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Public Safety’s ‘Shelter in Place’ drill hopes to prepare students for emergencies
By CHLOE GRANT Contributing Writer
In recent weeks, Quinnipiac University’s Department of Public Safety has enacted a new “Shelter in Place” drill directive.
These drills aim to take action against external dangers that may pose a threat to those residing on campus. In the detailed universitywide email statement from Public Safety, details regarding what they are advised to do in the event of a “Shelter in Place” drill were as follows, “Get inside and stay inside” or if operating a vehicle to pull over and “Stay inside such vehicle.”
In said statement, Public Safety also claims there will be a shelter in place drill conducted nearing the end of the month in ways of a trial for everyone residing on campus.
“The “Shelter in Place” drill is going to be a drill that helps both the community kind of understand what the expectations are during certain events that may happen like a tornado or some other weather related type of event,” said Chief of Public Safety Tony Reyes. “Or a safety event that might happen because of an intruder or active shooter, anything involving police presence.”
Reyes is responsible for the implementation of new policies and procedures among all three of Quinnipiac’s campuses. He previously worked for the New Haven Police Department and maintained that position for 21 years until transferring to Quinnipiac.
Reyes said that the reasoning behind the recent implementation of the “Shelter in Place” drills and Public Safety’s prominent efforts to ensure order among the Quinnipiac community in the event a shelter in place drill may be necessary.
“We want to do a drill about that so the community knows what they expect from us in terms of communication and also what we expect from them in terms of their response when they receive that communication from us as well,” Reyes said.
“I think it will just have everyone prepared to know what to do in the situation in case anything ever does happen,” said sophomore
health science major Nicolette Diserio.
Reyes continued to elaborate on how the drills initially came to be and their gradual progression over the past few months.
“These drills are a part of our emergency management plan to educate the community better and improve our communication and things like that,” Reyes said. “We were already planning on doing this in October so the actual drill itself was not accelerated by that, but certainly the urgency of it is timely and I think it’s all a part of it and we realized it was perfect timing in terms of the community’s mindset around what happened during the bomb threat.”
Junior medical microbiology and immunology major Lillia Stone thinks it could be a productive concept, however is skeptical on the timing of the drills.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Stone said. “I think it could potentially take time out of classes, and that could be a problem if it’s not necessary. But I think if it’s just a general day, with not a lot going on, it could make sense.”
Stone’s worries may pose a potential concern among other students at Quinnipiac as well.
“We’re just seeing where the defciencies are, so that we can work together to respond to that,” Reyes said.
Reyes also went into detail about his and
public safety’s duty on campus to ensure a safe and comfortable community for all of its inhabitants in addition to the steps they will take to do so.
“From a public safety standpoint, we want to make sure this is all in line with the overall safety and we want to make sure we’re doing these things in a safe manner,” Reyes said.
Additionally, Reyes explains the importance of the actual response, both by the community and by public safety — as well as why notifying the community is crucial when such drills may ensue.
He emphasized on the importance of the community’s response and how preparation in the event of a shelter in place drill is crucial to its execution.
Reyes discussed how following the trial drill, Public Safety aims to gather critical feedback regarding the community’s response, as well as debriefng what their perception was and what they learned.
“These mental and physical drills that we do, they have value,” Reyes said. “It’s hard to see them when you’re going through the motions, but they do pay dividends when something happens.”
In the eyes of Public Safety, the “Shelter in Place” drills are certain to ensure safety among inhabitants at Quinnipiac for the foreseeable future.
Quinnipiac Athletics announces partnership with Planet Fitness
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
Quinnipiac University Athletics announced its partnership with Ignite Fitness Holdings, a local Planet Fitness franchise, to “better support the health and ftness goals of university students, staff and alumni,” according to an Oct. 16 press release.
Ignite Fitness is a full service personal training and nutrition coaching facility, interested in “singular client focus” that “allows to give every client the personal experience they need with the right amount of direction, accountability and motivation to maximize results,” according to the franchise’s website.
“Planet Fitness is committed to helping Quinnipiac students, staff and alumni achieve their health and ftness goals and we’re thrilled to have them join our Quinnipiac Athletics family as we continue to expand our ties to the local community in Connecticut,” said Greg Amodio, Quinnipiac director of athletics in said press release.
Nicholas Solari, associate athletic director of athletic communications, said the department does not comment further on the matter.
This partnership will include “a special offer for (Quinnipiac) students, faculty and alumni to sign up at Planet Fitness locations in Connecticut for $0 down on the PF Black Card with no commitment and one month free.” Members are encouraged to contact their local locations for additional information.
Ignite Fitness has two locations in Connecticut, one in West Hartford and one in Avon.
Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. by number of members and locations. They pride themselves on “spreading its unique mission of enhancing people’s lives by providing an affordable, high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment,” according to the company’s website.
“We are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our members, supporting folks on their journey to better health, and serving our local communities,” said Mike Shapiro, vice president of operations at Ignite Fitness Holdings in the press release. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to work closely with such a prestigious, respected university, and look forward to joining Quinnipiac Athletics in their mission to help the Bobcats achieve their health and performance goals.”
Planet Fitness will be featured across the university’s athletic properties and “have a strong presence” in the form of tabling, sponsorships and informational initiatives during Bobcat Weekend Oct. 25-27, according to the press release.
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Quinnipiac alumni, NPR VP emphasizes importance of media in upcoming elections
By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor
Vice President for News Programming for NPR Eric Marrapodi spoke at Quinnipiac University’s Critical Conversations event Friday, Oct. 18.
Marrapodi, ‘03 spoke to an audience of students and faculty in a freside chat fashion about the importance of media during this upcoming presidential election and the struggles of navigating the high-tense environment.
Mary Snow, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll, moderated the event. Snow, a former CNN correspondent and Marrapodi, a former CNN senior producer, worked together during their time at the station.
“This is going to be a really close election,” Marrapodi said in an interview with The Chronicle. “There are really high stakes, especially for the media, and as things are in a challenging environment to do our job as journalists, especially in a world of misinformation and disinformation. It’s just important to come back and talk to students, talk to faculty and let them hear what we’re doing.”
Marrapodi has made some changes in the procedures to help situations where safety could be compromised. His leadership team decided to implement hostile environment training for those who are covering the election. This training is typically reserved for war correspondents.
“One of our reporters was in Butler, Pennsylvania when shots were fired and struck for President (Donald) Trump and killed people at the riot,” Marrapodi said. “That was a very tense moment in our newsroom, because we couldn’t get ahold of our reporter, we couldn’t get through to her on her cell phone. And so there were moments where we were wondering, did our correspondent get shot?”
Media Bias Fact Check, a website that examines various media outlets for bias and factual reporting, states that NPR has a leftcenter bias and highly accurate reporting.
“There are a lot of people on the left who would like us to be more alarmist,” Marrapodi said. “And there are people on the right who are saying, ‘You’re being too alarmist and saying too much.’ So when I’m getting criticized by both parties, by both sides of the aisle, I feel like we’re in a pretty good place with our coverage.”
Consumers of news have been feel -
ing a significant amount of distrust in the media in recent years. In a recent Gallup News article, 31% of people who were polled said that they have a “fair deal” or “great deal” of trust in the media.
Marrapodi emphasized that having “receipts” and hands-on journalists helps increase the credibility of NPR.
“When you’re a journalist and you’re turning the story (into) us, and receipts matter,” Maripodi said. “It’s something that’s really important, that we don’t take things for granted, and you’ve got to verify the hell out of it with what anybody says. NPR has a distinct advantage that we have boots-on-the-ground in a lot of places.”
Quinnipiac administration came to the event, including President Judy Olian, following her accident earlier this month. Many students in the School of Communications also listened in on the event.
“I’m here just to get more information. I’m always learning and seeing what I could apply to my specifc felds of interest,” said Harry Rosenay, a flm, television and media arts and psychology double major. “I think (I want) an increased knowledge on the communications feld in general.”
Before joining the Quinnipiac community, Marrapodi wanted to pursue sports journalism. But after touring the ESPN
studio, he realized that he was more interested in hard news.
“I think one of the best things about Quinnipiac was it really pushed me as a student and as somebody who was studying journalism, and it opened a lot of doors for me in ways that I couldn’t have known were even available,” Marrapodi said.
