lack of in-person activities leading up to the fundraiser.

“I feel as though incoming freshmen need to be informed more about QTHON,” said Drew Barbieri, a first-year mathematics major. “When I enrolled in the fall, I had heard of it, but I didn’t know all of the full details surrounding its situation. I think the communication surrounding this event could be ramped up to a whole new level.”

Despite difficulties of getting new students involved, other students are saying they are

CHRONICLE ARCHIVES (2019)

QTHON is a fundraising organization for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center that consists of in-person activities such as a dance marathon.

looking forward to a sense of normalcy — even if the event looks different from previous years.

“Getting to experience QTHON in person was pretty close to indescribable,” said Fiona LaPierre, second-year graduate student in the physical therapy program. “There’s tangible excitement in the room for 10 hours and (it’s) just an unbelievable time.”

Some first-year students are looking forward to QTHON because they haven’t been able experience many on-campus events.

“I think that it will be refreshing to be able to see everyone at once, even if it’s socially distanced,” said Joshua Zhang, a first-year business management major. “For the time I’ve been here, there’s never been any school gatherings so having this event being hybrid

is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Students who are interested in registering for this year’s QTHON are encouraged to reach out through the donor link drive or by texting 51555 to “QTHON” to begin the fundraising process.

“Trying to gauge the different possibilities and obstacles that come with planning an onground event in a pandemic has been stressful, but we’ve been working around the clock to ensure that QTHON 2021 will bring new and exciting things all while keeping the parts you love,” Stout said. “I’m excited, and while the pandemic has certainly provided barriers, I know QTHON 2021 is going to be an amazing end to our first Decade of Miracles and an even better kickoff for our next.”

ences or nursing that would be great, without knowing this story, without knowing that they have the power to impact somebody’s life.I want (medical students) to never be able to claim ignorance, to claim that they did not know what the right thing to do in that situation was. So that’s my goal.”

As for the inmates, the classes are transformative as well. Because so many classes have been made available through the Prison Project, some inmates are close to completing their associate’s degree. Quinnipiac has partnered with Trinity College to ensure the inmates get credits for their courses.

“This gives them the opportunity to use their brain in a different way and some of the students, I think, are really not sure what their future holds and if they’re going to end up pursuing a degree afterward or while incarcerated, and I hope that this just gives them the opportunity to meet people to talk to it about,” Copes said.

In fact, the project has been able to keep in contact with some of the inmates through their re-entry research, run by McGuinn and Don

Sawyer, vice president for equity and inclusion.

“You know you get the numbers, you get the percentages of who’s coming out who’s coming back in, but those numbers don’t necessarily tell you the story,” said Sawyer, who is also a professor within the school of sociology and criminal justice. “So we were doing qualitative work to find out the stories of the people who were experiencing the process of re-entry.”

Sawyer actually ran an “activist-informed theater project” called Re-emerge to convey to the public the struggles of those formerly incarcerated re-entering society. The former inmates took to the stage and told their stories.

“I took a bet that if people came and heard the stories of these men that it would be impossible for them not to be moved by their stories,” Sawyer said.

Collaboratively, the work him and his team performed was rewarded with at least three sold out shows.

“One of the things that people saw in their stories is that we talked about giving people a second chance but a lot of these men who we work with really weren’t given first chances,” Sawyer said. “When we look at the ways in which they were brought into the world and the circumstances they live within, a lot of them really didn’t have a first chance, and so, for them to come and be able to share their stories, you know they said it was therapeutic for them.”

As for the grant, all members on the team are excited to have a coordinator as it will hopefully allow for the expansion of projects and resources. This could provide for more inside-out classes, more student involvement in the re-entry research, and overall more time for those in the project.

“We all care deeply about (the project), and yet we just don’t have the day to do everything we wish we could.” Copes said.

Overall, the grant allows them to continue their inspirational efforts as McGuinn explained about the prison process, “Getting to the prison isn’t the only story, just like being in prison isn’t just one story, and getting out of prison isn’t the only story,” McGuinn said. “It’s all connected.”

The Prison Project receives grant to expand projects

By GRACE MCGUIRE Contributing Writer

The Prison Project, a 10-year initiative of prison reform run by Quinnipiac University faculty, received a $364,000 grant from the Melton Foundation.

The grant will be used to appoint a coordinator to organize the professors’ many projects.

“We’re just ordinary people with 24 hours in the day and regular jobs too, and so we don’t always have all the time that we wish we could dedicate to these things,” said Lynn Copes, associate professor of medical sciences.

Copes teaches one of the classes that the project has been running for York Correctional Institution in East Lyme, Connecticut. These classes (inside-out classes) were started by the project’s director, professor of criminal justice, Steve McGuinn. They are unique in that students and inmates are able to learn side-by-side.

“We’re just trying to bring opportunity into the prison and try to also help students on the outside understand the criminal justice system and be able to reach across the divide that divides folks who are in prison from folks who

are outside,” said Linda Meyer, another Prison Project founder who teaches law at Quinnipiac.

“My goal was just to bring opportunities for higher education into the prison setting, but I also think that we’ve discovered that it’s a twoway street, that you learn a lot from reaching across the sort of cultural and experiential divides when you go into prison.”

The project offers a selection of courses.

Copes teaches a class called “poverty and health,” which studies innovative ways to improve women’s health in prison. This course was offered to inmates and first-year medical students every spring and summer before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Copes became interested in prison reform after hearing a horrific story at a conference. She said a prisoner was taken to a hospital while in labor and was illegally shackled to the bed rails as she gave birth.

“That’s when I realized that I have some power as an educator,” Copes said. “And my goal is that no one graduates from med school and, if I can also make that from health sci-

PHOTO FROM QUPRISONPROJECT.ORG

Before the pandemic, the Prison Project had a program called ‘inside-out’ in which inmates and Quinnipiac University students took classes together.

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Opinion

Incompetent or intentional?

Democrats have failed once again to do the bare minimum, but is it by design?

BY XAVIER CULLEN Podcast Producer

In January 2016, Donald Trump said what would turn out to be the truest thing he has ever said.

“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters,” Trump told rally-goers in Iowa.

