The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 95, Issue 17

Students endure Connecticut’s recent harsh winter conditions

By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor

Arctic temperatures and strong winds crossed Hamden and the entirety of Connecticut this past weekend into this week, coating Quinnipiac’s campuses in layers of ice and snow and concerning students for their safety.

Students woke up on the morning of Feb. 16 to surfaces covered in ice and snow, creating a glistening effect on everything from trees to the bobcat statue on Mount Carmel Campus.

“We’ve been getting more snow than usual,” said first-year nursing major and Connecticut native Lia Hey. “Last winter, I feel like it wasn’t as snowy, and it was icy out (today).”

Over 75% of Quinnipiac’s student body is from New York and New England. Students who are not from areas that do not receive a lot of snow enjoyed this weather at first.

“I thought the snow was cool, and then it started snowing really often,” said Wyatt Cote, a sophomore finance major from Florida. “(Then) I thought it was less cool. My friends last night almost wiped out walking back from Hilltop (lot).”

Other students share a similar sentiment.

“The first snowfall is fun, because then you can play in the snow,” said junior health science major and New York native

Five conclusions from SGA’s annual State of QUnion

By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor

Quinnipiac University’s Student Government Association hosted an annual panel with members of Quinnipiac administration in its “State of QUnion” event Feb. 13, discussing a wide range of topics including DEI and a new dining plan.

SGA hosts this event every year to give students an opportunity to talk to Quinnipiac administration through a Q &A session.

“It’s so important for the student body to be able to break down that barrier of talking to these administrations that have so much power over our experience here,” said Kaitlyn Sternhardt, a junior psychology major and SGA student body vice president.

The administration panel included Quinnipiac President Judy Olian, Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett, Provost Debra Liebowitz, Vice President of Facilities and Capital Planning Sal Filardi and Interim Vice President for Inclusive Excellence David Fryson.

Here are the topics the panel discussed: THE OFFICE OF INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TOPICS

A large portion of the State of QUnion was dedicated to speaking about the Office of Inclusive Excellence and DEI topics.

Over the past year, The Office of Inclusive Excellence has been in the process of restaffing its office. There is an effort to find a full-time vice president of inclusive excellence, as “the search is ongoing,” according to Olian. A new person will likely step into this role in mid-to-late spring.

“What we have done here at Quinnipiac is actually (a) model that the nation can look at and

see how we keep sustaining this idea of inclusive excellence,” Fryson said.

Victor Constanza, a sophomore behavioral neuroscience major and SGA identity senator, asked the panel to discuss how the events occurring in U.S. politics affect students at Quinnipiac.

President Donald Trump has made several changes in LGBTQ+ rights and immigration since returning to the White House for a second term. These changes have concerned students across campus, including Constanza.

“But you should see the day after the election here,” Constanza said to the panel. “You should see how the students of color here the last few weeks have been feeling. We don’t feel great.”

Constanza hoped that the university would speak up about these changes in a public way.

“And to me, schools should be a second home to all students, no matter what education level,” Constanza said. “And if we can’t acknowledge the problem publicly, we can’t excel as students.”

University administration created four pillars, one of which is inclusive excellence. Olian emphasized this during the panel, as well as a “10-point plan to advance racial justice” and a “commitment to LGBTQ.”

“There is a lot of pain out there,” Fryson said. “There are national policies that are being made that are in direct opposition to this whole idea of inclusive excellence, and to be quite frank, we can’t shield you from that, nor would we try, because that’s where we’re at right now.”

MOUNT CARMEL RE-SPACING PLAN

Starting in summer 2025, Quinnipiac will begin to reallocate buildings and spaces across the Mount Carmel Campus.

Major changes include tearing down the Clarice L. Buckman Center and turning the Lender School of Business into a multipurpose building which includes offices and the new Honors Program space.

To learn more, read The Chronicle’s article about the re-spacing plan, which was announced on Feb. 4.

SWIPE OPTION FOR DINING PLAN

In response received by Quinnipiac administration from students, Café Q has a station that is a buffet, “all-you-care-to-eat” style. Students can fill their plate with as much food as they’d like for a set price.

Now, Ellett and his team are looking to add a full meal plan for this style of dining in addition to the meal plans Quinnipiac currently offers.

“The feasibility study is underway right now,” Ellett said. “It would complement us to be a hybrid program where we would still have (meal) points, for say, Bobcat Den or for ShakeSmart or for Starbucks, but then we would have an ‘allyou-care-to-eat’ facility on campus as well.”

Although details are set to be announced at a later date, Olian confirmed new dining facilities must be created to handle this new dining plan. A new dining facility is set to be created with the new re-spacing plan.

PARKING

Parking has been a long-standing complaint of students across campus and was brought up to the panel at the State of QUnion.

“Every day I drive 30 to 40 minutes to get here, but I always have to constantly factor an additional 15 to 20 minutes to find a parking spot,”

said a first-year student in the audience.

New parking spots will be opened again when the modular buildings behind the College of Arts and Sciences as a part of the re-spacing plan. There are no further plans to add other parkings spaces in other parts of the campus.

Four years ago, Ellett and an MBA class partnered up to come up with a plan to address parking issues. This is how certain lots became designated parking depending on seniority and commuter status. Ellett and the class came to SGA to approve and roll out the parking regulations soon after.

“I will tell you, I have far fewer complaints about parking today than I did four years ago,” Ellett said. “(Your parking spot is) not going to be in front of the door. You are going to have to build in some time. And using the shuttle service is probably one of the best ways you can use the parking system.”

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

Once the modular buildings behind the College of Arts and Sciences are removed, some of the space will be allocated to parking, while other parts will be allotted for fuel cells.

Fuel cells are a sustainable way to create energy and heat.

“Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not run down or need recharging,” says the U.S. Department of Energy.

In addition to being more sustainable than traditional energy sources, it will allow the university to cut down on costs.

“Probably pretty soon, we’ll put something out with some details so people understand what we’re doing,” Filardi said.

The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929

MEET THE EDITORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alexandra Martinakova

MANAGING EDITOR

Colin Kennedy

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR

Emily Adorno

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tripp Menhall

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS

Carleigh Beck

Ava Highland

OPINION EDITOR

Ben Busillo

ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR

Lillian Curtin

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Gina Lorusso

ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Grace Conneely-Nolan

SPORTS EDITOR

Amanda Dronzek

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITORS

Claire Frankland

Ryan Johanson

DESIGN EDITOR

Katerina Parizkova

ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Tyler Mignault

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Quinn O’Neill

ASSOCIATE MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Elisabeth McMahon

COPY EDITOR

Michael Petitto

The views expressed in The Chronicle’s opinion section are those of the respective authors. They do not reflect the views of The Chronicle as an organization.

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Quinnipiac students earn state poetry title for fifth-consecutive year

By AVA HIGHLAND Associate News Editor

For five consecutive years, Quinnipiac University students have secured titles in the Connecticut Poetry Circuit. Five students from colleges and universities across the state are brought on a tour to several Connecticut schools to read their work to an audience.

The readings create a welcoming forum for students to share their work with those of similar passions.

Every year, one student is nominated from each Connecticut college or university, and the top five students are selected for the circuit.

Quinnipiac students are nominated by Jason Koo, associate teaching professor of English. In 2017, Nhung An was the first Quinnipiac student to win since Koo began nominating in 2012.

“It’s been a thrill to see students from QU recognized as one of the winners for each of the past five years,” Koo said. “It confirms that we have a strong culture for creative writing here and that what I’m doing in the classroom is making a difference.”

This year, senior English major Elliot Wilson was awarded the title.

“I honestly would’ve been shocked if Elliot didn’t win this year,” Koo said. “I’ve been confident about all the students I’ve nominated before, but really confident about Elliot because of the level they are writing at.”

Wilson will soon join the other four winners to share their poems on the tour.

“I wasn’t feeling any particular way when I found out, but now that it’s closer to happening I feel a lot about it,” Wilson said. “Mostly anxious, but I’m glad that I’ve been recognized for my work as well.”

Wilson first heard of the poetry circuit through their friend and senior English major, August Della Donna, who made the top five in 2024.

“Just to be in a room with people that appreciate your art as much as you do was really fantastic,” Della Donna said. “It really just solidified for me that that’s what I want to do.”

Prior to Della Donna, Alisa Mejia earned the title for 2023, Brian Ataka for 2022 and Joelle Grey for 2021, all of whom attended Quinnipiac.

As each student is entering the contest, they create a portfolio of their best work. Wilson chose five poems to submit.

“Newcomb, New York” is a blank verse poem Wilson wrote about the memories they have of an old cabin in the Adirondacks that their family used to visit every summer.