The last time Marrapodi came to campus was fve years ago, soon before the pandemic. There have been several changes to campus since then, such as the South Quad construction and renovations made to the Recreation and Wellness Center.
“When I was here, there were only a handful of residence halls, a handful of classroom buildings. And it’s just grown so much, and it kind of just blows (my) mind,” Marrapodi said.
During his time at Quinnipiac, Marrapodi created a music show called “Q Unplugged,” based on the popular show “MTV Unplugged.” He also worked at AM 1220 WQN News, a CBS radio affliate in New Haven that Quinnipiac previously owned.
His hands-on experience in his field and his journalism classes weren’t the only integral part of his time at Quinnipiac. Marrapodi also wished he would have taken more classes outside of his major.
“Some of the most valuable classes for me were things like U.S. history, (my) political science, minor. I still fnd myself coming back to that stuff, as well as science classes or even language classes,” Marrapodi said.
One of the most important aspects of his Quinnipiac experience was making connections and meeting people, including his wife, Heather, who was a physical therapy major.
“I met my wife (at Quinnipiac), which was a big thing, right? My wife and I met when we were freshmen, and (we’ve been) married for 20 years now, which is pretty exciting,” Marrapodi said.
Marrapodi toured campus before the event on Friday, reminiscing on his time in Hamden.
“There’s a place in the student center where my wife and I first met, and I can still go there and remember that moment. And now there’s a door there where we met, and so I took a picture in front of the door today to send her,” Marrapodi said.
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Eric Marrapodi and Mary Snow talking at the Critical Conversations event on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.
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Quinnipiac University’s students, administration and faculty listen to Marrapodi in the Mt. Carmel Auditorium.
Bobcat Challenge raises over $1M for Athletics
By AVA HIGHLAND Staff Writer
The Bobcat Challenge — an annual twoday philanthropic event created to support Quinnipiac University Athletics — raised record-breaking funds this year.
The event, in its sixth year, “brings together all of Bobcat Nation, including our alumni, parents, students, coaches and friends, to champion our 21 Division I teams, plus our spirit groups,” wrote Nicole Caputo, director of Annual Giving, in an email to The Chronicle.
This year marked a new record of funds raised since the event’s inception in 2018. The Bobcat Challenge brought in over $1,030,000 in 2024.
Several different factors went into this increase of funds in comparison to previous years.
“This year, increased engagement from alumni, students and the community, driven by effective marketing and social media campaigns, played a crucial role,” Caputo wrote.
Social media campaigns were vital to gaining engagement as they can reach a larger audience both within and outside the immediate Quinnipiac community. The teams made posts thanking donors with quotes from players, expressing their gratitude.
New additions to the event also played a key role in increasing donations.
“The introduction of more matching gift opportunities and challenges further motivated our donors, knowing their contributions would be amplified,” Caputo wrote.
The Bobcat Challenge raises funds and awareness for the over 450 student athletes on campus, as well as their coaches
and programs. The money raised supports teams in several different ways.
“Gifts made to the teams or spirit groups during the Challenge go toward purchasing new gear, the latest and greatest technology and equipment, academic support and ensuring our Bobcats can travel out-ofstate to tournaments and practice facilities
without worrying about additional cost,” Caputo wrote. The funds are raised in a few different ways. Individually, teams use their social media pages to spread the message as well as directly raise funds. There are also specific matches and challenges directed to each team.
On the site, each of the 21 Division I teams can receive donations, as well as the Athletic Director’s fund.
The site displays the amount of donors each campaign has, as well as how much money has been raised.
Families, coaches and other donors can also create challenges through the site. These help to increase funds quickly, and add more excitement to the event. These donation matches include “$1 per $1 donated up to $3,000” and “$250 if $250 is donated in the next 10 days.”
With such a record-breaking year taking place, Quinnipiac is hoping to see increased success with the event in the coming years.
“We are so grateful for the support of everyone who made a gift or promoted this year’s Bobcat Challenge,” Caputo wrote.
“Thank you for helping us make history and show everyone why Bobcat Nation is the best of the best!”
Cornell Professor educates Quinnipiac students on misogyny
By ANDREW ALLISON Staff Writer
Dr. Kate Manne of Cornell University spoke at Quinnipiac University as a part of the annual Alfred P. Stiernotte lecture on Oct. 17.
The subject of her presentation was misogyny and how to fight it.
Manne has written three books, “DOWN GIRL: The Logic of Misogyny,” “UNSHRINKING: How to Face Fatphobia” and “ENTITLED: How Male Privilege Hurts Women.” She also writes for publications such as the New York Times and The Washington Post.
Manne proposed a new definition of misogyny, different from what she described as a “naive” definition of misogyny.
“It’s primarily a property of social systems or environments as a whole, in which girls and women face distinctively hostile and hateful forces that kind of come at us, and those forces have a particular function,” Manne said during her lecture. “That function is to police and enforce patriarchal norms and expectations.”
Manne made a distinction between sexism and misogyny.
“So sexism is the kind of the ideas, the brains of the operation… misogyny is about saying you have to conform or adults there will be consequences,” Manne said.
According to Manne, misogyny often targets “gender deviant behavior,” or women who aren’t complying with patriarchal norms or expectations.
Manne also believes that misogynists don’t view women as subhuman.
“I think we’re being seen as human, all too human givers who are not giving enough and who are failing to be adequately unique, nurturing, surveil and giving of our moral obligations,” Manne said.
Manne also emphasized that misogynists
often use the defense of “I have daughters” to claim they are not misogynists. She said that, “it’s the women who threaten them who are often in the cross heads of their possibilities.”
Men who love the women in their life can still be misogynists, emphasized Manne.
“Misogyny turns out to be perfectly compatible with, indeed conducive to loving the attentive or devoted mother, wife, daughter, secretary, nurse, etc.,” Manne said.
During the lecture, Manne provided three scenarios where misogyny is typically applied.
Her first example are “incels,” who she described as “usually young, invariably cishet or straight, men who embody a sense of entitlement to sex.”
Manne used Elliot Roger as an example of an incel, whom she described as the “patron saint of incels.” Roger, described as “the supreme gentlemen,” stabbed three roommates and then participated in a shooting spree targeting a sorority house, leaving six people dead and 14 wounded, according to The Guardian. Roger wrote a 141-page manifesto describing his deep-rooted hatred of women, calling himself “the ideal magnificent gentlemen,” according to the BBC.
Manne’s second example of applied misogyny involved women not receiving equitable medical care.
“Literature is showing that girls and women, especially girls and women of color, suffering from pain and health problems, are routinely dismissed as hysterical, oversensitive and even as malingerers, and that they’re far more likely than male counterparts to receive diagnoses like histrionic disorder and dismissed as having a psychosomatic illness rather than having a physical problems,” Manne said.
The third and last example provided by
Manne was that women are more likely to be picked for positions of power when applying for jobs.
Manne provided evidence through a study done by Madeline Pileman and collaborators at NYU, stating that 80% of the time a male is deemed more competent for a powerful position.
When offering ways to fight misogyny, she suggested that it can be fought and defeated starting from a very young age.
“We also have to think about the fact that male entitlement needs to be fought
from a very young age,” Manne said. When asked by an audience member if she believed that misandry was “made up” by misogynists, Manne responded by explaining that there are not enough matriarchal norms and expectations for misandry to exist in our social systems.
The Stiernotte lecture series has been funded from an endowment provided by the estate of the late Alfred P. Stiernotte, who was the first to teach philosophy at Quinnipiac more than 50 years ago.
ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPP MENHALL
Dr. Kate Manne speaks about misogyny during the Alfred P. Stiernotte lecture on Oct. 17.
Opinion
The phone should not eat frst
By NEVE WILSON Contributing Writer
A few years ago I unexpectedly lost most of my childhood photos that my mom had taken on her first iPhone and I was devastated. As you can imagine, this was a lot of photos (the average person has 2,795 photos on their phone). But I learned that I do not need nearly as many photos as I thought I did to remember my life.
As smartphones became popular and made it easier to take and share photos people have started to overdocument things. This habit of constantly taking pictures and videos spawned the online phrase “phone eats first,” a reminder to take a picture of your meal before you eat to immortalize it in your camera roll. But what good are these digital leftovers? You certainly can’t reheat them.