It happened exactly how he said it would. He got away with the deaths of several people during the Jan. 6, Capitol Hill riots, and ever since, he has barely lost any support from his buddies in Washington, D.C., or his crazed fanatics.

The Senate found Trump not guilty of inciting an insurrection, despite clear evidence showing that the insurrectionists acted directly on Trump’s words and tweets. Hell, even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell believes he’s responsible despite still voting to acquit.

For the past few years, voters have been told to “vote blue no matter who.” That strategy has led to Democrat control of the House, Senate and pre sidency, as well as several state and local positions. But what has that unilateral control really led to?

In regard to the impeachment trial, it led to an embarrassing defeat. The Senate had just passed a motion to allow witnesses, but Democrats caved instantly to moderate pressure from Republicans who were concerned it would take too long.

In California, Democrat control under Gov. Gavin Newsome has led to almost 50,000 deaths due to COVID-19, as well as 1,709 approved permits for oil and gas production in 2020 despite several promises not to, leading to calls for his resignation.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo put elderly lives at risk by forcing nursing homes to admit thousands of COVID-19 patients in March 2020. After it quickly turned into a disaster, Cuomo tried to cover it up by lying about the number of people who died in nursing homes. State officials reported 8,500 deaths. The actual number was over 15,000.

In Washington, D.C., Congress let a psychotic fascist walk free, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are compromising instantly on who gets a few pennies in a new stimulus check, and there are still migrant children at the border who do not know where their parents are.

And about those stimulus checks that people were promised, Biden pivoted away from the $2,000 amount that he said would “go out the door immediately” and instead has opted for only $1,400 and is willing to limit who will be receiving it, possibly cutting off thousands of people who desperately need it.

We were promised that if Democrats Jon Ossoff and Rapheal Warnock were elected into the Senate, we would get instant relief. A promise has never been broken so quickly.

If your political philosophy revolves around compromising with the other side and refusing to use the power you currently have to its fullest extent, then maybe you never believed in what you’re compromising to begin with.

Needless to say, this new administration has gotten off to a horrible start.

I am constantly reminded of a quote from the late writer Douglas Adams in his comedy science fiction book, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

“Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job,” Adams wrote.

While that line is meant to be a joke, the question must be asked: are these politicians inherently unqualified for the positions they are so consistently voted into?

One possibility is that Democrats are too obsessed with trying to please everyone. Democratic politicians think they have to make a career off of compromising their own beliefs and morals to the point where they become only what they believe voters want them to be. Of course they are hypocritical — being against widely-liked policies such as decriminalizing drugs, Medicare for All and increasing the minimum wage.

This is clear when both Biden and Nancy Pelosi say it is necessary for America to have a “strong Republican Party.”

So when it comes to life-sav-

“If your political philosophy revolves around compromising with the other side and refusing to use the power you currently have to its fullest extent, then maybe you never believed in what you’re compromising to begin with.”

– Xavier Cullen

PODCAST PRODUCER

ing stimulus checks that are widely supported by the people, Democrats get strong-armed by Republicans into reducing payments to a one-time, means-tested $1,400 stimulus check that can barely pay peoples’ rent. This is of course hated by everyone, but why do what the people you represent want when you can just lick the boots of your Republican colleagues?

But I believe another theory paints the Democrats in a much more honest light. I don’t believe that all of this is an accident. I don’t see any way how Cuomo, who has been involved in politics ever since he managed his father’s campaign for governor in 1982, would overlook half of the deaths in nursing homes. That doesn’t just randomly happen.

“Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day.”

– Mitch McConnell SENATE MINORITY LEADER

Maybe when Biden and Pelosi said they wish to see a strong Republican Party they didn’t say that because they believed it was the most appealing to conservatives and centrists, maybe it’s because they actually agree with what the Republican Party stands for and advocates and don’t really care about the progressive label they hold so dear to them.

With every day that goes by that children at the southern border are still locked away in concentration camps, Biden is continuing to allow the horrific treatment and deaths that occur there. But again, why would he change anything? As vice president, Biden and former President Barack Obama locked up kids in cages and deported more migrants than any administration before them.

It’s important we stop chalking up the inactions of Democrats to stupidity or incompetence. Instead, we must treat them as if they are actively pushing for these horrible things to happen because the result is the same either way.

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Opinion|5

Opinion The dreamland could be slowly becoming a reality Inching closer to a post-pandemic United States

BY STEPHANIE SUAREZ Staff Writer

The past few months have made people feel like they’re living in a world that’s straight out of a Hollywood movie.

Only the film is stuck on one scene that’s being replayed over and over again. Yet, we are nearing the point when we can finally move on to the next scene because the battle of COVID-19 vs. humanity is coming to a close. The longawaited vaccine has finally begun to be administered to the general public.

The country should try to make strides to move forward in a world that is unlike what anyone lived in pre-COVID-19. However, what could life have been if we didn’t have staggering death rates and have been forced into a global lockdown? We’ve become so accustomed to our new way of

life that our old one seems like a faraway dream. Here’s the million-dollar question that’s been on the mind of so many people: what does the future hold for the world now that people are receiving vaccine doses?

As people were holding their breath waiting for the news, we all were relieved on Dec. 11, 2020 because the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved, made by Pfizer for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and soon after, the second COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna, was approved on Dec. 18, 2020.

The execution and rollout of the vaccine have been a bumpy ride — it was so controversial that President Joe Biden made a campaign promise that if he was elected into office, that there would be a vaccine plan in which he would

PHOTO FROM FRANCE 24 BROADCAST

After urging Americans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, President Joe Biden was vaccinated on live television.

have 100 million people vaccinated in 100 days. Now in the first 27 days of his administration, there have been more than 52 million people who have been vaccinated.

If the U.S. took a different approach toward the vaccine rollout from the beginning, America would be in the process of returning to a way of life in which there isn’t a lingering fear in the back of our minds. No longer is the thought that going to work, going on weekly grocery store trips or checking up on loved ones could result in a fight for their lives.

After the Donald Trump administration’s management of COVID-19, Biden announced to the suffering families and the divided nation that relief was on the way by making expanded testing sites, reopening schools and businesses in a safe and secure manner and providing support for communities that have been overlooked. Thus far, has he lived up to the promises he has made so far?