“I wrote it because the cabin was closed for a while due to the pandemic and I missed it,” Wilson said.

Wilson then chose three sonnets, all written in blank verse: “New Me,” “Ecstasy” and “A Long Silence.” Wilson wrote “New Me” to themself, reflecting on changes they have undergone during the past few years.

“Ecstasy is a reflection on the pains and pleasures of being an artist, written partially as an homage to John Donne’s poetry and the poetry of the English Renaissance,” Wilson said. “A Long Silence” is about being a night person in a morning person’s world. It was written with inspiration from the poems of the Stray Dog Cabaret, translated from Russian to English by Paul Schmidt.”

Wilson now awaits the tour, and continues being praised for this honor.

“I’ve gotten a lot of congratulations from peers and professors who have heard the news, which has surprised me every time it’s happened,” Wilson said. “I didn’t realize that it was a big enough deal that people would care.”

Before Wilson enrolled at Quinnipiac, they participated in the Bobcat for a Day program and were shown the campus by Della Donna. Now, three years later they share a passion for creative

writing and title in the poetry circuit.

“It’s been a complete full circle for me,” Della Donna said. “I’ve really seen their writing grow and develop, and how much more confident they’ve become, and now they get to have that same experience that I did.”

Both Wilson and Della Donna worked with Koo to choose their best work to submit.

Della Donna’s submissions included “a letter to my dad’s girlfriend” “portrait at thirteen”and “citrus.” All three poems submitted were from their chapbook, “tooth & nail.” Della Donna channels both emotion and intensity in their work.

“Citrus was more about using femininity as an excuse to have people take advantage of you,” Della Donna said. “And about how it feels to be used.”

“A letter to my dad’s girlfriend” was written under a prompt to write a letter to someone who doesn’t know you exist. Della Donna used this poem in particular as an outlet to share everything they were feeling, and was later honored for their work.

Wilson and Della Donna have both developed a strong passion for creative writing and poetry, as shown in their majors and beyond.

“I actually don’t have as broad a background in poetry as I do in creative writing, but someone’s told me that my poetry is better than my creative writing, so my priorities are more split now,” Wilson said. “Go figure.”

Della Donna has been writing for as long as they can remember. After taking a creative writing class as a senior in high school, they truly knew it was what they would continue doing. By the end of sophomore year at Quinnipiac, they had taken almost all of the creative writing classes that were offered.

“I found it to be something that I really enjoyed and was really passionate about, and something that it felt like I was now being recognized

Long-awaited EV chargers cost students double local rates

By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor

After one year since the start of construction, electric vehicle chargers are open for use for faculty, staff, students and visitors in North Lot on Mount Carmel campus.

The chargers were installed as a part of the University’s strategic plan, which was created in May 2019.

Per Quinnipiac’s website, the strategic plan’s goal is to build the “University of the Future,” where the university “…prepares students for the 21st century.”

Quinnipiac chose ChargePoint as the vendor for the electric vehicle chargers. The company provides chargers for business and homes in North America and Europe. Their clients include IKEA and Best Western Hotels and Resorts.

The chargers are compatible with all electric cars, “…but Teslas need an adapter that we were told comes with the Tesla,” wrote Salvatore Filardi, Quinnipiac’s vice president for facilities and capital planning, in an email to The Chronicle.

around us — Woodbridge, Cheshire, even one by Hamden Town Hall,” Laskin wrote. “Other towns have chargers at 15 cents per (kWh). So, I am unlikely to use the expensive chargers on our campus.”

Students who don’t have electric cars on campus feel that the chargers are too expensive.

Staff Meetings on Tuesdays in SB 123 at 9:15 p.m.

Alexander Laskin, professor of public relations, drives a Tesla to campus. The car has a 330 mile range compared to his previous Nissan Leaf, which has a 140 mile range. “It is more than enough for a day and then it tops off overnight in the garage,” Laskin wrote in an email to The Chronicle.

Laskin did not see an official announcement that the chargers were available for use, but he saw them near the entrance of North Lot and decided to use them for the first time.

“I tried them but was surprised to see that our on campus chargers are quite expensive–30 cents per Kw (per hour),” Laskin wrote. “But it is good for campus visitors from far away who may need to add some miles while they tour the campus.”

The average cost to charge an electric car per household is 17.01 cents per hour, according to Kelly Blue Book.

“Several towns nearby have free chargers

“I feel like the whole point of adding them is to make (charging an electric car) more convenient for students,” said first-year health science major Riley Kruc. “But if you’re going to make it more expensive, it kind of defeats the purpose.”

As Quinnipiac looks for ways to become more sustainable, there are plans for more electric vehicle charges to increase.

“We are looking into installations on both the York Hill and North Haven campuses,” Filardi wrote.

The number of electric vehicles sold has increased in recent years. From 2022 to 2023, there was a 40% increase in electric cars, according to the International Energy Agency. As of 2023, one in five cars sold were electric vehicles.

Even though most students on campus don’t have electric cars, they still think it is important to have them on campus.

“I don’t think I know anyone that drives an electric vehicle,” said Sophia Carriero, a sophomore marking major. “I think it’s (still) helpful because even if I don’t know them, there are definitely people who need to charge their car.”

TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE Quinnipiac charges 30 cents per kilowatt at the electric vehicle chargers.

Students react to intense winter weather across campuses

temperatures, icy conditions and falling tree limbs, please use EXTREME caution if outside travel is necessary,” read the QU Alert.

Arianna Rodriguez. “But now it’s just too repetitive, and it’s so windy today and everything’s just all icy.”

Classes were moved online on Feb. 6 due to a snow storm.

Students noted some issues that came with the poor weather conditions on campus, especially when it came to parking.

“I was parking in one of the spots and it was so icy,” Rodriguez said. “I went to back up, and it was just my tires, wouldn’t gripped on (to the icy pavement), and I was like, ‘I’m just gonna leave it here, I’ll deal with it later, I have class.’”

Some walkways across campus were not well salted or plowed, leaving students to walk icy paths.

“I live in Dana (English Hall). So some pathways behind Dana (English Hall) and near Dana (English Hall) that are a little bit hidden, so those tend to be forgotten about and pushed to the side,” said first-year public relations major Campbell Heatly. “But I feel like the roads have been good, though.”

Heatly also noted electrical issues with Dana Hall during times when the wind is strong.

“In Dana, the power will go off every once in a while,” Heatly said. “It’ll go off for a few seconds and then come back. That always messes with the WiFi, and then my computer doesn’t work, and it kind of messes everything up.”

A QU Alert was sent out to students at 11:29 p.m. on Feb. 16, titled “Wind, Ice and Falling Tree Limb ADVISORY.”

“Due to high winds, rapidly dropping

Despite the alert, Quinnipiac held classes and admissions events the next day.

On Feb. 17, over 7,000 Connecticut residents are without power due to high winds, according to CT Insider. On Feb. 16, over 20,000 people were without power. Street lights on parts of Whitney Avenue and Mount Carmel Avenue lost power as well.

Additionally, sophomore undecided major and Massachusetts native Jonathan Elion experiences issues getting into his dorm building, Village, when it’s cold.

“Earlier in the semester, when it was really cold, the card scanners would shut off, when it was 18, 15 degrees,” Elion said.

On Feb. 14, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont activated the state’s severe weather protocol, beginning on the evening of Feb. 16 and continuing into Feb. 22. This is intended to protect vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, by providing areas with shelter and heat.

Staying warm in these weather conditions are imperative to staying safe. Being outside for long periods of time without proper attire can lead to conditions like frostbite and hypothermia, according to the American Heart Association.

It is important for students to wear layers to protect themselves from the cold.

“I actually have double layers on right now, “ Rodrigez said. “I’m wearing leggings under my sweat pants, because it’s so cold, and I’m always layering as much as I can and always have my jacket.”

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

Ice weighs down branches on campus, causing them to break.

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

The severe weather protocol will continue to be in effect until Feb. 22.

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

Ice covers most of the surfaces across Quinnipiac campuses, including the signature Bobcat statues.

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

As winter weather continues to sweep across Connecticut, many students choose to stay indoors.

Quinnipiac

Owl-in or nothing

Chaotic advertising is the future of marketing

By LILLIAN CURTIN Associate Opinion Editor

The Duolingo mascot, Duo Keyshauna Renee Lingo, was an owl. I say “was” because, apparently, he was “killed” by a Tesla Cybertruck.

As we mourn the death of my favorite brand mascot, we must acknowledge the absolute brilliance behind Duolingo’s social media pages and brand campaigns.

Ads have changed a lot over time. We went from word of mouth to newspapers, TV and now social media.