I’m sure many of us have witnessed this behavior at concerts, when you look into the crowd and there is a sea of phones. Or when you travel to a popular place and people spend more time with their nose in their phone instead of enjoying the view. Even just a slightly pink sky is enough for people to pause and snap a picture. The average American takes six photos a day.
The argument for taking a lot of photos is that they help us to remember a moment better and even relive it. But research shows that taking too many photos actually has the opposite effect — it actually makes us less likely to remember things due to the photo-taking-impairment effect.
When you take a photo you are trying
to produce something, whether consciously or not, and that adds pressure which reduces your ability to relax and enjoy the moment. Your brain also gets interrupted from processing what it is seeing in front of you. You become distracted by adjusting the screen in front of you and engage less of your other senses like smell and hearing which contribute to memory-making.
Recording things also allows the phone to remember for you, a form of cognitive
offoading. You give your brain permission to forget and free up space, trusting that digital evidence will trigger the memory. I still remember what some of the photos I lost looked like, but absolutely nothing about the moment or day they were taken in.
Russell Banks, an American poet and writer sums it up well when he wrote that taking pictures when traveling is “to reduce and domesticate (his) experience and ultimately to kill it.”
When I took a school trip to Iceland in high school, my teacher told us he would confiscate our phones if he caught us looking at them instead of our surroundings. At the time I thought he was being too strict and showing his age by denying the benefits of technology. But now I realize that he was trying to make the experience better and more memorable for us. The pictures I do have from Iceland I rarely look back on because the memory of actually being at the waterfalls or glaciers is crisper and more satisfying.
Too often I see people my age staring into their phone screen. They are motivated not only by the desire to remember but also to share their experience on social media. Instagram “photo dumps” have become hugely popular wherein users post a series of up to 15 photos to share experiences over a period of time. This is another reason people, particularly Generation Z, feel motivated to take a lot of photos.
But a lack of attention to surroundings and focus on a device can have deadly consequences. There were 259 deaths related to taking selfies from 2011 to 2017, per Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.
I’m not saying to stop taking photos,but be mindful of your surroundings and put the camera down in order to be present in the moment. We were not meant to experience the world through the lens of a camera or a device’s screen.
Period poverty: Menstrual cycles break the bank
By LILY PHILIPCZAK Staf Writer
If you were to be asked how many days a menstrual cycle lasts on average, would you know the answer?
Whether your answer is yes or no, allow me to share with you why it’s important.
Aunt flow, code red, that time of the month or my favorite — Shark Week. All of these are euphemisms that say, “I have my period.” Most of us learned about periods either by experiencing it ourselves or knowing someone who has. But how often do we talk about it? Not just with codedlanguage, but openly expressed. More importantly, what is the harm of not doing so?
Period poverty is defned as the lack of access or inability to afford monthly menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene education.
Recently, I watched the Academy Award winning Netfix documentary “Period. End of a Sentence.” Released in 2018, the flm takes place in rural India as women fght the stigma of menstruation by learning how to use a machine to make low-cost period products.
This economically empowers women in the village as they can go to school or work without having to worry about not having hygiene products. The flm discusses a worldwide issue that surpasses continents and seas — which is known as period poverty.
Period poverty is a public health issue that happens nationwide — even at Quinnipiac University. In fact, The National Institutes of Health estimates that 16.9 million menstruating women in the U.S. live in poverty. Of those millions of women, two thirds are low-income and food insecure and cannot afford basic menstrual hygiene products.
Most women and gender neutral bathrooms on campus do not provide free menstrual prod ucts, as pads and tampons cost roughly 25¢ each. This is odd to me considering that the gender distribution at Quinnipiac is mainly that of female students.
If you get your period in between classes and don’t have a quarter on you, you’ll have to travel to the health center for a free menstrual product or hope that a friend or stranger has a spare to share.
You might be thinking, “Well the health center isn’t that far,” but that isn’t the problem. The problem is that people with periods have to go out of their way to access hygiene products that without, can have a negative impact on their education, employment and mental health.
More than four out of five
students in the U.S. have missed class time or know someone who has because they did not have access to period products. Some states impose a sales tax burden on menstrual hygiene products. Fortunately, menstrual products and diapers are tax free in Connecticut since 2018. However, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies, the average sales tax on menstrual products in the U.S. ranges from 4-7% in states that tax them. This can make it more challenging for women with heavy menstrual bleeding or low-income women to afford on a
Period poverty signifcantly impacts college students, as they may be forced to decide tween purchasing menstrual products and paying bills, buying groceries or other living expenses.
With the fnancial burden looming, some may use disposable products that cannot be reused. Wearing pads or tampons for longer than recommended, can cause health risks like toxic shock syndrome and urinary
Toxic shock syndrome is
a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection that can land someone in an emergency room. Symptoms include fever, low blood pressure, vomiting, muscle aches and dizziness that develop in as little as three days.
The concept that everyone should have access to menstrual products and education, free from stigma is menstrual equity.
Nearly 500 million lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management, according to the World Bank.
The roots of period poverty can be traced to oppressive systems such as sexism, misogyny, racism and classism. This is why it is important to spread awareness about access or the lack thereof to reduce the stigma.
The ways that we can reduce period poverty, both on and off campus, is to openly talk about menstruation, advocate for free menstrual products, understand the impact of accessibility and make donations of products to places and people in need.
Quinnipiac can demonstrate inclusivity by providing free menstrual products in dorm and academic building bathrooms on campus.
ILLUSTRATION BY TYLER MIGNAULT
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
By MARIAM SAAD Contributing Writer
Opinion
Injustice ignored Quinnipiac’s responsibility to Indigenous history
The blood-stained history of our country is no secret. In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness of Indigenous history as a part of North American history. Countless Indigenous people around the world, not just in America, were historically slaughtered by colonizers in the name of “civilization,” driven by the desire for land and expansion.
Quinnipiac University is named after the Quinnipiac tribe, who were indigenous people. They lived along the Quinnipiac river, where the university is located now. This begs the question, what is being done on campus to educate students about Quinnipiac’s Indigenous history and to honor the legacy of those who were here before Christopher Columbus?
This is unsurprisingly an easy question. In my short time at Quinnipiac, I have seen nothing commemorating the history of Indigenous people. I have never seen or heard an announcement for an event, an Instagram
post, or anything related to Indigenous history on campus. Even if the school has done anything, it’s not even close to being enough.
This brings us to Indigenous People’s Day, which, if I may remind you, we do not take as a holiday. Indigenous People’s Day came about in opposition to Columbus Day, a federal holiday commemorating Christopher Columbus’ arrival in October 1492 to the “New World,” where Native Americans had already established civilizations. Many institutions take the day off, regardless of whether or not they have Indigenous ties. But Quinnipiac does not.
The complete disregard of our institution’s indigenous roots goes against everything Quinnipiac claims to stand for. Recognizing Indigenous People’s Day isn’t just about taking the day off, it’s about fostering an inclusive and respectful environment by promoting social justice and equity, which it seems Quinnipiac doesn’t prioritize.
It is shameful that Quinnipiac does not
recognize the rich history of the Quinnipiac tribe. Clearly, it is just a name to the university. The university had countless opportunities to hold events, workshops, discussions and even academic courses to educate students on Indigenous history, especially of the Quinnipiac people. This failure to recognize indigenous history reinforces colonialist practices of cultural erasure and harmful stereotypes.
Disregarding Indigenous history overlooks the many negative impacts of colonialism that have devastated these communities throughout history. It silences Indigenous voices and perspectives from being heard and valued, and fails to address historical grievances in order to work towards justice and reparations.
Indigenous people deserve to be recognized, honored and valued. Educating ourselves on Indigenous history and recognizing Quinnipiac’s Indigenous roots contribute to the richness of human diversity. Recognition supports Indigenous rights, including self-determination and cultural preservation. It fos-
ters equity and social justice, which promotes understanding across all communities and the importance of respecting diverse worldviews.
In a time where Indigenous people all over the world still face injustices of displacement, ethnic cleansing, cultural erasure, environmental colonialism and genocide, not recognizing Indigenous history allows these atrocities to continue. This allows for systematic inequalities and discrimination to prolong. This irreparable damage caused to Indigenous people and the failure to recognize it deepens division and hinders social progress, understanding and healing.
