Issue 19 Vol 81

QUChronicle.com February 29, 2012 Volume 81 Issue 19

sports

Opinion

Arts & life

Men’s ice hockey preps Practicing proper shuttle Fashionistas blog about etiquette, page 6 for playoffs, page 20 heels and dreams, page 9

QU files to lift injunction in Title IX case By john healy

Senior Managing Editor

The Quinnipiac women’s volleyball team doesn’t have a coach. But even if the team finds a replacement, the program’s status is in question for next year.

A hearing is scheduled for June 11 to determine whether or not an injunction from the 2010 lawsuit, which ruled that Quinnipiac was not in compliance with Title IX and for the reinstatement of the women’s volleyball program, would be lifted.

The university filed to lift the injunction on Dec. 22, 2011 and must wait at least 120 days for the court to make a decision.

If the injunction is lifted it would confirm that the university is in compliance with the gender participation aspect of the law. But there will still be other Title IX requirements the university must adhere to after the June 11 hearing, said Sandra Staub,

legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut.

“We see no meaningful improvement in the allotment of athletic opportunities for women at Quinnipiac and we will oppose the motion on behalf of the university’s women athletes,” Staub said. “In addition, we intend to prove our claims that the university fails to satisfy Title IX requirements that it provide scholarships and other benefits, including facilities, coaching and other budgeted items, equitably among men and women athletes. These claims will be scheduled for a trial in November 2012.”

Title IX, a federal law passed by Congress in 1972, states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination See injunction Page 5

LACK OF SPACE IDD minor suspended due to lack of resources By marcus harun Web Developer

Due to lack of classroom space and equipment, the interactive digital design minor will be suspended until further resources can be allocated to the program, according to a school official.

There are more than 130 IDD minors and majors and the IDD facility is limited to one 16-seat classroom, said Pattie Belle Hastings, chairperson of the visual and performing arts department and IDD professor.

“The popularity of the IDD

Possible School of Communications makeover

minor has been problematic for years,” Hastings said. “We run a pre-professional major out of a single 16-seat lab. And we have generally 80-100 majors. About six years ago, we started limiting minors to about 50-60 students.”

But, not everyone applies for the minor right away. Students who are taking IDD classes but have yet to put in paperwork often cause scheduling problems for Hastings. When she was scheduling classes for this semester, there

Two classrooms in the School of Communications may be different in the fall, according to Dean of School of Communications Lee Kamlet.

School of Communications faculty are discussing a reconstruction plan for newsroom SB 253 and classroom SC 260 to take place this summer if approved by administration and ready for the fall, according to Kamlet.

See idd Page 5

See makeover Page 5

By Katherine rojas Associate News Editor

STUDENT CENTER Two more SGA members resign CONSTRUCTION

By Katherine rojas Associate News Editor

Katie o’brien/chronicle

Two members of the Student Government Association resigned in the past week due to personal reasons.

Former Freshman Class Representative Kristina Skala and former Sophomore Class Representative Lauren Yaconis resigned from their positions with regrets and pardons.

The two new members, freshman Charles Doe and sophomore Nicole Siberry, were next in line as reserved candidates and replaced Skala and Yaconis.

Three SGA members resigned this winter, also for personal reasons.

“In the past few years there’s always been students that drop, probably close to this number, maybe less,” Bond said. “This has been a year where we’ve had a lot of turnover of new members.

“I don’t think it’s anything that we’re doing per se, I think it’s just the kind of the caliber of work that we’re doing and the amount of responsibility that you have on student government that sometimes can be overbearing” Yaconis was elected sophomore class representative last spring with 350 votes. Yaconis resigned for personal reasons that are out of her control, she said.

“My time spent in SGA has

been my best time spent at Quinnipiac University,” Yaconis said in an email. “I hope to stay involved with the organization in any way that my schedule allows, and in the future I would like to be given the opportunity to be a member of SGA again.”

Skala could not be reached for comment.

The resigned members may run in the spring election if eligible to run under election policy, according to Bond.

Most of the resigned members intend to come back or stay involved with SGA in some way, according to Bond.

The new election for the new board will begin in a few weeks.

Renovated student center features: • Five meeting rooms • Student organization lockers • Lounges • Game area

• • • • •

Greek life offices Student media suite Q30 TV studio Campus “living room” Gas fireplace

Check out quchronicle.com f0r: VIDEO: Watch a clip of the tour from inside the second floor of the future student center INTERACTIVE: Click to explore the rooms of the future student center and see the progress ARTICLE: Read more about the features of the student center and what delayed the construction

matt eisenberg/chronicle

Tag yourselves in the Delta Tau Delta and SPB Dance Marathon album on facebook.com/quchronicle

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Campus briefs

Have you heard any news that you think Quinnipiac students would care about?

Please, tell us: tips@quchronicle.com

Not-so-spirited Spirit Week showed a small turnout.

Flyers for Wednesday night’s “The Clash of the Classes” competition in Burt Kahn Court could be seen all over campus.

“We had extra flyers for this event but there is only so much you can do. It’s up to the students to come out,” Gardner said.

The night was supposed to focus on class spirit by having different competitive obstacles with the winning class receiving a prize. Instead, Burt Kahn was left mostly empty except for scattered SPB members, a few students and a group of older men partaking in a karate class that was relocated to the open space.

“SPB does a lot of work to

By Rebecca Humphrey

Senior class releases newsletter The senior class cabinet is putting out a newsletter focused on senior class information, Senior Class President Emily Sarnoff said. The PDF newsletter will be sent via email to all seniors expected by early next week. The newsletter will include important dates for seniors such as senior week information, biographies of the commencement speakers, commencement chairs and the date of the commencement. Another feature of the newsletter will be a list of games York Hill residents will need to move their cars from the Eastview car lot. The newsletter will include contact info on the cabinet presenting who they are and what’s to come for the end of the year. This trial run will determine if more will come. The newsletter will be a consistent thing based on the responses. – K. Rojas

Kristof comes for campus cross talk Pulitzer price-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof will speak this Thursday as part of the Campus Cross Talk series. Kristof will deliver the lecture, “A Call to Action: Encouraging Young People to Join the ‘World’s Fight’ and Take on a Cause Larger than Themselves” in Burt Kahn Court at 7 p.m. Kristof has been an op-ed writer for the New York Times since November 2001. He is best known for his promotion of human rights abuses in Asia and Africa, such as human trafficking and the Darfur conflict. He is also the co-author of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” a required reading for the QU 301 Seminar. – K. Rojas

Student Alumni Association raises more than $5K for 9/11 Memorial fund

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Contributing Writer

If it was not for the yellow and blue “Spirit Week” banner hanging in the middle of campus, many Quinnipiac students would not know that it’s Spirit Week. This issue may not matter to some, but it hits closer to home with members of organizations like the Student Programming Board.

Julianne Gardner, SPB’s novelty and week chair member, said SPB seeks to motivate students to get involved in programming. The organization tries to use the student voice to plan and provide entertaining events such as Spirit Week. This three-year-old tradition requires numerous hours of planning, but only

plan these events and they are great ideas,” junior and SPB member Katie Blakeslee said. “I feel bad that a lot of people on campus are missing out.”

The lack of attendance at these programs that try to bring students together was said by other SPB members to be especially disappointing during a week that is supposed to stand out and be more fun than the rest.

“To me it feels like it’s kind of a publicity stunt to make sure perspective students see that we are a united front,” sophomore Tamar Aroyan said. “It says it’s Spirit Week everywhere, even on the lunch table toppers but nowhere does it say what that entails.There

wasn’t enough publicity about it.

No one really knows what it is.

There were emails sent out but who really checks their email? It just floods their inboxes until it gets deleted.”

SPB members expect a better turnout for future events and refuse to give up on their spirit and desire to motivate students.

“Spirit Week has been a little bit of a disappointment but as long as the people at the event have fun, no matter how many people show up, that is what SPB is about,” sophomore and SPB member Jenna Mojkowski said.

“The quality of the time people have when they are at our events is what matters most to us.”

CHA-CHA CHING

Delta Tau Delta, SPB host first dance marathon

katherine rojas/chronicle

Delta Tau Delta and SPB raised $14,186 for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford.

By Olivia grattan Staff Writer

Quinnipiac’s inaugural DanceA-Thon raised more than $14,000 for the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. About 380 students attended Delta Tau Delta and the Student Programming Board’s event Feb. 24 in Burt Kahn Court to dance the night away while supporting the cause.

The goal was to raise at least $10,000, former Delt president Neil Brown said.

“I feel like this is such a great event because people who come get to physically see the kids that

the money is going to,” Brown said.

Seven-year-old Olivia Bellefonte and her family were one of the five families who came to the event. Bellefonte was born with half a heart and has had to undergo three heart surgeries, her first when she was a day old and the last when she was 4.

“The [medical center’s] facilities are outstanding, and they have rooms for parents to stay in overnight, which is funded by events like Dance-A-Thon,” Bellefonte’s father said.

Olivia said her favorite part of being in the hospital was being able

to ride in a battery-powered Barbie car to surgery.

Students paid a $10 entry fee, but there were also donations from the outside community.

“We want to do whatever it takes to help this grow and make it as big as it can possibly be,” Brown said. “Just researching and working on this event I’ve become extremely passionate about it, and I can just see the great things that an event like this can do. Mainly because the hospital wouldn’t be able to do half of what it does without the support of fundraisers like this.”

Brown said focusing on “dancers, not dollars” is the key for this event to grow, because if students see that this is a fun way to get involved then the money will come.

Delta Tau Delta is hoping to expand the event to include more groups within the Quinnipiac community next year.

“I think it’s really important that there are families here who have benefited from fundraisers like Dance-A-Thon because we get to hear their stories instead of just raising a bunch of money and signing a check,” junior and Delt Tom Booth said.

Security, SGA solve students’ concerns

By DANIEL GROSSO Contributing Writer

photo courtesy of quinnipiac university

Admissions releases promotional video

Quinnipiac’s Admissions office posted its new promotional video on YouTube on Monday. As of Tuesday, the video had 38 likes and more than 3,000 views. It features all three campuses, highlighting various student organizations, events, classes and facilities. – K. Rojas

There is tension between security officials and students on many college campuses, but Quinnipiac’s problems may be on the rise.

In recent weeks there has seemingly been a spike in student concerns regarding Quinnipiac’s security guards, but SGA has urged this is nothing out of the ordinary.

“Comparing this year to previous years there is no difference,” Vice President of Student Concerns Vincent Bond said in an email. “There are always situations that come up in the community that need to be addressed and SGA always solves them as soon as they come to us.”

Bond also stressed that a majority of the concerns SGA receives are not serious complaints.

They mostly revolve around three areas: parking, tickets and shuttles.

SGA brings all student concerns to Chief of Security David Barger, who says he is not too surprised about the content of these concerns.

“I’ve never found anyone happy to receive a ticket,” Barger said.

According to the chief, the majority of student complaints that reach his desk involve parking tickets and are easily dealt with because the parking rules for each lot are clearly posted.

However, other student concerns require a bit more attention and are more worrisome for the chief of security. Some students have alleged Quinnipiac security officers have been rude and mistreated them.

Barger is not surprised that

these concerns exist.

“Ninety-nine times out of 100 when [security interacts] with students it is a high stress situation,” Barger said.

While Bond is not allowed to disclose any details or personal cases, he made sure to note that SGA is constantly working with security to solve any issues that may arise.

“Security is always willing to work with students and solves any issues we bring to them,” Bond said. “They have conversations with officers and work with us to solve the issues.”

