Quinnipiac University set to announce its 10th president
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
Quinnipiac University’s Board of Trustees Chair Chuck Saia announced Monday morning in a university-wide email the welcoming of the 10th Quinnipiac President set for Thursday.
“This was a rigorous process that started early last year,” Saia wrote. “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your active participation in the process of selecting our new Quinnipiac President. Your dedication, insights, and engagement have been invaluable throughout this important journey. This is an exciting time for our entire community.”
According to the email, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the university’s new president on Jan. 14.
“The selection process has been a true refection of our community’s commitment to excellence and collaboration,” Saia wrote. “Thank you for your unwavering support.”
The event will be held in the Mt. Carmel Auditorium at noon and will also be simulcasted in the North Haven Auditorium. An Outlook invitation for students, faculty and staff was sent out before 10 a.m. on Monday.
Current President Judy Olian announced her intention to step down three days before the start of the fall 2024 semester. She served six years as the university’s first female president.
Canvas set to replace Blackboard by fall 2026
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
Quinnipiac University’s students and faculty will soon say goodbye to Blackboard, as the university courses will migrate over the next academic year into Canvas.
Canvas is an innovative learning management system that offers a seamless, userfriendly platform for teaching and learning. Built with fexibility and collaboration in mind, Canvas provides faculty with robust tools to design engaging courses, integrate multimedia and foster meaningful student interactions. Its intuitive user interface makes it easy to manage assignments and assessments, integrate third-party tools and communicate for in-person, hybrid or online classes, according to the QILT website.
This was a collaborative project between the Quinnipiac Innovations in Learning and Technology, Teaching and Classroom Technology team from Information Technology, Faculty Senate and an LMS evaluation committee made up of faculty across the university, that started in spring 2024.
The choice was between Blackboard Ultra and Canvas.
“Any time an institution is coming to an end to an end of a LMS contract, it tends to be a good thing to periodically evaluate,” said Adam Nemeroff, director of instructional design and technology, who also oversees the Offce of Learning Design and Technology. “Our team thought a lot about where the LMS is working or not working right now. We had a lot of methods for evaluating that. At the end of that we had about 70% people say they preferred Canvas over Blackboard.”
But why Canvas?
“The user experience and accessibility of Canvas is just so much better and provides a lot more fexibility for faculty to customize the student experience based on the modality of the course,” said Joel Vanner, assistant director of learning, media and emerging technologies. “We are really excited about that. Online and on-ground courses have different needs within and LMS and we wanna make sure that faculty can tailor their courses. The course management is a lot easier, grading, setting up assignments, it’s just a lot easier when they use Canvas.”
One of the advantages Canvas offers is the transfer of documents into a desired format by a teacher. In the past students might not have been able to submit their assignments in Google Pages, for example,
if their teacher did not have access to that site. In Canvas, the teachers can view the document regardless.
Canvas also offers 24/7 support by phone, chat or email.
“I’ve actually used Canvas at my last institution,” Nemeroff said. “It’s very intuitive. Students don’t tend to get tripped up as much, there aren’t as many quirks as with Blackboard, things are more consistent across it. The ability to use it on mobile is better.”
Canvas mobile apps (Canvas Student or Canvas Teacher) are free and available for download, both for IOS and Android.
Some classes in the Masters of Social Work program have already been moved onto this platform, while the rest of the
university is set to follow in opt-in phases and completely transition by fall 2026 — which means there is a possibility that students will have classes on both platforms at the same time.
“I’ve gotten a really positive feedback from our designers and faculty so far,” Vanner said. “We also have a lot of faculty that have told us that they have taught with Canvas on other institutions in the past, which we are really excited about, so it’s not a platform that I think a lot of people are unfamiliar with, a lot of people have either heard of it or used it.”
Not everyone has a Quinnipiac account in Canvas yet, but links to Canvas will be posted onto MyQ in the future, once needed.
Blackboard is the daughter company of Anthrology, which is used for other Quinnipiac websites like Transact for example, and will continue to be even after Blackboard is no longer available for use.
The QILT will hold Zoom sessions where they will introduce users to Canvas if needed. Registration is required.
The fles in Blackboard will not transfer into Canvas.
“If you’ve used any modern website, Wordpress, etc., a lot of the design things carry through into Canvas,” Vanner said. “The student experience, I know it will get a lot better in terms of use, because the issues of using Blackboard sometimes come up because of the confusing way things have to be set up on the faculty side. Because things are so easy to set up for faculty on the platform, I think that will trickle down to students just having a much better experience using it.”
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School of Nursing receives approval for Certifcate for Nursing Aide Training
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
The State of Connecticut’s Department of Public Health recently approved Quinnipiac University School of Nursing’s proposal for a Certifed Nurse Aide Training Program — a program designed to teach students the responsibilities of a nursing assistant.
Certified Nursing Assistant, or CNA, works in healthcare settings to provide basic care to patients, works under the direction of a registered nurse and is trained to help patients with daily tasks like bathing and dressing, as well as checking patient’s vital signs and so on, according to the American Red Cross. CNAs can work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices and home care.
“Quinnipiac, both the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work, received the Connecticut Health Horizon’s Grant, which was about $3 million, to diversify and increase the flow of those professions,” said Lisa O’Connor, innovative programs manager and professor of nursing. “Part of that grant was innovative programs for nursing. The innovative programs, two things come from that (and) one was the CNA program.”
This course will consist of five weeks of training — including 45 hours of asynchronous lectures, 31 hours in a lab setting with hands-on skills on the North Haven Campus, 24 hours of clinical rotation at a long-term facility and eight hours of written and skills review and exam review with a simulation component, according to the MyQ announcement.
“A lot of people, not just nursing students, are interested in healthcare, in patient care,” O’Connor said. “In Connecticut it is very defned in what (those who undergo the training) can do and how they are educated. It’s about patient care, patient safety, communication, dignity, privacy.”
However, it is not open to just Quinnipiac students. Anyone in the community who is interested in this certificate, is open to register.
“At first we are going to be focused
University School of Nursing’s new Certifcate for
is offered to the outside community as well as current students.
on our internal students,” O’Connor said. “Then we’ll also open it up to the public, for those in our community who might be interested in becoming a CNA. Through (the Department of) Lifelong Learning, they have a different registration, it still goes through our Registrar so to speak, the class is in Blackboard.”
O’Connor hopes to start the first round of the program in February, but understands that it might not attract a lot of students as they would have to stay during Spring Break. But it will be offered every month, and more frequently during the summer.
For now, the training is not worth any school credits, though O’Connor is open to the idea of possibly making it an elective in the future.
“It is considered continuing education,” O’Connor said. “Any students in good standing, we welcome them to register. Given that it’s 108 hours, we also want the students to think about if it’s a good timing for them. It’s an add on. We wanna get it launched and then we’ll see how we can make it an open elective for students
at Quinnipiac. There’s been a lot of hands raised by parents and potential students, they wondered if we had it. We knew there was interest from incoming students. In addition we’re hearing from social work students and those across the campus, there are people who are interested in patient care.”
While the course is not yet available for registration through Self Service, students interested in signing up should email either O’Connor or Angela Falcon, student support liaison.
“Falcon is the certified educator, she’s the hands-on expert in that material in terms of teaching,” O’Connor said.
The Certificate is valid only in Connecticut, however O’Connor and Falcon can help assist those who would like to transfer it to another state.
“It opens doors into employment around our area,” O’Connor said. “Some (states) require a little bit of a different education but mostly we can help transfer it.”
If the CNA is not employed at least parttime regularly, they will have to redo their registration to maintain their status.
Spring semester begins with technical troubles
By AVA HIGHLAND Associate News Editor
Only a couple of days after students returned to campus for the spring 2025 semester, Quinnipiac University faced several technological issues as the term kicked off.
Students began their semester on Tuesday Jan. 21. However, the day was cut short in response to a campus-wide power outage on the Mount Carmel Campus.
Around 9:15 a.m. the entire main campus lost power. At this time many students were in or on their way to class and still continued as usual. The exact cause of the outage, however, remains unknown.
diately lost all power and had to close with many students actively awaiting their orders. Similarly, Breakfast and Co. was already experiencing an equipment malfunction. This resulted in it already being closed prior to the outage and remained closed even after power was restored.
Even when power was restored, Breakfast and Co. remained closed that day due to its ongoing technical diffculties. The favored breakfast station was back up and running soon after.