As a community that claims to value and promote diversity, equity and inclusion, Quinnipiac has a unique opportunity to honor its namesake and rich history of the land on which it is located by formally recognizing Indigenous People’s Day. This day not only serves as a celebration of Indigenous culture, but an acknowledgement of the historical injustices faced by indigenous communities.
The Piano Man vs. The Boss: Rock legends collide
The fire is still burning
By JAMES NOLAN Staf Writer
Growing up on Long Island, New York, I almost took Billy Joel’s music for granted. My parents would play his music constantly, but I never truly appreciated his work. I knew who he was and could have named several of his biggest hits, but did not yet consider him one of my favorite artists.
That immediately changed after arriving at college. It started with hearing “Only the Good Die Young” in the waning weeks of summer, and constantly replaying it as a reminder to enjoy myself. Slowly, more of his songs crept into my queue and eventually my playlist.
Listening to Billy Joel throughout that frst year away was really helpful. “Vienna” would help calm my nerves and I’d use “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” to turn a good mood into a great day.
That’s what I enjoy most about Joel, he has such diversity throughout his songs’ tones. He has songs that are preachy, cynical, upbeat and melancholy. As an artist, he is not purely any of those, but rather a nuanced depiction of the variety of human emotion.
It’s something that is almost lacking from Bruce Springsteen’s discography. I absolutely love both “Born to Run” and “Thunder Road,” but I fnd it hard to distinguish between the two. The songs not only sound similar but the messaging is essentially the same. Joel has a much wider scope of style and purpose.
That’s another thing Joel does rather masterfully. His songs, as the ‘Piano Man’ moniker might suggest, contain distinctive piano use that not only easily identifes the song to longtime fans, but also sets the mood for frst time listeners.
A perfect example of this takes place throughout “Scenes from an Italian Restau-
rant.” Certain piano melodies become associated with different settings throughout the seven minute ballad as a form of storytelling. The piano swells and subsides to convey the emotion of the protagonists.
That level of musical craft is prevalent throughout his work. His attention to the tiniest, painstaking detail was one of the reasons he stopped putting out albums after 1993. Opting to let his standing discogra phy speak for itself.
On the other hand, Springsteen continued churning out albums, putting out 10 after the turn of the millenia. While it is nice to have continuous new music, there is something to be said about quality versus quantity. Those albums largely underperformed and don’t come close to matching the pedigree of his earlier work.
One fnal appeal of Joel is his alignment with the working-class citizen. “Prelude / Angry Young Man” quite literally celebrates a man’s “working class ties” and how “he refuses to bend” in the face of adversity. He strikes chords of relatability that resonate with blue-collar workers around the country.
Jersey’s own
By BEN BUSILLO Associate Opinion Editor
When I was about six or seven years old, my mom inserted a CD into my bedside radio. I still remember the raspy voice of the man singing the frst line of the song, “In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream.”
It was the frst time I was formally introduced to Bruce Springsteen. From that point on, I can’t think of a time when Springsteen wasn’t a part of my life. So yes, I am biased for Bruce. What ultimately puts the Boss over the top of other legends of his era, is his messaging. During the economic slowdown of the 1970s, Springsteen became a voice for the struggling, blue collar, regular working class folk.
Referring back to one of his most famous anthems, “Born to Run,” Springsteen puts forth a message of selfliberation. It follows two young lovers dreaming of escaping from their mundane working-class town. It portrays a sense of urgency and longing, using vivid imagery to capture the thrill of the open road and the desire for a better future. This message is truly timeless, as it’s not exclusive to any era where people can feel trapped inside their own bubble, fghting to break out.
teen’s lyrics. Songs like “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and “Uptown Girl” may entertain, but they don’t engage with the struggles and aspirations of the working class in the same meaningful way that Springsteen does.
Even Springsteen’s most popular and catchy songs have complex underlying messages. “Born in the U.S.A.” is often misinterpreted as a straightforward patriotic anthem, but its lyrics reveal a stark critique of American society, particularly the treatment of Vietnam veterans.
The upbeat tempo contrasts with the somber message, emphasizing the disparity between American pride and the harsh realities experienced by many. This duality makes it one of Springsteen’s most powerful and enduring songs. Now in the latter part of Springsteen’s career, we’ve seen him incorporate a western feel to his music. The release of his 19th studio album “Western Stars” was met with critical acclaim, as it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 charts.
His western arc has recently led him to collaborate with country star Zach Bryan, who credits Springsteen as a massive infuence on his songwriting style. Bryan has had Springsteen on stage with him during his “The Quittin’ Time Tour”, and on his new album where Springsteen was featured in the song “Sandpaper.” The two also posed together for the most recent cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. Springsteen’s ability to stay relevant after all these years is a testament to his impact and how his messages from the 70s and 80s have stayed relevant to this very day.
Now, go ahead and listen to “The Stranger,” “52nd Street” or any of his other albums. After all, “you can’t get the sound from a story in a magazine.”
Don’t get me wrong, Billy Joel is a great performer, and one of the most decorated artists of all time. With that being said, his songs remain more on the pop side of the music spectrum, and lack the socio-economic commentary that makes Springsteen’s music so powerful.
Many of Joel’s hits are catchy but lack the emotional weight that characterize Springs-
While Joel has been continuously successful with his residency at Madison Square Garden, he has released only fve new songs since 1995. Springsteen on the other hand has released 11 new studio albums in the same time frame. Springsteen isn’t just a voice of the past; he’s the soundtrack of resilience, proving that in a world that’s constantly changing, he continues to remind us that no matter where we are, we’re all “Working on a Dream.”
ILLUSTRATION BY BEN BUSILLO
Arts & Life
Boomer's Boo Bash extravaganza
By AMANDA MADERA Arts & Life Editor
On Oct. 19, Quinnipiac University hosted the annual Boomer's Boo Bash.
The Hamden community celebrated Halloween early from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Mount Carmel Quad.
The event was flled with spooky activities, ranging from food trucks, to bounce houses and trick-or-treating.
Participants were able to take photos with Boomer the Bobcat as well as enjoy game booths ran by student-athletes. Local businesses and organizations also took part in the Boo Bash.
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Boomer the Bobcat makes an appearance and visits the community to share the Halloween season.
'The Maybe Man Tour' goes digital
By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor
Around this time last year, AJR, a pop band consisting of three brothers — Adam, Jack and Ryan Met — released an album titled “The Maybe Man.” Their music typically features horn and synth-heavy songs that cover a wide variety of relatable, hard-hitting topics. This was true of “The Maybe Man,” which was released shortly after their father passed away.
Although none of the songs from this album topped charts like “Bang!” and “Sober Up” did, fans like myself, loved it.
So when AJR announced “The Maybe Man Tour,” there was no question that I wanted to go.
I got tickets to see the July 25 show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nosebleeds, of course, because like every college student, I have no money. The tour was their seventh time headlining in the City of Brotherly Love.
As they kicked off their jaw-dropping show with their songs “Yes I’m A Mess” and “Sober Up,” I noticed a multitude of cameras throughout the venue.
It’s normal to have some cameras around during a concert, to show the artist on stage on the back screen for the audience to see them better, and also to capture fan reactions.
One camera stuck out to me. It was attached on a crane-like structure, where the base of the
crane was on the side of the pit. The camera itself was suspended over the pit, moving around over the crowd.
After the frst two songs, Jack, the lead singer, started the obligatory "beginning of the show” speech. He thanked the crowd for coming to the show and introduced himself and his brothers. But then, their normal script shifted.
“Philadelphia, there is one more item of business before we continue, I think some of you might’ve noticed we’re flming the show tonight,” Jack said. “Yes, this is the one, we’re flming the one show and this is it.”
The crowd went wild as the crane-camera contraption fanned over the pit. People held their signs up to the camera, hoping to get noticed.
“If you see any cameras around, just promote your shit. Business, SoundCloud, why not, right? When are you going to get another opportunity?” Jack said.
Now three months after the live performance, I get to see this scene play out from a very different angle. AJR announced on Oct. 3 that they would release the taping of the concert on Oct. 16.
This wasn’t just any recording of the concert, it was “The Maybe Man Tour Immersive Concert Experience,” provided by Moment, a company recently purchased by Patreon.
I bought a ticket to see this "immersive
experience,” a bit skeptical given that I had just spent $16.87 to see a concert I had already seen.