In his first week in office, Biden signed executive orders that formed the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, composed a plan to begin reopening schools and provide an economic stimulus package.

After a struggle between both sides of the aisle, aid is soon to be arriving for families. But is it too late? In hopes of finding a glimmer of joy, people are celebrating stories like the one of a Texas teen who is giving up her college savings to support her mother financially, so she isn’t evicted. But there’s a heartbreaking quality to this story. We shouldn’t need children to feel like they have to put aside their education in order to support their families because they’re on the brink of losing everything. We shouldn’t even have reached the point in which this teen saw her college savings as the only chance for her mother to keep paying her bills.

In a perfect world, a majority of the population would’ve been vaccinated in a short period of time, and we would return to offices, schools, social events and normality. Actually, in a perfect world, we wouldn’t have had to deal with COVID-19 in the first place.

But instead of dreaming about what could have been, we can move toward making our predictions for the future a reality. A future in which we hold the new presidential administration accountable for the promises it made and we can look back at the pandemic as a time of growth.

The weather is a personal problem

Administration may be between a rock and a hard place, but students deserve better amid winter storms

BY NEHA SEENARINE Staff Writer

Snowstorms have put a dent in our schedules, but they will not stop any time soon.

New England has beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons, whether it is the leaves changing color or the first snowfall. However, there’s a point when too much snow can change our viewpoints from admiration to annoyance.

Quinnipiac University’s administration made a poor call having in-person classes on Jan. 9. Snowy morning weather made the roads unsafe for students to drive to campus. Even though the weekly COVID-19 testing still occurred from morning to the afternoon, parking bans were put in place and made students move their vehicles and use the shuttle.

The shuttle services are convenient for on-campus students, however, there are students that commute to campus, living five minutes or five miles away. They have to make a decision whether a 50-minute class is worth risking their safety.

As a commuter, I waited for a text message that never came from the university. I thought with parking bans in place, classes would be remote for the day. I live 30 minutes away from Quinnipiac. The snow would come down heavier later in the day, and it would be difficult to drive back home.

I emailed my professor saying I would not be in attendance and join over Zoom because professors understand safety comes first. However, I felt like I inconvenienced them by not showing up to class.

The remote class setting seems like the perfect solution for inclement weather. Students can stay in the comfort of their rooms without worrying if they will slip on ice. Q-Flex was put into effect for students who cannot attend class whether they have to quarantine or do not feel safe going in person.

It can be confusing when Quinnipiac does not announce classes will be remote on a snowy day. I feel obligated to attend my in-person class because that specific cohort was assigned to

me. It puts me in a weird position deciding if the one class I pay thousands of dollars for is worth a hazardous trip.

A switch in a learning environment can be difficult. It can be challenging to go back and forth with remote and in-person classes. It seems like anything can change with attending classes. Health is a priority, but it is important for students to feel secure with the education they pay for.

The snow will not stop any time soon, and Quinnipiac’s administration will continue to make tough calls. After all, the forecast revolves around predictions. We never know

what the day will look like until it comes. We can’t blame inaccuracy on the weather channel or meteorologists because it is constantly changing. Our estimation of how long winter lasts is based on a non-credible groundhog seeing their shadow. Quinnipiac has a limited time window deciding if they want remote classes only.

I know we can’t send an email to the universe asking for the snow to stop. All I want is a little consideration during a year of great flexibility.

ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LAWLESS

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

6|DT

February 17, 2021

Are sports being prioritized?

DESIGN BY CONNOR LAWLESS

Behind the decision to hold sports in person but many other campus activities online

By EMILY DISALVO and JESSICA SIMMS

Classes? Hybrid. Student organization meetings? Virtual. Live performances? Nonexistent. But sports practices and games?

While not operating as usual, college athletes have spent more time face-to-face with other students than any other group on campus.

Sports cannot be carried out virtually, but many other campus activities have.

Nonetheless, sports come with a higher risk than attending class.

College athletics are responsible for over 6,600 cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of December 2020. The NCAA does not track COVID-19 cases and the New York Times reported that many universities do not share the number of COVID-19 cases among athletes.

“Any cases amongst student-athletes since the start of the Fall semester have been included in the general student body report that is available on the University website,” Quinnipiac University associate athletic director Nick Sczerbinski said in an email. “There is no report that will separate these numbers, nor can we provide individual information due to institutional policies and guidelines.”

Athletics paused when Quinnipiac reached the red level of risk on campus at the end of the

fall semester.

The number of cases linked to in-person classes so far is zero, according to a video from Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett.

Under the Q-Flex model at Quinnipiac, students split time between attending classes in person and online. Student organizations, including Greek life, are not allowed to hold in-person meetings. These organizations are also not allowed to hold any offcampus events.

In contrast, sports teams are subject to more frequent testing and thus are allowed to practice daily and attend games and meets off campus. Athletes such as senior women’s ice hockey defender Olivia Konigson said she feels confident that the protocols in place for athletics are working and could be implemented to help other organizations or even classes meet more frequently in person.

“I think there’s safe ways that they can make that happen,” Konigson said. “... Even if not everybody could meet in the meeting room at one time, I think that there are ways that we could make it work … Just as they do in the classroom with cohorts, and there are certain protocols to follow, but as long as we follow them, I think that they should be able to meet in person.”

Greek Life Like other student organizations, all sorority and fraternity meetings at Quinnipiac are virtual.

While individual Greek organizations are allowed to hold in-person events, Katherine Pezzella, director of Campus Life for fraternity and sorority life, said that many chapters have opted to go virtual because of the restrictions placed on in-person gatherings.

“When they had a choice of doing something online or doing it in person, many just defaulted to online because it is the safer choice and because of space issues on campus,” Pezzella said. “Our space issues are incredibly real.

Even pre-pandemic there are only a certain number of spaces on any of our three campuses where our sororities can all fit in a room together. Our average sorority size is 125 women.”

Now, all campus spaces have been reduced to a third of the nor-

mal capacity, so there are no places on campus where an entire sorority can be together.

While these organizations could hold hybrid events that operate like Q-Flex classes, most are opting to keep everyone in the same place.