Barger also expressed this helpful sentiment and wishes to do all he can to make students’ relations with security guards as favorable. He assured that he reviews all issues brought to his desk and talks to any personnel who may be mentioned negative-

ly by a student.

The chief of security applauded SGA for their efforts in the continuing relationship between students and Quinnipiac’s finest.

“Through the work of SGA the students have become more aware,” Barger said.

Chief Barger also stressed that without students coming to Security or SGA with their concerns it is impossible to make adjustments to improve Quinnipiac Security.

Barger urges all students who may have a concern or issue to email him, leave a note with security or contact their SGA representatives.

Working together, students at Quinnipiac can have a positive relationship with security and can continue to work out any issues.

“The last thing that SGA wants is any friction between the students and officers on campus,” Bond assured.

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The Quinnipiac Chronicle

News|3

Quinnipiac’s newest cultural groups come together for “Henna Night”

katherine rojas/chronicle

Nida Anwar (above) designs a henna tattoo on a student Friday afternoon. Allie Roesch (right) shows off her newly designed henna tattoo on her forearm.

By susan riello Contributing Writer

Quinnipiac’s Muslim Student Association and the South Asian Society joined for the first time Friday afternoon for Henna Night. The rotunda lounge in the Carl Hansen Student Center was complete with music, authentic Indian food and hand-painted henna tattoos.

This was not only their first joint event, but also the first official event for either group. Both the MSA and SAS were formed in December after gaining approval from the university.

Pooja Bhavsar, junior and presi-

dent of the SAS, has wanted to start a group representing her culture since she was a freshman.

“We felt like this was a part of our lives that was lacking on campus,” Bhavsar said. “It took a while to get it started, but the end result paid off.”

Abeeda Mehwash, president of the MSA, said joining with the SAS would not only make the event a success, but a great way to promote the organizations.

“We need to expand our groups and reach out to the campus,” Mehwash said. “Henna is part of both

of our cultures, so we thought it would be nice to join together.”

A professional henna artist was available to draw the delicately designed tattoos, which last up to six weeks.

Students who waited in line for the tattoos helped themselves to samosas, pyramid-shaped pastries that can be stuffed with potatoes, peas or other foods. Attendees also enjoyed traditional Lassi drinks, made with mango and yogurt.

About 60 students attended the event, which was more than many of the group members had anticipated.

“I’m very impressed with the turnout,” said Mohammed Bey, director for multicultural education at Quinnipiac. “For right now, we’re taking things as they come. The students are just celebrating and sharing their culture with the community. It’s definitely needed on campus.”

Nicolas Carrasco, professor of biochemistry, advises the two groups along with philosophy and political science professor Stephen Balkaran. Both advisers were also pleased with the positive energy at the event.

“This is a great opportunity for

the students, and adds volume to the community,” Carrasco said. “[The organizations] worked really hard to get this group going, and will continue their efforts.”

With their first event such a success, SAS can begin planning future events, such as “Holi Glow,” modeled after Dayglow with a religious aspect, on March 25.

“Holi Glow is going to be so much fun,” Bhavsar said. “It will be outside, and involves throwing of colored powder. There is a religious aspect to it, but it’s just going to be a crazy time. Everyone is welcomed.”

SGA working the ropes for graduation cords approval

By Staci Canny Staff Writer

Quinnipiac has not recognized graduation cords from honor societies since its establishment. Now, the Student Government Association is trying to change that.

The only recognized cords are for students graduating with honors in the cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude range, with grade point averages ranging from 3.5 to 3.69, 3.7 to 3.89 and 3.9 to 4.0, respectively.

SGA will meet with the commencement committee on March 6 to discuss a proposal for the university to recognize more honors societies’ graduation cords.

There are at least 15 honor societies on campus that have expressed

interest in having their cords recognized, Class of 2012 Representative Andrew McDermott said.

The issue with the university is the graduation cord standard, SGA’s Vice President of Student Concerns Vincent Bond said.

“The way the university looks at it is that there are numerous award ceremonies for these organizations during the year to give awards for those accomplishments,” Bond said.

“But what the university is saying is that graduation is an academic event, where they want to have those cords be definite in what they are putting out there.”

McDermott is leading a research initiative in preparation for the upcoming meeting. He is reaching out to the university’s honor societies to

find out how many seniors belong to each group, and what their membership requirements are.

University Honors Program copresidents Julianne Gardner and Erin Hodgson wrote a letter to Mark Thompson, senior vice president for academic & student affairs, in an effort to assist SGA’s proposal to have their cords approved.

If the university does not change its policy for the 2012 commencement ceremony, Gardner said that she might still wear her honors cord.

“It would have to find that balance, because I wouldn’t want to disrespect the university, but at the same time we should be allowed to show all of our achievements,” Gardner said.

Hodgson said that she will wear

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her cord no matter what decision the university makes this spring.

“The cord is the physical representation of four years of hard work and dedication to a program that has challenged me to grow as a person,” Hodgson said. “The University does not have the right to keep me from wearing it.”

Bond said that students have taken the initiative to have the university recognize honor societies’ cords for years.

One of the reasons that these efforts have been unsuccessful is because the university wants graduation to be as fair as possible for all students, the Commencement Committee said.

Some societies require a monetary fee, which can put some stu-

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dents with a qualifying GPA at a disadvantage if they are unable to pay for membership, McDermott said.

Despite the conflicting viewpoints, Bond said that he has noticed many students have begun to see graduation being a time to honor students beyond their GPA. “You come to Quinnipiac as a freshman, you do the freshman induction ceremony, you walk through, you are all wearing the same thing. When you walk out, you’ve completely changed,” Bond expressed. “You make your own legend here. At your graduation day, you should be allowed to wear that with pride,” Bond said.

SGA’s goal is to have a full proposal written out by the end of next week, according to McDermott.

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RALLY FOR EDUCATION REFORM

By Rachel Cogut, Lauren Epifanio & Katherine Rojas

The Students For Education Reform (SFER) group traveled to Hartford on Feb. 21 to attend a rally for education equality. The rally was held to support the passage of Senate Bill 24, which offers a comprehensive set of reforms for the state’s public education system, in the Connecticut state senate. A public hearing following the rally allowed affected students to give their testimonies against Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy’s new budget plan.

“A critical first step to having a great education system is an equitable, functional school funding system, and right now there are thousands of children in this state who don’t get the funding they deserve,” stated a SFER press release on Feb. 21. “College students want to do our part to set this right, and we want to see the funding system changed so that all public students get fair funding for their education.”

“College students want to know that if we stay here in Connecticut, our children will have the top notch education we would expect–but right now, that’s not the case,” said Jordan Nadler, Quinnipiac SFER chapter president.

According to Nadler, SFER aims to spread awareness about the achievement gap in America and to advocate for policies that will ensure all children, regardless of where they live, receive an excellent education.

The National Chapter of SFER organized and provided transportation for student groups from Quinnipiac University, Wesleyan University, Yale University and the University of New Haven to be able to participate in the rally.

At the rally, Malloy addressed a large crowd of students, parents and teachers, the majority of whom were advocates for Connecticut Charter Schools.

Malloy was joined by a group of legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, a Democrat from New Haven and a professor at Quinnipiac.

After the rally, the crowds headed inside the State Legislative Office Building for a public hearing where over 500 Connecticut citizens and/or college students came out to show support for education reform in Connecticut. Only a fraction of those present were actually able to sit in the hearing.

The remainder of the participants gathered in other rooms nearby and watched the live feed of the public hearing, being projected on screens in each room.

Quinnipiac students took advantage of the unique opportunity to speak with legislatures, administrators, educators, and parents about their personal backgrounds and experiences in the world of public education.

Dominic Yoia, senior director of financial aid for Quinnipiac, Vincent Contrucci, director of community service and three Quinnipiac students presenting their testimonies at the hearing.

Governor Malloy proposed a new budget plan that consists of eliminating Connecticut Independent College Student grants and community service grants given to any student who attends a private college in Connecticut with an institutional endowment larger than $200 million. Quinnipiac’s endowment is $277 million, according to Yoia.

“We’re caught off guard with this,” Yoia said. “The budgets are already in and done [months ago] and we’ll have to go back and revisit it if this goes through.”

Junior Samantha Estelle-Abate, sophomore Sharlen Tarafdar and freshman Taylor Rose all gave their testimonies in the public hearing.

Estelle-Abate is a Cheshire resident and a health science major, taking pre-med courses and studying to be a neurologist.

“There’s no other way for me to go to col-

Lauren epifanio/Chronicle

Protestors gathered in front of the State Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Feb. 21 to give their testimonies against Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy’s new budget plan. lege, this is where I need to be, it’s where I belong,” Estelle-Abate said.

Estelle-Abate included her family’s struggles in her testimony to try to personalize the legislatures from not passing this budget cut.

“I didn’t feel like the senators that were listening cared that much,” Estelle-Abate said.

Yoia, Contrucci and the students were waiting to testify for three hours. “[The students’ testimonies] were concise, articulate, emotional—some of them,” Yoia said. “They just gave you the personal side of what’s going on in their family that legislators don’t often get to hear. They just look at numbers on a piece of paper, and now you’re seeing a student in front of you who you’re about to affect, it can have an impact and I think our students just really got their stories across real nicely.”

Yoia also presented his testimony on be-

half of Quinnipiac University.

“I told them, we’re not asking for an increase, we’re not asking to be level funded, we’re not even asking you not to cut us, you already cut us last year,” Yoia said. “What we’re asking you to do is not take money off the table for aiding students.”

We’re not being pigs, going up there and asking for tons of more money, we know that’s there’s still an economic issue that Connecticut’s got to deal with, we’re just saying ‘do the right thing here, guys.’ We’ve already tried out best to absorb a 50 percent cut in two years.”

“I think we covered all the bases,” Yoia said. “I think a legislator shouldn’t have any questions after they heard everybody’s testimony. We did our best and that’s all that we could have done. If the worst outcome happens it’s by no lack of effort in any of our parts, it is what it is.”

No evil at QU in community photo project

By MATT BUSEKROOS Publisher

See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil.

That is the message behind the No Evil Project, a community photo project where people submit three poses in pictures as the three wise monkeys. Under each picture is a stereotype commonly thought of the person. Next to that, the person writes a good deed done and why they’re participating in the online campaign.

The No Evil Project started in Worcester, Ma. with local photographer Troy Thompson spearheading the effort to rid negative stereotypes.

Junior Erin Williams is now

bringing the project to Quinnipiac with the assistance of Thompson and members within the Department of Residential Life.

Williams said everyone has things in common and everyone has insecurities they are worried about.

“The idea is to essentially get rid of stereotypes and everyone does their own part by doing good deeds and doing good things as opposed to thinking badly about each other,” Williams said. “I think diversity is the differences in relationships, where you live, religion, what you like, what you don’t like, likes of food, likes of clothes. Anything that really makes you different.”

Williams’ friend junior Mary Mooshian went to Williams with the idea of bringing the project to Quinnipiac. Mooshian is a native of Worcester.

“I think we need more projects like this to be perfectly honest,” Mooshian said. “It’s got such a great message, just you have to be a good person in order to pay it forward.”

The photos are set for display in the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts Exhibit in Worcester, which contains the first physical display of the No Evil Project.

“Hanover is a huge theatre, not just in Worcester, but in Massachusetts, so I think it’s a great opportunity for Quinnipiac to be involved in

that,” Mooshian said.

Senior Ally Dargie jumped at the chance to participate in the project when Williams spoke to her about it.

“Our campus has taken major strides towards embracing and accepting diversity in every sense of the word,” Dargie said. “But at the end of the day, we as students are still stereotyped as North Face, leggings, and Uggs-wearing people, who drive Porsche Cayennes.