The band promoted that they would live stream the concert on Moment, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Oct. 16. Unfortunately for me, I had a night class that same day. But I was told by a friend that even though I couldn’t view the live stream, I would still be able to watch it on my own time.
So on Saturday, I sat down to watch the show… again.
It was nice seeing the performance up close, compared to the nosebleed seats I had. I appreciated even more the way the band put so much energy into every song, now seeing their expressions better. They even put cameras on the trumpet, an instrument that is used in most of their songs.
Another aspect I liked about this digital performance was getting to listen and watch some of the songs that they put a twist to, such as “Bang!” Fans have been demanding this percussion-heavy version of the song to be put on Spotify for months, but to no avail.
Throughout the performance, the cameras pan to audience members, dancing and singing to the songs. The energy from the crowd in the digital experience reminded me of the energy I felt while seeing the concert at the Wells Fargo Center.
However, nothing will ever beat the experience of being at the actual concert. Being
surrounded by people who are all there for the same purpose and passion for music is something that can’t be replaced by a chat on a live stream. I could see how this opportunity would be a good alternative for people who might have not been able to go to the concert itself. Whether they live too far from a venue or are on a tight budget, this gives people a chance to see the performance when they might’ve not otherwise.
It was fun to look back at the performance again, but I will always prefer to go see a concert live. The energy, the fans and the live performance are just hard to beat.
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Children enjoy a Quinnipiac #BobcatNation blow-up chair as part of the festivities
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Friends and family join the Quinnipiac University community to enjoy a day of Halloween festivities at Boomer's Boo Bash on Oct. 19.
Spilling about 'The Secret of Us (Deluxe)'
By AMANDA MADERA Arts & Life Editor
I can admit it took me a bit to start enjoying Gracie Abrams’s music. A part from a few outliers such as “I miss you, I’m sorry,” “Feels Like” and “I know it won’t work,” I just couldn’t get into her discography. However, her extended version of “The Secret of Us” changed that.
Released Oct. 18, Abrams added three unreleased songs and three “Live From Vevo” versions of previously recorded songs.
Upon first listen, my favorite of the three unreleased songs, “That’s So True,” stood out to me the most. It literally made me think ‘Wait that’s actually so me.’
The jealousy, the anger and the pettiness are similar to myself in more ways than I’d like to admit. You know when someone does you wrong and you think to yourself “You know what? I’m going to be the bigger person?” Yeah, I’ve never thought that in my life.
In my defense, the other person usually deserves it.
I usually like songs with deeper meanings and symbolism, but the juvenility of this album is what made me love it. Not everything has to be a code to crack.
Abrams sings “What'd she do to get you off? (Uh-huh)/ Taking down her hair like, oh my God/ Taking off your shirt, I did that once/ Or twice, uh.”
Pretty straightforward if you ask me. But honestly, I admire that about Abrams’ songwriting. She isn’t afraid to say exactly what she’s thinking and I can relate to that.
The instruments and production is what sets this song apart from the other two newly released songs. While the acoustic vibe remains the same, the drums and the fastpaced, angry guitar strumming add drama.
me, this was a direct call-back to Abrams's song “Risk.” She’s letting the other girl know that this same man is not worth it.
Sometimes there’s only so much you
She adds “She's missing it, sad, sad boy/ Not my business, but I had to warn ya.” To
knowing it isn’t worth it because they don’t care is gut-wrenching. And as someone who is the least bit nonchalant, it’s almost impossible.
She sings “I told you things that I never said/ You're the golden boy and my worst regret/ So I cut the cost and I limit feeling.” No matter what you do, your feelings will she created of this person isn’t real because they’ve changed. Some things are better left unsaid.
The bridge and the final chorus of the song are my favorite parts. “(Don't let them know we're in pain) More pain/ (Ah)/ I told you things that I never said/ To anybody else, I regret them/ But I'll pack it up and practice leaving (Mm).” Abrams doesn’t want the other person to know how she’s really feeling. She wants to pretend to be unbothered and careless like they are.
In the mood for a switch-up? Her song “Packing It Up” does just that. In this song, Abrams sings about almost giving up on love and finding that special person, but that’s when they came into her
“I swear that I wasn't looking for much/ But that’s just when you happened/ That's right when you happened/ Got so damn close to packing it up/ But that's just when you happened/ And then you happened.” The best things might come unexpectedly.
After experiencing heartbreak, she sings about how this experience is something she hasn’t had before. “Now I’m red in the face, I'm shy all of a sudden/ You move, I move, it's something, you fit perfectly/ And replace every game, you push none of my buttons/ And hold me through the morning, kinda new for me.”
Abrams expresses that she hopes the other person feels the same. This song kind of feels like rambling and overthinking, but I think that’s understandable. “I hope that you get my dark sense of humor/ Sunsets in the summer with my family/ Don't stop talking to me, and maybe stay here forever/ We could die here together, I’d do it happily.”
So, I guess my message is that no matter how many times someone disappoints me, I always give the next person the benefit of the doubt. Am I stupid and naive? Possibly, but I’m sure I’ll learn someday.
'A Good Girl’s Guide' to a mediocre show
By GINA LORUSSO Associate Arts & Life Editor
When I found out that one of my favorite book series was being turned into a show, I was beyond excited.
“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson is a mystery novel that follows Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers), a high school senior who must complete a capstone project to fulfll a graduation requirement. On this particular assignment, she chooses to solve a murder case.
In 2019, Pip’s town was plagued with the mysterious disappearance and alleged death of Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies), who was supposedly killed by her boyfriend Sal Singh (Rahul Pattni). Soon after, Sal dies by suicide and there was no trial to prove if he was truly guilty of Andie’s murder.
The book was almost perfect. The show, however, wasn’t.
In the frst episode, Pip introduces her idea for the project, receiving pushback from people in the town, including Andie’s sister, Becca (Carla Woodcock). She tracks down Sal’s brother, Ravi (Zain Iqbal), and tells him she believes Sal is innocent and she’s determined to fnd a way to prove it. Later in the episode, she begins to develop a murder map on her bedroom wall with images, screenshots, Andie’s missing poster and articles from the night of her disappearance. Usually, the first episode of a series entices you to watch more because you
grow eager to know what happens next, but it’s hard to keep watching when the main character’s attitude is insufferable and the show isn’t meeting your expectations as a fan of the book series.
Throughout the episodes, Pip is abrasive and pretty much forces people to give her information on this case, even though it could be difficult for them to discuss.
Despite their discomfort, she persists and creates tension between her and the people
who have the information she needs — not a good look for her.
I constantly found myself saying “What?” and “That didn’t happen in the book” throughout the entire series because, quite honestly, the show was the furthest thing from accurate.
A huge part of the novels are Ravi’s contribution to helping solve the case but he didn’t nearly help Pip as much in the show — he seemed to be just a side character
who awkwardly flirts with Pip and kisses her in the last 15 seconds of episode six.
The first four episodes are slow but episodes five and six seemed rushed because the latter dragged on without revealing anything important to the storyline. A threatening note from the killer here and there is not a cliffhanger, please move on with the plot.
I understand that the show is fiction, but some of Pip’s behavior was wildly unrealistic. Breaking into the victim’s house and ripping apart her stuffed animals to find her secret drug stash is insane for a 17 year old to be doing. Half of the evidence she obtained was found illegally and would be inadmissible in court. I hate to be that person, but if I’m watching a crime thriller, I want at least some parts to be realistic, not just added for the sake of suspense.
Needless to say, I’m disappointed by how this series came out because there was so much potential if they just took the novel and used it as a blueprint to bring the story to life.
I’m sure if I hadn’t read the book before watching the show, I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more but unfortunately, that’s not the case.
If a season came out for the other two books in the series, “Good Girl, Bad Blood” and “As Good as Dead,” I would probably watch them, but I can’t see the acting or the production getting any better.
For now, I’ll just stick to the books.
ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPP MENHALL
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
Another 'Payne'ful loss of our generation
By EMILY ADORNO Digital Managing Editor
If someone told me that One Direction’s Instagram account would be active for the frst time in four years this week with Zayn Malik’s name attached, I would have jumped up and down.
Instead, I was slumped on my couch frantically reading every news article I could fnd to see if Liam Payne was really dead — or if it was a hoax. To my dismay, it was true.