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“What is known is two pieces of the electrical components that bring electricity to the campus failed,” said Keith Woodward, associate vice president for facilities operations and co-chair of the Emergency Management Team.
Students and staff received an offcial notice at 9:27 a.m. about the outage and awaited further instruction. Classrooms have emergency lights, however, in several cases they still left the majority of the room in the dark.
Outside the classroom, aspects of campus dining were also affected. Starbucks imme-
As a result of the outage, all internet connectivity was lost. Consequently, many professors had minimal material to share with their new classes as many relied heavily on technology or had technology-specifc items on their agenda for that day.
About an hour after the outage, at 10:29 a.m. students and staff were notifed that classes would be canceled until 2:00 p.m., as the outage was still ongoing and was actively being fxed. With many classes in session when this notice was received students were dismissed.
Later, at 1:23 p.m. the university declared that all classes that day would be canceled. As
many students returned to their dorms, they still had electricity powered by generators.
“The university owned portable generators were brought from York Hill to Mount Carmel exactly for outages like this,” Woodward said. “Some residence halls have generators installed on campus.”
However, The Grove did not receive a generator immediately, as the other residence halls did.
That night students and staff were notifed to continue awaiting further instruction, as facility workers were still restoring power. By 6:30 a.m. Wednesday all power on campus was restored and the university would operate as usual.
Not only did the semester begin with the outage, but The Grove faced additional heating issues. Even with the return of power, the building had no heating. Students were instructed to keep their windows and doors shut in an effort to preserve warmth.
“As best we can determine the issue with the heat at The Grove had nothing to do with the electrical situation earlier in the week,” Woodward said.
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Quinnipiac
Nursing Aide Training
By AVA HIGHLAND Associate News Editor
Students bring new clubs and organizations to campus
With the academic year hitting its halfway mark and the second semester in full swing, a variety of new student organizations have been set up on campus.
Students across all years and majors consistently spread their passions through Quinnipiac University by creating clubs or bringing on student chapters of larger organizations.
Those interested in joining any new or existing clubs can find meeting times and e-board members on Bobcat Central.
Quinnipiac Dance Collective
While there are several dance teams on campus, Gabriella Zocchi, a sophomore psychology major, noticed the large number of people not making those teams but still seeking an outlet for their passions.
Zocchi created the Quinnipiac Dance Collective as a way for people to still express themselves through dance without having to go through the audition process.
“After having made it on the Kickline team in my freshman year and seeing and hearing about people continuously audition for multiple teams and experience rejection, I realized how privileged I am to still have the chance to dance,” Zocchi said. “So, I created this with the help of my wonderful e-board to share that privilege and make sure that anyone who wishes to dance has the chance to do so.”
The kickoff meeting will take place Feb. 13, at 8:30 p.m. in Tator Hall 113. Those interested will be able to meet the e-board and learn more about the opportunities. Then on Feb. 22, at 11 a.m. to noon, the club is hosting its frst open jazz dance class.
Zocchi plans for weekly dance classes, open to anyone, to begin soon. Later on Zocchi looks forward to events, merchandise and a showcase featuring all the members.
The club allows for people with a passion for dance — or those new to dance — to have a space outside the competitive atmosphere.
“The goal of our club is to create an inclusive space for everyone to be able to dance,” Zocchi said. “We felt as though there were many students that wanted more outlets for dance on campus. Our club focuses on providing classes for students to come together and share their artistic expression through different styles and abilities.”
Integrated Refugee and Immi grant Services Student Chapter
The Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services Student Chapter (QU IRIS) is part of a local nonproft immigrant and refugee agency, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS). Jannat Butt, junior political science major and QU IRIS president, brought the student chapter on campus to raise awareness and support the organization.
“They provide a variety of different services to help facilitate the assimilation process to the U. S. for these types of communities and individuals,” Butt said.
These services include assistance in the healthcare system, fnding employment and housing, enrollment in ESL or English as a second language courses, legal matters and more.
The student chapter works to spread information about the organization and how students can get involved.
“So for me, it was like providing a consistent way for students to get involved, generationally over the years,” Butt said.
“And a strong way for students and faculty to collaborate and get involved.”
The chapter meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays in Tator Hall 232 from 5-6 p.m. in either the Mount Carmel Campus dining hall or Tator Hall. So far, the club has hosted collection drives, information sessions and panels. Soon, they will also participate in IRIS’ yearly 5K fundraiser.
Butt plans to spread works of the organization through the Quinnipiac community to other on-campus organizations, as well as throughout the local Hamden community and beyond.
Sports Analytics Club
Graham Speidel, a third-year 3+1 economics major, and Vin Barone, a third-year business analytics and computer information systems double major, both share a love of sports, as well as the statistical side. With these common interests in mind, Speidel and Barone created the Sports Analytics Club as an outlet to combine them.
“The main goal of our club is to create an opportunity for people where they can talk about their favorite sports, but also understand and learn about how important the data behind them are,” Speidel said.
With no official place to share these interests on campus, Speidel and Barone worked alongside Assistant Professor of Management Donald McAulay, to create this space for students also interested in sports analytics.
The meetings are held Wednesdays from 7-8 p.m. in School of Business 121. They hope to become more involved with the athletic department and host events in the future, benefting members and student athletes.
“The idea is that we as a club can benefit from this real-world experience of performing data analysis on QU Athletics data,” Speidel said. “At the same time, we hopefully can help either individual teams or the athletics department with our analysis findings, whether that is with strategy or something like promotions.”
Quinnipiac Consulting Group
Alex Miller, a junior fnance major, created the Quinnipiac Consulting Group in or-
der to give students a hands-on experience outside the classroom. Members gain experience in the consulting feld working with nearby businesses, helping to solve issues.
Miller noticed there were not many opportunities for students to get this experience before graduating. He created the club in order to provide students with this experience, whether passionate about consulting or interested in learning more.
“So I think it’s idea came from just developing the idea and developing the skills needed within the consulting industry,” Miller said.
The club recently held its first meeting of the semester and meets in the School of Business on a minimum biweekly basis. As for the future, Miller is interested in bringing in info sessions and events.
The group provides free consulting to local businesses, also known as Pro Bono Consulting. These experiences help students gain more knowledge and experience upon entering their chosen fields.
When creating the group, he had the idea “to start some pro bono business consulting which could be good when trying to get internships, talk about in interviews for applications and just overall have it on your résumé,” Miller said.
Not only do the students gain the experience for their resumes, but also the chance to spread their name and Quinnipiac’s name through the industry.
“Our work not only benefits the clients we serve but also demonstrates the value of Quinnipiac’s educational programs to external stakeholders,” Miller said.
Miller also hopes to expand beyond Pro Bono Consulting as the club continues on and welcomes new members.
Those interested in joining can contact Miller directly via email (alex.miller@quinnipiac.edu) or through their Instagram, (@ quconsultinggroup). Miller and his e-board are accepting new members and are eager to give others this hands-on experience in the consulting feld prior to graduating.
more health sciences major, created the Balkan Heritage Society after feeling a sense of belonging together when learning they shared the same ethnicity. The society serves as a welcoming place for any students of the Balkan diaspora to feel comfortable and learn more about their culture.
The Balkan region is made up of Albania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Greece and more.
The society is also open to any student interested in learning more about the culture.
“It is a great opportunity for not just students of the Balkan diaspora to learn more about their culture, but for other students to share in the experience of cultural exchange,” Mujevic said. “It is important for us to create a community where our culture can be expressed and serve as a vessel for forming new bonds with fellow students here at Quinnipiac.”
Meetings are currently held Fridays from 5-6 p.m.. However, the time is tentative and more information can be found on their Instagram (@bhs_qu).
Mujevic looks to host events to include cultures of all Balkan countries, — including food, trivia, paint and sip nights, as well as other fundraising events.
“We also aim to host fundraisers to help underprivileged areas with educational opportunities by funding schools and organizations,” Mujevic said.
The society aims to foster togetherness in the community on campus.
“Given that most diaspora students feel a strong sense of pride and belonging to their heritage, this club hopes to raise awareness and funding for our countries back home due to the economic and political challenges that they may face,” Mujevic said. “We want to give back while getting closer to our community.”
Quinnipiac Pickleball Club
As the sport of pickleball actively grows, sophomore health science/Doctor of Physical Therapy major Joscelyn Spinelli looked to bring the sport on campus. The Quinnipiac Pickleball Club creates a community for those who love the sport or are looking to learn more.