Yes, I own North Face gear and love my Uggs in the cold weather, but there is more to me than my looks. In fact, I’m an RA, a dancer, a runner, and an A student. I’m a caregiver, a teacher, a family member, and a friend.

“I chose to become involved in the No Evil Project because it is about time that those on and off campus get to know Quinnipiac students as people, whether or not we ever actually meet in person.”

Williams said she hopes this brings the community together.

“I hope the community sees that good things are happening around locally and close by and they get more interested in participating in projects started by every day people who want to make a difference,” she said.

Photographs for the No Evil Project will be taken in Dance Studio A this Saturday between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

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News|5

QU files to IDD minor suspended Philosophy lift Title IX department injunction to expand idd from cover

injunction from cover under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The women’s volleyball team filed the lawsuit in 2009 after the team was told it was being cut for budget reasons, along with men’s golf and men’s outdoor track. They argued that without the volleyball team the university was not in compliance with Title IX and that they were manipulating roster sizes to appear that they were in compliance.

In July 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill ordered the university to implement a plan to comply with Title IX, which included the continuation of the women’s volleyball team through the 2010-11 season.

Another part of the lawsuit was that Quinnipiac added a competitive cheer (now acrobatics and tumbling) program after the volleyball team was cut. Underhill determined that the sport was too underdeveloped to qualify as a varsity sport and its members could not be counted as athletic participants under the Title IX statute.

Former women’s volleyball head coach Robin Lamott Sparks, who was fired by the university two weeks ago, was one of the plaintiffs in the case. The university said that her termination is not related to the Title IX lawsuit.

Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs, said that the university would not comment on any pending legal matters.

was a 100-level class that filled up with IDD minors and “curious people” before freshmen IDD majors had the opportunity to register. She had to add an additional section of that class to accommodate additional IDD majors.

There are about 20 slots left in the IDD minor program and she has had at least 50 requests.

“The suspension of the IDD minor is to help provide a better program to provide more advanced course opportunities for the IDD majors,” Hastings said.

Students who are current IDD minors will be able to finish, but after those 20 spots are filled, no additional IDD minors will be accepted until further notice.

“Every space on campus is so tight,” Hastings said. “We’re not the only program on campus that suffers from a lack of space. In fact my entire department, music, art, theater, IDD and GDD suffers from a lack of space.”

Johannes Bergmann, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the school recognizes this space issue and is looking into a solution.

“There are all sorts of short and long range plans to increase the amount of space available in CAS, particularly those that require labs of one or another,” Bergmann said.

He said the school is currently talking about increasing the IDD space, but no plans are official yet.

He did not explain the details of the expansion plans.

“We plan to make good use of the space we have and expand at least some what all of these programs but the undergraduate programs are not going to expand at all,” Bergmann

By Rachel Cogut Contributing Writer

lenny neslin/chronicle

The IDD minor will be suspended due to lack of resources. said. “The same number of undergraduate students will be here in the future as are here now and we hope to serve them better by rearranging resources we have and building new labs.”

Students who apply for the minor and have taken three or more IDD courses will be accepted into the program first. Students who wish to apply for the remaining spaces of the IDD minor should see an IDD faculty member before spring break.

“After this semester, that’s it,” Hastings said. “Those 20 spots are going to be filled mainly by students who’ve taken three or more IDD classes at this point but they have just never done the paperwork.”

School of Communication students are required to have a minor outside of communications, and IDD is a popular choice, Dean of the School of Communications Lee Kamlet said. His school also suffers from lack of classroom space.

“This is a school built for 400 students and we now have over 1,100,” Kamlet said, although he was unsure of exact figures. “Our facilities are being in use from 9 a.m. to midnight almost every day.”

The School of Communications cannot expand at this time, Kamlet said, so it is making the best use of what resources it has.

“Where would we go?” Kamlet

said. “There is no place to go. It’s just a simple matter of geography.

There is no place to go.”

Kamlet is in the process of planning a redesign of some classrooms to allow for a new workspace that should be completed in the fall.

In the future, there is more opportunity for the school to expand, Kamlet said. There are plans for the law school to move to the North Haven campus. The School of Business will move to the law school building, and then the School of Communications plans to expand into the space currently used by business faculty members.

“The Law School will move to the North Haven Campus some time after Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield vacates the space it currently occupies and the completion of the School of Medicine,” said Richard Ferguson, senior vice president for administration. “That will result in a reallocation of space on the Mount Carmel Campus that should free up space for the expansion of the Ed McMahon Mass Communications Center. The Anthem move will also free up space to house graduate programs, including those of the School of Communications.”

The IDD program teaches design for the web, print, motion graphics and mobile devices.

Quinnipiac is adding a new philosophy program to its undergraduate curriculum starting in the fall.

The department has worked to create and develop the few more courses needed to establish a fullfledged philosophy program. The department was also given permission to hire two new full-time philosophy professors, who will begin working in August.

The Faculty Senate proposed this idea to its Academic Policies Committee last fall, and the Senate approved of the inclusion of the major at its first meeting in January.

The State of Connecticut’s Department of Education still needs to certify the major, which is leaning towards approval soon, according to Sean Duffy, chair of the philosophy and political science department.

Many arts & sciences faculty members, like Duffy, have waited long enough for this change. “[It’s] about time that Quinnipiac added this major,” Duffy said. “It was really quite embarrassing that we didn’t have it.”

Students have left Quinnipiac because they could not major in philosophy, while other students elected to design their own personalized, independent major in philosophy, according to Duffy. Five students have chosen to do this in the past three years and there are three independent philosophy majors on campus right now.

See the full article online at quchronicle.com.

Possible School of Communications makeover makeover from cover

lesly alvarez/chronicle

School of Communications faculty are discussing a reconstruction plan for newsroom SB253 (above) and classroom SC260 to take place this summer if approved by administration.

“The space was fine when it was designed 12 years ago but it doesn’t work for us now,” Kamlet said. “Students have their backs to instructors, both rooms are pretty dark, they don’t have up to date technology, so I decided that we ought to make them better, make them brighter, make them more functioning.”

The rooms are “not well designed” and “don’t serve their purpose” anymore, Kamlet said.

“We’re pretty much locked into the space that we have in the moment; there’s no ability to expand space,” Kamlet said.

Kamlet met with the SoC faculty this semester, getting the majority on board, and will next meet with Mark Thompson, senior vice president for academic & student affairs, for his approval on talking to the architect about the construction plans.

“I think that the faculty all agree that the rooms don’t serve their purpose anymore,” Kamlet said. “And in fact, two faculty members may have to give up their offices and even they are in support of the rede-

sign of the room.”

The setup of the classroom makes it hard for students to pay attention, Jordan Brickman said, Quinnipiac senior broadcast journalism major.

“The classrooms themselves, particularly the classroom that's like a movie theater, is a joke,” Brickman said. “There are no windows, and the room is set up like a movie theater, how can I do anything in that room other than watch movies?”

Both classrooms have desktops around the perimeter of the rooms, taking up a huge amount of space.

These classrooms will be strip down to the bare walls and turned into a more multi-function room/newsroom equipped with Macs, Kamlet said.

A small conference room will be installed in the newsroom where groups of students and faculty can meet to discuss their projects.

The purpose of reconstructing these classrooms is to make it open to all school of communications students, other than just serving as a classroom, according to Kamlet.

Students have anticipated an improvement in the School of Communications building to make work easier.

“I would love to see the building made larger with more rooms for editing, writing, and all other endeavors communications students undertake,” Brian Reilly said, Quinnipiac senior film, video and interactive media major.

The construction plans does not include expanding the classrooms, Kamlet said. The rooms are not getting bigger in terms of their square footage, however there will be better use of the space.

Kamlet is currently meeting with the architect to get some ideas about how to utilize the space in the best possible way.

“This is not a done deal,” Kamlet clarified. “This really is on the drawing board at the moment. It hasn’t gone to the stage of approval, we’re still working on that.”

Kamlet and faculty will have to finalize plans with the architect, when that’s finished and there’s “a price tag,” Thompson will need to give it his stamp of approval.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

6|Opinion

Opinion

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

Quchronicle.com/opinion opinion@QUChronicle.com @QUChronicle

Respect Channel some our British courtesy country on QU shuttles It’s been almost two and a half London, the transport system more months since I returned home from commonly known as TFL, even had my semester abroad in London and I a lovely British announcer reminding everyone to let passengers can’t help but make some comoff before getting on. parisons with my two lives.

Even though QU Throughout the day, I doesn’t have an old Britfind numerous things that ish man in reflective gear remind me of the times I standing outside of the spent in this great city, but shuttle with a microI guess the most promiphone reminding us to nent comparison that I do this, I think we can can make is that of the still make the effort QU shuttles. Every day to maintain this comI used public transporChristine Burroni Arts & Life Editor mon courtesy to fellow tation, not only to and Associate @ChristineBurr shuttle riders. from school, but basically If there is a long line, or a “masanytime I wanted to leave my flat.

When I first got to London, sive queue” as the Brits would say, one of the first things that was ad- slyly pushing your way up to the dressed at my program’s orientation front really isn’t so sly, so I suggest was public transportation etiquette. you stop.

Another thing, I’m sure that the Whether it was the Tube, a train or those famous red double-decker people around you really don’t care buses, there was some unwritten what song you’re listening to or what rule as to what you do and not do your mom is cooking for dinner. So while utilizing public transporta- with that said, turn down your music and speak lower, or wait until you’re tion.

Living this way for three months, off the shuttle to complain to your with all of these rules in my head, ‘mum’ about your massive amounts I couldn’t help but think of them of homework. The Brits definitely when I first stepped on to the shuttle aren’t one for public disturbances, and I highly doubt the people sitting for the first time this semester.

The first immediate violation of near you like them either.

Something that is not necessarily the British rules that I noticed happened when getting on to the shuttle. an offense but maybe just an annoyWait your turn, people. You won’t ance: Pick a seat once you get on. be able to get on until other people We all know that QU shuttle drivers get off, simple as that. Transport for aren’t the most patient people in the

world, so pick your seat and get on with it. The shuttle drivers, like London bus drivers, do not wait until everyone is seated on the bus.

At least there’s no possibility of falling down a staircase on a QU shuttle. From experience, consider yourself lucky.

Here’s something that would not go over well in London, yet seems to happen here all the time: people seem to think that their backpacks and purses are people too, requiring their own seat. Let’s make some room for everyone who was shivering for the past 20 minutes; we all want to get back to our rooms, just as much as your backpack does. On a crowded London tube, bus or train, giving your oversized bag the seat next to you is definitely frowned upon.

One last thing, “remember to take all of your belongings with you.” This not only applies to the British transportation systems and rides at Disney, but yes, the QU shuttles. What are the chances of you getting your forgotten backpack returned to you? Come on now, that’s an easy one.

So cheers to good manners and remember all of this the next time you take a shuttle ride. The Brits live their lives by most of these common courtesies, and after living this way for a semester, I don’t see why we can’t abide by them too.

What’s your opinion on QU shuttle etiquette?

Let us know on QUChronicle.com

SGA’s Class of 2012 rundown

meet The Staff Publisher Matt Busekroos Editor-in-Chief Lenny Neslin Senior Managing Editors John Healy Meghan Parmentier Managing Editor Michele Snow Copy Desk Chief Jamie Hill Copy Editor Cassie Comeau Web Editor Tim O’Donnell Web Developer Marcus Harun Cartoonist Dakota Wiegand Adviser Lila Carney 203-582-8358

Advertising inquiries can be sent to advertise@quchronicle.com. Inquiries must be made a week prior to publication.