With almost a year of the pandemic under their belts, Pezzella said she is hoping that sororities and fraternities will be able to have more inperson events given increased information about how the virus spreads.

“We just know more about what is a high-risk situation and what is a low-risk situation,” Pezzella said.

Quinnipiac Dr. David Wang and the COVID-19 Task Force worked with Greek Life and other organizations to create a rubric to judge how risky a particular activity will be.

“Our goal is to encourage all student organizations to do more than they were doing in the fall because we are able to approve more things using this rubric,” Pezzella said.

Thornton Lockwood, professor of philosophy, said that the reasons for continuing sports despite the pandemic vary depending on what level of sports are being considered.

At the collegiate level, Lockwood pointed to NCAA policies as well as the scholarships awarded to athletes.

“I’m sure that the NCAA is saying that if you are playing at an NCAA institution, you have to do this, this and this,” Lockwood said.

The scholarships awarded to student-athletes also create an obligation for universities, Lockwood said.

“What obligations does the university have to those students who are here as student-athletes?” Lockwood said. “That prioritization may be a function of the fact that we have an obligation to those students. They’ve been recruited, they’ve been admitted, given spots on teams with scholarships.”

At the national level, Lockwood, who is currently teaching a course in sports philosophy, said events like the Super Bowl went on because of money.

But at the high school level, he said that passion and pressure from athletes and parents is the reason many schools are still competing. Lockwood has a son in high school. He said that a massive protest gained

traction at the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) headquarters near his home.

“There were protests outside the offices of this oversight body basically saying ‘Let us play our seasons,’” Lockwood said. “Imagine you are a hockey player, you’re a senior, this is your last season. It was a powerful protest, but no one was wearing a mask.”

Under the CIAC guidelines for winter high school sports, “high risk” sports like wrestling, competitive dance and competitive cheer are only allowed to do conditioning practices.

On college campuses however, some students who are not on athletic teams are frustrated by the virtual format of many of their club meetings and classes.

Alyssa Arends, a member of the mock trial team at Quinnipiac as well as Quinnipiac Democrats, said that while sports are important, college is a place for education. She said that if classes move online as COVID-19 cases spike, sports should also be canceled.

“If COVID makes it too dangerous for classes to meet in person — which we know COVID isn’t spreading in the classroom because of social distancing and mask wearing — then absolutely no way should sports be meeting,” Arends said.

Theater Instead of eliminating theater productions in the fall 2020 semester, Kevin Daly, theater program director and associate professor of theater, decided that they would produce a hybrid production to keep students engaged.

“A lot of theater programs sort of looked at the pandemic and said, ‘Theater and the kind of health recommendations that are being made don’t go together so we’re not going to produce theater,’” Daly said. “I understood that decision and I see the merit in it, but I also saw people feeling very isolated, being locked away in a dorm room is not a fulfilling or meaningful experience. We said to ourselves what we can do safely and less about what we can do artistically.”

The hybrid production was going to include scenes that were done in person in the theater, some that were pre-filmed and some that were taking place live on Zoom. All of these scenes were integrated into a production and live streamed on YouTube. However, then the university shut down.

“All of the really cool stuff that they did with the pre-filming was able to be incorporated and there were some really cool graphics that they

did,” Daly said. “That was the fall and then this spring, we tried it again.”

This semester, they are putting together a production called “An Iliad,” which is based on the classic Greek story. Daly said that this show is usually a one-person show, but they have casted seven Quinnipiac students who will take on different parts.

“They’re going to perform it in the theater and livestream for the audience,” Daly said. “We’re really excited about that … I think it’s going to end up being a really exciting production, but even before you get to that part, the process is going to be really meaningful for those involved.”

Daly said he does not try to compare sports and theater in how they operate, but that we can learn from both in terms of how they are practicing and competing in person in a safe manner.

“Sports are a different universe,” Daly said. “They operate on a different plane than we do in what they do for the university and who they serve and how they do that is a completely different thing, so I try not to compare it … I think that we learn from what they’re doing and try to adapt some of their policies so that we can do some of the in-person stuff too.”

February 17, 2021

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

DT|7

CHRONICLE ARCHIVES

Quinnipiac sports are operating in person whereas other activities on campus are primarily virtual.

Big Event As much as the Big Event co-directors, Alyssa Lawson, senior health science studies major, and Kara Boninsegna, a senior in the Entry Level Masters Physician Assistant program, would like to have their meetings in person, they understand that going virtual is the safest option so they can have their event in person.

“You can’t collaborate one-on-one as easily as we can in person as we can on Zoom, but I do think that if it comes between having our event in person, and that means having the meetings on Zoom, I’m OK with that,” Lawson said.

Big Event has grown to be the largest single-day, student-run service project in the nation after being founded at Texas A&M University in 1982. Quinnipiac started hosting a Big Event in 2010 and during its 2019 Big Event, over 1,600 Quinnipiac students completed over 4,500 hours of service.

Lawson said that this year they had to get the Big Event approved by the school board, which is something they’ve never had to do before, but they are able to keep the heart of the event the same by still being able to send volunteers to different sites to complete service.

“We’re still able to send volunteers to a lot of the sites, but in regards to those sites, we do COVID-19 precautionary checks,” Lawson said. “We also had to change some of the sites or take away some of the sites depending on if they were accepting volunteers because a lot of things like the nursing homes aren’t accepting people into the actual facilities for obviously COVID-19 reasons.”

Along with having to modify which sites they can send volunteers to, Lawson said they also had to change the number of volunteers that can go to the different sites. In past years, some sites could take upward of 250 volunteers,

but with COVID-19 capacity restrictions, that is no longer feasible.

Boninsegna said that they are still determining the size of teams but are recommending that people team up with members of their family unit.

“We’re hoping because suites on campus go up to eight to 10 people, we’re hoping to keep (teams) at eight to 10 people so that is great,” Boninsegna said. “For sororities and fraternities, a lot of their upperclassmen live together in houses so that keeps some of the organization together, which is really nice.”

The opening ceremony, which normally takes place in person in Burt Kahn Court, is now virtual. Since teams will have to pick up their tools in person, Lawson said they are having that be a contactless drive by.