The biggest time for commercials and ads? The Super Bowl. At least, it used to be.

The Super Bowl has some of the funniest commercials and advertisements every year. In fact, some people couldn’t care less about the halftime performance or football game — they just watch the ads.

Every February, these ads go outside and against the brand’s normal personality. They spend time coming up with potentially one or two commercials that are going to make someone laugh or cry. Sure, we talk about them for a little bit, but they are often forgettable.

This is Duolingo’s everyday personality. It’s passive aggressive, sometimes just totally aggressive, but it’s memorable and gets people talking.

Duolingo uses the type of marketing that is seen during the Super Bowl, to keep this chaotic, hilarious feeling all year round.

I see Duo on my Instagram, my TikTok and even the widgets on my phone when it’s time for a lesson. Whether he’s dressed as the Mona Lisa, crying or glaring at me through the screen, it’s always fun to see. The humor from Duo that we watch on social media doesn’t just stop once you download the app, which

makes it that much better.

Duolingo creates bits and videos that garner attention. Yes, Duo is a comical owl, but the technique behind it is much more sophisticated than just a bird that threatens people. It uses every aspect of the PESO model — paid, earned, shared and owned media — a major part of integrating marketing communications. If you’re a public relations practitioner, you’re definitely using these techniques. But it’s how you use them that will determine how successful your brand campaign is going to be.

The once unique, now popular, technique that Duolingo uses is marketing genius. It’s found its balance in a way I’ve yet to see from other brands.

It uses paid media with the normal ads on YouTube, Google and app stores, a lot of brands do. What’s different about Duolingo is

how it uses the other forms of media.

It’s getting coverage from news outlets for its unique approach to advertising, especially now that the brand went on a killing spree of their mascots. This is earned media. Every time someone makes a TikTok, or posts about the deaths, that’s yet another way of getting earned media.

Next is shared media. The presence Duolingo has on different platforms is stronger than many other brands. Instagram is arguably the biggest platform, where it takes over reels and feeds by comedically harassing others.

Most recently, before their deaths, Duolingo’s characters sang Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Earlier this month, it used its “Let’s review your mistakes” icon on a post about NBA player Luka Doncic. Not to mention, the post that included the Twitter icon that was captioned “Both killed by a Cybertruck.” I’ve

even seen it wreak havoc on Threads. No place is safe.

Finally, when it comes to owned media, this is where it really thrives. The app alone is an obvious example of this, but the company also has a blog where content can range from “How to break up with someone in 10 languages” to “Learner love story: How Amanda and Rob fell in love on Duolingo!”

Duolingo is doing so well when it comes to marketing, that other companies can piggyback off of its success.

ScrubDaddy posted a post-mortem video tribute to Duo where it showed Duo giving birth to their children. Yes, it sounds crazy, but that’s the point. People are much more likely to talk about that than a boring 30-second ad.

ScrubDaddy wasn’t the only brand to do things like this. Buffalo Wild Wings posted a video of their wings, with some green feathers, saying “couldn’t let that bird go to waste.” Duolingo has so much marketing power, that it started almost a whole strategy in itself for other companies to use and gain recognition. Though it’s hard for other brands to mimic Duolingo’s strategy, they may be catching up. Entertaining marketing tactics like the one that Duolingo uses is exactly what is going to attract customers. The trick is keeping them around, which Duolingo does by maintaining the entertainment going even on their app. That icon is now a deceased Duo.

I never thought I’d enjoy being verbally abused by an owl, but here I am, an avid Duolingo user, and my streak of over 900 days can prove that.

A year ago, I may have only been a user. Now, I’m a fan.

On behalf of the late Duo, do your lesson.

Put the ‘wear’ in wear and tear

By JAMES NOLAN Staff Writer

I own two Yankees baseball caps. The most recent one has the 2024 World Series patch on it. I bought it on impulse this October as soon as they punched their ticket to the Fall Classic by besting the Cleveland Guardians.

After a rather pathetic defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers, I have not worn it more than a handful of times. It sits upon my shelf in pristine condition.

The second cap has the patch from the day the Yankees retired catcher Jorge Posada’s No. 20. It was gifted to me by my dad for Christmas in 2015 after we went to the ceremonious game that August as a joint birthday present.

The Posada cap is a noticeably more faded shade of blue, is a less profound shape and on the underside of its bill lies a sizable stain.

That being said, more often than not I opt to wear the Posada hat. I do not view its signs of age in a negative light. The faded color is due to the last decade I’ve spent wearing it under the summer sun. The deformed shape is presumably because of all of the sweat I’ve put into it from running around my front yard playing wiffle ball with my brother. The stain on the bill comes from saltwater, as I used the hat as shade after getting out of the ocean while on family vacations.

Essentially, the very things that may make my old cap seem weathered all derive from the love that I put into it.

It may seem corny to say that I love a hat, but I do. Everytime I look at it I’m reminded of that day I spent with my dad at the ballpark, of magical and carefree Christmas mornings and childhood summers.

It’s a concept that is lost on most people today. Oftentimes the first sign of tarnishment spells doom for a given article of clothing. Instead, I think we should be proud to

don things that are well-worn, and show that we have poured love into the items.

I think it even goes beyond just clothes. Using worn down pencils, phone cases that are no longer in mint condition and of course, wallets that live forever on their last legs. It’s a common stereotype that most men have just one wallet and use it until it is no longer usable, and I think it has to do with the fact that they aren’t as seen or portrayed as clothes in everyday life.

Or take for example, the stereotype of grandmothers’ couches usually being

wrapped in plastic. Sure, it’s to prevent spillage stains but would that change how the couch is used? Probably not.

My mother has fought a losing battle for years now to replace one of the carpets in our house. There is a grape juice stain on one end and a hole that was chewed through by our golden retriever on the other. She says it looks old and dingy, but I love the carpet because I think its imperfections give it character.

Maybe we have to disregard this notion that we cannot outwardly display anything that is not brand new. Now, please don’t interpret this as me saying to wear shoes with holes in them or sweatshirts that have an odor. Obviously, when something has passed the threshold of functionality then there is a time to replace it. It’s just that when exactly that time comes does not have to be so soon. There is nothing wrong with reveling in nostalgia with a given item.

View your belongings as a museum of your life, with each little detail being associated with a different memory. It is simply frivolous to trash something because it is old. In fact, I’ll probably never throw out that Posada hat. Even when I no longer wear it, I’ll find it a permanent home on a shelf somewhere, allowing it to collect dust the same way it compiled memories.

ILLUSTRATION BY REBECCA COLLINS

ILLUSTRATION BY BEN BUSILLO

Opinion

US Open devalues mixed doubles for extra revenue

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief

Tennis is and always has been the gentleman’s sport with a great and proud history. The all-white attire on the English courts and strict rules on and off court still serve as a reminder of that.

So really, how could I not get angry when the fourth Grand Slam of the year — US Open — announced they are changing the way mixed doubles will be set-up, when it is clearly just a money-making scheme?

Tennis is played in three categories: singles, doubles and mixed doubles. While singles and doubles are separated by the ATP (men’s league) and WTA (women’s league), mixed doubles are the rare time where the teams are made up of a man and a woman tennis player.

What makes these pairings rare is that they only happen on the big tournaments. The big four Grand Slams — Australian Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros and US Open — and during the Hopman Cup which was was replaced by the United Cup — a mixedgender team international tournament.

So there aren’t exactly a lot of opportunities for mixed teams to play together, which makes the times they can play even more precious.

Unfortunately, mixed doubles aren’t exactly popular — at least not for the average viewer. They are usually played as the last batch of the tournament and rarely get their own spot on the TV — unless there’s no one else playing or it’s the finals.

When the USTA announced Feb. 11 that they are pushing the dates of its mixed doubles tournament earlier during the qualification rounds of the singles, it seemed like a great idea, especially since ESPN agreed to broadcast the matches.

However, because of the timing of it, the organizers decided to make it a two-day spectacle, only allowing 16 teams to compete.

Again, maybe that wouldn’t have been such a big deal if they still went through the regular motions, like having a qualifier set up. But no, this is where the issue comes in.

The rules for this “tournament” is that eight pairs get to participate based on their combined singles ranking — singles and dou-

bles have different rankings — and the other eight are going to be decided by wildcards. That might just be the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

Because the singles and doubles have different rankings, most players who specialize in doubles don’t have high singles ranking, since that is not their priority.

A lot of high-ranked singles players play doubles on the major tournaments, as it is an additional paycheck. Which is understandable, but with this new rule, there is no chance for the doubles players to actually get into the tournament.

Italian tennis players and 2024 US Open mixed doubles champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori released a joint statement on X shortly after the change was announced, titled “Tradition and History.”