Before every game here at Quin- stupid.

Granted, a few people screaming nipiac (and I’m sure elsewhere too), in the middle of the song is nothing fans are told to be respectful of the compared to the Montreal Canaplayers, coaches, officials and dian fans booing the nationspectators of the game. But al anthem before Game 7 of one of the biggest things the first round of the Stanley left out is to be respectful Cup playoffs in 2008, but for the country. it doesn’t make it any betThe national anthem is ter. If you don’t know what played before every single I’m referring to, then home game, regardYouTube it. You’ll be less of the sport, and shocked at how classit is the most patriotic Matt Eisenberg less some of those fans part of every game. It Sports Editor @matteisenberg42 can be. (If you’re a Bruserves as a reminder that we have a strong sense of national- ins fan, you might already know, but ism in our country and that we still that’s another story.)

I love it when the softball team have troops serving overseas, riskpractices during the beginning of ing their lives for our country.

And there are people who don’t a soccer game and the national anunderstand that for some bizarre them plays. Why? Because every single person on the softball field reason.

Fans who yell during the nation- stops what they are doing, stands al anthem are some of the worst fans up, faces the flag and respects the on earth. We play this song to honor country. It makes me proud to be an our country and those who have American.

I’m not saying to be quiet during protected it. They have fought for your freedom to come to the game, the national anthem – that’s out of reand ultimately your freedom to yell spect. If you want to sing along to it, during the national anthem … but that’s perfect in my book. I love that don’t. You’re missing the point if even more. I think it shows that you support this country even more so. you do.

It really touches me whenever It upsets me as an American that people decide to yell “WOOOO!” or a police officer or security guard “Let’s go Bobcats!” during the song. stands during the national anthem It’s disrespectful to the country and and salutes the American flag for rude to the person singing it. I feel the duration of the song. Nothing is sorry for anyone who sings it and is more perfect than that.

But on the contrary, if you’re interrupted by some belligerent fan who thinks it’s a good idea to get his going to be that person that disturbs or her voice heard before a crowd of everyone, please do us all a favor and shut up. possibly thousands of people.

Better yet, sing along to it. At Newsflash: it’s not. Interrupting the national anthem gives the coun- least you’ll be showing some retry a bad image and makes you look spect for your country.

Design Chief Samantha Epstein Photography Editor Anna Brundage Associate Photography Editor Katie O’brien News Editor Kim Green Associate News Editors Phil Nobile Katherine Rojas Opinion Editor Jeremy Stull Arts & Life Editor Nicole Fano Associate Arts & Life Editors Catherine Boudreau Christine Burroni Sarah Rosenberg Sports Editor Matt Eisenberg Associate Sports Editor Joe Addonizio Mailing address Quinnipiac University 275 Mount Carmel Ave. Hamden, CT 06518

The Chronicle is distributed around all three university campuses every Wednesday when school is in session except during exam periods. Single copies are free. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline.

Please report suspicious activity to university security (203-582-6200) and Matt Busekroos at publisher@quchronicle. com. For additional copies, contact the student media office for rates.

Send tips, including news tips, corrections or suggestions to Lenny Neslin at editor@quchronicle.com.

Letters to the Editor should be between 250 and 400 words and must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief before going to print. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit all material, including advertising, based on content, grammar and space requirements. Send letters to editor@ quchronicle.com. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Chronicle.

As our final semester is in full swing, the Senior Class Cabinet has been working hard to keep your Bobcat community the best that it can be, as well as keeping our eyes and ears open to new ways that we can better your experiences here on campus! Currently, we are getting ready to send out our first Senior Class Newsletter, which will be filled with great information pertinent to seniors. Also, be on the look out for a great event bringing us together as a class in April! Along with this, we have been working tirelessly to make your Commencement ceremony as meaningful, personal, and memorable as possible.

Be sure to take full advantage of your last few months as an undergrad! Be sure to participate in Quinnipiac University’s Big Event and

be a part of Quinnipiac University’s first Lip Dub! (Like it on Facebook at Quinnipiac University Lib Dub for more info!) Also, if haven’t purchased your Senior Week ticket, you have until March 30 to do so. Tickets are at $295 and completely worth every penny!

Don’t forget about donating $20.12 to the 2012 Senior Class Gift fund. Your contribution will go into the Quinnipiac University Endowment Fund, to create a scholarship in the name of the class of 2012.

If you have any suggestions for Commencement, or other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact myself or our Senior Class Vice President, Dan Scott and like us on Facebook at Quinnipiac Senior Class of 2012! – Emily Sarnoff, Senior Class President

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Opinion|7

I want beer. And I want it on Sundays.

Quinnipiac students are all too The law assumes that the Christian aware of the archaic and outdated populous needs that day to dedicate their time to God. This outdated laws that govern alcohol sales policy has no problem with in Connecticut. No sales after alcohol sales on the Jewish 9 p.m., no sales on Sundays Sabbath. Nor does it care and no sales on Mondays afif adamantly non-religious ter holidays. people, like me, want to purSomething that all Quinchase alcohol on Sunday. nipiac students may not be Nor does it allow familiar with is the proindividual Christian posal by Gov. Dannel citizens to make deciMalloy to change those sions on their own on policies and bring Jeremy Stull Opinion Editor how to spend their supConnecticut into the 21st @jpstull posed day of rest. century in this regard.

The website EndCTBlueLaws.

Bordering states, actually 48 other states, permit alcohol sales on Sun- org touts endorsements from half a dozen Connecticut newspapers and days.

This law is anchored in a re- 10 different alcohol industry groups. ligious tradition that has no place The Connecticut Post calls the Sunas an official government policy. day ban “a musty custom that makes

about as much sense today as declaring a sneezing fit the sign of a witch.”

A person can go to a grocery store and buy just about anything they want on any day of the week.

Conceptually it makes no sense to not to be able to buy alcohol every day of the week.

You can purchase alcohol on Sundays in Massachusetts, and that means Connecticut consumers drive over the border and take their money out of the state. The governor’s proposal cites industry estimates that the amount of money being lost across the border could be $570 million in sales.

Connecticut Package Stores Association member Mike Cimini, who owns two package stores in Connecticut and two in Massachusetts,

says the lifting of the Sunday ban in Massachusetts did not do much to change business. He told Shaken News Daily, a wine, spirit and beer news website, “All it did was divide six days’ worth of sales into seven.”

Senior Brian Meyers of Enfield, Conn. crosses over the border for beer on Sundays. He thinks that his money could be better spent stimulating his home state’s economy.

“I see why small business owners think it wouldn’t increase business, but right now they’re just losing those customers over the border,” Meyers said.

Gov. Malloy’s proposal would also get rid of the current unnecessary government intrusion into free markets by eliminating the policy of industry minimum pricing. This

would allow distributors and retailers to offer sales to differentiate themselves, attract customers and, in the end, make alcohol more easily accessible and cheaper. This is something that everybody should sign on to support.

Go to EndCTBlueLaws.org, click “Take Action” and email your congressmen. You live in Connecticut for a majority of the year, you are counted in the U.S. Census here and you should be registered to vote here. All of that should leave you at least semi-interested in the legislative workings of Connecticut.

If my plea to be an engaged and concerned citizen does not make you want to take action, then do it so you can buy beer whenever you want.

Dakota Wiegand/Chronicle

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

8|Arts & Life

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

Arts & Life

quchronicle.com/arts-and-life artslife@QUChronicle.com @QUCHRONARTSLIFE

fishing for a future in film

By CHRISTINE BURRONI Associate Arts & Life Editor

Anna Brundage/chronicle

Austin Hopkins spent the summer in Maine filming a documentary on lobster fishing, a massive one-man effort that got him credit from the School of Communications and an idea to pitch a four-part series to PBS

This summer, while filming his first documentary, Austin Hopkins tested the waters – literally and metaphorically.

“I have never done anything like this before,” said Hopkins, a junior FVI major. “This time last year I had been watching a lot of documentaries on Netflix and I was like, ‘this could be fun.’”

Hopkins’ “fun” turned into a serious matter when he moved to Maine for the summer with the goal to film a documentary on the lobster fishing industry.

Entitled, “Born Into It,” Hopkins originally planned to capture a ‘day in the life’ of a lobster fisher, and how they are literally “born into” the trade – but his plan evolved into something greater when he began his interviews.

“It gets into rules and regulations that the Maine government and the federal government have been making over the past few years,” Hopkins said. “It’s really taken a toll on some of these fisherman because they’re constantly having to buy new equipment so they can keep their license. They’re struggling to keep up with the rules and regulations, but they wouldn’t give it up for the world.”

This two month endeavor required a lot

Q30

of hard work for Hopkins. With help from a friend who conducted the interviews, he remained behind the camera covering the many technical aspects of film making. Hopkins said working as a one-man crew was a frustrating aspect of the documentary making process.

“I was pretty much by myself, normally when filmmakers are making a film you have a crew and you have people to do designated things like set up lights and set up audio,” he said.

Along with the production knowledge he gained in his FVI classes, Hopkins had an esteemed mentor during the time he was shooting.

Liam O’Brien, chairperson of the FVI department and documentary filmmaker himself, offered Hopkins tips and advice throughout the summer.

“Austin came to me with a really good idea, and he did a really bang out job,” said O’Brien, who said Hopkins did this project through a credited independent study program, which allowed him to use the School of Communications’ equipment.

O’Brien also gave him the idea to expand this documentary, tackling fishing villages across the country. He also suggested Hopkins pitch the idea of a four part series to PBS. “I’m proud of him and I think he’s starting See film Page 14

WQAQ

Musical smorgasbord ‘QU’s Got Talent’ will planned for Saturday highlight students’ abilities

By NICOLE FANO Arts & Life Editor

By CAROLINE TUFTS Staff Writer

While reality TV shows comprise a large amount of what students are watching in their residence halls, Q30, the official student-run broadcasting station, has not capitalized on that market with an unscripted show of its own…until now.

This spring, Q30 will be introducing “QU’s Got Talent,” a campus-wide televised competition in which students will have the opportunity to showcase the abilities that make them unique and that make our community diverse in so many ways.

“We believe that there are so many people on this campus that have so many hidden talents, so to speak,” said Josh Powers, Q30’s coordinating manager. “This is going to be a great venue for them to showcase these talents, have some

fun and provide for some really entertaining TV.” The show will air in mid- to lateMarch, before the Quinnipiac Ballroom Society’s Dancing With the QU Stars event on March 23, and will air the rehearsals and behindthe-scenes happenings that led up to the event.

Natalie Royals, the show’s executive producer and sole creator, said this coverage will serve as an introduction to not only the show, but also some of the lesser known talents at Quinnipiac.

Powers said he hopes the show will gain attention from the many familiar faces of both students and professors who will be featured.

Royals, who got her inspiration from the many “talent-type” shows on national TV, said she is excited to get the show started and feature everyday Quinnipiac students with a wide range of skills.

“Anyone can sign up. It was

supposed to be ‘Quinnipiac Idol,’ but then we figured it was better to do a contest where everyone had a chance to show off their talents, not just singers,” Royals said.

Powers said he hopes the talent competition portion of the show – for which the producers will screen and approve auditions – will begin later this semester. When that time comes, the minds behind this new show encourage anyone with a special talent to come out and join the cast.

With the introduction of “QU’s Got Talent,” students have the opportunity to be a part of a show that represents the real people who make our school all that it is.