“It’s going to be kind of a recorded version of (the opening ceremony) that’s going to be sent out to people,” Lawson said. “... To get their tools and everything like that, it’s going to be a drive thru process in North Lot. It’s completely no-contact and they come through and get their tools and their shirts and still be able to go straight to their volunteering site.”

While it may be different, Boninsegna said many clubs and organizations on campus are making the most of holding events and meetings virtually. She said that one thing she has learned as co-director is that communication is key.

“You can’t go to someone at the meeting and be like, ‘Listen, this is how it is. I’ll show you everything, the way I’m thinking,’” Boninsegna said. “You have to be like, ‘OK let me explain it to you through Zoom, while I’m over here in my dorm room and you’re across Hamden in your house. We’re going to get through this.’”

QU Athletics Since there was not enough information released in the fall 2020 semester about how athletics could safely operate, the fall sports teams could not have their normal season.

After having some more time to prepare, the hockey and basketball teams have been able to compete and now the spring and fall teams are preparing to begin their seasons this semester.

“We take a lot of measures to be able to play safely and to make sure that people do have the opportunity to play the sport of why they are at Quinnipiac and represent Quinnipiac in a great light,” said Maggie Pruitt, assistant director of athletics communications.

While practicing and competing amid the pandemic is challenging and different, Konigson is thankful for the opportunity to be able to play.

“There’s a lot of teams who’ve had their seasons canceled, and it’s not easy for anybody,” Konigson said.

“It’s unprecedented, and there’s been a lot of adversity that everybody’s had to face. We’re just very grateful.”

Konigson said she thinks the protocols they follow are strong, but there is always a chance that something unprecedented could happen.

“You could contract COVID-19 no matter where you go, whether it is the grocery store or you’re traveling somewhere,” Konigson said. “As long as we’re taking the precautions we can, I feel that helps us feel safe.”

For the women’s basketball team, junior guard Mackenzie DeWees said that they all feel safe enough as teammates to not have to wear masks when practicing and playing, which follows both MAAC and NCAA rules.

“We started off wearing masks in the weight room and on the court in the beginning and then as we progressed with protocols and what we needed to do through the MAAC

protocols, we were able to not wear masks on the court,” DeWees said. “...

We all feel safe and that the MAAC is doing the right thing, so when we play, none of us wear masks. We feel that everybody has been tested and that everybody has been following the same protocols.”

As a women’s basketball player, DeWees said she feels as if she is a part of a bubble since she lives with other teammates and does not interact with other students outside of her team.

“A lot of us are online, some of us may be in one or two classes, so we’re really kind of separated from the general student body in that aspect,” DeWees said.

However, DeWees does not think that it is as easy to create that bubble for other students so they could have in-person clubs and activities due to how involved some students are.

“Students really want to be involved and that’s awesome, and I think that would be a lot for them to give up to really bubble each individual group and section you as we do as athletes,” DeWees said. “It’s something that we’ve been involved in since summer … I think that would be a tough thing to give up as a student. I think right now what they’re doing is to the best of their ability and hopefully in the fall, everything will be back to normal.”

And for right now, Konigson said that she is playing each game as if it is her last.

“You never know when COVID-19 is going to get worse, you never know if the rest of your season is going to get canceled or that your game that is coming up this next weekend is going to get canceled, so I think the few that we have, every game is very important to us that we do get to play,” Konigson said.

8|Arts and Life

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Arts & Life The Weeknd under the lights Super Bowl LV halftime show was one of my favorites

By KEVIN BORBA Contributing Writer

It is safe to say that Tom Brady winning his seventh ring was not the only notable performance during Super Bowl LV. The Weeknd put on an absolute spectacle during his performance, and it was certainly unique in comparison to past halftime shows. I enjoy his music so when it was announced that he was performing, I was thrilled.

It was evident that the amount of effort put into the sets along with the subliminal message his back-up dancers portrayed were all very calculated. Throughout the year, The Weeknd had been sporting a look that left many people confused.

He has been spinning somewhat of a tale in the past year, dating back to when he had public appearances in March, by having bruises or cuts on his face. Eventually this evolved into him posting a picture of him wearing a bandage on his face followed by what looked like extreme plastic surgery. He explained in an interview with Variety that he was portraying a persona he called, “The Character.”

“The significance of the entire head bandages is reflecting on the absurd culture of Hollywood celebrities and people manipulating themselves for superficial reasons to please and be validated,” The Weeknd told Variety.

The beginning of the show was truly amazing, as it seemed as though he was sitting right in the middle of the vibrantly lit Las Vegas Strip — a place where his music videos for his newest album, “After Hours,” told the story of a man (The Character) having some sort of a meltdown.

I can honestly understand why people did not appreciate his performance. If you do not follow him closely, you are unaware of the background and the underlying meaning of all the wardrobe and sets. I think he did a great job showing off his vocal abilities as he minimized the number of times he let the background track takeover, and it seemed as if he used little to no autotune.

When we think of the Super Bowl halftime performance, there is always anticipation like it is Christmas morning waiting to see what we get from Santa, but we are waiting to see who the insanely famous guest performer(s) will be. However, there were none this year.

I think that can be attributed to a couple factors, the first being of the nine songs he sang, only two feature other artists.

The second reason that I have concluded would be the fact he wanted to continue the everlasting storyline of “The Character” which he most likely did not foresee any guest being able to help improve the journey.

I enjoyed the choir that helped ease us into the performance at the beginning as it gave the show a lighthearted vibe. The backup dancers that were stationed behind him on the wall on what looked like a darker cityscape was a great touch because, if you do not know already, The Weeknd is not a dancer by any means. The closest thing to him dancing was the couple

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

In a Super Bowl like no other, 'The Weeknd' delivered a performance that while confusing some, thrilled longtime fans. shimmies he provided during the show.

The Weeknd’s limited dancing is something that I would pinpoint as the main reason people were not a fan because in the past, we have had performers such as Latin icons Jennifer Lopez and Shakira who are both polished dancers. Justin Timberlake and Beyonce are also both skilled dancers. By having so many artists who are capable of dancing and singing, I think fans have come to expect to see that during the halftime show.