After learning that other Connecticut universities were introducing pickleball to its campuses, Spinelli thought it would be a great addition to Quinnipiac.
“We promote physical fitness and social interaction through organized play, friendly tournaments and other events to make this new club prosper here at Quinnipiac,” Spinelli said. “Our club is dedicated to building community among members in a fun and engaging way.”
Meetings are held every other Monday from 8-9 p.m. in the Recreation and Wellness Center basketball courts. However, the time is tentative and open to change based on the club’s need
Members of any skill level are welcome in this space to build community and growth in the sport.
Spinelli looks to also foster friendly competition within the club, and later hopes to compete against other schools. She also plans for future fundraising events to later create team merchandise.
“We hope to have really engaged practices where people want to come and spend time with their friends while getting exercise and enjoying the sport,” Spinelli said.
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Opinion
LaVar Ball was always right
Why basketball’s biggest loudmouth is a marketing genius
By Ben Busillo Opinion Editor
When you talk about father-son duos in professional sports, the conversation is often dominated by legendary names.
Archie Manning raised two Super Bowlwinning quarterbacks in Peyton and Eli. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. were fortunate enough to share the outfeld in Seattle together, as LeBron James and his son Bronny now share the court in Los Angeles.
Today, the most notorious sports dad does not reside on the island of athletic prowess.
LaVar Ball doesn’t have a Hall of Fame NBA career, or any notable career accolades as a matter of fact. As a college basketball player at Washington State University, he averaged a less than impressive 2.2 points-pergame. Oddly enough, Ball made it onto a few NFL practice squads in the mid 90s as a defensive end and a tight end, however he never saw the feld.
So what made LaVar so special? What did he have that other more athletically gifted fathers lacked?
LaVar manufactured a blueprint for his three sons — Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo — from the moment each of them were born. The boys were not all only going to make the NBA, but become the center pieces for a basketball empire.
The Ball brothers started to gain some notoriety in 2016 at Chino Hills High School in Southern California, where they all started on the varsity basketball team. During this time, Lavar launched Big Baller Brand, a brand for his sons, with each ‘B’ standing for each boy. When his oldest son Lonzo left high
school to lead the UCLA Bruins as a frstyear in 2017, LaVar was thrusted into the spotlight, becoming a juggernaut in the world of sports media.
He realized that he could use his already boisterius personality to the beneift to not only his sons, but Big Baller Brand as well.
LaVar created viral moments wherever he went. He made claims such as that if his son were to switch places with NBA superstar Stephen Curry, UCLA would be a worse team. He said that if Lonzo was drafted to the Lakers, he would have a bigger impact than Magic Johnson had in the 1980s.
However the most famous take from LaVar can be classifed as what some fans consider basketball sacrilege. LaVar claims that back in his “heyday” he would dominate Michael Jordan in a game of one-on-one. A take so blas-
phemous, he had everyone talking about it.
During this time, I remember asking my dad for a Big Baller Brand sweatshirt. Not only did he say no, but he ripped me shreds for even asking, called LaVar a clown and proceeded to buy me a Jordan brand sweatshirt instead.
That was LaVar’s genius. Creating engagement through outrage. Whether you loved him, hated him or didn’t take him seriously, you were still paying attention to what he was going to say next.
When Lonzo made his NBA debut, it wasn’t exactly the stellar start expected. He scored only three points on 1-for-6 shooting. After the game, Stephen A. Smith confronted LaVar about Lonzo’s underwhelming performance.
But LaVar didn’t finch. “Big Baller Brand went up! 12%! It’s always good, even when you lose, I win.”
And he wasn’t wrong. Every time the Ball family trended for whatever reason, Big Baller Brand sales soared. LaVar had an understanding of how to leverage attention, turning even his detractors into unintentional promoters of his brand.
LaVar never really truly thought that he would beat Jordan in a game of one-on-one. It was all part of a brilliant way to amplify his family.
His prophecy on his sons paid off. Lonzo settled in as a great playmaker and perimeter defender. LiAngelo spent some time with the G-League affliate of the Charlotte Hornets. LaMelo entered the NBA in 2020 and won the Rookie of the Year award.
LiAngelo recently pivoted to a career in music. In January, he released his debut single, “Tweaker,” which quickly went viral and debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100. Soon after, he signed a record deal with Def Jam Recordings and Universal Music Group, worth up to $13 million.
“Tweaker” was played everywhere on social media, as clips went viral of different sports locker rooms blasting the song. LiAngelo even performed the song during a timeout in the frst quarter of the NFL Divisional round playoff game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders.
LaVar is polarizing, no doubt. But his genius lies in his ability to create opportunities where others saw roadblocks. He was able to continually hype up his boys in a manner that also boosted the brand he was trying to create.
Not only was LaVar a master marketer, he truly believed in his sons.
Keep church and state seperated
By OLIVIA CAMPBELL Staf Writer
To maintain a strong display of democracy, political ideologies are not to be enforced by law; religious freedom is guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution under the First Amendment.
Now being his second term in offce, President Donald Trump acknowledges that his faith has enormous sway over his politics.
“In America we don’t worship government, we worship God,” Trump said at the Celebrate Freedom event in July 2017. Over the course of his political career, Trump became closely affliated to Christianity.
During his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump sparked controversy when he did not put his hand on the Bible. While there is no law requiring one to place their hand on the Bible, it is tradition for the president to do so while being sworn in.
He received backlash over the hypocrisy of advocating for conservative Christian values, and then proceeded to neglect the Bible while being sworn in.
Trump’s influence over the Supreme Court caused the infamous overturn of Roe v. Wade. Following the act’s removal, he posted a statement on social media to celebrate his role in the pro-life movement:
“I was able to kill Roe v. Wade,” he said in his post. He concluded his message by saying, “Without me the pro life movement
would have just kept losing.”
Trump’s message illustrated his coreconservative Christian values, as he blatantly devalued the importance of reproductive healthcare in America.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump had assured the public that he will deny any attempt to enact a federal abortion ban. Due to his inconsistencies in relation to reproductive care, much of the public is skeptical of those claims.
Trump poses a direct threat to the LGBTQ+ community and their rights as American citizen, as his policies have especially targeted transgender people and their ac -
cess to gender-affirming care.
He appointed countless judges who hold extreme anti-queer views, both on the Supreme Court and others. Because of this Trump will have an influence over the Supreme Court for years to come.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett was Trump’s most controversial nominee, who shamelessly advocated for her prejudiced opinions against the LGBTQ+. She is very public with her faith and has described herself as a faithful Catholic.
Now that Trump has established a sense of security within the government, he feels more confident in his politics.
During his inauguration speech, he introduced an executive order that would limit gender to only male and female.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the U.S. government that there are only two genders, male and female,” Trump said.
He hopes to implement this heteronormative gender ideology into the core values of America.
At the post-inauguration prayer service on Jan. 21, Rev. Mariann Budde spoke directly to the president in her sermon. “In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared,” Budde said.
“There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families,” Budde said. “They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.”
She publicly contradicted Trump’s belief system, as he has come to justify his policies with his faith.
While Budde’s plea had no true effect on the president’s ideologies, her courage should be seen as an example in challenging the injustice; change is only possible if the public remains united and persistent in protesting Trump’s policies.
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President Donald Trump swears in as the 47th President of the United States without placing his hand on the Bible on Jan. 20.
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Opinion
The United States is marching towards oligarchy
By LILLIAN CURTIN Associate Opinion Editor
In 2016, former President Barack Obama’s speech at the White House correspondents dinner was lighthearted and even ended with a mic drop. Almost nine years later, in his farewell address, former President Joe Biden’s tone was a tad darker. It felt like we were living in a movie.
Biden left us with a warning: that we are transitioning into an oligarchy.
An oligarchy is a type of government that is run by the “elite” for selfish reasons that often lead to corruption.
It’s been a week since President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second time and every day we’re getting more proof that what Biden was saying was true.
To some, the warning was just a reminder. Last year, a Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service Battleground Civility Poll showed that 81% of voters worried that their democracy was threatened.
To others, it was a wake-up call. Some even acknowledge that they regret their choice in November. Unfortunately, they can’t go back and change their vote.
But frankly, this shouldn’t be surprising to anyone.