“I hope it will bring a sense of community because so many [different types of people] will end up on TV,” Powers said. “This isn’t the show just for the polished broadcast/ film majors to read from a teleprompter. This is a show that is going to include everyone’s friends.”

WQAQ’s annual Battle of the Bands concert will feature quite the musical mashup in Burt Kahn Court this Saturday.

Rap, acoustic pop, metal and rock acts will all compete for the winning prize of $300 and the chance to perform as the opening act for WQAQ’s annual Spring Concert in April.

“Battle of the bands is kind of self-explanatory,” said Scott Wong, WQAQ’s co-music director. “It will be a good time. See your friends play, it’s always fun.”

All participating groups and bands are comprised of Quinnipiac students.

Last year’s Battle of the Band’s featured 16 performing acts and attracted more than 100 audience members. The rock/ jazz band Great Caesar secured the first place title.

This year, Wong’s goal is to “make it big” by getting more students involved.

Ben Goodheart, WQAQ’s comusic manager, hopes this year’s event will match last year’s success.

“Last year’s battle of the bands was really solid – actually it was great,” Goodheart said. “I guess this year we’re hoping to meet the same level that the previous music director set the bar at. I think it will be a lot of fun though. It’s really cool to see Quinnipiac musicians getting to play.”

Five judges with musical experience, who will remain anonymous until the event, will choose the top three bands. Each act will be judged on the quality of its performance as well as crowd reaction.

According to Wong, free WQAQ “swag” in the form of sunglasses and stickers will be given to audience members during the concert.

Today is the last day for musical acts to sign up for the event.

Battle of the Bands admission is free and will begin at 7 p.m.

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The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Arts & Life|9

For more information on High Heels and Big Dreams, go to quchronicle.com or scan this: NAME: Georgette Fryburg (left) Hometown: North Kingstown, R.I. Major: Entrepreneurship FAVORITE ITEM IN CLOSET: Two-toned J.Crew blazer NAME: Brittany Carinci (right) HOMETOWN: Eastchester, N.Y. MAJOR: Public Relations Favorite item in closet: Chambray Shirt

high heels S big dreams

By EBONY WALMSLEY Staff Writer

Seniors Georgette Fryburg and Brittany Carinci bring their flair for fashion to Quinnipiac through their new blog.

They hope to inspire girls to have heels just as high and dreams just as big.

itting on a couch by the fireplace in the Rocky Top Student Center are seniors Brittany Carinci and Georgette “Georgie” Fryburg. As Carinci looks over Fryburg’s computer, the two share a laugh. It is easy to see why- these two women are collaborating to create a hit fashion blog.

Carinci and Fryburg created a fashion blog, High Heels & Big Dreams, about three weeks ago – and its popularity continues to grow.

The blog received 1,200 page views last Thursday alone, and has received 7,300 total page views.

Both women currently have internships that involve working in the entertainment world. Fryburg currently works at Teen Vogue and Carinci works at VH1.

Fryburg and Carinci decided to create their own fashion blog after spending a great deal of time “blog stalking” together, and then made the decision to form their own site.

“Our goal is to inspire other girls to have the courage to wear whatever they want,” Carinci said. “Girls are always saying, ‘only you would be able to pull that chunky necklace off.’ We want everyone to have the confidence to believe they can pull anything off.”

Carinci, a New York native and Fryburg, a Rhode Island resident, first began working together on the executive board of their sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.

“We just kind of clicked. We balance each other out,” Fryburg said. “Brittany is the realist and I’m definitely the optimist.”

The girls’ personalities are clearly displayed on their blog. With pictures displaying their personal styles and catchy slogans like “put a little prep in your step,” the girls focus on giving fashion tips and advice for upcoming seasons.

“I would describe our style as preppy. We are always mixing different styles together.

We dress expensive but reasonable. Our target audience for our blog is college students, so we try to promote stores like Forever 21 and H&M,” Fryburg and Carinci said.

Senior Kristen D’Innocenzo, a fellow Kappa Alpha Theta member, commented on the girls’ style and website.

“I love how they get such simple pieces of clothes and put together such extravagant outfits,” D’Innocenzo said. “They look so high fashion but most of the things they are wearing they wear every day to school. It’s a great way for people to see different ways to style various pieces.”

We asked Brittany and Georgie to put together a Quinnipiac-inspired outfit for this feature.

Photo by Anna Brundage.

All other photos from their blog, taken by Kristen D’Innocenzo, Kristen DiLeo, and Amanda Hegler.

WIN, LOSE & 10|Rivalr y Recap

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

QU 73 RMU 69

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

Men’s basketball

In the final regular season game of his career, James Johnson played looking like a man on a mission. After being knocked out of the NEC tournament three straight years by Robert Morris, Johnson wouldn’t let the Colonials make his senior day be one he would want to soon forget. Johnson finished the day with 28 points on 8-of-16 shooting to beat Robert Morris, 73-69, on Saturday.

R Q

& DRAW Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

RMU 72 QU 62

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

QU 2 Yale 2

Rivalr y Recap|11

TD Bank Sports Center hosted three games Saturday, and the Bobcats went 1-1-1 in front of a combined 8,219 fans.

P H O T O S B Y M AT T E I S E N B E R G, L E S LY A LVA R E Z , A N N A B RU N DAG E & K AT I E O ’ B R I E N DESIGN BY SAMANTHA EPSTEIN

Men’s ice hockey

The annual Heroes Hat game lived up to the hype, as both teams fought into overtime to look for a winner. But to the disappointment of a sold-out crowd, the game ended in a 2-2 tie and Yale maintained possession of the trophy. Connor Jones was the star for Quinnipiac tallying a goal and an assist on the night, while standout freshman Matthew Peca assisted on both scores.

Quinnipiac faltered on their power play in the second period and allowed Yale’s Jesse Root to receive a pass out of the penalty box for a breakaway goal just 29 seconds into the second period. Quinnipiac has now won 8-of-10 Heroes Hat games, but has not had the trophy in its locker room since 2009.

Women’s basketball

The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team had won 11 of 12 games heading into the final weekend of the season, but hit a wall starting with Saturday’s game vs. Robert Morris. The Bobcats missed 19 of their first 21 shots from 3-point range, while Robert Morris’ Artemis Spanou recorded a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds, as Quinnipiac lost 72-62. The Colonials shot better than 42 percent from the floor, while Quinnipiac shot just 32 percent.

12 Arts & Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

THIS IS ME

Autism’s angel

Kali pulkkinen/Chronicle

Shannon Fitzmaurice holds a photo of her younger siblings Brendan, 20, and Meghan, 18, both of whom have autism.

By Matt Busekroos Publisher

NAME: Shannon Fitzmaurice HOMETOWN: Westchester, N.Y. YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Media studies

W

hen Shannon Fitzmaurice left to study abroad in Rome, she tearfully said goodbye to her parents, and younger brother and sister, Brendan and Meghan. After excitedly counting down the days during winter break of her sophomore year at Quinnipiac, Fitzmaurice realized she would be without her siblings, also two of her best friends, for several months.

“I remember the morning I had to leave I couldn’t stop crying, but they had no idea I was leaving,” Fitzmaurice recalls. “They just thought they would see me later that afternoon.”

Both Brendan, 20, and Meghan, 18, have autism.

“When I was first growing up, I didn’t realize that there was a difference, to me they were just my brother and sister,” she said. “My parents have been very supportive. They are probably my two biggest role models. They really put everything they had into Brendan and Meghan’s education making sure they had the best of the best. They didn’t leave me out either. They put me still as

a priority, which I’m really grateful for – and they still do.”

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life and affects the brain’s development of social and communication skills, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Fitzmaurice said there are several misconceptions about autism. She said people sometimes associate autism with mental retardation, but the two are different neurological disorders. Fitzmaurice added those with autism are sometimes perceived as low functioning and can’t do anything for themselves. However, she said her siblings are far from that description.

“My brother and sister have the two best personalities I know. They are active, they are really funny and

“From people on the outside looking in, they think we can’t do much with them, but we are able to do so much.”

– Shannon Fitzmaurice I’m really close with them,” she said. “From people on the outside looking in, they think we can’t do much with them, but we are able to do so much.”

Fitzmaurice said children with autism have distinct personalities and live in their own little world.

Brendan sees the world as one big Disney movie and will relate a character to someone in the family, according to Fitzmaurice.

“He’s always the main character and my sister is always the villain,” she said. “I’m usually the damsel in distress or the other villain.”

Fitzmaurice specifically references “Cinderella” as an example of how her brother sees the family.

“My brother is Gus, the little mouse always having trouble. I’m Jack, so I’m like his best friend, and my sister is Lucifer the cat because Meghan is really sinister and she’s just really sneaky,” she said. “And then my parents are Cinderella and Prince Charming.”

Fitzmaurice mentioned that both her siblings have different needs.

She said Brendan is aware that he is autistic and is self-conscious about it. She said she wants Brendan to make friends and have a strong support system outside the immediate family.

In regards to her sister, Fitzmaurice said she believes Meghan sees everyone else as different.

“She’s really growing into her own. She has a really great personality,” she said. “I think it’s so funny because she has this attitude. She doesn’t talk, so you can just read her emotions and she’s so clear about how she’s feeling. If she doesn’t want to talk to you, she will not acknowledge your presence, or if we do sign language, she’ll just shut her eyes and walk away.”

Fitzmaurice said Meghan looks up to her and the two have a sisterly bond.

“She likes going through my clothes, she likes seeing what I’m doing, shes always going through my pictures and my text messages to see who I’m talking to,” she said.

Fitzmaurice assures she and her

brother and sister are like any other group of siblings. She said they fight, they tease and they joke around.

With every new experience, Fitzmaurice keeps Brendan and Meghan in mind.

“There’s been a lot of times where you wanna give up and you’re just so overwhelmed and just so stressed,” she said. “I always think of Brendan and Meghan and how they don’t have the chances that I do. It makes me appreciate life so much more and anything I do, I really do it for them – just going to school and going to college, being on a sports team, having friends. I know if I could I would give up anything to let them have that for a day.”

I really do it for them – just going to college, being on a sports team, having friends. I know if I could I would give up anything to let them have that for a day.”

– Shannon Fitzmaurice Senior Anissa Holness has known Fitzmaurice since they lived together their freshmen year at Quinnipiac. Holness said Fitzmaurice is one of her best friends.

“Shannon's the kind of friend who will stop whatever she's doing and be there for you when you need her,” Holness said. “Shannon always has my back and I love her,

and I trust her more than I trust a lot of people in my life.

“She's the realest person I know and she's so funny,” Holness added.

“But she’s like the kind of funny that doesn't know they’re funny, kind of like Colin Firth.”

Seniors Patrick Noonan and Sean McCarron met Fitzmaurice freshmen year and have stayed friends ever since.

“Shannon is very full of life, very spirited, very happy,” Noonan said. “She helps you out when times are rough.”

McCarron said Fitzmaurice is one of the “realest” people around.

“She’s just ‘Shannon-igans,’” McCarron said. “She speaks her mind, you know what she’s thinking. She’s not just the person you say ‘Hi’ to in the hallway. If you know her, you’re best friends with her. If you don’t know her, you’re missing out.”

U

pon her return from Rome, Fitzmaurice met her family at the airport. She said her brother was so excited to see her, while her sister just wanted her iPod. “She grabbed my purse and took my iPod,” Fitzmaurice said smiling.

“It’s Meghan.”

Through her brother and sister, Fitzmaurice said she has learned patience and not to judge people too quickly. She said you never know who is going through a rough time and that it’s important to appreciate the small things.

“Everyone has their own story,” she said. “Sometimes you take it for granted and some people, like my brother and sister, don’t have that, and I wish they did.”