“In our opinion making decisions just following the logic of profit is profoundly wrong in some situations,” the pair wrote. “Mixed doubles is not very well known, that’s true, but everything that’s part of a Slam competition — the History behind every single result — is unique and it’s a great honour to become part of it. In the last few weeks we received the news that the US Open mixed doubles tournament will be completely turned upside down, cancelled and replaced with a pseudo-exhibition focused only on entertainment and show. A decision made without consulting anyone, which we can do nothing but accept it. We see it as a profound injustice that disrespects an entire category of players. Put money above tennis is never a good idea.”

And they are 100% correct.

This tournament will be nothing more than eight pairs of top 50 singles players — and as great as they are at that, playing doubles is a bit of a different thing — and eight pairs of American players will most likely get the wildcards.

Glorified exhibition indeed.

They can try to spin this in whatever direction they want to, anyone who truly cares about the sport sees right through it.

Saddest part is, many singles players are excited about this change. Like the American tennis player Taylor Fritz, who was quoted saying: “I think there’s a very good chance I’ll play the mixed doubles. I think a lot of doubles players will be upset about it. But at the end of the day, the truth of the matter is, mixed doubles as it was, isn’t adding that much to the Slams. They’re not like filling up stadiums and stuff. People will be more excited to watch it with the top singles players.”

The only good point he made in that monologue was that this is his chance to play mixed doubles, because usually they are played during the singles tournament and when a player goes far enough in the draw they tend to focus on that first. Though really, there is no rule saying they can’t play both tournaments.

But that is why this matter is so frustrating. Revamping the way the mixed doubles tournament works isn’t a bad idea. Introducing high-ranked singles players into the mix isn’t a bad idea. Moving the dates of the tournament around to allow it to be televised isn’t a bad idea.

But why, just why, was it turned into a two-day matter that nothing but insults players who focus on doubles their whole lives? You might as well come right out and say you don’t care about them just because they like to play a team version of this sport — and yes, the idea that ‘singles players are better’ is very popular amongst the sport, unfortunately.

And to do it on one of the four Grand Slams? The US Open has been around since 1881, and as a Slam it holds the value, the tradition and the prestige of this sport.

Shame on you for devaluing doubles players just for some extra pocket change.

Don’t claim student tickets if you are not going

By BEN BUSILLO Opinion Editor

On Feb. 21, Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey will begin its final two-game homestand with the Battle of Whitney Avenue, as it takes on Yale. Every year, tickets for this game are in high demand, as the student body routinely crashes the ticket portal for this game.

The student tickets went live at noon on Sunday Feb. 16, and shortly after they were gone.

The moment tickets sold out, I saw at least 15 separate posts on the student-shared Snapchat stories advertising tickets that were just claimed for free five minutes prior.

Listen, if you flip a Drake pit ticket for $700, good for you, but save these reselling shenanigans for other events. Stay away from this game. You are not some entrepreneur making a life shattering investment. What you are doing is taking tickets away from students who are actually planning on going.

Don’t claim a ticket just because you want one just in case. It’s not some rainy day insurance policy. Either you are going or not.

I don’t want to get to the game, and see a half empty student section because you couldn’t flip your free ticket for $50 and now you don’t feel like going.

For Wake the Giant, they make it

impossible to sell your ticket, making the decision to buy one a much more real decision. I don’t see why they can’t make student tickets for this game to be untransferable, that way these ticket poachers can be gone. And if you claim a ticket but end up not being able to make it, just give it away. They’re free, don’t start some anonymous bidding war over something you didn’t spend any money on.

This game, however a one-way street, is perhaps the biggest rivalry matchup of the year, and it deserves a packed, passionate student section complete with Teletubbies.

ILLUSTRATION

Arts & Life

‘Short n' Sweet’ keeps getting sweeter

By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Associate Arts & Life Editor

This Valentine's Day, Sabrina Carpenter treated her fans to a special gift — the release of her deluxe album “Short n’ Sweet.”

Carpenter announced the news as a heartfelt “thank you” for her success at the Grammys just weeks ago, where she won best pop solo performance for “Espresso” and best vocal pop album for “Short n’ Sweet.”

The expanded album features four new bonus tracks and a collaboration with country icon Dolly Parton. Carpenter shared pictures of the album cover along with the track list on Instagram.

“Short n’ sweet deluxe is now available for pre order,” she wrote. “And yes that does say featuring Miss Dolly Parton… she wouldn’t want me to swear but holy shitt!!!!!”

As a long-time fan of Carpenter, I was most excited to listen to the song “Please, Please, Please” with Parton — I expected to love it no matter what…but unfortunately, that was not the case.

Parton’s vocals reflect her years on Carpenter, and it sounds like she's struggling to keep up with the beat of one of the faster songs on the album.

A better choice for the collaboration could have been “Slim Pickins,” which emphasizes Carpenter’s subtle country twang that Parton could have complemented.

But in a way, it sounded cute, almost like a grandmother and granddaughter telling stories to each other.

Although I didn’t love the song, the music video for “Please, Please, Please” makes up for it. It continues the story told in the original music video, which starred Carpenter's then-boyfriend actor Barry Keoghan as her criminal lover.

But this time, it's Carpenter running from the law with Parton right by her side.

With nods to “Thelma & Louise,” the two are a pair on the run. The black and white color scheme gives the video a western feel and captures the essence of a woman scorned with an axe to grind.

Near the end, a body is seen in the bed of the pickup truck: a man tied up in the same outfit Keoghan wore in the original “Please, Please, Please” video.

Following Parton’s role in this deluxe edition, the other four songs did not disappoint.

The lead track, “15 Minutes,” immediately sets the mood with a shimmering disco-pop beat. It’s light-hearted but carries a slight edge with double meanings.

Carpenter sings, “But I can do a lot with fifteen minutes/ Lot of pretty boys, a lot of funny business/ Take a couple bucks, turn em’ into millions.”

Not only does the deluxe edition add a little under 15 minutes to the original album, but this song talks about her 15 minutes of fame for everyone who says she won’t last in the industry.

So she really can “do a lot with 15 minutes.”

Next on the list is my personal favorite; “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder.” It's more vocal-

heavy that makes you want to cry and scream the lyrics at the same time — a true punch in the gut.

Fans have compared it to “Grease’s” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” sharing a similar heartbreaking melody.

Carpenter beats herself up on this track, singing about how she wishes she could be better for someone, but she “couldn’t make it any harder to love me.”

As the song ends, we are brought back to the playful pop and flirty jabs with “Busy Woman,” one of the earlier releases, which dropped on Aug. 29 as a bonus to the original album.

This one captures Carpenter’s wit and sass. The back-and-forth lyrics are the perfect example of what it's like to be with an indecisive person. Fed up, she says that if anyone doesn't want her, it's their problem with the iconic verse, “If you don’t want me, I’ll just deem you gay.”

The 80s feel explores themes of independence and setting boundaries in relationships. She’s a busy woman and has other things to do, she doesn't have time to worry about a man.

Wrapping up this Valentine's gift, the last track featured on her expanded album is “Bad Reviews.”

Most of “Short n’ Sweet” portrays Carpenter as above it all, untouchable to the men and boys who cause problems in her life. But this song pulls back the curtain on toxic relationships and how she deals with them.

She sings about all the undesirable traits of a partner and the red flags she chooses to ignore.

Carpenter shows a more vulnerable side but still holds her head high, refusing to “lose another boy that's not even my boyfriend.”

It’s a perfect ending to the deluxe, digging deeper into her self-worth.

These tracks fit perfectly into her album and continue to uphold her reputation as a growing star in the industry. From her vocals, creativity and charismatic charm, she gives fans what they want as her songs work their way to the top of the charts.

The brutal thrill of ‘Beast Games’

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

I’ve been watching Jimmy Donaldson — more commonly known as MrBeast — on YouTube for over seven years and have enjoyed all of the content he has produced across his six channels. MrBeast has amassed a YouTubeleading of 362 million subscribers and over 76 billion views on his videos.

When he announced “Beast Games,” a 10-episode series on Amazon Prime on March 18, 2024, I was thrilled to check out what it was.

“Beast Games” has multiple references to the well-known Netflix original series “Squid Games," in which a large number of contestants fight for a cash prize. In the MrBeast version, he had 1,000 contestants competing for $5 million, the biggest prize in TV and entertainment history.

This type of content is not unusual to MrBeast, as he makes high-budgeted, overthe-top challenges and giveaway videos all the time, but I was looking to see what he would do differently — and it wasn’t much.