Payne found fame on “The X-Factor” when former judge Simon Cowell grouped him together with Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. The band offcially debuted their frst album “Up All Night” in 2010 after being eliminated from the reality music competition.
For fve years, One Direction produced four albums as a full band, emerging as one of the 2010s biggest stars in the music industry. But under Cowell’s management, their grueling album-tour schedule led to burnout for several members.
By March 2015, the pressure became too much for Malik, and he left the band, shocking and upsetting the large fanbase.
After Malik’s departure, the remaining four released a fnal studio album, “Made in the A.M.” and announced a hiatus. What was initially an 18-month break, turned into 10 years and fve solo careers.
Despite going their separate ways, the band’s infuence on pop culture has endured. Now, the heartbreaking news of Payne’s death has left social media fooded with messages of grief and disbelief.
On Oct. 16, reports from TMZ emerged that Payne had died in Buenos Aires after falling from a third-story balcony. While the autopsy has not confrmed if it was intentional, it deemed 25 injuries “unprotected.”
Just before his death, Buenos Aires police received a call from the hotel desk manager where Payne was staying. The phone call claimed Payne, presumably under the infuence of alcohol and
drugs, was destroying his hotel room.
Offcially, forensic experts have established his preliminary cause of death was internal and external hemorrhage. Yet there is still an ongoing investigation surrounding his death, prosecutors believe Payne was alone when the fall occurred.
In the weeks before his death, Payne found himself at the center of controversy. His exfancée, Maya Henry, posted a TikTok on Oct. 6, revealing that the fctional book she had written earlier this year, “Looking Forward,” was based on Payne’s alleged abuse toward her.
Henry later appeared on “The Internet is Dead” podcast on Oct. 14, where she discussed moments from their relationship, including this alleged manipulation and abuse. She claimed Payne had tried contacting her from numerous iCloud accounts since their split in 2022. Later that same day, The Sun reported Henry fled a lawsuit against Payne after new, troubling information.
This however, is not the frst time Payne has been under fre. In May 2022 an episode of Logan Paul’s podcast “Impaulsive” featured Payne speaking about moments during the band’s prime where he almost “came to blows” with another bandmate. The entire episode became polarized over social media as fans expressed their disappointment in Payne. He later apologized, clarifying how his substance abuse issues played a role in his behavior.
Payne had been candid about his struggles with alcohol before. In a July 2023 YouTube video, he spoke about his three-month stint in a rehabilitation center and his efforts to maintain sobriety.
Despite these supposed altercations and past drama between band members, the group — Malik included — released a joint statement on Oct. 17 addressing Payne’s passing via Instagram.
“We’re completely devastated by the news of Liam’s passing,” they wrote. “In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved
dearly. The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”
Each member also shared personal tributes on social media recounting memories.
“I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be,” Tomlinson wrote.
Horan, who was the last of the bandmates to see Payne — who recently attended Horan’s concert in Argentina with his girlfriend Kate Cassidy — said, “I feel so fortunate that I got to see him recently. I sadly didn’t know that after saying goodbye and hugging him that evening, I would be saying goodbye forever. It’s heartbreaking.”
Grief over Payne’s death didn’t stop at the band members. His passing has shaken the music and entertainment industries, with past collaborators like Zedd and Quavo, and friends like Ed Sheeran and James Corden, all expressing their sorrow.
When any celebrity dies, social media becomes
From 0-5 to OMG
a place for people to share their emotions. But Payne’s death feels especially poignant for young generations who grew up with him.
His passing reminds me of the loss of Mac Miller — another artist whose sudden death stunned the world. It leaves many in my generation at a loss for words as we grieve not just Payne, but memories of our childhood that he helped create.
Disney star Cameron Boyce had a similar impact when he passed away from a seizure. It often feels like time stops, and the internet becomes a holding place for people to refect on a late icon’s best moments.
Payne had his struggles, but his memory will forever be in the hearts of the teenage girls who were obsessed with him during the One Direction heyday.
I’m not grieving as my 19-year-old self right now. I’m grieving as my fve-year-old self who just discovered fetus One Direction video diaries on YouTube. I’ll throw away my plastic spoons, Liam.
How a popstar and purple mascot propelled the Mets into the postseason
By BEN BUSILLO Associate Opinion Editor
As a die-hard Mets fan, my outlook on the season stares through a flter of negativity and pessimism.
“Nobody in the ballpark. 0-5. Hitless through 7. It feels like rock bottom.” This wasn’t hyperbole from New York Mets TV play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen.
There is a certain stigma about the Mets’ brand of baseball that emulates a sort of “Murphy’s Law-type ordeal.” You know, if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. That’s how it has felt for as long as I can remember.
Following a disappointing 75-87 fnish in 2023, where they were sellers at the trade deadline and dealt future Hall of Famers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander for prospects, the 2024 season was expected to be a rebuilding year. The team also missed out on signing top superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the offseason.
There really wasn't much expected from this team or rookie manager Carlos Mendoza, and for the frst 50 or so games, it sure seemed that way. However, the Mets found optimism in some unlikely heroes.
By 2024, José Iglesias’s baseball career was in limbo. He spent all of the 2023 season in the minor leagues and was released by both the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres. During this period of uncertainty, Iglesias tapped into another passion, music.
When Iglesias was bouncing around the minor leagues, he started to release songs under
the alias, Candelita. However, nothing took off quite like “OMG.” Iglesias wrote and recorded the song during the winter, when he also signed a minor league contract with the Mets.
After starting the 2024 season on the Mets Triple-A affliate, Iglesias’s path back to the major leagues quickly presented itself. By May 31, the Mets were 10 games under .500 and needed a change. After a series of roster moves, Iglesias found himself in Queens. Iglesias’s locker room presence was quickly felt as his energetic play quickly made him a spark plug for the team.
Iglesias's walk- up song quickly caught on with the fans and the team. With its catchiness and positive message, it became an anthem for both the Mets themselves and their fans.
Notably, he even performed the hit live at Citi Field after a June win against the Houston Astros. “OMG” was not only popular in the Mets world, as it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin charts. Its music video, featuring people from all
different backgrounds in an outdoor celebration, captures the upbeat, communal spirit that Iglesias brought both on and off the feld.
After May 31, the day Iglesias was called up into the majors, the Mets went on to go 66-40, the best record in baseball during that time frame. Iglesias himself cemented a spot in the everyday lineup, batting an impressive .337 during his time in the bigs.
While “OMG” was playing through the stadium speaker, the Mets found another unlikely hero in the form of a giant, furry, purple man-thing. That being Grimace. Yes, Grimace from McDonald’s.
Before a game against the Marlins on June 12, the Mets gave Grimace the chance to throw out the ceremonial frst pitch in celebration of his 53rd birthday. After the pitch, the Mets went on to win seven games in a row. Fans began to dub this “the Grimace effect,” attributing the team's success to the mascot.
Whether it was due to Grimace’s appearance or not, the Mets used the momentum from that win streak to surpass the .500 mark and
eventually land in the fnal Wild Card slot on the last day of the season.
In the frst round, the Mets were matched up against the formidable Milwaukee Brewers. In a win-or-go-homewin- orr- go- home Game 3, the Mets found Pete Alonso at the plate as the goahead run in the ninth inning.
As I was watching this unfold in real-time, I thought I knew how it was going to end. Alonso entered the postseason coming off a lessthan-stellar performance in the last year of his contract. Looking through my pessimistic lens, I was about to watch Alonso hit into a doubleplay, ending the season and potentially his career as a Met.
But he didn’t.
Alonso smacked a game-winning home run over the right feld fence. I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was watching.
The Mets continued to capitalize on clutch moments, marching their way to the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the powerhouse Dodgers proved to just be too much for the Amazin’s, beating them in six games.
I’ve seen the Mets lose big games, and the emotions I feel when they lose consisted of mostly anger. However, when the Mets were eliminated from a chance at a World Series on Sunday, I smiled.
Despite the loss to the Dodgers, this Mets season made me reconsider my long-held belief in “Murphy's Law.” Instead of expecting everything to go wrong, I found I was seeing things fnally going right.
Liam Payne tragically passes away at 31 years old in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 16.