In a democracy, the power is given to the people. It’s what got Trump elected. But now, instead of listening to the people, he’s filling the executive branch with MAGA loyalists. He is prioritizing billionaires and elites. It was clear during his inauguration when his cabinet was seated behind Amer-
ica’s wealthiest. The real people in control are figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and other tech moguls.
Musk made a gesture eerily similar to a Nazi salute and was blasted on social media for it. Then, he made even more offensive jokes on X. Yet, instead of Trump speaking out about his head of the Department of Government Effciency being anti-semitic, he stayed silent. The silence was loud, as it showed who was prioritized now — the rich.
Signs of democracy backsliding have been in the public, even before Trump an -
nounced running for a second term. Suzanne Mettler of Cornell University and Robert Lieberman of Johns Hopkins University said that the four factors that contribute to it are “polarization, conflicts over belonging, economic inequality and executive aggrandizement,” per ScienceNews.
Trump has claimed that he’s going after the “radical left,” further polarizing the country ideologically. He has constantly made nonpartisan things partisan, such as claiming any outlet that disagrees with him is “liberal media.”
He may not have come out with a bla -
tantly announced plan for complete control, but he’s pulling the strings from behind the curtain of those who are promoting it, and he’s not correcting their behavior.
Any president who actually cares about the constitutionality of the country would have publicly condemned the notion that he should have absolute power, or that he should be allowed to run again after this term.
However, the president was silent when Andy Ogles proposed amending the 22nd Amendment, which established term limits, to allow Trump to run a third time.
We are starting on the path of dictatorship as well. On one of his frst days in offce, he got rid of federal DEI programs. The “D” in DEI stands for diversity. Diverse is synonymous with different and multiple. But why is it that “differences” are so evil to Trump and MAGA? Because they oppose certain points of view and biases?
If Trump wants to get rid of everything “different” that Trump doesn’t agree with, then we are going to be in the same censored, and one-sided problem that governments like Russia are currently in. We’re going to be completely unaware and ignorant of problems. Just because we ignore them, doesn’t mean they go away, it’ll only make it worse and more people will suffer because of it.
We don’t know where our country is headed, but our democracy is slipping away. The wealthiest, most out-of-touch people have the ear of those who make our laws and lifestyles.
Embrace change: Why switching your major is OK
By AMANDA MADERA Staf Writer
As a frst-year, the feeling of needing to have everything fgured out can be daunting. At a young age, you’re expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life with no realworld experience.
I defnitely felt the pressure when choosing my major during my senior year of high school. I ultimately decided to go with journalism after taking journalism classes. Little did I know, high school journalism differs greatly from actual journalism.
Even though I enjoyed the design aspect of journalism, I realized that
the feld was diffcult to succeed in, especially since I’m not into news or sports. The stress of not knowing what to do weighed on me, and I began to struggle in my classes.
After discussing my options with my advisor, I decided to change my major. Fortunately, Quinnipiac allows credits to overlap and I’m still able to graduate on time since I’m a 3+1 student.
The switch from journalism to advertising and integrated communications scared me, but after the frst week of classes, I knew I made the right decision. I love the marketing aspect as well as the design, and I’m still able to
put my skills in journalism to use.
It’s OK to be unsure even when it seems like your peers have everything fgured out. Most of the people around you are probably confused too.
Gaining real-world experience from a marketing internship I did last semester really helped me explore other options and introduced me to something I now enjoy doing. Don’t be afraid to take risks.
So, if you’re considering changing your major, I say go for it. It’s better to enjoy what you’re doing instead of staying where you are because you’re scared or comfortable.
STEVE JURVETSON/DANIEL OBERHAUS/ANTHONY QUINTANO/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/PHOTOILLUSTRATION BY BEN BUSILLO
ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPP MENHALL
Arts & Life
Students paint birdhouses in Woodstock's woodshop
By QUINN O'NEILL Multimedia Editor
Students gathered in the Carl Hansen Student Center on Jan. 12 to participate in The Student Programming Board Woodstock’s Woodshop. They hosted the event to help ease students into the spring semester. SPB provided wooden birdhouses, painting supplies, snacks and the chance to enter a raffle for a prize.
Students gathered supplies and either painted in peace or with the company of their friends, allowing students to take a breather from the stress of the new semester and relax with a therapeutic activity.
QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE
Emma Corridan, sophomore graphic and interactive design major, sits with a group of friends while painting their birdhouse.
SPB offers miniature birdhouses for students to unleash their creativity.
Floating into 'Balloonerism' Mac Miller's estate releases fnal studio album
By MICHAEL PETITTO Copy Editor
Posthumous rap albums often feel like cash-grabs that were composed for the sole purpose of generating money rather than honoring the life of the artist.
Mac Miller is a different story.
Since the rapper's death in 2018, the Miller estate has set one of the better examples of how to honor the life of a deceased artist. This includes the two posthumous releases from Miller, “Circles” (2020) and now “Balloonerism.”
The Pittsburgh rapper was around 22 years old when he composed the music for “Balloonerism” and despite his young age, a level of maturity shines throughout the record.
Miller doesn’t say a word until around six minutes into the project but by the time you reach that point, you’re already entranced in the album's soundscape. The vocals provided by SZA on “DJ’s Chord Organ” serve to elevate the album’s starting point.
Although Miller’s heavy lyricism is on full display, the production is the highlight of the record. The production is
even experimental at some points with its psychedelic feels, which provides a new sound to Miller’s catalog.
It’s incredible to put in context, as the original “Balloonerism” sessions took place in 2014, the same year Miller released his standout mixtape “Faces.”
So this experimental rollercoaster sat in the vault for 11 years, just now seeing the light of day. “Balloonerism” was written during one of the darkest times in Miller’s life, which is refected in the introspective songwriting. The experimental direction of the project combined with the jazz-infused instrumentals make for some high quality songs that add to an already impressive discography.
It feels like one of those projects you can’t just put on in the background, it’s one you actually have to sink into and listen rather than just hear. There's a rawness to not only the production but in the lyrics, as if Miller was in the midst of exploring who he was both as an artist and as a person.
The album fows together extremely well, with each song transitioning from one to the
next without taking the listener out of the album experience. The direction that the Miller estate took with this project results in a cohesive listen that makes it feel like a new album rather than a decade-old project.
Per usual, Miller’s background vocals provide a comforting listen to the ears and help to boost the overall effect of his songs. That combined with the harmonizing bass provided by Thundercat provides a smooth and sound listening experience.
It’s a heavy listen, but not in a way that should deter any fans. Take for example the track “Funny Papers” which almost feels like Miller predicting his own future.
“Didn’t think anyone died on a Friday,” Miller raps.
The rapper died on a Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 to be exact.
The album may not be for everyone, as the heavy emotional themes and the context around the death of Miller might alienate the casual listener. “Balloonerism” might not have the same commercial appeal as some of Miller’s previous bodies of work, but it’s an honest look into the life of a troubled yet
man.
That being said, his music has helped millions of listeners fnd comfort and “Balloonerism” will likely result in Miller’s impact continuing for years to come.
QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE
Samantha Gerossie, sophomore sustainability and environmental policy major, hands out snacks and painting supplies to students eager to paint birdhouses.
QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE
talented
QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE
Nicholas Nardi, sophomore marketing major, paints his birdhouse at an SPB event in the Student Center.
QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE
The Student Programming Board hosts a painting event in the Carl Hansen Student Center on Jan. 21, 2025
By GINA LORUSSO Arts & Life Editor
When one of the most popular social media platforms shut down in the U.S. on Saturday, Jan. 19, users thought the ban that has been in the works for years finally took place.
The next day, the app restored its services after President Donald Trump signed an executive action to postpone the ban for 75 days so TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, can find a U.S. company to sell to.
“I thought that it was strange that we got it back so fast, and it was kind of suspicious,” Ava Real, frst-year biology major, said.
In April 2024, former President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell the platform to a U.S. company due to national security concerns and fear of espionage, according to NBC News. If ByteDance did not comply, it would be shut down in the U.S.
“All social media companies are stealing our data,” Real said. “They use it to recommend us ads. And it's everywhere. It's unavoidable. It's kind of something you sign up for, if you sign up for social media apps … it’s a common occurrence, and just to let Facebook and Instagram do that is hypocritical.”
In the U.S., the app has 170 million users, according to NBC News — most of which use the app daily to stay informed about world and entertainment news, current events or simply just to pass the time.