The backup dancers and performers were all fluid and in sync throughout the performance. I enjoyed the violin accompaniment for the songs, but the people on stage were unfortunately not actually playing. Former fiddler of The Band Perry, Jason Fitz, pointed out that he noticed none of them were actually playing and were more just there for the ambiance of those specific scenes. I think it would have been spectacular if they were playing, but I am sure the budget was most likely put into the sets, as it was also reported that The Weeknd spent $7 million of his own money to help illustrate his vision.

As a fan of The Weeknd, I knew that he would not be dancing, but I think he made up for that with the camera that was extremely up close to him that seemed as if he was carrying and his incredible vocals. The finale on the field with him and the dancers, who were all dressed as “The Character,” was fun to watch as the dancers were precise and chaotic but in an amazingly organized way.

The halftime show ended with The Weeknd hitting a high note, and, honestly, I would consider his entire performance as the high note of the night. I enjoyed the performance more than other halftime shows in the past because if I go to watch someone sing, I do not want to watch them dance for the majority of the time.

I was pleasantly surprised with the evolution of “The Character” and also very much a fan of his singing and performance as a whole.

Rating: 9.5/10 Stars

SCREENSHOTS FROM TWITTER

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Arts and Life|9

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Local Art Corner

For Korrine Marsh, art is a passion not a job

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY KORRINE MARSH

Korrine Marsh, a first-year at Quinnipiac, primarily uses painting as her medium for art.

By ANYA GRONDALSKI Staff Writer

Korrine Marsh, a first-year biology major in the 3+1 program, has been making art for six years.

“I took art classes all throughout high school, and I’m currently taking a color theory class,” Marsh said. “ I was a part of the Art Honor Society during my high school years and was president during my senior year. I have not really explored the art scene at Quinnipiac yet, but it is something I am interested in doing.”

Although she’s been making art for over half a decade, Marsh never really considered her artistic work to be anything more than a hobby she is passionate about.

“I never really wanted to take my art down a career path,” Marsh said. “ I just love doing it as a hobby and a way to de-stress. I don’t ever want my art to become draining. I love having the ability to use whatever media I want and to create any composition.”

Marsh turns to art when she feels stressed or overwhelmed, often getting lost in her creativity.

“I usually just start playing some music, and I can paint for hours,” Marsh said. “Painting is what I prefer, but I don’t often have enough time to sit for hours and paint.”

As for the style of her work, Marsh said it can’t be pinpointed, as her pieces range from colorful reality to unrealistic depictions of animals and everything in between.

“I honestly don’t really have a style,” Marsh said. “ I love making paintings that have vibrant colors. I like to try different mediums and styles because I hate repetition in my artwork. Using different mediums allows for different textures and colors.”

This large acrylic piece helped Korrine Marsh relax during a stressful time in her life.

Marsh’s favorite medium is watercolor. She thinks it offers each piece more character. Outside of painting, Marsh sometimes makes sketch art.

“It has so much fluidity in the piece and each stroke gives my art so much personality,” Marsh said.” Watercolor allows for intense layering and can really make a piece pop with dimension.

I also love acrylic paint. It is so forgiving of any mistake and changes my art until I get the given desire I want.”

Gradually dipping her toe in the digital art world as well, Marsh said working electronically has been a really fun and enjoyable experience.

“I use Procreate on my iPad, and it is very straightforward to use,” Marsh said. “I can get the texture of dozens of different media all on my iPad. It gives me the ability to experiment with oil paint, gouache and even spray paint without having to buy them. I also have noticed how much faster my digital art takes to complete than my traditional art.”

Despite being artistically talented, Marsh is tough on herself — much tougher than other people who view her art.

“I am probably the biggest critic of my art,” Marsh said. “I can always find something that isn’t perfect that I want to change.”

It takes the young artist anywhere from an hour to a week to complete an art piece, but realistically she thinks a piece of art “can never be finished.”

“The artist can always add more to make it more, more detailed, more emotional, more personable,” Marsh said. “I often take breaks from my art, starting a new piece without finishing my previous, just so I can come back and look at it later with a different perspective.”

ARTWORK CONTRIBUTED BY KORRINE MARSH

Korrine Marsh enjoys trying different styles and experimenting with positive and negative space.

ARTWORK CONTRIBUTED BY KORRINE MARSH

ARTWORK CONTRIBUTED BY KORRINE MARSH

This is a tattoo design that Korrine Marsh made digitally.

10|Arts and Life

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Book of the Week

‘The Secret History’ is a classic novel in the making

By ASHLEY PELLETIER Associate Arts & Life Editor

I made a goal to read more books in 2021. I did not expect that I would find a novel I would consider a favorite less than a month into my endeavor.

“The Secret History,” by Donna Tartt, follows Richard Papen as he transfers to Hampden College, a small, picturesque school in northern Vermont. The reader joins him as he bonds with his five classmates and his mildly-famous professor, Julian Morrow.

Morrow teaches the six students about the classics, focusing on the Greeks and their ideas of beauty, life and fantasy.

The prologue begins with the murder and subsequent finding of Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran. The reader has no idea who Corcoran is or why the narrator and his friends murdered him, but it is a hell of a way to start a novel.

Throughout the novel, it is slowly revealed why Corcoran gets murdered. He is brash, offensive and spends more money than he has.

The reader begins to hate him just as much as the other characters do. I’ll admit that, even though I knew he would die, I was looking forward to it just because he was being such a terrible person.

The book has an intriguing cast of characters to complement Papen and Corcoran. Henry Winter is a young genius who speaks several languages and always has his nose in a book, Francis Abernathy is an old money trust fund kid whose countryside mansion plays a significant role in the events of the novel and

Charles and Camilla Macaulay are twin orphans from a gothic mansion in Virginia.

All four of these students play a vital role in the events of the novel. Each one represents an old money stereotype that feels natural at an elite countryside school like Hampden.

The reader follows Papen in a third-person limited perspective, meaning that they only know as much as Papen does. However, as he learns more about his friends and what they have been doing when he is not paying attention, the plot becomes so clear that you wonder why you couldn’t see it before it was revealed.

“The Secret History” almost reminded me of “The Great Gatsby.” Not in that it is pretentious or loved by every English professor and their mother, but because it is one of those novels that you will experience it differently each time you read it.