Where was the glamor? The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show falls short in its return
By GINA LORUSSO Associate Arts & Life Editor
For the frst time in six years, the Empire State Building lit up in Victoria’s Secret signature pink to celebrate the comeback of one of the nation’s most iconic fashion shows.
VS models strutted the runway in New York City on Oct. 15 showcasing an allwoman performance lineup of Lisa, Tyla and Cher, stunning designs and brand-new features to the premiere.
While this return has been long-awaited, many viewers were disappointed by the lack of glitz and glam.
The VS fashion show has always been an extravagant production, making it a cultural phenomenon and a stand-out brand in the industry. This year’s show seemed noticeably scaled back, leaving fans wanting the “old” VS walking the runway.
Before the show began, model and actress Olivia Culpo and internet personality Tef Pessoa co-hosted on the pink carpet where they interviewed the night’s performers and celebrities in attendance.
“I’m super excited right now,” Thai rapper and singer of Blackpink Lisa said. “I’ve been a big fan, you know, so it feels like a dream come true and I’m just so happy to be a part of this iconic comeback.”
Lisa took the stage to open the show, performing her solo hit “Rock Star.” Dressed in an all-black, two-piece leather ensemble, she made a striking entrance seated on a motorcycle. Accompanied by her backup dancers, the set featured rhythmic moves that highlighted her
abilities as a singer and dancer. With a beaming smile, she ended her performance with an upbeat strut up and down the runway, having her moment as a model.
Moments later, the frst Angel of the show, none other than Gigi Hadid, rose to the runway in a silky, baby-pink one-piece. She blew kisses to the crowd and began her walk. Her mechanical angel wings opened into an elaborate display of feathers and she struck a pose as the screen behind her read “We Are Back.”
As Gigi exited, Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon” began playing and the frst group of models unveiled the show’s frst few looks.
Later in the evening, South African singer and songwriter Tyla performed a few of her songs, wearing her own pair of wings, bringing a more mellow feel to the catwalk. Following her performance, Cher revived the runway with a mashup of two of her biggest hits “Strong Enough” and “Believe.”
Unlike previous years, the angel wings were signifcantly smaller, the pieces weren’t as complex and the hairstyles weren’t as eyecatching, sparking outrage online.
“We’ve also transformed so much as a business and we felt that we wanted to celebrate our product, which is looking amazing, and we just wanted to celebrate women,” Janie Schaffer, the chief design and creative offcer, said on the pink carpet before the show.
Of course, VS has transformed, but not in the way people wanted it to.
This year, slickback ponytails were the move for lead hair stylist Duffy. The signature “bombshell blowouts” were far and few between, signifying moves to modernize the
After drawing low ratings and being criticized for lack of diversity, promotion of sexism and outdated nature, VS canceled the shows after the 2018 premier, according to BBC News. This year, however, the company promised there would be more diversity in body type and gender, but fans aren’t seeing it.
Teen Vogue’s Associate Editor Aiyana Ishmael, commented on how the “beauty standard” is still dominating the fashion industry, especially during the VS Fashion Show.
“The show featured two trans models, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio, making good on its promise that gender doesn’t preclude a model from getting their wings,” Ishmael wrote. “But as I watched thin model after thin model take the runway, I was catapulted right back to my childhood living room, watching women who didn’t look like me set a beauty standard most women will never meet.”
By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Associate Arts & Life Editor
In the mood for a refreshingly romantic, funny portrayal of love? “Nobody Wants This” proves that rom-coms are alive and well.
The 2024 Netfix series follows the unlikely relationship between Joanna (Kristen Bell), an agnostic sex therapist and Noah Roklov (Adam Brody), a newly single rabbi.
After just 10 episodes, you’re left wanting more. Joanna and Noah have something special. Their chemistry is addicting, and their sweetness portrays the kind of innocence that comes with new relationships.
I frst chose to watch “Nobody Wants This” because of the big names involved. I didn’t expect the story to be anything special, but thankfully, I was proven wrong.
The jokes were smooth and subtle instead of cliche. The banter was witty and fresh, with a modern feeling; it was relevant enough without pushing too hard with cringy Generation Z slang.
With an accurate 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Nobody Wants This” feels very real, showcasing an authentic relationship that I rooted for the entire time.
Joanna and Noah meet at a mutual friend’s dinner party and immediately hit it off. They try to be friends initially, but it doesn’t last long — they quickly become infatuated and start seeing each other. However, different lifestyles cause problems in and outside of their relationship.
Joanna co-hosts a podcast with her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) called “Nobody Wants This,” where they give advice and crack jokes about their messy love lives and all the horror stories of being a single woman. Joanna’s miserable dating life is mainly why their podcast is so successful.
The podcast causes trouble for Joanna’s and Noah’s relationship. Up for the head rabbi
Familiar faces like Adriana Lima, Kate Moss, Tyra Banks, Grace Elizabeth and Taylor Hill stole the show as they were warmly welcomed back to the VS runway.
This star-studded cast was the highlight of the show and certainly made up for where VS was lacking.
Aside from defciencies in the hair and makeup departments, the pieces didn’t feature any fun patterns like they have in the past. Plaid, cheetah print and forals infused with bright, bold colors used to dominate the runway, but that wasn’t seen this year. Instead, the show was limited to basic pieces in black, gold, muted tones and red — not a very exciting palette and not very on-brand for VS.
It seemed obvious that VS would want to put on a brilliant event considering it’s been six years since there’s been a production.
Everyone wants this A rom-com we didn’t know we needed
job, Noah’s personal life is on display and his reputation to his temple becomes impeded. He struggles to make his career and faith coexist in their relationship.
His family sees Joanna for the frst time at one of his sermons and immediately writes her off as a “shiksa,” a derogatory term for a nonJewish woman.
Joanna is constantly referred to as a blonde Barbie, a rebound who won’t be around for long.
Noah’s brother, Sasha Roklov (Timothy Simmons), is the only family member who does his best to make peace but is a problematic presence with debatable morals at times and is mostly there for comical relief.
Rom-coms are built on their leads, but their supporting cast is what makes it a classic.
The siblings of Joanna and Noah, Morgan and Sasha, transcend the show into something memorable. Even though Sasha
Before dating Joanna, Noah was briefy engaged to his girlfriend of three years, Rebecca (Emily Arlook). With loyalty to Rebecca, Noah’s family, mainly his mother and his friends' wives, immediately dislike Joanna.
Unfortunately, her podcast doesn’t help her case and is seen as trashy and widely inappropriate. But Joanna sees her show as something more— a form of empowerment and taking control of the narrative surrounding challenging societal expectations.
It’s painful to watch Joanna do everything she can to get his family to like her, only to be met with hurtful comments and avoiding eyes.
is married with a child, he and Morgan have a chemistry-flled relationship. They bond over complaining about their siblings, dubbing themselves “loser siblings.”
Sometimes, in shows, the side characters are just extensions of the main character, often boring and one-dimensional. But Morgan and Saha are really interesting and complex. They don't blindly follow their siblings; they act as siblings do, tease and criticize, but offer genuine support.
Honestly, their dynamic is so confusing because a part of me wants them together even though he’s married, which I shouldn’t want, especially after Sasha’s wife, Esther (Jackie
VS really hyped up the 2024 show but many people were ultimately underwhelmed.
It’s hard for a brand to make a comeback after facing such harsh criticism, and there was an opportunity, but VS didn’t reach its fullest potential.
If the show returns next year, maybe they’ll consider input from fans to make the show just as fashy as its legacy, but also include the diversity audiences have been waiting for.
Only time will tell if VS can rise to the occasion once again.
Until then, the brand’s future remains uncertain as it navigates the fne line between nostalgia and modernization.
Tohn), showed considerable character growth and development toward Joanna.
One of “Nobody Wants This” deepest parts is Joanna’s commitment to following through on a healthy relationship and not backsliding into bad habits.
She is open about her trust issues and reveals that she often opens up to boyfriends just to have them leave her and break her heart. She has an anxious-avoidant attachment, but with Noah, everything is different.
Even when Joanna is scared, Noah continuously shows up for her and confronts her self-sabotaging patterns.
They exhibit faws, and neither is perfect, but their trust in each other is strong.
While watching, one thing that stuck with me was this show's perspective. Usually, it would make sense to root against Joanna and side with Rebecca, the perfect girlfriend who spent years of her life just for a man to fnd love days after breaking up.