“If I have any free time, or when I wake up and I'm going to bed, I scroll on TikTok, and it kind of became a habit for me and
'Kind of suspicious' Students question TikTok's return
a lot of my friends,” Annika Eklof, junior biomedical sciences major, said.
When the ban fnally became active, many users thought the app would be unavailable forever, forcing them to turn to alternative platforms, like RedNote. Similar to TikTok, RedNote is a Chinese shortform content app used to share lifestyle and cooking videos, fashion and makeup inspiration and more.
Dubbed “TikTok Refugees,” 700,000 Americans joined RedNote in just two days following the ban, according to Reuters.
Although TikTok is up and running again, those who have deleted the app face greater consequences.
“I deleted the app after I realized I was locked out, so now I no longer have access to watching it,” Cole Bryant, a frst-year applied business major, said.
Following the temporary ban, TikTok was removed from U.S. app stores and is not available for download.
When the app access was restored, however, a message popped up on users’ screens crediting President Trump with its return. The message read: “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
This left many users feeling uneasy, as Trump was the first to propose the ban during his term in 2020. While rumors of the ban have been circulating for years now, there is still little explanation of why the government is so intent on a countrywide ban.
“I was in (Washington) D.C. for a
seminar two weeks ago, and when we spoke to government offcials about the issue, their responses were incredibly vague,” Hannah Freshman, a junior journalism and political science double major, said. “The lack of transparency is frustrating and makes it hard for the public to believe there’s a real national security threat.”
Ahead of Jan. 19, among the frenzy of memes about users bonding with their “spies,” many creators on TikTok began saying their goodbyes in case the app would not return, informing their fans which social media sites they will be using instead.
Aside from the fact many creators on the app could lose their source of income, a more signifcant issue is being raised regarding freedom of speech.
The ban sets a dangerous precedent for how the government can censor and restrict digital platforms.
“TikTok has become a platform where people can share ideas, express themselves and spread awareness about important issues,” Freshman said. “Taking that away would silence millions of voices, including small creators, activists and communities who rely on it to be heard.”
Unfortunately, the future of TikTok remains unknown.
As ByteDance navigates the 75-day window to fnd a buyer, users will most likely spend hours glued to their screen waiting to see if their favorite app will stay or if they will be forced to fnd a new way to create and share.
Golden Globes sound early wedding bells
Zendaya and Tom Holland step into forever
By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Associate Arts & Life Editor
On Jan. 5, the Golden Globes welcomed thousands of pop culture icons to walk the red carpet and while many wore their finest jewels, only one left a lasting impression.
What caught people's eye at this year's award show wasn't the famous actress Zendaya’s dress — it was the diamond rock subtly resting on her left ring finger.
Based on the size of the stone, the ring is estimated to be worth $200,000.
In typical Zendaya fashion, her looks never waver with her So Kate pumps and custom gowns. But this time, it had nothing to do with her stylist Law Roach’s talents. Rapid speculation about her supposed Jessica Cormack cushion-cut, five-carat ring captured attention and generated buzz among fans and the media.
All she gave paparazzi was a coy nod and subtle smile, shrugging her shoulders in response to bubbling questions, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Zendaya and actor Tom Holland first met on the set of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2016. Cast as love interests, Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, their connection on and off screen led to rumors of a possible relationship fueled by flirtatious interviews and chemistry-filled press tours.
Throughout the flming process, no relationship was confrmed and both actors dated other people after the movie. Zendaya with “Euphoria” star Jacob Elordi, while Holland was seeing British actress Nadia Parks.
Fans lost hope for a possible romance until a video surfaced of Zendaya and Holland kissing in a car in July 2021, exposing their relationship to the public.
The timeline for when exactly they transitioned from friends to lovers is blurry. But if not for the paparazzi, how long would it have stayed hidden?
In September 2021, they made their relationship official on Instagram when Holland made a post for Zendaya’s 25th birthday: “My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays, Gimme a call when your [sic] up xxx.”
to a new level of public attention, further pushing them into the spotlight.
Throughout their relationship, Zendaya and Holland have carefully limited what they share about their life together but are also publicly very supportive of each other’s careers.
This hard launch elevated their relationship
Holland never hesitates to compliment his life partner on all of her work. He shows up, supports her in various roles and praises her any chance he gets.
In December 2021, he visited the “Euphoria” set “at least 30 times” during Season 2 production while promoting “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”
Making each other a priority is one of the many reasons their relationship remains strong after four years. Zendaya spoke to ELLE Magazine in 2024 about how they protect the privacy of their life together while still acknowledging and appreciating
fan support of their relationship.
“It’s about protecting the peace and letting things be your own but also not being afraid to exist,” Zendaya said. You can’t hide. That’s not fun, either. I am navigating it more than ever now.”
Finding a balance is key. The most successful relationships don’t need constant exposure or curated “intimate” moments for the tabloids.
The consensus for a thriving relationship in Hollywood is that less is more.
Feeling secure enough in a relationship to keep things private and not needing to prove your happiness suggests something truly authentic.
Building a deeply committed relationship under the public eye of the press, overly emotional fans, and scrutiny is a feat in itself.
Both Holland and Zendaya are very close with their families. When it came time to pop the question, Holland reportedly got blessings from her parents who are thrilled to welcome him into their family.
Their relationship has brought romance back into Hollywood. I have high hopes that Zendaya and Holland will last and not dwindle in celebrity fashion.
I, for one, can’t wait to see their wedding looks.
Ariana Grande’s R.E.M Beauty and fragrance line band together for new launch
By GINA LORUSSO Arts & Life Editor
For the frst time ever, singer-songwriter and actress Ariana Grande’s fragrance line and beauty company merged together for a highly anticipated launch.
The new products, made available online at R.E.M Beauty Jan. 24 and at Ulta Beauty stores Jan. 26, include a new fragrance, R.E.M Cherry Eclipse and the brand new R.E.M Beauty Dreamglow Collection.
Cherry Eclipse is a blend of black cherry and sugared honeysuckle with middle notes of jasmine and whipped marshmallow, and base notes of amber and musk — staples in Grande’s previous fragrances.
Rumors of Cherry Eclipse began circulating on social media in December 2024 when the packaging was leaked. Fans of Grande’s fragrance line fgured this new perfume was the offcial release of R.E.M 2.0, which is only available in travel size as a part of the limited edition R.E.M x Wicked So Popular Ph Lip Oil & Fragrance Set. To their surprise, this is an entirely new fragrance to add to their collection.
The Dreamglow Collection features a highlight serum in three shades, a two-inone blush and lipstick in four shades, and R.E.M Beauty’s best-selling Glossy Balm in
three shades.
For extra skincare, the highlight serums contain peptides and hyaluronic acid to create a glowy base. They can be used on their own for a natural shine or under foundation for a radiant look.
Aura is an iridescent shade with a lilac purple shine, Honeypot is a gold-toned shade and Goddess is a bronze shade that leaves a light tint as it’s applied to the skin. When blended out, each of these shades creates a transparent glow to the skin, leaving it hydrated and energized.
“I was so obsessed with our Galinda Glow Drop formula that I knew we needed to bring them into our line as soon as possible!”
Grande wrote on R.E.M’s website. “My favorite way to use our Dreamglow Highlight Serum, outside of dousing my entire body in it for an all over glow, is to mix it with my Sweetener Foundation to create the perfect hydrating and luminous base.”
The new Eclipse multi-use blush and lipstick melt into the skin for natural pops of color. In the four shades, Matinee, Off Book, Aaand scene and Cab-eret, each is longlasting, breathable and can be seamlessly layered over makeup. With ingredients like grape seed, jojoba and cocoa seed extract,
the creamy formula works to nourish the skin while providing a soft, smooth fnish.
The iconic Glossy Balm — my favorite product from R.E.M — hydrates the lips while giving a beautiful, non-sticky, shine. The shade Cosmo is peachy pink and gives a natural color to the lips while On Ice, a basic clear gloss, can be used for layering with other lip products for a high- shine fnish.
The most intriguing product of this launch is the color-changing Cotton Candy shade. Straight out of the tube, the gloss is a light blue shade that adjusts to your body’s pH level and forms into your perfect pink shade when applied to the lips. Each of these glosses has a light vanilla scent and hydrates lips while strengthening the skin barrier.
Just viewing the announcement of this launch made my bank account shed a tear.