But months leading up to the show's release, articles flooded my feed, showcasing multiple lawsuits coming MrBeast’s way from contestants of the show. After talking with the media, the contestants broke their nondisclosure agreement that he has talked about in the behind-the-scenes video from YouTuber Colin and Samir.

aspect, it didn’t look great on MrBeast.

Though with all of the controversy surrounding MrBeast and the show, I still tuned into the episodes every Thursday from December up to the last episode on Thursday, Feb. 13 because I wanted to see the next step.

Coming in knowing that it would be a similar concept to competitions he has done in the past

The first two episodes released simultaneously on Dec. 19, and they put this notion right in front of us. Even through episode one, which was the shortest of the ten episodes, it provided us with the perfect start to get you hooked. With 1,000 players in one room battling it out to make it to Beast City — the town built specifically for under 500 people — you could

to plummet to the ground; all you had to do was catch it. But they struggled, with one team losing on the first drop.

One of the biggest components that kept me entertained was episode seven, “The Elimination Train.” The episode was based on the trolley problem game where you either sacrifice one person to save a larger number or vice versa. At this point only 21 players remained, so the contestants had made friends, but that friendship was put to the test.

In those lawsuits, MrBeast was accused of negligence, a lack of consistent meals and sexual harassment. Several contestants were hospitalized, and many were not given adequate access to hygienic products or medical care, just to name a few, according to court documents from Variety. People say any publicity is good publicity, but in this

episodes will be released.

That aside, let’s get into the episodes.

I’ll hand it to MrBeast, I was on the edge of my seat each episode.

Known for pushing the limits of YouTube entertainment, he has once again delivered a spectacle with “Beast Games,” his most highstakes competition yet. The series captured everything people love in competitions: intensity, drama and psychological challenge. And the first two episodes showed this right away.

From gut-wrenching eliminations at the last second to twists that blindsided the contestants, the cruelty was the very thing that made the show so compelling.

Take, for example, the “Hope You Can Catch” challenge in episode two which seemed simple at first but quickly turned mentally exhausting and emotionally devastating. A red ball was dropped from the ceiling and started to bounce around until finding a hole

You saw the thought of betrayal when their friends were trotted out most likely to be eliminated. One player had the decision to either save random people, their closest ally or even a brand new Lamborghini and Tesla.

But the biggest storyline came at the end of the show when two players were remaining — Jeff (player 830) and Twana (player 831). Both could’ve been eliminated from episode one if either chose to be bribed by the thousands of dollars thrown their way. But both stuck through highs and lows and after 998 people were eliminated, it was up to the final two.

Episode ten was one of the best-edited episodes of the show, pulling on the emotional strings and showing what both contestants were playing for. The music, shot selection and leadup had me in a trance watching to see which one would win. While I won’t spoil who won and invite you to watch it for yourself, the ending was heartbreaking and made me shed a tear when their family ran out.

Whether you like MrBeast or entertainment shows like this, I suggest taking a swing at it and see if you get the same reactions as I did. MrBeast — after all that transpired before the release, you made a good show and I can’t wait for a potential season two.

By NICOLE GEMMATI Contributing Writer

Valentine’s Day is a day for love, flowers, chocolates and … horror movies?

That is, if you hate happy couples, like the titular serial killer in the new horrorromance movie “Heart Eyes.”

Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding star as Ally and Jay, who are not a couple, as they constantly point out to Heart Eyes, the killer, named for his LED mask that stares daggers at couples. Still, that doesn’t stop Heart Eyes from going after them, or from the two leads feeling an obvious attraction to each other.

After a typical meet cute at a coffee shop, Ally and Jay find themselves thrown together after a series of mishaps — including the possibility of Jay stealing Ally’s less than ideal job, which lead to yet another mishap after they are chased through Seattle. Throughout this chase and the rest of the movie, Ally has to determine her feelings for Jay to remain true to her no nonsense no romance self, and to stay alive.

Along with the horror and romance aspects, “Heart Eyes” has great comedic timing, poking fun at itself in a satirical fashion, and having jokes that are literally laugh out loud funny.

The characters also toe the line between right and wrong, such as joking about being the serial killer themselves and flirting during high-stakes situations. Ally and Jay are also infamous for having the right conversation at the wrong time, and the movie brings back running jokes that help the characters in the long run.

If you’re mainly here for the horror element, you won’t be disappointed. “Heart Eyes” is loaded with jump scares and gore. And with a great opening kill scene, the movie will have you at the edge of your seat wanting more. The chase scenes are adrenaline pumping, and you really never know where Heart Eyes is going to pop out from or what he’s going to do next.

The movie has a great balance between heartfelt and scary moments that will have you rooting for the characters, and fearing for their wellbeing. Just know that if you’re like Ally, and suffer from a crippling fear of blood, you’re going to have to look away for about half the movie.

As for the two main characters, their chemistry is off the charts, which serves as the main catalyst for Heart Eyes eying them as the next victim of the Valentine’s Day Killer. Gooding, a horror alum thanks to the two recent “Scream” films, does a fantastic job as a charismatic, yet sympathetic character who genuinely cares for the wellbeing of Ally, despite them having known each other for a mere 14 hours.

‘Heart Eyes’ is to die for Alessia Cara returns to the music scene with ‘Love and Hyperbole’

By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor

Alessia Caracciolo, better known as popstar Alessia Cara, released her newest album, “Love & Hyperbole” on Feb. 14.

Cara announced on X in August 2023 that she was creating her fourth studio album, an album that she had worked on since 2021.

You might recognize Cara’s name from songs like “Scars to Your Beautiful” or “Stay,” which she was featured on with record producer and DJ Zedd. These were pop anthems of the mid-to-late 2010’s.

Now 28 years old and three-and-a-half years out from her last album release, the Toronto, Canada, native has evolved her music style and sound.

"It's just a little more wobbly, and I'm more nervous because it's been a longer time in between," Cara told People.com before the album’s release. "It feels like coming back for the first time in a weird way."

Cara leans into R&B in the 14-song “Love & Hyperbole,” with touches of pop and alternative in some of the tracks. Her voice is strong and soulful as she sings of themes such as heartache, love, independence and trust. As the album title might imply to listeners, many of her songs are poetic, utilizing not only hyperboles, but rhymes and imagery. These literary elements

convey her experiences and thoughts.

In 2024, Cara released two songs from the album as singles, “Dead Man” in July and “(Isn’t It) Obvious” in October. I really enjoy both of these songs, “Dead Man” particularly. I think they were great introductions into Cara’s new sound and the themes of the album.

“Dead Man” paints a picture of a onesided relationship, and Cara losing hope in making the relationship work out. On the

other hand, “(Isn’t It) Obvious” speaks on overcoming fears in a relationship.

One of my favorite lines in the song, “Fears are only false creations/ Just as vibrant as we paint them, we’re just fine/ So if it’s any consolation, you’re my favorite.” These lyrics help put words to feelings and situations I would find hard to describe otherwise.

Some other stand-out songs from this album include “Run Run,” “Garden

As the lead character, Ally has considerably more depth than the rest of the characters, and Holt is able to tug at the heart strings of viewers. Ally’s past trauma — both familial and romantic relationships — makes her feel more real, and her actions understandable. Audiences are likely to root for her in more ways than one, thanks to Holt’s charisma. Like every good movie, Ally goes through loads of character development in just 97 minutes by fighting a serial killer and opening up her heart.

The movie’s final act is a jump scare in and of itself. Just when you think the story’s over and everything is tied up in a neat little bow — the bow comes undone. Not only does the final act bring everything together in a satisfying conclusion, but we get to see a new side of the characters, as well as their insides. And just like every horror movie, be sure to stick around for a mid credits scene that leaves room for a sequel, without tearing apart everything the characters have worked towards.

“Heart Eyes” is a perfect grab bag of genres with fittingly timed beats. The movie has numerous kills throughout, for the horror fans, and a one of a kind love story for the rom-com fans. So grab your movie-going buddies and your Junior Mints, preferably the heart-shaped ones with red filling.

Just be wary if you’re going for a date night.

Holt, another star breaking into horror movies after 2023’s “Totally Killer,” brings a charm to her character, which, if played by anyone else, may have been construed as annoying.

Interlude” and “Slow Motion.” I like how these songs lean into R&B, her voice is smooth and sounds like it was made for this genre. Her way of words in these songs are relatable in my journey of trusting myself and learning how to trust when it comes to love.

Another aspect of this album that I find really interesting does not involve the music, but the album cover. Cara has a condition called synesthesia, where one of the five senses is activated from an experience, which in turn triggers an experience within another sense. In Cara’s case, she is able to see colors that correlate with sound, such as music. She sees color in her own music, which helped her create the black, grey and red album cover.