There will always be more details to notice about the characters and the plot of the world that they are experiencing. I look forward to being able to read it again just to see what I missed in my first read-through.

I don’t think that there are words I can use that will perfectly convey just how good I think this book is. It is so intricately detailed, well-written and well-thought out that it ranks as one of my favorite books I have read of all time. I highly recommend that any book lover or thrill seeker take a look at “The Secret History” and all that it has to offer.

ASHLEY PELLETIER/CHRONICLE

'The Secret History' is a detailed thriller that gives off similar vibes to cult classic 'The Great Gatsby'

ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL CLEMENT

Binge-watching through the boredom Here are a few of the Netflix originals that are keeping students busy this semester

By LEXI PEPE Staff Writer

Some Quinnipiac University students have resorted to watching the new Netflix originals to defeat boredom in their dorm room. After consulting with students, here are four must-see shows.

SCREENSHOT FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

SCREENSHOT FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

"Bridgerton" The show’s plot takes place during Regency-era London, following a prestigious family with multiple storylines revolving around looking for love — an adaptation of the novel, “The Duke and I” by Julia Quinn. The first season of the show focuses on Daphne Bridgerton, the eldest sister.

Lady Whistledown, voiced by Julie Andrews, is an anonymous writer who proclaims Daphne to be a “diamond of the first water,” which means she is a woman of beauty.

The phrase originates from a technical term to describe a diamond's purity, which gives Daphne an advantage to find a well-rounded husband.

If you look past all the romance, “Bridgerton” has other underlying qualities many can appreciate such as people of color holding high-status roles and feminism. Daphne’s sister Eloise wishes to attend a university, but Daphne fights against her brother and his misogynistic views. For being a historical drama, the show is in tune with modern culture.

“It’s very similar to the popular show ‘Gossip Girl’ which I know many people who enjoyed it,” said Juliana Kenna, a firstyear film, television, and media studies major.

The author of the No. 1 bestseller “Gossip Girl,” Cecily Von Ziegesar, took inspiration from Quinn’s novel. The character Lady Whisteldown in Bridgerton will remind fans of Kristen Bell, narrating as “Gossip Girl.”

"Cobra Kai" “Cobra Kai” is an action-packed comedy sequel of its 37-year-old predecessor, “The Karate Kid.” As the show transitioned ownership from YouTube Red Premium to Netflix, it quickly became first on the streaming service’s top 10 list in 2020.

“Cobra Kai” takes place 35 years after the movie as Johnny Lawrence (William Zabaka) turns into a dead-beat dad and an alcoholic. He reflects on his championship loss against Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) and blames him for his downfall.

Lawrence begins his redemption arc by becoming the new Miyagi. He mentors newcomer Miguel Diaz, as he is bullied similar to Larusso in the original movie. The show has many flashbacks and gives a new generation a chance to enjoy a cult classic.

“There was something for everyone. It’s easy to watch and action-packed,” said Jillian Catalano, a first-year public relations major.

“Cobra Kai” caters to various audiences as it has action, comedy, drama and hints of romance. The show has three seasons to binge during all of these snowstorms, and Netflix announced it would return with a fourth season in October 2021.

"Fate: The Winx Saga" Based on the 2004 Nickelodeon animated series, “The Winx Club,” Netflix re-adapted this childhood fantasy into something more sinister. Bloom (Abbey Cowen), a changeling fairy raised by human parents, has to adjust to her new life in the Otherworld, where she must learn how to control her powers. She also discovers some dark secrets along the way.

On Jan. 23, “Fate: The Winx Saga” was the first TV show (and Netflix Original) to dethrone “Bridgerton” for the first place title on the streaming platform.

Some people have been skeptical about watching the show

due to the fact it is about fairies. However, the show carries itself in a darker light similar to “The Vampire Diaries.”

“I like that the show was portrayed in a way that wasn’t cheesy because I was a little unsure if I would like it when I saw it was about fairies, but it ended up being really good,” said Sydney Nelson, a first-year health science studies major.

The good comes with the bad as “Fate: The Winx Saga” has white-washed two crucial characters so far, leaving some fans upset. Netflix still has yet to decide if the show will have a second season.

SCREENSHOT FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

"You" A psychological thriller that premiered on Netflix in 2018 and has been renewed for a third season sometime in 2021. Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is an awkward, yet charming bookstore manager who meets Beck (Elizabeth Lail), an aspiring novelist, but his fixation on her is more alarming than flattering.

Season one definitely toys with the audience's mind as it has you oddly rooting for Goldberg because you learn of his vulnerabilities and notice he sometimes displays acts of kindness. The show by all means isn’t for those who can’t stomach horror.

“It was a little intense and quite scary sometimes. I couldn’t finish an episode.” Catalano said.

Personally, I enjoyed watching the series and have been waiting for the show’s anticipated release date. “YOU” has a lot of plot twists to keep its audience on edge and returning for more. The actors also portray convincing characters which leaves the audience confused on who to side with.

If you’re not into thrillers, this show may not be for you and if you’re semi-convinced, try watching it with a roommate and guess what will happen next in each episode to lighten the mood.

Fe b r u a r y 1 7 , 2 0 2 1

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts and Life|11

Taking back her life Why Taylor Swift’s re-recordings are important to the music industry

By ASHLEY PELLETIER Associate Arts & Life Editor

Taylor Swift released “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” a remastered version of her 2008 hit single on Feb. 12. It is the first of many re-recordings that Swift plans on releasing after losing ownership of the master tracks for her first six albums.

The new version of “Love Story” sounds much smoother than the original because of how Swift’s vocal chords have matured. It also removes some of the more “country” aspects of its production.

More specifically, the guitar is less twangy and the background tracks are Swift’s voice in comparison to the 2008 version, which used other singers for the secondary tracks.

I really enjoyed “Love Story (Taylor’s Version).” I loved the song growing up, which made it more meaningful to listen to it for the first time as an adult. I am excited to see how Swift adapts her other songs and albums, and I am also interested to hear some of the new songs she plans on releasing with the re-recordings. These songs were written with the albums, but were eventually omitted.

In 2018, Swift ended a 12-year contract with Big Machine Records. This agreement signed away her ownership of all of her master recordings, meaning that Swift makes no money from streams or downloads of any of the six albums she recorded under them. She attempted to purchase these tracks from Big Machine.