I may be biased since Ari is my favorite artist, but R.E.M Beauty is such an underrated celebrity makeup brand. Its products are cruelty-free, recyclable, vegan friendly, paraben-free and consciously made which appeal to a wide range of beauty lovers. Not to mention, the sleek, futuristicinspired packaging sets the brand apart from other celebrity brands in the beauty space.
The combination of new makeup and a
fragrance makes this launch particularly exciting as it’s the frst time we have seen Grande merge her brands.
To no one’s surprise, products are already sold out online proving that this launch was something people needed to get their hands on immediately.
Whether you’re a Grande lover like me or just looking to refresh your beauty or fragrance collection, this launch is certainly something to be excited about.
‘It Ends With Us’ stars fght to preserve what's left of their reputation
By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Associate Arts & Life Editor
A once-controversial press style for “It Ends With Us” has become an ongoing legal battle; a mutual lawsuit where two reputable stars are fghting tooth and nail to save their careers.
Opening weekend, the 2024 film “It Ends With Us” grossed $50 million in the U.S. and Canada, earning more than $350 million worldwide.
But beneath commercial success brews a darker story.
The flm, based on a novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, is the source of a highprofle dispute between stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.
When the movie frst came out, I wrote an article detailing the press surrounding its release, but I never expected the confict to go this far.
To understand how we ended up here, it is crucial to understand the timeline of the legal battle. So far, it’s flled with contradicting claims that have people wondering who to believe.
On Dec. 20, 2024, Lively fled a claim with California's Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment during flming with retaliation after she raised issues with his onset behavior.
The 80-page complaint alleges a hostile work environment where, among other things, Baldoni improvised sexually during flming and frequently referenced his past pornography addiction and sexual encounters.
Along with that behavior, Lively alleged that Baldoni hired a crisis communications team to engage in a “social manipulation campaign” to smear her name while they were flming,
hoping to use fan backlash to take control of the story.
And it worked.
Up until now, Lively has experienced the brunt of criticism aimed at the movie and media campaign.
On Dec. 21, The New York Times released private messages between Baldoni and his team that support Lively’s claims of an intended smear campaign against her, titled: “We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.”
This court case is one of many examples of social media's power. It dictates behavior, shapes public opinion and can preemptively determine someone’s character.
Baldoni denied all allegations through his attorney, Bryan Freedman, who accused Lively of trying to salvage her already tarnished reputation with false claims.
Ten days later, Baldoni struck back, suing The New York Times for $250 million in libel for its Dec. 21 story, accusing the paper of distorting the truth and hastily accepting Lively's “self-serving narrative.” The Times, however, has stood by its reporting.
That same day, Lively issued a complaint accusing Baldoni and producer Jamey Heath of “repeated sexual harassment and other disturbing behavior” on set.
Baldoni is said, along with the producer, to enter her trailer in various states of undress while breastfeeding her child.
On Jan.16, Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, Heath and members of Baldoni’s PR team, Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, jointly fled a new suit against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, along with their publicity representatives.
The joint suit seeks at least $400 million in damages. It accuses Lively and Reynolds of trying to steal authority on the flm production from Baldoni and Wayfare Studios.
Reynold's involvement is interesting, to say the least; he has been accused of altering scenes and rewriting scripts for the flm.
This suit accuses Lively and Reynolds of civil extortion and defamation. It blames Lively for Baldoni’s "publicly tainted image" and for exploiting "her power as a wealthy celebrity to take creative control of the flm."
Lively’s legal team responds, calling Baldoni’s lawsuit “another chapter in the abuser playbook,” as reported by Deadline.
This mass of information being shoved our way is overwhelming and a prime example of the impact of media framing. Honestly, it feels like they are both grasping at straws to gain narrative control.
The most recent updates, in this case, are the release of a video and several photos from Baldoni’s team. On Jan. 21, a 10-minute clip surfaced of Lively and Baldoni slow dancing, shooting footage for a slo-mo montage.
This video attempts to set the record straight by referencing a conversation that both Baldoni and Lively included in their lawsuits. Lively claimed that while flming, Baldoni was out of character and acted as himself during this scene.
We can see their full conversation, which seems professional and platonic. However, Lively’s legal team retorts that Lively's response was only a way of defecting discomfort.
Whether it was pleasant small talk or defensive measures to combat distress, releasing this video to the media is an unethical attempt to manipulate the public when it should be used as evidence in court.
The pictures that have come out are of Baldoni and his family at the premiere. They were sitting in foldable chairs in the basement, posing next to a stack of Dasani waters. At the time, Lively requested not to press with him, so Baldoni was pushed to the side or, rather, downstairs.
The fact that we still don’t have all the information yet prevents me from taking a side, but at this point, it’s clear neither party is looking to settle and the case will likely worsen before it is resolved.
What we thought would end with the movie has apparently just begun.
‘The Clinic’: a twisted view of luxury rehab
By GINA LORUSSO Arts & Life Editor
I’ve had a knack for psychological thrillers lately — especially the ones that don't have conventional plots.
There are too many thriller novels centered around stereotypical characters who lack depth, but I fnally found one that strays from overused archetypes and cheap thrills.
“The Clinic” by Cate Quinn follows Meg, a professional poker player and undercover police offcer in a Los Angeles casino. Her work days consist of dressing up as different characters to catch betting sharks, cheaters and criminals, all while popping Oxycodone to help with a shoulder injury she sustained during a traumatic incident at work.
Haley, Meg’s older sister, left home to pursue her music and acting career where she adopted a sweet, ditzy, southern girl persona. The fame eventually became too much for Haley and she was forced to check in to The Clinic to get her addiction under control.
When news reports of Haley’s death surface, Meg puts herself on a mission to somehow get into The Clinic and find out exactly what happened to her sister.
Rumors develop that Haley’s death was a suicide — but Meg knows her sister
would never do that to herself, much less by injecting herself with a lethal dose of heroin. Meg thinks Haley’s death was no accident — someone at The Clinic had to have murdered her.
Although there are quite a few murders in this novel, this isn’t your average thriller — it exposes the ills of luxury rehab clinics and shady medical practices that involve using each patient as guinea pigs to test substances that could potentially cure addictions. Substances like Nugu, a black market poison used to paralyze the body and bring back traumatic memories during treatment sessions. If more than the correct amount is used, it can be deadly.
When Meg arrives at the remote clinic on the Pacific Northwest coast, she realizes rehab is going to be a lot harder than she imagined. With Oxycodone sewn into the lining of her bra, Meg is determined to stay intoxicated in order to stay sharp and focused, but she
soon realizes that she must go through the detox process to find out what really happened to her sister.
The story is told from two perspectives — one from Meg's perspective and the other from Cara, The Clinic’s manager. Being able to see this story develop from two points of view adds to the suspense because both characters are dealing with personal conflicts while trying to uncover the truth. The contrast in voices is what kept me hooked throughout all 448 pages.
Cara has an all work, no play personality trying to escape a scandal at her former job as a hotel manager. She’s stuck up, always dressed in designer clothes, and doesn’t have much patience for people who don’t abide by the rules. Meg, on the other hand, goes against everything Cara believes in. She doesn’t play by the rules, and she will do almost anything to reach her goals, even if it means almost getting killed.
This novel was nothing short of fawless — it was everything I could have asked for in a thriller. Every chapter was a nail-biting adventure alongside Meg and her mission to expose the dark side of The Clinic. Quinn leads you down a rabbit hole of clues and you think you know who the killer is until shocking twists are revealed in the fnal chapters that leave you completely turned around.
I enjoyed how there were just the right amount of characters, not too many to keep track of, and each one had their own unique addiction which helped keep them from blurring together. I was able to compare characters to celebrities in real life who suffered from similar addictions like Gene Simmons from KISS with his compulsive sexual behavior and 2007 Lindsay Lohan with her substance abuse.
Obviously, this book was a 10 out of 10 for me. It was the perfect amount of suspense and even had a touch of romance which didn’t take away from the storyline whatsoever.
Now that I’ve read this gem cover to cover, It’s time to begin the hunt for a new unconventional thriller that reeled me in just as this one did.
Blooming in spring semester
By OLIVIA MASTROMARINO Contributing Writer
Starting the semester as a freshman, especially in the spring, is a unique opportunity to refocus and re-energize.
Whether you felt like the first semester flew by or it took forever, the spring semester offers a fresh slate. Here's how you could make the most of it, and how I am too.