Her visual and musical creativity throughout this album inspires me. Although I love and appreciate her previous albums, one can see that Cara has learned a lot about herself and her music through this one. This album can best be summarized by the phrase, “life is not a race, it’s a journey.” There are highs, lows and everything inbetween, which Cara emphasizes in “Love & Hyperbole.”

No matter what stage you are at in life, I believe this album is meant for anyone. The message, the lyrics and the vocals of this album are creative and intricate. It is all of this, while showcasing Cara’s new era in her music career.

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

Keeping cool in ‘Snowmobile Capital of the East’

By GINA LORUSSO Arts & Life Editor

For people like me, the most anticipated weekend of the year arrives in February — and there’s no better way to spend it than in frigid temperatures and deep snow.

President’s Day weekend is legendary for snowmobilers, bringing in riders from all over to the Snowmobile Capital of the East — the hamlet of Old Forge, New York.

Old Forge resides in the town of Webb in Herkimer County, New York and the population is less than 500 people. This far north, it’s normal for the garages to be bigger than the houses and the primary form of home security to be a shotgun.

I’ve been snowmobiling since I was a kid — probably before I learned to ride a bike. It always excited me to pack the car and begin the four-hour long drive from New Jersey to Old Forge with our trailer in tow.

Since starting college, it’s become much harder to find the time to get away for a weekend since most trips are spontaneous if the forecast calls for good snow. This year, I was finally able to make the trip during President’s Day weekend with my dad to do what we do best: snowmobile.

We had no idea where we wanted to go — we just knew we had the whole weekend to take advantage of.

We started our Friday with a 5:30 a.m. wake up call and, naturally, a much-needed coffee before grabbing breakfast at Walt’s Diner in Old Forge and heading out on

the trails. There’s something special about sitting down in a diner that looks stuck in time, where the homestyle cooking is unbeatable, the coffee never ends and the pancakes are bigger than your head.

The trails were in excellent condition, according to the town of Webb, with up to 14 inches of base and just the right amount of powder to make for a day of smooth riding.

Our first stop of the day was Pete’s Peak, a scenic overlook of Fourth Lake where you can see the breathtaking view of the Adirondack mountains’ summits and valleys. We then followed the trails, weaving in and out of snow-covered pines, until we reached Daikers restaurant, which lands you smack dab in the middle of Fulton Chain of Lakes.

Riding a snowmobile across a frozen lake is one of the most freeing feelings, but there’s always that little voice in the back of your head reminding you that you don’t know how thick the ice is underneath. Thankfully, there were no slushy spots to make me second guess my decision — or make my claustrophobic self think I would get trapped under the ice.

After getting safely to the other side, we took my favorite trail, that doubles as a cross country skiing path, up to Raquette Lake and had our fourth and fifth coffees of the day aboard the WW Durant, a docked boat that invites snowmobilers to take a break from the wind and snow.

We decided to take the train tracks and

head to Norridgewock Lodge to meet a few friends for lunch. I’m always hesitant to ride the tracks considering my dad once ripped the entire front end of his snowmobile off after hitting an exposed bolt, but this time, the tracks were completely covered and perfectly smooth.

At this point, we were tired, achy and couldn’t wait to take all 12 of our layers off. We settled down for a nice dinner at The Steak House where we pounded back pork chops and fish fry before heading back to the house to relax and get some shut eye.

The next morning we took the sleds west to Boonville where the snow was so pure we couldn’t tell the difference between the trail and the land around it. We had to be more cautious as there would be a higher volume of snowmobilers, especially the ones who don’t ride often and think they can go 50 mph over the speed limit, tailgate and ride while intoxicated. Being that I’ve been doing this for 20 years, you can really tell who doesn’t get out much.

Our snowmobile club, the Trackside Blazers in Forestport, New York, hosted a pig roast and bonfire where we stopped to have one of the most delicious lunches we had ever eaten while snowmobiling. It was fun to see old friends and make new ones, chatting about where we went that day and where we were going next.

We rode over 200 miles this trip — more than we’ve ever done in a single weekend — and it was immaculate.

Now it’s back to my fast-paced life as a college student until I can go back north where the time is slower and the company is good.

So while everyone is searching for warmer weather for spring break, I’ll be heading back to freezing Old Forge to get my fix of snowmobiling.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY GINA LORUSSO Lorusso feeding a horse while taking a break from snowmobiling.

GINA LORUSSO/CHRONICLE

Big Moose Station sits at an elevation of 2,034 feet.

GINA LORUSSO/CHRONICLE

An early morning snowy landscape in Forestport, New York on Feb. 14.

GINA LORUSSO/CHRONICLE

Pete's Peak overlooks the Fulton Chain of Lakes and the Adirondack mountains.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY GINA LORUSSO Arts & Life Editor Gina Lorusso on her snowmobile on Fourth Lake behind Daikers restaurant.

GINA LORUSSO/CHRONICLE

The town of Webb requires permits for snowmobilers to use the trails.

Tush pushing towards a ring: A look into the NFL’s most controversial play

By JOHN PILATO Contributing Writer

Since the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, they have been one of the NFL’s most successful teams, only finishing under nine wins once, in 2020.

Thanks to their stellar defense and otherworldly production from offensive stars like Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, they can now call themselves two-time champions following their dominating win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl LIX.

To open up the scoring on Feb. 9, Hurts rushed for a one yard touchdown, which was his fifth of the postseason.

Rushing touchdowns are not an uncommon occurrence for Hurts, as he is one of the league's best running quarterbacks. He even eclipses many running backs in rushing touchdowns per season, finishing in the top five since 2022. Many of these touchdowns come thanks to one play: the tush push.

The tush push is a play mainly run by the Eagles on short yardage situations in which the entire offense lines up in a rugby-like scrum and pushes the quarterback forward for extra yardage. The play derives from the traditional quarterback sneak, which nearly dates back to the game’s inception. It received its playful name from the action that is being performed. The Eagles will put some of their biggest bodies behind the quarterback under center, usually Barkely and other big receiving targets like Dallas Goedert and Johnny Wilson to push Hurts’ tush forward.

Head coach Nick Sirianni has mastered the art of the quarterback sneak, making the tush push one of the league's most successful plays over the past few years.

This season, the Eagles had one of the all-

time biggest offensive lines, with stalwarts like Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson helping raise the average weight to 338 lbs, a Super Bowl record.

Hurts himself is a big quarterback, measuring in at 6’1” and 220 lbs. Between the brute strength of the offensive line and a quarterback who is not afraid to sacrifice his body for the extra yards, it's easy to see why the play has been so successful.

The Eagles converted on 28 of their 34 tush push attempts this season for an 82% clip. Whether they were using the play to

themselves into unnecessary penalties. In that way, the tush push can either be used to get scrimmage yardage or penalty yardage, giving the Eagles two advantages. It is hard to even put into perspective how successful the tush push is for the Eagles, but one statistic gives a bit more of an idea.

In 2022, the Eagles converted on 25 of 27 attempts, at a rate of 93%. For reference, that means that the Eagles were more likely to have a successful tush push than NBA guard Steph Curry is to make a free throw, who shoots 91% from the line for his career.

players grew unhappy with it, however nothing came of it. It’s good news for the Eagles, and bad news for everyone else. The play itself is controversial, but so is the idea of banning it.

Why punish one specific team by banning the play just because the other teams don’t know how to stop it or successfully run it themselves?

It seems unfair to take away part of the Eagles schemes just because the other teams are unhappy with it. Following the Super Bowl, people are again calling for the ban, even prominent announcer Jim

As for now, the tush push is here to stay, and unless opponents can find a way to stop it, or figure out how to execute it themselves, the Eagles are going to keep pushing their way into the postseason and try to repeat as

‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U’ leaves much to be desired

By MICHAEL PETITTO Copy Editor

Nearly one year ago, the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake began with the release of Lamar's “Like That.” Fast forward, and Drake recently released his first album since the conclusion of his long battle with the Compton, Caflironia native.

Drake and fellow Canadian singer PARTYNEXTDOOR released their collaborative album “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” on Feb. 14, a fusion of R&B and hiphop that left much to be desired.

At a very critical point in his career, when all eyes were on him following his well-documented feud with Lamar, Drake simply could not deliver.

Sitting at 74 minutes, “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” has a problem that most modern Drizzy albums suffer from — its length. With 21 songs on the project, the album feels bloated at times, with Drake’s melodic flow feeling somewhat boring.

Although PARTYNEXTDOOR gives a great effort on this project, his performance isn’t nearly enough to save this album. This Canadian duo is extremely talented, but neither artist really shows that here.