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

Arts & Life|13

campus couture

sarah’s style

Use social media for good, not for evil

Kris Giordano

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Media Studies Senior

“

I really hate things that look broken in when you buy them. I think the patina of anything you wear should reflect how the individual wore it. So I think my style is a mix of items with a vintage feel and others that have more of a clean and crisp look.

By SARAH ROSENBERG Associate Arts & Life Editor

”

Kali pulkkinen/Chronicle

Rave

Wreck

JBiebz & Co. will call you, maybe

Chris Brown’s testy tweets

youtube

Adlin Peguero

The song “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen is fantastic enough to be a Rave of the Week on its own. But this Rave is actually about the video made by Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, and an assorted group of their peppy and attractive anonymous friends, which at the time of this writing had 6.3 million more views than the official video. That’s more views than the official video has in total (and there’s some first-rate eye candy in that video, too.) But most of you probably heard about the song in the first place because of the homemade video.

Don’t feel too bad for Carly Rae-- the song is catchy and contagiously happy, as is watching Justin, Selena and Ashley lip sync it from various Photo Booth recordings.

Unleash your inner prepubescent fangirl and sing along. Buy the song and blast it in your car with the sunroof open on the next unseasonably warm and sunny March day. Or you could do what thousands of others are probably already planning and uploading and make your own version.

However you plan to enjoy this adorable 3 and a half minutes, enjoy them. On repeat if you so choose. --M. Snow

Another day, another Chris Brown Twitter rant. Once again, “Chris Breezy” has found himself battling another celebrity over his past transgressions with Robyn Fenty, better known as Rihanna. Brown’s latest critic is World Wrestling Entertainment’s C.M. Punk.

While Chris Brown’s actions were deplorable, there is no reason why we the public should care more about it than the parties involved.

After the two recently partnered up to release remixes on two of their songs, it is clear that Rihanna has forgiven Brown and moved on.

Breezy, however, is failing to realize that many people are not going to forgive him for putting his hands on a woman -- no matter how many times he apologizes, donates to charity or gives a stellar awards show performance. In the immortal words of rap artist 50 Cent, “And if they hate, then let them hate and watch the money pile up.”

In Brown’s case, actions speak louder than words. He needs to focus more on staying on the right side of the law and less on responding to every heckler on Twitter. If he’s going to respond, he shouldn’t be deleting his responses seconds later. Man up, Breezy. – H. Alegbeleye

instagram of the week “student section was unreal” @mollymariexo Molly Cannon We know you all love to pretend you’re artsy.

Show us your best instagrams by tweeting them to

@QUChronArtsLife

Want to know what grinds my gears?

There are a few things, which include, but are not limited to: people who like ketchup, but not tomatoes; sharing personal life stories at awkward times; and sneakers paired with jeans. The problem with gear-grinding idiosyncrasies and trends, however, is that we all have them, or enforce them.

But, certain things really, truly, and greatly, if you will, grind my gears. As of late, it’s using social media to degrade or insult people in 140 characters or less. This sounds like cyber-bullying. Am I making you relive your eighth grade assemblies? Do you feel as if I’m about to transition into a public service announcement for D.A.R.E.? I feel that way too, so why are people using Twitter to hash out their insecurities through trending topics and smartly crafted hashtags?

Here’s the one thing: We all love to follow Twitter accounts that adhere to our personal lives, or interest us, whether it’s the New York Times, or yes, QpacProblems. But when you’re commenting about stereotypes on campus, you’re making false generalizations that do not pertain to the entire student body.

Mostly, I’m talking about tweeting references to the idea that Quinnipiac students are all rich kids with trust funds, who only drive Audi cars and carry around American Express cards. This isn’t true, and it is not a stereotype that is exclusive to our university only. For one, there are students here on scholarship, whether for academics or athletics. There are students here who are working to pay for their own tuition. There are students who value education over how much money their father can “supposedly” donate to the school. When one thinks they are making their fellow students proud of a money-mongering lifestyle, they are actually promoting arrogance, laziness and the total opposite of what any university, including Quinnipiac, strives to be seen as.

Then, there are the frequent tweets about the “ugly” girl you danced with on Saturday.

Do you think you look amazing sweating on the dance floor? Also, to the girls who say they feel bad for the people uglier, fatter and more promiscuous, etc. than you are, I have an awful feeling that you’re psychologically displacing your own insecurities, fears and anxieties onto those who just have some more confidence than you. Freud would call this projection -- I would call this a “let me hug you, and proceed to make you a sandwich” syndrome.

Tweet about your problems. Tweet about celebrities embarrassing themselves. Tweet your favorite song. People will care. Just don’t make Twitter a platform to emphasize others’ weaknesses and unreliable stereotypes, especially when you may be subjected to weaknesses and stereotypes of your own.

Bobcat TWEET OF THE WEEK @kirakira243 Kira Riley

Maxine’s preacher shuttle.

Is your value system in the right place? #qpacproblems

14|Arts & Life

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

Thou shalt not indulge

Happy 5th birthday Alanna Lawrence Junior Broadcast journalism Long Island, N.Y. DOB: 2/29/1992

Photo courtesy of Alanna Lawrence

By ANNA WAGNER Staff Writer

Last Wednesday, an increased number of Facebook profiles were deactivated, and a number of self-proclaimed “chocaholics” began settling for celery sticks. These are all just the little “first world” sacrifices we make for the age-old Christian ritual of Lent. Many Quinnipiac students take part in this tradition. During Lent, the real question is not what students will lose, but what they will gain by losing.

According to Father Hugh Vincent Dyer, Quinnipiac’s Catholic chaplain, 67 percent of the campus population is Christian. With a population this large, Lent is still a topic of discussion in residence halls and lunch tables.

Susan Fowler, Quinnipiac’s Protestant minister, says Lent is a time to reconcile one’s relationship with God. “Traditionally associated with penitence, fasting, alms giving and prayer, Lent is a time of preparation for Christians to celebrate Jesus’s death and resurrection,” Fowler said.

“We reflect on the ways we have turned away from God’s love, realizing our need for God’s grace to transform our lives and bring us closer to living in unity with ourselves, our God and our neighbors.”

Springtime is commonly known as the time of renewal in paganism and Christianity, which reflects Lent’s true purpose – cleansing.

“Giving up something for Lent is a way of life that we grow into through the penitential practice of self-denial – doing what God wants us to do for our own good and the good of our neighbors, even if we don’t want to,” Fowler said.

Freshman Katie Shpak said she will participate in Lent this year.

“It feels great to finally have a birthday this year. I am so excited and cannot wait until the day is here. I have already started my celebration and I plan to continue celebrating it for the rest of the week. It’s going to be great.”

film from Page 8 to do something that may turn into something sailable and broadcastable in the future,” O’Brien said.

The success of Hopkins’ film is also contributed to the people he met and built relationships with throughout the summer. Although he ran into “big, burley,” fisherman who did not want to speak to him, “The people I did interview for the film, they were just the nicest people I have ever met,” he said.

One person Hopkins still keeps in touch with is Megan Moshier, the owner of Elsa’s Inn on the Harbor, in Prospect Harbor, Maine. Hopkins interviewed her brother and 10-year-old son, both involved in lobster fishing.

“He went above and beyond and did the absolute best that he could,” Moshier said. “He put a lot of work into it.”

Moshier also said Hopkins interviewed a vast cross-section of Prospect Harbor residents, including a woman over 70 years old.

“I think it’s a good representation of our town,”

Arts & Life|15

Moshier said. “Lobster fishing is a big industry here.”

According to Moshier, the documentary became well-received by the town.

“Once they found out what it was they thought it was great,” she said.

Hopkins said he is proud of the work that he’s done, and is currently researching other fishing areas around the country to film. After entering his documentary into three different film festivals, Hopkins hopes to see something great come from “Born Into It.” “He’s got a good eye and a good ear, and he listens well and he’s learning to develop a good story structure,” said O’Brien, who hopes that Hopkins will keep working with this project and make it something even bigger then he originally imagined.

“It was a lot of work, I didn’t really know what I was getting into, but I loved every single day of it,” Hopkins said. “It was a very good experience and I really hope that I can do some more projects like that in the future.”

“Actually, instead of giving up something, I am going to start praying every night,” Shpak said. “I was brought up always doing Lent with my family.”

Freshman Courtney Meade said she will try to improve herself during this Lent season.

“I am going to work harder in school to get my GPA up,” Meade said. “I was raised Catholic, I go to church every Sunday basically. Every Lent I tried to give up something or do something to improve myself.”

Despite Quinnipiac’s large Christian population, some students will not be partaking in Lent this year.

“I’m not [partaking in Lent],” sophomore Katherine Foley said.

“While I’ve been at school I haven’t been going to church or partaking in other religious activities, so if I do Lent, I will just feel like a fair-weather fan, not a wholehearted practitioner.

At home, I am very religious, but here, I am not as active in my religion.”

Foley, who was raised Catholic, feels participating in Lent at school does not have the same affect as it does at home.

“When I am home, religion is a family thing. Since I’m alone at school, I have lost the motivation to go because my parents aren’t encouraging me,” Foley said.

Sophomore Brett Kaselouskas says he partakes in Lent in a purely secular way.

“I already cheated,” Kaselouskas said. “I was supposed to give up all sweets, Uncrustables and Acrop. I am participating in Lent, not because I am religious, but as an excuse to eat healthier, but then I found a red velvet cake in the fridge and all of that went down the drain.”

album review

Chiddy Bang Serves a Good ‘Breakfast’

By Shannon corcoran Staff Writer

Coming off a highly successful debut album, the Chiddy Bang duo had many expectations for their sophomore effort. The recently released “Breakfast” proves that Chiddy Bang has only gotten better at its craft and is certainly poised to become a chart topper.

The record is what listeners would typically expect from the duo, but strays far from the mega-hit “Opposite of Adults.” The instrumentals are still a key component in their songs creating beats that are unlike most on currently on the airwaves and are what makes “Breakfast” so special. Songs like “Run it Back” and “Ray Charles” shine because of their piano and drum influences, making them the record’s standouts.

Yet, it is “Mind Your Manners” that steals the show on “Breakfast.”

Everything about the track is perfect.

Featuring Icona Pop, the relatively unknown artist, the track has everything listeners would expect from Chiddy Bang; a well mastered beat

and original rhymes. “Mind Your Manners” is what the whole album should be; alternative hip hoppy beats that are rarely found amongst many current artists.

Mac Miller has been dubbed as an up-and-coming superstar for the past two years, so it’s only natural that Chiddy Bang would eventually collaborate with him at some point.

The track “Heat Wave” is the perfect fusion between Millers style and that of Chiddy Bang. Taking a simple beat and turning it into something so vibrant, “Heat Wave” is one of those songs that will only get better with time. The addition of Miller on the track gives listeners something different from the rest of the record and certainly makes an impact.

The letdown of the album is with “4th Quarter.” Straying from the alt hip hop vibes from the rest of the record, “4th Quarter” starts off amazing, but after a minute, it turns to something that any other artist could do. It lacks the uniqueness that all of the other tracks possess which is unfortunate because the best part about

Listen to:

“Happening” “Ray Charles” “Mind Your Manners”

Skip:

“4th Quarter” “Does She Love Me”

3.5 out of 5 stars Chiddy Bang is how different it is from other hip-hop groups.

Overall, “Breakfast” is a unique collection of songs by a duo that never fails to go outside the box when making music. Although it may let down fans that love what the duo did with “Opposite of Adults,” the record is one that will only get better as time goes on. It will be interesting to see what is to come next, as it seems like Chiddy Bang is constantly upping its music making game.