Before jumping into new classes and routines, take some time to reflect on what worked well during the fall and what did not. Did you struggle with time management? Were you overwhelmed by extracurriculars? Maybe you excelled academically but found it hard to make friends. Writing down your thoughts can help you identify areas for improvement and build your success.
Consider revisiting your goals. If you set objectives for freshman year, now is a great time to reassess them. Are they still relevant? Do they need adjustment? I noticed my goals in the beginning of the year switched, especially getting used to being on campus for a few months. Reflection on last semester allowed me to approach this semester with clarity and purpose. At first I was skeptical about joining clubs, but I joined so many and I could not have been happier.
The start of a new semester is the perfect time to get organized. Review your course schedule and syllabi to understand what's expected of you. Note important dates like exams, project deadlines and school events to attend. A planner, whether digital or physical, can be invaluable for keeping track of these important events. If you struggled with classes last
semester, don't hesitate to reach out for help. Use resources like the tutoring center, academic advisors or professor’s office hours. Quinnipiac has a lot of abundant support systems that are easy to use and get to. The learning commons is an example of an abundant support system that is easy to use and get to. The learning commons is a
time to explore your options. Speak with your resident assistant or your academic advisor to ensure you are on a path that excites and challenges you.
Healthy habits are the building blocks of success. If the first semester was marked by late nights and cramming study sessions, consider adapting to healthier routines.
free tutoring service offered to every major, and every class.
If you feel uncertain about the major you have and your course load, now is a great
Start by setting a sleep schedule, eating balanced meals and prioritizing exercise. These small changes can boost your confidence and create a happy and healthy
routine. Try to set boundaries for screen time, especially if you find yourself easily distracted by social media or streaming platforms. Apps that have a time limit can help you be more focused and present. If making friends was hard the first semester, the spring semester is a great time to try again. New students often enroll in the spring, which is a great opportunity to meet people who have the same interests. Join clubs, attend campus events, go to concerts in New Haven or participate in volunteer activities.
You can branch out by joining a frat or a sorority for this semesters spring recruitment. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, some of the best friendships and relationships can come that way.
College life, especially as a freshman, can be very overwhelming. It is important to put yourself first. If you are feeling stressed, anxious or upset do not be afraid to reach out for support. Talking to a professional can provide multiple different coping strategies. Make time for activities that make you feel calm.
With the weather getting nicer, you can go outside and go to multiple beautiful sights near our campus like Sleeping Giant State Park. Take advantage of the open space and several hiking trails.
Finally, remember to stay strong during tough times. Celebrate your achievements no matter how small. From taking a quiz, to going to events on campus, it is always nice getting involved, it is how you make connections with so many different people. Being a freshman is scarier than people say, it is hard adjusting to living on your own. That's why staying calm is the key to a happy and healthy first year.
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
New kid on the ice
Drew Hockley’s first month at Quinnipiac
By AMANDA DRONZEK Sports Editor
On Sept. 30, 2024, 19-year-old Drew Hockley of the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies announced his commitment to play men’s hockey at Quinnipiac.
On Dec. 17, 2024, the 6-foot-4 freshman defenseman joined the Bobcats’ roster for the remainder of the season.
“I think part of it was the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) got legalized by the NCAA,” head coach Rand Pecknold said of Hockley after Quinnipiac defeated AIC 6-5 on Dec. 29, 2024. “He was thinking about going to one of the teams in Quebec because he could. So we’re like, ‘Well, if you’re going to go there and leave Victoria, we’ll take you, we could use some help here.’ We need to get better.”
In late 2024, the NCAA voted to make CHL or major junior hockey players eligible to play NCAA Division I hockey, allowing athletes to participate in the CHL without jeopardizing their college careers.
“I was in contact with a couple CHL teams that reached out to me,” Hockley said. “But it wasn’t anything I was super willing to pursue and I wasn’t really leaning any way towards any other teams.”
Because of this change, Hockley could have gone on to the CHL while simultaneously being committed to and then later going to Quinnipiac. Ultimately, he opted to play solely in the NCAA.
“It was a little bit unexpected,” Hockley said. “(Assistant coach) Rick Bennett called me and they proposed an opportunity for me to come in halfway through the year. I thought it was a no-brainer, I might as well take advantage of it because it’s a great opportunity.”
During his two-season stint with the Grizzlies, Hockley played in 67 games, notably notching 24 points in 23 appearances to start
his 2024-25 campaign.
“I loved my time in Victoria,” he said. “The people there were really great to me and helped me develop a lot so I’m very grateful.”
According to Hockley, he isn’t too far from home anyway. The scenery of his former city has a striking resemblance to Hamden’s mountainous terrain.
“It’s pretty similar — the trees and the landscape of Connecticut to Nova Scotia — so I’m pretty familiar with that whole situation,” Hockley told ESPN+ Jan. 6. “But I really like it here.”
As of Dec. 4, 2024, the Kentville, Nova Scotia native was tied for No. 1 in most goals and second in points as a defenseman across the league. Fast forward two weeks and the BCHL’s best is dorming in Hamden.
“(Freshmen) Ryan Smith, (Chris) Pelosi, El-
liot Groenewold and (Tyler) Borgula, they all live in the same dorm building as me, so I hang out pretty much every day with them either down in their room or in my room,” Hockley said. “We’re always doing stuff so it’s nice to have those guys pretty close with me.”
When it came to his first appearance in his inaugural college game against AIC in late December, Hockley was the sole leader of the Bobcats, emerging first from the tunnel under the lights of M&T Bank.
Quinnipiac is one of few teams in the league that enters the ice and lines up in numerical order.
For context, senior defenseman Davis Pennington wears No. 4 on his jersey, while Hockley dawns No. 2. His number on previous teams is No. 4, forcing him to choose a different number this season.
The number may not have personal significance to Hockley, but it made him the first player out of the locker room since his debut.
“I think I had goosebumps pretty much the whole day leading up to it,” Hockley said. “Once that moment came, being the first guy on the ice, it was an awesome experience.”
Through the last month, Hockley has gotten ice time in every matchup of the Bobcats’ 7-1-2 second half, notching his first collegiate point against UConn in the CT Ice semifinals on Jan. 24.
“I think I’ve been adjusting pretty well,” Hockley said. “I think just getting more games in, just getting used to playing with these guys and used to the systems, I feel like I’m improving every game and I’m looking to keep on doing that moving forward.”
Despite a consistent seat at the table in the USCHO’s Division I Men’s Poll this season — currently on the seams at No. 14 — Quinnipiac is still performing below the standard.
“You don’t want to be 14,” Pecknold said after the CT Ice consolation win against Yale Jan. 25. “14 is probably not getting in (to the NCAA Tournament). We gotta be good. We gotta stay consistent.”
The common theme Pecknold harps on is that this team has talent on paper but falls victim to immaturity and lacks the buy-in to the program’s culture.
Hockley’s on-ice IQ and two-way abilities may be what’s needed for the Bobcats to break the cycle of inconsistency — particularly defensively — and remain the conference favorite come March.
“He’s a really highly talented player,” Pecknold said Dec. 29, 2024. “He’s big, his right shot defense is what you’re always looking for, he’s got a huge upside for us. He’s just going to keep climbing.”
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
Freshman defenseman Drew Hockley shoots the puck in the CT Ice semifnals against UConn on Jan. 24. TRIPP
Treloar, Moore hit 150th game milestone
By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Associate Sports Editor
FAIRFIELD While Quinnipiac men’s hockey’s CT Ice semifinal on Jan. 24 against No. 12/13 UConn did not end the way the Bobcats hoped, it was a big night for graduate students forward Travis Treloar and defenseman Cooper Moore.
Both Bobcat athletes hit a milestone in their collegiate career, recording their 150th game.
Treloar and Moore are in their second season with the Bobcats, leading as captain and alternate captain, respectively.
Treloar, a 2025 Hobey Baker nominee, has been an offensive generator for the
Bobcats with 11 goals and nine assists during the 2024-25 season. Despite the loss to UConn, Treloar was able to record his 99th point on the game-tying goal and his 100th the next day against Yale.
“He’s phenomenal on the power play and scoring, he’s really working his faceoffs and defending,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. “He’s on penalty kill now for us, but even more than that he’s an elite person, he’s been a great captain, so we’re really fortunate to have him for the second year.”