“CN TOWERS” is a prime example, as PARTYNEXTDOOR provides a fantastic chorus. But it’s just not enough to get past

Drake rapping about the same subject matter he’s been giving us for the past five years.

Drake even attempts to tap into his worldwide audience, as the Toronto native tries his hand at spanish rap on the song “MEET YOUR PADRE” featuring Chino Pacas. Unfortunately, Drizzy’s grainy vocals along with his uncoordinated efforts at spanish make for what’s arguably the worst song on the entire album.

What’s even worse is most of these songs sound the exact same. Same beat selection, flows, bpm, vocal samples and even delivery as there is little to no variety on this project.

Even when Drake decides to rap, the formula that he uses is the same we’ve seen from his past four albums. If you’ve listened to “Certified Lover Boy,”‘Honestly Nevermind,” “Her Loss” or “For All The Dogs,” you’ve basically listened to “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U.”

At this point in Drake's career, his albums feel more like playlists than anything else. You pick and choose which songs you actually enjoy and move on. It’s been a long time since Drake has dropped a cohesive body of work, and it’s unlikely that will change anytime soon.

He does address his beef with Lamar, but not in the way most fans would have

liked. On the album’s 10th track “GIMME A HUG,” Drake raps about those who sought to profit from his feud with Lamar and then addresses the beef.

“Fuck a rap beef, I’m tryna get the party lit,” Drake raps.

This would be a decent line, if Drake didn’t leave the party in a snoozefest. If you have trouble falling asleep at night and you need something to listen to in order to help, “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” is what you’ve been looking for.

Despite the low expectations for this album, 21 songs later and the project leaves the listener wanting more, and not in a good way. “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” is extremely one dimensional — it leaves you wishing there was more to the project rather than the same song copied and pasted 21 times. Drake has alluded to releasing a solo LP this summer, so hopefully he’ll be able to revive his standing in the hip-hop scene. But for now, his recent output has done nothing but hurt his reputation.

Women’s ice hockey aims to defy odds in ECAC playoffs

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Associate Sports Editor

With the postseason looming, Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey seeks revenge in ECAC Hockey, looking to punch its ticket back to the NCAA tournament after narrowly missing the threshold last March.

Finishing the season with a record of 11-83 in the conference (20-10-4 overall), the Bobcats placed No. 5 in the ECAC — arguably the most competitive conference in women’s college hockey.

The ECAC is stacked with highly nationally ranked teams like Cornell which is ranked No. 3, Colgate which is No. 5 and St. Lawrence which is ranked No. 8.

After struggling up north against St. Lawrence and Clarkson on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 respectively, the Bobcats closed their regular season by defeating RPI 7-1 and Union 3-1 to secure their spot in the top five, just missing a first-round bye.

“I think that it was a good weekend, and good information for us in areas that we can keep getting better with that are going to help us like we want to win a championship,” head coach Cass Turner told ESPN+ after losing to St Lawrence on Feb. 7. “We’re going to continue to dive in and stay in the fight and be in a position where you look to figure our best hockey at the end of the season.”

During the regular season, the Bobcats have been figuring out their best hockey utilizing their quick decision-making, speed and grit to excel offensively and defensively throughout the season.

Offensively, Quinnipiac has outscored its opponents 90-46 this season, with a .520 faceoff percentage. Quinnipiac has also outscored its

opponents 15-8 on the power play, showing its strong man-advantage and penalty kill lines.

“I think it’s just the consistency, practicing your little things, the skills that you do in practice, and then building that confidence and doing it into the games,” graduate student defender Kendall Cooper told ESPN+ on Feb. 14.

These lines are composed of many of Quinnipiac’s veteran athletes, who have helped the program excel this season.

Cooper has proved to be an asset for the Bobcats this season, recording seven goals and 18 assists, totaling 25 points. Cooper’s way of seeing the ice excels her game beyond others, being able to make the right play at the right time.

“She’s such a humble person and a humble

player that she’s really started to do more on the ice, because she started to realize what she’s truly capable of and what she can create,” Turner told ESPN+ on Feb. 14. “And I think that really took her getting outside her comfort zone to see that and pushing to be confident to make those plays.”

Quinnipiac is set to play Harvard in a single elimination matchup in the ECAC Hockey Opening Round. Quinnipiac played Harvard to open the playoffs last year, beating it 9-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Bobcats have had success against the Crimson this season, winning both matchups during the regular season. Cooper played a key role in both, scoring the game-winning goals.

“I will say I think my offensive ability has

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE In the ECAC Hockey Opening round, Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey plays Harvard, the same team it played last season to advance to the quarterfinals.

grown a lot more, and that also just comes with trusting my teammates,” Cooper told ESPN+.

Graduate student forward Maddy Samoskevich has also been a standout player for the Bobcats this season. After playing her first four years at Quinnipiac as a defender, Samoskevich switched it up for her last year, opting to play as a forward — a position that has suited her this season.

“I think just her ability to win face-offs tells you a lot about her personality,” Turner told ESPN+ “She’d never taken a face-off before this year, and now she’s one of our absolute best at taking draws and figured out a completely new skill.”

On the season, Samoskevich has recorded eight goals and 12 assists, totaling 20 points. Of Samoskevich’s eight goals, five off the power play, demonstrating her importance for the Bobcats on the power play.

Offensively, senior forward Maya Labad has stepped up her game, recording 13 goals and eight assists for the Bobcats while appearing in all 34 games. Labad recorded her first career hattrick against Syracuse, earning a natural hat-trick with two goals coming off the power play.

“She plays the game fast and we really like her game over the last few weeks, playing with (junior forward) Tessa Holk and (junior forward) Emerson Jarvis,” Turner said to ESPN+. “She’s at her best when she gets to play the game fast. And she has a knack around the net.”

In both regular season matches against Harvard, Quinnipiac came out on top — but only by a goal difference. Despite being statistically better than the Crimson, based on previous matchups, the Bobcats can not take this game for granted.

Puck drop against Harvard on Feb. 22 is set for 2:30 p.m.

Acrobatics and tumbling leaving ‘no regrets’ in 2025

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

On April 26, 2024, then-No. 2 Quinnipiac acrobatics and tumbling fell one meet short of making the national championship — losing to then-No. 3 Gannon by 1.2 points.

Though the Bobcats fell short in the team portion, they secured two individual national titles, with back Summer Knoell ‘24 winning the six-element pass and the open pyramid heat.

In the open pyramid, junior top/base Alyssa Dillon, junior base Hallie Fowler, senior Kaya Clark, graduate student base Bri Marks and senior base Tiffany Zieba worked together to obtain the title.

Quinnipiac hasn’t made the national championship since 2018, a long time for a team that is seen as the powerhouse in the sport. The Bobcats sit at No. 2 in the NCATA polls behind nine-times straight national champions Baylor University. But for head coach Mary Ann Powers, the rankings don’t mean much.

“We’ve got the No. 2 thing,” Powers said. “I’m not a real big fan of polls, to be honest; I just kind of felt a little silly. I want my kids to know that we’re gunning for the top every single practice. That’s where we’re going.”

The Bobcats lost over 10 players last season, including two NCATA All-Americans in Zieba and senior top Lydnsey Rudoph, but Powers was able to turn around and bring in 12 freshmen to fill in those gaps.

“They definitely want the same goals as us, and I think they look up to us in that sense,” junior top/tumbler Katherine Carter said. “So they see us succeed in that area, so they want to as well.”

Freshmen often need time to settle moving to a new team and sport, but for the ones

on Quinnipiac acrobatics and tumbling, it’s the opposite.

“We’ve had some unfortunate injuries, so it took my bench away,” Powers said. “In extraordinary times when something like that happens, that’s when you take an individual like a first-year and you go ‘I wasn’t expecting to need her to do this.’ Do I get to go over to her now and say, ‘We kind of need to talk about this now and see if a person can take something that’s already inside of them and step up.’”

But the freshmen have been thrown into the fire and have produced, with the Bobcats starting the year 2-0 and Powers hasn’t let their performances go unnoticed in just the short season.

“It’s (freshman top/tumbler) Julia Turrisi she comes from competitive cheers; she had to learn a brand new sport, as all of them do. She’s ready to go,” Powers said on Feb. 2.

“Just so many of them, honestly, (freshman top/tumbler) Morgan Pektor and (freshman base/tumbler) Olivia (Robins,) they were both great.”

After defeating Morgan State and Iona to start the year, Quinnipiac sits at 2-0 for the third-straight season. Its first meet against the Bears featured its highest point total — 270.565 — for a season opener for the team since 2018 against Baylor when it scored 278.055.

“The first meet went really well for us,” Dillon said. “I think it was a really good confidence builder for our team. We did have those injuries, but he did a great job in that first meet, and I can’t wait to watch us grow from there.”