However, it refused to do so unless Swift would agree to record one album for every album she would regain the rights to.

Ultimately, Swift refused to agree to this deal. Big Machine then sold the master tracks to talent manager Scooter Braun. Swift and Braun openly feuded until Braun and Big Machine sold the

tracks to Shamrock Holdings for $300 million.

From there, Swift decided to re-record all of the tracks that she lost under her contract. She could do this because she owns the music and lyrics to all the songs, just not the recordings that she made for the albums’ original releases.

“I’ve spoken a lot about why I’m remaking my first six albums,” Swift said in a statement posted to her social media accounts on Feb. 11. “But the way I’ve chosen to do this will hopefully help illuminate where I’m coming from. Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.”

Swift entered her contract with Big Machine when she was 17 years old. Her young age made it easy for Big Machine to slip ownership of master tracks into a contract without Swift knowing or fully understanding the consequences of it.

Re-recording these tracks speaks to the dedication that Swift has to her craft. Not only does it show that she is reclaiming a part of her life that was controlled by the music industry, it also brings Swift back to her roots to explore how she got there. I think it will remind listeners — Swift fans or not — that she has changed from the teen country-pop star into a powerful woman who is capable of changing the standards of the music industry.

“This process has been more fulfilling and emotional than I could’ve imagined and has made me even more determined to re-record all of my music,” Swift said in her statement. “I hope you’ll like this first outing as much as I liked traveling back in time to recreate it.”

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PHOTO FROM @TAYLORSWIFT13 TWITTER

'Love Story (Taylor's Version)' is a grown-up version of the 2008 hit single that Swift released when she was 18.

12|Sports

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports

February 17, 2021

@QUCHRONSPORTS

Pete’s pond COURTESY OF QU ATHLETICS

Quinnipiac’s bottom six forwards propel Bobcats in ECAC Hockey standings

By PETER PIEKARSKI Associate Sports Editor

For the entire season, Quinnipiac’s offense has revolved around six players. The last four games proved otherwise as depth scoring came in waves to boost the Bobcats’ hold on first place in ECAC Hockey.

The two, bottom-six forwards that suddenly blossomed are sophomores Matthew Fawcett and Joey Cipollone. Fawcett, who had not recorded a point since opening night in December, lit the lamp three times and tallied an additional three assists over the past four games. His offensive output landed him an ECAC Player of the Week award.

During the 9-0 win over Colgate on Saturday, Fawcett was a hound on the puck. He was relentless all night on the forecheck, and his ability to battle in the corners despite facing much larger defensemen was quite noticeable.

Late in the third period, Fawcett got buried into the boards, but instead of retaliating as many players on both

sides did for most of the game, he collected the puck in the corner and set up junior defenseman T.J. Friedmann in the low slot for a power-play goal.

And Cipollone, who had one point all season, netted his first goal as a Bobcat alongside three assists in his last two games. Before Saturday night’s game, it had been 456 days since Cipollone had scored a goal, so the monkey is off the back for him as the ECAC Hockey playoffs draw closer.

Depth scoring has been an issue for the Bobcats all year as 40 of the team’s 74 goals (54%) have come off of the sticks of five players. Losing junior forward Wyatt Bongiovanni in December was extremely impactful on how Quinnipiac’s offense performed 5-on-5 and on the power play.

With Bongiovanni sidelined for the meantime, freshman sensation Ty Smilanic has been slotted into the epicenter of one-timers on the right faceoff dot. Smilanic has potted three goals on the man advantage since Bongiovanni’s injury.

The only issue with Smilanic on the right side as op-

GRAPHIC BY CONNOR LAWLESS

posed to the bumper position in the high slot or down low looking for screens or rebounds, is that Bongiovanni has a much more excessive shot-first mentality. His shot volume forced the penalty killers to shift toward him and assume the puck was headed to his stick.

In actuality, this allows shooting lanes for the “quarterback” which flip flops between junior defensemen Peter De Liberatore and Zach Metsa, as well as senior forward Odeen Tufto. Since Tufto is a well-known pass-first player, his shot availability has not been ideal for the power play.

Bongiovanni’s injury has prevented these lanes from opening up, leading to many forced shots from outside highpercentage areas, as well as many blocked shots.

Dating back to Jan. 10, Quinnipiac’s power play has been ice cold. Over that nine-game stretch, the Bobcats only mustered to net two power-play goals on 30 opportunities.

That 6.67% could have been more damaging had their penalty kill not been superb all season long.

The excessive cold stretch ultimately ended on Feb. 13, as the Bobcats converted on four of their eight power plays, bringing the teams total power-play percentage (PP%) up to 23.3% on the season.

Referencing back to Pete’s Pond: The Final Stretch, two players that were brought up with expectations to produce more were sophomore forwards Ethan Leyh and Skyler Brind’Amour. They both rose to the task since then, as they both collected three points.

Leyh, who only played in three of the last four games, broke his 19-game goalless drought with a late second-period goal, which also happened to be assisted by Fawcett and Brind’Amour.

This level of depth production is exactly what Quinnipiac needed. As the ECAC Hockey playoffs roar closer, and the race for the conference title gets tighter, removing some pressure off of the shoulders of the top producers is paramount.

If the offense starts to catch fire as the Bobcats roll into the playoffs, it could be a key recipe for success, especially if Bongiovanni returns in time. Furthermore, their excellent defense and goaltending will fuel the fire.

The anchor for the entire season has been senior goaltender Keith Petruzzelli. His stats continuously improve as the season progresses, and he keeps building on his most successful season as a Bobcat.

His 1.66 goals against average (GAA) ranks first in ECAC Hockey and fourth in all of Division I, and his .933 save percentage (SV%) sits at second in ECAC Hockey and is tied for eighth in Division I. To add to those outstanding stats, Petruzzelli has five shutouts, a career high, in just 22 starts.

This Bobcats roster is hungry. After having last season cut short right before playoffs, Quinnipiac wants this one more than ever. With the departure of Tufto and Petruzzelli at the end of this year, both who have left an everlasting impact on Quinnipiac hockey, the time is now.