Before coming to Quinnipiac, the Swedish native played at Ohio State for three
seasons, recording 55 points. In his rookie season, Treloar led the team in scoring — the first freshman Buckeye to do so since 2012 — and was named 2021 Rookie of the Year on the squad.
“I’ve had some really good teammates and coaching staffs along the way,” Treloar said. “It’s the best decision I’ve made, and obviously been really grateful and thankful for the opportunity from the staff and just sharing that locker (room) with my teammates, it’s been great.”
With several games left on the season, Treloar looks to surpass his 100th point, leaving an even bigger mark on college hockey.
On the defensive side, Moore has been a strong blue-liner for the Bobcats, recording six assists and one goal on the season. He has a strong read on the play, letting him control his game to be a lockdown defender or offensive defenseman.
“He works,” Pecknold said. “He’s been playing greatly. I thought he was really good tonight. Again, happy to have him for the second year.”
Moore played at the University of North Dakota for three seasons before playing for the Bobcats, recording 13 points. He ended his career at North Dakota earning NCHC AllAcademic Team honors for all three years.
Indoor track and feld eyes frst MAAC title
By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor
For the fourth consecutive year, heartbreak struck Quinnipiac women’s indoor track and feld at the 2024 MAAC Championship as the Bobcats fell to Rider, 179.5-153 — marking their third-highest total since moving to the MAAC in 2014.
“We’ve been in the hunt since before COVID hit,” head coach Carolyn Martin said. “That frst indoor season we lost by half a point (2020). Before that, we just didn’t know if we could be a team that could take a title. Monmouth was so stacked in every event. We didn’t have all the events covered as much, and I think they saw us coming.”
Despite fnishing No. 2 in the MAAC, the Bobcats earned six gold medals, strengthened by senior sprinter Rylie Smith, who claimed three in the women’s 200m, 400m and 4x400 relay, earning her the meet’s Most Outstanding Track Performer.
Quinnipiac picked up another honor at the championship for sophomore middle distance runner Ashlynn Witt as the MAAC Track Rookie of the Meet. The Princeton, Massachusetts native fnished second in the women’s 800m and the 4x800m relay.
“Now that (Witt’s) a sophomore she has more of a leadership role,” junior sprinter, hurdler and jumper Sydney Lavelle said. “She’s got two freshmen underneath her that she’s going to be leading through the 800m so I think not only is she going to do well, but she can help bring up those freshmen as well.”
Searching for their frst MAAC title, the Bobcats remain determined to reach the top of the mountain. With Sacred Heart and Merrimack joining the conference, it could beneft the Bobcats in the throwing events spreading the points away from the Broncs, who dominated the shot put last season.
“Sacred Heart has everything covered,” Martin said. “They have huge teams, and they tend to be a team that develops kids well. Merrimack, they’re newly Division I. I think they’re still coming into it. They do have a really good program too. So, I think it should be interesting to see where some of the points are going.”
Quinnipiac returns its gold medal-winning 4x400m relay team of Smith, Lavelle, junior sprinter Izzie Anzaldo and graduate student sprinter Alyssa Romangnoli to try and repeat as champs.
“We’re set up to do pretty good this year,” Smith said. “I think that we are on track to do pretty good at MAACs this year in the four by four.”
In two out of the three meets that the 4x400 relay competed this season — Yale and UMass — they haven’t missed a beat placing No. 2 in each, falling to Rhode Island and Yale by a combined 1.43 seconds.
“Our sprints coach Joe (Van Gilder) does a great job of trying to really develop all of our 400 kids,” Martin said. “Alyssa and Riley are huge factors in that relay, and they’re now senior upperclassmen leading this team. So, it’s exciting to see them kind of take charge of the relay.”
This season, Smith and Romagnoli have added individual accomplishment to their 4x400 success by putting top times at the nationally competitive Dr. Sanders Invite hosted by Columbia on Jan. 24-25. In the 400m, Smith — who earned MAAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week — posted a time of 55.98 while Romagnoli clocked in the 800m at 2:15.34, both standing as the top two in the conference.
This wasn’t the only instance in the indoor season as freshman jumper Talia Graham matched sophomore jumper Olivia DeBellis’ 3.60m from the MAAC Championship in the 2024 Yale Season Opener.
Graham is one of nine freshmen who have tall aspirations, striving to make an impact on the squad. Freshman jumper Lauren Fadario — No. 2 in the triple jump at Yale and Columbia — and freshman middle distance Claire O’Sullivan — No. 3 in 4x800m and No. 5 in 800 at UMass — both followed Graham, earning top fve results to further show the potential of the freshman class.
“All the freshmen have been doing a really good job,” Smith said. “This year, I feel like it’s a lot better than a lot of other years with freshmen coming in like they seem very confdent in what they’re doing, and the coaches have done a good job of supporting them as well.”
The Bobcats have three more invitationals starting with the Terrier Invitational on Jan. 31 before they strive to get over the hump for their frst conference championship on Feb. 22-23 at The Armory in Manhattan, New York.
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
Graduate student defenseman Cooper Moore prepares for a faceoff against UConn on Jan. 24.
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
Graduate student forward Travis Treloar waits for the puck against UConn on Jan. 24.
PEYTON MCKENZIE/CHRONICLE
Senior sprinter Rylie Smith runs at the Yale Season Opener on Dec. 9, 2023.
Bobcats earn consolation prize in Battle of Whitney Avenue: CT Ice edition
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
FAIRFIELD — For the 16th time in a row, Quinnipiac men’s hockey notched a win over the school down the road, beating Yale 6-2 in the consolation game of the CT Ice Tournament Saturday.
It was also Quinnipiac’s first ever appearance in said consolation game in the five years of the tournament.
“It was hard today,” head coach Rand Pecknold said. “I thought our frst and third were good, our second was poor. But we found a way to dig in a little bit. Obviously we’re disappointed not being in the championship game, not winning a trophy this week.”
Following a buzzer beater loss to UConn yesterday in the semis, the Bobcats started off strong when junior forward Jeremy Wilmer opened the score on the power play merely three minutes into the first period.
“I thought our power play was excellent,” Pecknold said. “Good puck, we got a lot of
good IQ guys out there on both units, and they did a really good job of winning battles.”
And both teams had quite the chance to show off their power play units tonight — as they tied with 16 penalty minutes each.
Putting it simply, over half of the game (or 32 minutes) was not played 5-on-5.
That turned out to be rather favorable for the Bobcats, not only on their one-man advantage but on the penalty kill as well, when freshman center Chris Pelosi netted a shorthanded goal — upping the score 2-0.
“(Penalty kill) was great,” Pecknold said. “First month of the season, we struggled a bit. It’s been really good for the most part.”
Not to be left out from the power play scoring wagon, graduate student forward Travis Treloar sniped a shot from freshman forward Aaron Schwartz to give Quinnipiac the 3-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs didn’t let that go unanswered for long when freshman forward Ronan
O’Donnell scored the frst even strength goal of the game when a puck ricocheted off of Quinnipiac freshman defenseman Elliott Groenewold’s leg right under the pads of freshman goaltender Dylan Silverstein.
And so the most eventful period of the game, the first one just to be clear, sent the Bobcats into the locker room up by two over the Bulldogs.
Unfortunately it seemed like Quinnipiac took that to mean that it won already, and all the energy had disappeared as they seemed to be solely playing not to lose.
And the Bulldogs quickly showed the Bobcats why that mentality isn’t effective — freshman forward Zachary Wagnon brought the score within one with eight left to play in second.
Alarms must’ve gone off for the Bobcats because suddenly the fire they showed in the first period returned, and sophomore forward Andon Cerbone made sure to make
the game a two-goal difference 20 seconds before the end of the second period — once again on the power play.
Wilmer noted another point by notching an empty-netter with two minutes left in regulation. Freshman forward Ryan Smith scored his second collegiate goal, sniping the shot through the traffic, bringing the score to its final 6-2 form.
So the Bobcats walked off with the nonconference edition of the Battle of Whitney Ave. with their heads held high, and their record with the Bulldogs unblemished. But it’s bittersweet, as there is no trophy to take home from a consolation game.
“Obviously we don’t have a lot of room for error, we’re thinking long-term here,” Wilmer said. “We can’t afford to lose another game like (the semifinals).”
Quinnipiac is back in action Jan. 31 when it travels to Hanover, New Hampshire to face Dartmouth. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