In the individual events, two athletes stood out in junior base Gabriella Pierce and Carter. They were the top scorers for the Bobcats in the six-element pass in their

opening meets. Pierce scored a 9.825 against Morgan State and a 9.70 in the six-element passes. Carter, however, did her work in the aerial portion, scoring 9.60 to power the Bobcats to start 2-0.

Quinnipiac will look to continue its dominance with six more meets until the national championships, with half of them — St. Leo, Limestone and AIC — being first-time opponents. This change has gone hand in hand with the evolution of acrobatics and tumbling as a sport.

The NCATA celebrates its 15th season in 2025 expanding to 55 teams — spanning Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA — from its inaugural six teams back in 2010. The six teams included Quinnipiac along with Azusa Pacific University, Baylor University, Fairmont State University, University of Maryland and the University of Oregon.

The sport is still growing too, adding three more teams, Canisius, Manhattan and Wheeling University into the mix for the 2026 season. The team’s roster may take some time to meet the numbers the Bobcats have, but the growth of the sport is most important.

“I’ve got 35 warriors, and they have 10, so they can only compete in seven of the 20 heats,” Powers said. “I put myself in the shoes of my opponents, and I go, ‘Wow, this is hard for them.’ What I try to do the night before the game is make them feel really welcome and comfortable and tell them they’re helping to grow our sport.”

Quinnipiac will need to go the extra mile to pull to a national championship, and there’s one thing they harp on.

“When we really have confidence in each other and ourselves, we really do our best,” Dillon said. “I think that’s the main goal this year is to have no regrets.”

Quinnipiac golf eyes MAAC title following strong fall campaign

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

After narrowly falling short of its four-peat of the MAAC, Quinnipiac golf produced four topfive finishes in its four fall tournaments.

Losing the MAAC by three strokes puts in perspective where the team’s mindset is heading into the new season, and head coach John O’Connor has drilled that notion into his team.

“Coach is definitely more determined,” soph omore Samantha Galantini said. “The idea last year was we underestimated our competition. So I definitely think this year, we know that if we have one bad day, then that’s going to have us lose (the) MAAC. We just have to be extra fo cused and know that it could happen.”

After not being voted the No. 1 spot in last year’s MAAC Preseason Women’s Golf Poll, the Bobcats were voted No. 1 in the MAAC for the upcoming spring season.

“From a team standpoint, we’re all incred ibly confident going into the spring season, espe cially after the tough loss at conference,” junior Sandhya Vaikuntam said. “We know that just be cause we’re ranked higher than the other teams, that doesn’t mean that we’re automatically going to win.”

With losing two of their mainstays in the lineup — Leeyen Peralta and Aimee Uchi da — to graduation, the Bobcats needed to plug in those holes with new faces. The vacated captain spot, which was filled by

Peralta, has been passed to Vaikuntam. Despite not playing as much as the former captain, the Eugene, Oregon native has made her presence known to her teammates and O’Connor.

“Sandhya has developed into the leader for the golf team and has taken on the task of leading one of the best golf teams ever to compete for Quinnipiac,” O’Connor wrote in a press re-

be a good experience for them.”

Fujita has placed in the top 10 and Flores finished in the top 25 in three of the four tournaments in the fall, Boston College, Quinnipiac and Delaware. Fujita’s highest finish was No. 5 at the Quinnipiac Classic and Flores’ highest being No. 15 at Delaware. Their continued success could be attributed to the resources O’Connor provides.

senting our team, and I think it’ll

“He’s helped tremendously,” Fujita said.

“He’s helped me off the course academically, just in life in general, especially being so far away from home; he’s always been such a great resource.”

Similar to Fujita and Flores, Quinnipiac had its best tournament of the season in Delaware, shooting a combined +18. A top contributor was Galantini topping the scoresheet, finishing No. 3, having the only under-par round for the team in the fall season (-3).

After earning MAAC Rookie of the Year honors last season, Galantini was able to follow her former success with two top-five finishes, with the aforementioned No. 3 at Delaware and No. 5 at the Quinnipiac Classic.

“I think my fall season was pretty good,” Galantini said. “The first tournament was a little shaky, but (the Quinnipiac Classic) and our last tournament were pretty good.”

The success in the fall season however, hasn’t translated to the spring so far. The Bobcats started the spring season in an unfamiliar place, finishing in 11th out of 12 teams at the Columbia Classic, a feat that hasn’t occurred in a regularseason tournament since the Kiawah Island Classic hosted by the College of Charleston in 2019.

Despite that setback Quinnipiac has three tournaments remaining on its schedule, with the Butler Don Benbow Spring Invitational, the Low Country Intercollegiate and the Rutgers Invitational before the MAAC Championships.

The latter looks to be the closest to the MAAC Championships for the Bobcats, with three conference teams in the field that include the University of Albany — who won the MAAC last season — and Fairfield University, who tied with the Bobcats at No. 2.

“I definitely think we’re playing some harder tournaments, better competition to better prepare us,” Galantini said. “The other tournaments we played in the fall are good tournaments, but we’re used to being up there more, so I think this will show us where we rank.”

If the Bobcats are able to hold onto their fall success and don’t “underestimate their competition” like Galantini mentioned, they’ll have a chance to rewrite history.

PEYTON MCKENZIE/CHRONICLE

TYLER RINKO/CHRONICLE

Quinnipiac acrobatics and tumbling stunting on Feb. 25, 2024 against LIU.

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Four Bobcats mark milestones in 99-90 victory against Sacred Heart

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

Quinnipiac men’s basketball racked up milestones on Valentine’s Day against Sacred Heart this past Friday. Graduate student guard Savion Lewis, graduate student center Paul Otieno, junior forward Amarri Monroe and freshman guard Jaden Zimmerman all had a game to remember.

SAVION LEWIS

In his seventh year of eligibility, Lewis has had some inconsistent contests as of late. But that wasn’t the case against Sacred Heart. Lewis has continued to showcase his ability to facilitate the basketball, dishing out 12 assists in the 99-90 victory of the Pioneers.

“He just goes and he makes the next play,” head coach Tom Pecora said. “He’s an ultra competitor, and the greatest skill any athlete can have is you gotta compete.”

Lewis broke Rob Monroe’s ‘05 Quinnipiac Division I program record for assists in a career, with 549, adding to his illustrious career in Hamden.

“Savion is like my big brother, he pushes me more than anybody does,” Monroe said. “Love playing with him. He makes me better.”

PAUL OTIENO

Otieno also had a career night on the boards with 16 rebounds, seven of them coming on the offensive side. This is nothing new for the Nairobi, Kenya native, who as of publication, is No. 4 in the country for offensive rebounding at 4.12 per game.

The graduate student center had his MAAC league-leading 11th double-double on the season with 20 points and 16 rebounds, showcasing his ability to be a force on both sides of the court.

“Our front line with Paul and Amarri, when they’re going out and getting doubledoubles like that, they’re beasts that they’re tough to handle for opposing teams,” Pecora said on Jan. 31.

AMARRI MONROE

Monroe, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, usually known for his scoring ability, showcased his presence on the glass along with filling the scoresheet. Friday, he pulled in 19 rebounds, setting a new career high.

“Mid-game, I told (Otieno), ‘Yo every time we get a double double together, we never lose,’” Monroe said. “So I said, ‘Let’s fight for some rebounds.’ And that’s exactly what we did.”

This record ran true, becoming the fourth time this season — Hofstra on Dec. 29, Merrimack on Jan. 16, Fairfield on Jan. 31 and now Sacred Heart on Feb. 14 — that the duo of Monroe and Otieno have earned double-doubles in victory.

Along with his career high in rebounds, with three steals in the game, Monroe broke his own record, becoming the Quinnipiac Division I single-season steals record holder with 66, as he eyes MAAC Defensive Player of the Year.

JADEN ZIMMERMAN

The Bronx, New York, native has been in and out of the starting lineup this season, but has been able to perform on either end of the court, which showed against the Pioneers.

“Man, that kid didn’t miss,” Monroe said. “I told him to keep going. They couldn’t guard him. His shot was falling. He was getting to the rim, making his free throws.”

Zimmerman highlighted his ability to score on all three levels en route to setting a career high in points coming off the bench with 24, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 5-6 from behind the arc.

“His tenacity, how hard he goes to the basket,” senior guard Doug Young said. “The pride he takes on defense and just his shot-making ability, being able to step up and make big plays and make shots.”

The Bobcats have five games remaining before taking the hardwood in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and these four players are vital for their chance at the program’s first ever MAAC title.

GEORGE MADDALONI/CHRONICLE