16|Interactive

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

crossword: inside the issue solution to last week’s crossword

solution to last week’s sudoku

inside the issue word search Communications Dannel Dassa Hat

Heroes IDD Jackie Kamlet

Newsletter Lee Lent Malloy

sudoku: medium

Michelle Raynor Spirit Week

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports|17

LITTLE AND BIG

Doubles partners different in height, similar in skill

By JON ALBA Staff Writer

Walk into Michelle Dassa’s dorm room, and nothing stands out as different from a typical college girl. A photo of Justin Bieber peers over her desk, a New York Jets banner near it as well. Pictures from high school and her friends from home grace the wall, with some sports equipment on the ground. Above her bed used to be a poster of Michael Jackson performing several of his trademark dance moves. Now it says something else.

“Dassapova.”

“People would always say I was off at tennis, and someone called me it. It stuck for a little while,” she said. “Tennis is the escape of the day. Just go there and do what you have to do.”

Standing at an even 5-feet, Dassa is the shortest player on Quinnipiac’s women’s tennis squad by four inches. She has also been one of the most successful on the team, establishing herself as a starter in her first season of play at the university. For the 19-year-old Marlboro, N.J., native, tennis came naturally, but not necessarily by choice.

“My mom made me quit soccer when I was 12, so I took on tennis.

I just kind of started hitting the ball around,” she said.

Within a few years, Dassa became heavily involved in the sport and took her skills to the courts of Marlboro High School. There, she helped lead the Mustangs to four A-North Conference Championships while managing three individual championships with an 87-10

“I’m 5-feet tall, I have to work at things a little harder. I have to play like I’m 6-feet tall.”

— MICHELLE DASSA QUINNIPIAC WOMEN’S TENNIS FRESHMAN

overall record. It was during this time that Dassa would meet a close friend. And a future teammate.

Jackie Raynor, a resident of Garden City, N.Y., started playing tennis when she was 10 and has not looked back since. Entering Quinnipiac ranked 101st nationally, the 5-foot-10 star has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in her short time at the school.

Raynor and Dassa began playing together after meeting through the United States Tennis Association in high school and established a close friendship.

“We don’t take each other seriously on the court,” Raynor said.

“We just laugh and have to try to keep our composure.”

Soon after gaining experience playing together, Quinnipiac tennis coach Mike Quitko and assistant coach Paula Miller began recruiting the two girls. “Q,” as referred to by the team, met them both at the annual Tim Donovan Showcase. After pursuing both of them, Dassa and Raynor found their way to Quinnipiac and instantly tried convincing him to allow them to play doubles.

“They came to me and asked to play doubles together. I told them no. One’s tall, one’s short,” Quitko said. “Eventually I told them I’d take a look and make a decision best for the team. They then went out and won a tournament.”

So far, the decision to pair the two has proved successful. The Bobcats entered the season as the Northeast Conference favorites and achieved their first victory of the season Sunday against Saint Francis (Pa). Dassa and Raynor played as the No. 1 doubles squad and defeated their opponents 8-6. Quinnipiac went on to win the event 7-0.

“We mesh very well. We compliment each other. We know where we’re gonna go, where we’re gonna be,” Dassa said about playing with Raynor. “If I’m at the baseline, I just have to set it up and go. If she’s serv-

MATT EISENBERG/CHRONICLE

Michelle Dassa (left) and Jackie Raynor (right) talk with head coach Mike Quitko in the Quinnipiac Invitational in September. They played with each other before coming to Quinnipiac and won their first doubles match on Sunday vs. Saint Francis (Pa.), 8-6. ing, I’ll just poach because I know she’ll pick me up.”

Not surprisingly, Raynor shares the same sentiments and sees Dassa for much more than a player.

“She’s one of my best friends.

It’s a good dynamic, but we have to be serious, and I think the sky is the limit for her,” Raynor said.

While such a compliment may be expected from a friend, Quitko also believes in Dassa’s potential in the program, despite her size.

“You look at her and see the smile that resonates across her face and you can tell she’s going to be a great leader,” Quitko said. “I think she could accomplish a lot of things and end up in the Hall of Fame here even.”

Quitko believes Dassa has a combination of leadership qualities and talent that can separate her from

the average tennis player.

“She has guts. That kid has great legs, she moves rapidly,” he said.

“For somebody her size and stature she should not do what she does. I say guts because I’ve seen her dive after balls on the hardcourt, and yeah, she comes up bloody.”

Dassa may be the smallest player on the team, but she also understands the she is able to combat such a setback.

“Since I’m athletic, I work more with what I have,” Dassa said. “I’m 5-feet tall, I have to work at things a little harder. I have to play like I’m 6-feet tall, which makes me more into it.”

As a freshman, Dassa has already made an impact in her short time on the squad. She, along with Raynor and the four other freshmen, provide a positive outlook for Quin-

nipiac tennis going forward.

“We can only go up from here,” Dassa said. “I don’t see why this team can’t win at least two NEC [titles].”

Dassa may be tiny. She may be just a freshman. To her teammates and her coach, though, she’s a star with a tremendous amount of potential. Dassa, however, believes there is one thing she’s not.

“I’m no Jackie Raynor,” she said with a laugh.

“We don’t take each other seriously on the court. We just laugh and have to try to keep our composure.”

— JACKIE RAYNOR QUINNIPIAC WOMEN’S TENNIS FRESHMAN

MATT EISENBERG/CHRONICLE

Jackie Raynor (left) returns a volley in September’s Quinnipiac Invitational. Michelle Dassa (above) returns a serve in the Quinnipiac Invitational in September.

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

18|Sports

THE RUNDOWN MEN’S ICE HOCKEY Yale 2, QU 2 – Saturday Connor Jones: 1 goal, 1 assist Matthew Peca: 2 assists MEN’S BASKETBALL QU 73, Robert Morris 69 – Saturday James Johnson: 28 points Ousmane Drame: 12 points, 11 rebounds WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Robert Morris 72, QU 62 – Saturday Felicia Barron: 21 points, 5 steals Brittany McQuain: 12 points, 11 rebunds Saint Francis (Pa.) 77, QU 71 – Monday Jasmine Martin: 15 points, 6 rebounds Felicia Barron: 13 points, 7 steals WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU 2, Clarkson 0 – Sunday Victoria Vigilanti: 23 saves, 0 goals allowed Nicole Kosta: 1 goal MEN’S LACROSSE Brown 12, QU 7 – Sunday Basil Kostaras: 3 goals, 1 assist Brendan Wilbur: 2 goals Softball QU 14, St. Peter’s 1 – Saturday Mina Duffy: 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 1 SB Katie Alfiere: 1 W, 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER

GAMES TO WATCH MEN’S BASKETBALL QU (17-12, 10-8) at St. Francis (NY) (10-12, 7-5) – Thursday, 7 p.m. (NEC Quarterfinals) WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU (19-15-2, 12-8-2) at Cornell (28-3, 20-2) – Friday, 3:30 p.m.

(ECAC Semifinals) WOMEN’S BASKETBALL QU (21-8, 13-5) vs. Mount St. Mary’s (14-15, 10-8) – Saturday, 2 p.m. (NEC Quarterfinals) MEN’S ICE HOCKEY QU (17-11-6, 9-8-5) vs. Brown (8-16-5, 5-13-4) – Friday, 7 p.m.

(ECAC First Round) QU (17-11-6, 9-8-5) vs. Brown (816-5, 5-13-4) – Saturday, 7 p.m.

QU (17-11-6, 9-8-5) vs. Brown (816-5, 5-13-4) – Sunday, 7 p.m. (If necessary) SOFTBALL QU (4-0) vs. Miami (Ohio) (72) Saturday, 11:30 a.m. (USF Tournament)

Resilient ‘Cats prep for tourney Fabbri: ‘We stayed together and that was really important’

By MATT EISENBERG Sports Editor

For Quinnipiac women’s basketball head coach Tricia Fabbri, a loss isn’t always a bad thing. After the team lost to Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 6 to snap a seven-game winning streak, she said the team found some mistakes it made. The Bobcats then won four straight games.

Despite losing by 10 points to Robert Morris on Saturday and six points to Saint Francis (Pa.) on Monday, Fabbri said the team’s effort late on Monday night stuck out.

The Bobcats led by as many as eight points in the second half, but collapsed when Saint Francis went on a 19-4 run to turn a five-point deficit into a 10-point lead.

“It was just a tough defeat tonight,” Fabbri said after the game. “I thought we really controlled the game for most of the game and then I thought we were playing a little too fast on offense and their pressure made us feel cramped … We were completely uncomfortable and it led to 30 turnovers, and that was our demise.”

With Quinnipiac trailing 72-62 with a minute to go and out of timeouts, things got interesting.

Brittany McQuain made a layup to cut it to eight and then the Red Flash turned the ball over. Felicia Barron made 1-of-2 free throws after she was fouled with 42 seconds to go. On the following inbounds pass, Saint Francis’ Sarah Thorn was called for an offensive foul as she ran over Lisa Lebak.

On the next possession, freshman Jasmine Martin made a jumper

“I liked the fact that we stayed together, we stayed positive, we kept working every possession ...”

— TRICIA FABBRI QUINNIPIAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH

to make it a five-point game with 29 seconds remaining. Felicia Barron fouled Saint Francis’ Rhonda Watts with 23 seconds remaining and Watts made both free throws to put the lead back to seven.

After Martin missed a jump shot, Samantha Guastella got the rebound and was fouled as she made the layup. She missed the free throw, but Martin rebounded the ball and made a layup and was fouled to make it a three-point game, 74-71, with 13 seconds to play.

Martin missed the free throw and the Red Flash iced the Bobcats from the line to end the game. Fabbri said she was impressed with the team’s composure down the stretch.

“In a loss, we stayed together, and that was really important,” she said.

It was quite different than when the team played Robert Morris on Saturday. Quinnipiac trailed the Colonials by 11 points with 7:25 to play, but wasn’t able to cut it closer than nine points the rest of the way.

“We were down 10 with a minute to go and at Robert Morris we didn’t close it,” Fabbri said. “Tonight we closed it. I liked the fact that we stayed together, we stayed positive, we kept working every possession, and I think it’s that mental approach is really important when you get in this time of the season, when it’s win or go home.”

Despite losing two games in a row to end the season, Quinnipiac retains the No. 2 seed in the Northeast Conference playoffs and will host seventh-seeded Mount St. Mary’s in the quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon. “(We have) two losses going in, so we have to switch gears,” said senior guard Kari Goodchild, who scored eight of her 10 points in the second half of Monday night’s game.

Martin said the team’s resiliency is going to be a key factor going into the tournament.

“Even though we were down 10

CHARLOTTE GREENE/CHRONICLE

Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri talks to her team in the huddle in Monday night’s six-point loss to Saint Francis (Pa.), the last regular season game of the season. with a minute to go, we still fought,” Martin said. “We came back, we never gave up, so I think that’s what we have to focus on going into the NEC tournament.”

Goodchild said the team needs to play like it did when it won 11 of 12 games to succeed.

“If we stick to the fundamentals of defense, in staying together, in rebounding the ball like we did today, and just play our hearts off for 40 minutes of play, we’ll be all right,” Goodchild said.

“We came back, we never gave up, so I think that’s what we have to focus on going into the NEC tournament.”