It wraps up in a will-they-won’t-they until the very end. Joanna leaves Noah because she doesn’t want to convert. She doesn’t want him to have to choose between her and his community, so she makes the choice for him.
Seemingly parting ways forever, Noah races to confront her and prove he's not ready to lose her.
Renewed for another season in 2025, I’m not sure how this will play out. While I loved the show, this ending was a little bit of a letdown. It’s paving the way for future resentment toward Joanna because Noah is giving up everything he’s worked for his entire life, not to mention his community of friends and family. With an unfnished storyline, there is much to look forward to; I’m already counting the days until the next season comes out.
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
Quinnipiac alumni in PWHL honored in Hamden
By AMANDA DRONZEK Sports Editor
Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey not only swept Syracuse over the weekend, they also payed tribute to three alumni who now play in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) on Saturday, Oct. 19.
The former Bobcats signed posters and pucks for fans at the back of M&T Bank’s hockey rink between the first and second periods.
Quinnipiac’s furthest removed graduate who attended was forward Kelly Babstock ‘13 who skates for the Boston Fleet. During her time in Hamden, Babstock was nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award which is presented to the top player in Division I women’s hockey.
Although she was not selected in the PWHL’s first draft in 2023, Babstock attended training camp with the New York Sirens.
This past March, she signed a reserve player contract with Boston where she appeared in four games.
Additionally, two recent graduates, defender Zoe Boyd ‘23 and goaltender Logan Angers ‘24 returned to their alma mater on Saturday. Both represent the Ottawa Charge.
Boyd was drafted in the ninth round of the 2023 PWHL draft and inked a one-year contract with Ottawa. In June of this year, she renewed her contract for another season in Canada.
Angers, a free agent out of college, signed with the Charge following a six-year career with Quinnipiac. In her graduate season, the Winnipeg, Manitoba native was a semifnalist for the National Women’s Goalie of the Year.
“Just having all the fans, the little girls, older people who are just fron the area, having all the support is so awesome,” Angers said.
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Zoe Boyd ‘23 sits with a fan at the signing booth.
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Logan Angers ‘24 signs a puck for a fan.
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Boyd signs a puck for a fan.
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Senior and ECAC Forward of the Week Maya Labad notches a hat trick against Syracuse.
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Kelly Babstock ‘13 signs posters between periods of Quinnipiac’s matchup against Syracuse on Oct. 19.
‘I’m in the right spot’
Volleyball’s only starting freshman fnds her home
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
Quarterback in football. Goaltender in hockey. Point guard in basketball.
All of these are the most important positions in a sport. They are the position that everyone relies on, the backbone.
For volleyball, that position is libero.
So when a freshman wears the opposite color in the team’s starting line-up, one tends to take notice.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled about her play,” said head coach Kyle Robinson on Oct. 2 after Quinnipiac volleyball’s win against Merrimack. “She brings definitely some stability to the passing and defensive game, which we needed and have been looking for, it’s why she’s here.”
Carola Negron Diaz is entered into the roster as a defensive specialist/libero. Defensive specialists switch out for middle blockers and hitters when they rotate into the back line, letting the team’s offense focus solely on attacking, knowing they are backed by a libero and DS.
“I don’t hit, I strictly just backrow,” Negron Diaz said.
Her first game came on Quinnipiac’s Sept. 28 home opener against Rider. Switching in as a DS, often for junior outside hitter Yagmur Gunes, she recorded one dig and one service error in the two sets she appeared in.
“Everybody was just really energetic,” Negron Diaz said looking back at that game. “Everybody was very supportive of a freshman coming in having like four practices before. It felt great.”
The San Juan, Puerto Rico native has since appeared in every game, slowly switching into the different colored uniform and taking over the position of starting libero.
And since then she’s completely transformed on the court.
Donning the navy and gold as a Bobcat, Negron Diaz already amounted 81 digs, 21 assists and even two kills, in the nine matches that she suited up for. For just 29 sets played so far, those aren’t bad numbers at all.
But how did we get here?
Negron Diaz has a simple answer for that.
“I’ve played volleyball my entire life,” she said. “Followed my older sister who’s (also) in college for volleyball, so it’s just been in my life since I was seven.”
One of the three Negron Diaz’s sisters’ Kat Negron is a senior outside hitter at Shippensburg University.
For Carola, Quinnipiac wasn’t originally her first choice. But it was the one that she doesn’t regret.
“I saw coach Kyle and (associate head) coach Katie (Urycki) at my club recruiting and I loved it here when I first came to visit and it’s been great ever since,” Carola said.
Her start to the season wasn’t as smooth sailing as she would’ve wished. She missed the pre-season matches and practices due to back injuries.
“It was very stressful, it was a dark place I’m not gonna lie,” Carola said. “It was a stress factor in my back and then I had a herniated disc in my back. I am finally back and feeling a lot better.”
Her addition to the starting line-up ended senior libero Fa’ave Kimsel Moe’s years-long streak as a starter, a privilege Robinson keeps repeating she earned, as she’s this year’s only starting freshman.
“It feels really good,” Carola said. “I wasn’t expecting it coming here, I really wasn’t. And having the support from my coaches and my teammates to know that I’m in the right spot for this position, it feels really good.”
Despite being a Bobcat for only a short amount of time, Carola fits into the team like a puzzle piece, and has “gelled” with everyone around her, as junior middle blocker Bailey Brashear put it.
“It was kind of this instant thing, it didn’t really take much time to get used to her being here and at this point I don’t even really feel like she’s anymore,” Brashear “She’s come in and instantly had an im pact which I think is really, really cool. For her to come out and take a big role from the start of her career is not something that you see very often.”
“She has been continuously showing why she belongs out there on the court,” graduate student setter Chloe Ka’ahanui said. “It’s amazing, coming from a fresh man, to step out there and own that spot, own that territory, it’s good, it brings me as a setter stability and confidence that she can get up these tough balls.”
good track record with starting freshmen, notable mentions including junior setter Damla Gunes or junior outside hitter Ginevra Giovagnoni — last year’s MAAC Setter of the Year and this season’s MAAC Preseason Player of the Year respectively. Only time will tell if
Carola might only be at start of her journey, but knows exactly how she wants it to end — playing volleyball professionally back home in
Generally speaking, Quinnipiac has a
“I wanna go back home and play,” Negron
Freshman libero Carola Negron Diaz has amounted 81 digs, 21 assists and two kills in 29 sets as of Oct. 23.
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Negron Diaz prepares to serve the ball against Merrimack on Oct. 2.
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Bouncing back
Women’s basketball ready for next step
By JAMES NOLAN Staf Writer
In a season filled with expectation, a slew of injuries plagued women’s basket -
certainly a great opportunity. We had a very young team, so we got more experience than a lot of other teams,” Foley said. “This year, we’re being treated as upperclassmen, since
and now, the Bobcats bring 89.6% of their total minutes from last year into the upcoming season, which also accounts for 94.6% of the points they scored.
At the MAAC Tip-off show on Oct. 8, head coach Tricia Fabbri remarked that this year’s team has “incredible amounts of characters.”
“I think we learned so much last year, through seeing adversity and failure,” Fab bri said. “What I’ve seen this year is just another team that is a year older.”
Quinnipiac was tabbed in a tie for third place in the MAAC Preseason Coach’s Poll. The impromptu rebuilding year is in the past, and the Bobcats are able-bodied enough to make a real run in the conference.
An exhibition matchup with Southern Connecticut State Uni versity on Oct. 26 will be the frst contest of the season.
The interstate meeting with the Owls won’t be the only one for Quinnipiac. Fairfeld has of course been a consistent conference matchup, and the Bobcats have played Yale four times since 2019. This year, however, Sacred Heart fnds itself on the Bobcats’ schedule for the frst time since 2013 af ter transitioning to the MAAC at the start of the 2024-25 academic year.
“Connecticut and basketball are synonymous with greatness, and now we’re just building these better rival ries,” Fabbri said. “(I’m) excited to have Sacred Heart come in and join us and I think it’s going to be a great … rivalry for many seasons to come.”
After the Owls, the season truly kicks off on Nov. 4 when the Bobcats travel to Worcester, Massachusetts to take on Holy Cross. MAAC play is
slated for Dec. 19 when the Rider Broncos
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