— JASMINE MARTIN QUINNIPIAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FRESHMAN GUARD

Johnson: ‘We just got to win when it counts’

QU (4-0) vs. Bethune Cookman (3-10) Saturday, 2 p.m. (USF Tournament)

JOHNSON from Page 20

BASEBALL QU (0-0) at Fordham (1-5) Saturday, noon (DH) QU (0-0) at Hofstra (1-6) Saturday, noon (DH at Fordham) MEN’S LACROSSE QU (0-1) at Air Force (1-2) – Saturday, 11 a.m.

Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network is your source for live broadcasts.

LESLY ALVAREZ/CHRONICLE

Follow @QUChronSports for live updates during games.

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

Quinnipiac’s James Johnson guards Robert Morris guard Velton Jones in Saturday’s game. The Bobcats had lost to Robert Morris in the playoffs each of the past three years, but face St. Francis (N.Y.) Thursday.

was in 2008 against Monmouth University.

“We won eight of our last 11 now,” Quinnipiac head coach Tom Moore said. “I don’t think there’s a team in this league who has improved as much as us.”

The Bobcats enter the tournament as the underdogs. They were the No. 2 seed last season and the No. 1 seed the year before.

After the struggles and high hopes of winning the tournament for the two previous years, the Bobcats’ youth looks to make a change.

“Life’s different, and we know that as the one or the two seed in a single elimination tournament. If you lose, that’s it. Life’s different when you’re the favorite,” Moore said.

“The one thing I remember about the championship game here against Robert Morris a couple years ago was how much pressure I could

feel our guys were under to just get the win.

And sometimes that can stifle you, overwhelm you, and it can make the home team more nervous than the visitor.”

Quinnipiac will focus its goals on defense. When the defense succeeds, the offense feeds off of it.

“We haven’t had a team defending as well and as solidly leading into this week,” Moore said.

Moore highlighted the importance of the team’s growth and improvement as the key to make its run successful in the postseason.

The Bobcats fell to St. Francis twice during the regular season.

They suffered a 73-72 loss on the road on Jan. 5 and a home loss on Feb. 16, but Moore said the regular season doesn’t matter come playoff time.

“Wherever we go... we’re going to go down there as a team committed to defending and committed to rebounding,” Moore said. “We are going to try and just keep improving.”

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

Sports|19

SERVE’S UP

MATT EISENBERG, DAKOTA WIEGAND/CHRONICLE

Clockwise from top left: Freshman Eric Ambrosio returns a serve in Sunday’s match vs. Saint Francis (Pa.); Garrett Lane prepares to serve the ball in Sunday’s match vs. Saint Francis (Pa.); junior Rachel Cantor gets ready to serve the ball in Sunday’s match vs. Saint Francis (Pa.).

BY THE NUMBERS

43.4

REBOUNDS PER GAME FOR THE MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM, WHICH RANKS SECOND IN THE COUNTRY.

1

PRESEASON RANKING FOR THE MEN’S TENNIS TEAM TO PLACE IN THE NEC THIS YEAR.

James Johnson

Men’s basketball Guard

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Senior Queens, N.Y.

In possibly his last game at the TD Bank Sports Center, Johnson led the Bobcats with 28 points, tying his highest single-game point total this year. With the Bobcats leading by two points, he iced the game by making his last two free throws to beat Robert Morris. He is the team’s leading scorer with 17 points per game.

Victoria Vigilanti Women’s ice hockey Goalie

Senior Woodbridge, Ontario

Vigilanti only gave up three goals in her last three games, including a shutout in Sunday’s series finale vs. Clarkson. She stopped the 23 shots she faced in Game 3 to help Quinnipiac move on to face Cornell in the conference semifinals.

6

ASSISTS BY FRESHMAN MATTHEW PECA IN TWO GAMES OVER THE WEEKEND.

7 14

GOALS SCORED THIS WEEKEND FOR THE WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM AGAINST CLARKSON STRIKEOUTS BY SENIOR PITCHER HEATHER SCHWARTZBURG IN TWO GAMES OVER THE WEEKEND. MATT EISENBERG/CHRONICLE

MATT EISENBERG/CHRONICLE

The Quinnipiac Chronicle

20|Sports

Fe b r u a r y 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

COACH’S CORNER

Sports ‘Cats move BRACE FOR IMPACT on to Men’s ice hockey starts playoffs

“They’re drinking the KoolAid in terms of what we believe in. And they’ve in turn taken ownership of it.”

QUCHRONICLE.COM/SPORTS SPORTS@QUCHRONICLE.COM @QUCHRONSPORTS

— TOM MOORE MEN’S BASKETBALL

semis

By JOE ADDONIZIO

By JOE ADDONIZIO

With the chant of “I believe that we will win” echoing through the rafters as the puck dropped, the Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey team was graced with a rare sold-out crowd.

But the crowd was a familiar one for the Quinnipiac vs. Yale rivalry in the 10th anniversary of the Heroes Hat trophy.

But Quinnipiac could not fulfill the Bobcat fans’ beliefs and the game ended in a 2-2 tie, as Yale was able to retain the Heroes Hat. The Bobcats did get a point with the win and clinched the No. 5 seed in the ECAC Hockey tournament. They will host No. 12 Brown this weekend in a three-game series.

If Quinnipiac had come out with a win, it would have clinched the No. 4 seed and a firstround bye.

“I knew in overtime that we needed to win to get the bye,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. “I did put a lot of thought into it, but as much as we wanted the bye, I don’t think it’s fair to our fans to give up an empty net goal. We’re certainly not ecstatic on tying tonight but it’s better than losing on an empty netter.”

Last year, when Quinnipiac faced Rensselaer in the last game of the regular season, RPI needed two points to seal a first-round bye. Tied in overtime with Quinnipiac, RPI pulled its goalie to try and get the extra point but the game resulted in a tie. If Quinnipiac had scored, RPI would not have made it to the NCAA tournament.

Freshman forward Matthew Peca believes the first-round bye isn’t essential to success in the tournament.

“If you make it out of the first round, you’ve been on the ice (more) compared to some other teams and sometimes you get a little bit more jump compared to them,” Peca said. “We’re excited and not going to dwell on the fact that we didn’t get a top four spot and going to prepare like we do every other weekend.”

Quinnipiac tied Brown (8-16-5, 5-13-4) earlier this year on the road and defeated them at home on Friday, 4-1. Last year in the ECAC tournament, the Bobcats swept the Bears on consecutive 4-0 victories at home in the first round of the tournament.

“Well, obviously we’re confident against them,” Peca said. “We know how to prepare to play against them.”

The Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team advanced to the semifinals of the ECAC tournament after upsetting No. 3 seed Clarkson this weekend.

They now have to play the topseeded team in the ECAC, Cornell, who is also ranked No. 3 in the country.

They will play at Cornell (28-3, 20-2 ECAC) on Friday at 3:30 p.m., in what will be a loser go home game. The winner will advance to the tournament finals to play the winner of St. Lawrence and Harvard. Cornell is currently on a ninegame win streak with its last loss coming Jan. 28 to Clarkson, when the team was defeated 5-3.

Cornell has had Quinnipiac’s number over the past few years, as the Bobcats have been without a win in their last 12 attempts. During that span, Quinnipiac is 0-8-4. Two of those eight losses came this season as Cornell outscored the Bobcats 11-2 in those games.

Associate Sports Editor

Associate Sports Editor

MATT EISENBERG/CHRONICLE

Quinnipiac’s Mike Dalhuisen is hit by Yale’s Kenny Agostino in the second period of Saturday’s regular season finale. The Bobcats have clinched the No. 5 seed in the conference playoffs and will play Brown in a best-of-three series starting Friday.

Despite the tie, Quinnipiac ends the season with a 3-1-1 record over the last five games, with tremendous success on the power play.

After three power-play goals on Friday, Quinnipiac continued playing well on special teams with both goals Saturday coming on the man advantage.

“Power play was great. You score three one night, two the next,” Peca said. “From a productivity offensive standpoint, it was excellent.”

The Bobcats converted 20.1 percent of their power-play chances on the season but they converted 45 percent this weekend going 5-for-11 on the man advantage.

Quinnipiac will also head into the playoffs with one of the hottest lines in the country. The line that features the Jones twins accompanied by Peca played exceptional this weekend, accumulating for 15 points between the three of them.

“I thought me and the twins had some great chemistry; we played well this weekend,” Peca said. “All three of us had our legs and I think we built off each other’s energy and played real well.

Peca assisted on all six goals that Quinnipiac scored this weekend. Kellen Jones added two goals and three assists, while Connor Jones chipped in two goals and two assists.

Quinnipiac will play Friday in the first round of the ECAC tournament against Brown. Although they didn’t get a victory tonight, the soldout crowd boosted the players’ morale and would help them in the playoffs.

“It’s unbelievable,” Connor Jones said. “Fans were great tonight, they were chanting and everything and those clap things. It’s definitely fun to play in front of that kind of atmosphere. You get that extra energy from the crowd.”

Bobcats turn focus to playoffs

By KERRY HEALY Staff Writer

After a big 73-69 win Saturday afternoon against Robert Morris, the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team looks toward the Northeast Conference tournament with high hopes.

As a secured fifth seed, the Bobcats will travel to face off against

“I don’t think there’s a team in this league who has improved as much as us.”

— TOM MOORE QUINNIPIAC MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH

fourth-seeded St. Francis (N.Y.) Thursday night in the NEC quarterfinals.

“We just got to keep improving on defense and offense and know that we have a big game coming up Thursday,” said James Johnson, who scored 28 points in Saturday’s game, including 10 within the final three minutes. “We just got to win when it counts.”

For the past three seasons, the Bobcats have been knocked out of the tournament by Robert Morris.

Things are different this year, and they are not expected to make it as far as they have been anticipated to in the past.

The Bobcats will look to Johnson, their leading scorer, to keep the momentum up.

“We know that it’s playoff time and I’ve got to get my guys fired up,” Johnson said. “A lot of them are freshmen and they’ve never played in an NEC playoff game. I just have to lead them with confidence and lead them with energy and just come out relentless.”

The Bobcats struggled early on in the season with home games, but their on-the-road success lifted them through those tough times, and they will continue to fight in away games throughout the tournament.

“I think that we gave a lot of games up early in the season, and a lot of them were at home.

I think we got our identity back on defense and toughness playing on the road,” Johnson said. “So I think we’ve been in hostile environments, so I think that the guys are good on the road. We are gonna approach every game like a onegame season and just try to get the win.”

Unlike previous NEC tournaments, the Bobcats are a bottomseeded team. The last time they traveled for an away quarterfinal game See JOHNSON Page 18

“This is by far the biggest win of my life.”

— RICK SEELEY QUINNIPIAC WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY HEAD COACH

“I think the way we’ve played Cornell this year, we’ve been preparing to play them in the playoffs and that has been the goal from the beginning,” Quinnipiac head coach Rick Seeley said.

The Bobcats will have to shut down ECAC Player of the Year Finalist Rebecca Johnston. The senior led the conference in scoring with 51 points on 25 goals and 26 assists.

In two meetings this season, Quinnipiac held Johnston in check, allowing her just one point on 11 Big Red goals.

After an up and down season, the Bobcats have gotten hot when it matters, winning four of their last five games, while outscoring their opponents 19-5 during the span.

Quinnipiac will need the programs all-time scoring leader, Kelly Babstock, to have a huge game if it can pull off the monumental upset.

Babstock tallied nine points in the Bobcats’ last five games, as she recorded six goals and three assists.

They will also need junior goaltender, Victoria Vigilanti to stop the nation’s top offense, which averages 4.71 goals per game.

Quinnipiac will look to flip the tables on Cornell, as last year, the Big Red ended the Bobcats’ season by defeating them 4-3 at home in the ECAC semifinals.