S A C R E D
H E A R T
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016
INTHISissue
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HE SAID/ SHE SAID
Giovanna and Anthony voice their opinions on gender roles
U N I V E R S I T Y
F A I R F I E L D ,
C O N N E C T I C U T
“SHEDDING LIGHT ON CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1983”
VOLUME 37, ISSUE 7
Women Can Have It All
Welcoming Cindi Bigelow of Bigelow Tea
BEST PIZZA IN CT?
Is Connecticut really known for some of the best pizza in the country?
ELECTION COMING SOON
Department of Global Studies and Politics partners with Fox News for watch party
THE WALKING DEAD
Season seven of AMC’s hit TV show is back with shocking twists
REAP THE RUNWAY
Iota Phi Theta hosts Halloween event to raise money towads St. Jude Research Hospital
WORLD SERIES HISTORY Inside look behind World Series contenders Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs
TWEETS of the Week @laurensilver22 “Hoping my senior portraits don’t capture the extreme lack of sleep I’ve gotten over the last 4 years”
@itssrainingJEN “People are so creative with Halloween and I’m just like hey I’ll be a hippie 5 years in a row”
@juliaax13 “‘Sorry I have to study’ is the catchphrase of senior year” “Tweets of the Week” are taken from a public forum on Twitter. Tweets are opinions of the individual and do not represent the opinions of Sacred Heart University or The Spectrum Newspaper. If you want to see your Tweet in the newspaper, use the hashtag #ShuSpectrum and you may be featured!
MARK F. CONRAD/SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
CINDY BIGELOW SPEAKS TO SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCES SHE HAS HAD AS A WOMAN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD
BY NATALIE CIOFFARI Editor-in-Chief
On Thursday, Oct. 27 the Woman Can Have It All series, hosted by Linda E. McMahon, had its first event of the semester with guest Cindi Bigelow. The event was also sponsored by the Jack Welch College of Business. This year, SHU L.O.V.E, the women’s choir, made an appearance and welcomed everyone with music. Bigelow is a third generation President and CEO of the family-owned company Bigelow Tea. She graduated from Boston College, and has a MBA from Northwestern University, along with honorary doctorates from Fairfield University and the University of New Haven. The company was started in 1945 by Bigelow’s grandmother, who also created the Bigelow’s first tea “Constant Comments.” Its name is exactly how it is perceived; her grandmother received numerous comments about her first tea, hence the name. Bigelow grew up surrounded by the family’s business, and at 16-years-old she started working with the company. “It’s a family business and a family jewel. Not a lot of people have an opportunity like this,” she said in her presentation. “I was blessed with how I was raised.” In 2005, Bigelow took the title of President and CEO. During this time, she established the Annual Bigelow Tea Community Challenge, where the company raises and donates money to local charities around the area. She also supports our troops by sending boxes of tea to different military stations, with little cards thanking them for their service. Q: With this being the first event of the semester [for the Woman Can Have It All series], why did you pick Cindi Bigelow? A: Linda: Well Cindi Bigelow is so recognized here in Fairfield county. She is so accomplished. Not only has her company been around for over 70 years, but she is also the third President and CEO in the company. She has such a commitment not only to her company, but also to her community. She is well known for her philanthropy, she is well known for her speaking engagement, she has a passion for education, she’s a wonderful coo for us to be able have
her on our schedule, and we are delighted to have Cindi here. We are actually welcoming her back. In 2011 she was the recipient of our Discovery Gala event. Q: Growing up around a business, what is something you can tell women that want to be entrepreneurs or CEOs who are not brought up with something like that at their fingertips? A: Cindi: I think, first of all, the desire is very important. But, it’s not just desire, it’s also a skill set. So if it’s something you want to do you have to take inventory of yourself and say, “what is a good leader to you?” and “what are the skill sets that you have that align with being a good leader?” Whether you’re male or female you need to make sure if you’re looking for a title like CEO or you want to run an organization, you need to understand that’s a significant reasonability. You to need to be starting early on determining what are the proper skills sets that you need be developing yourself starting very young. Q: You really push for scheduling and time management. What is something you could tell us college students about that? A: Cindi: It’s priorities. It’s establishing, for example, as a student: “what’s important to you?” I can’t speak for every student, but let’s just say you want to do well. You have to carve out that time. Starting at Boston College, I use to wake up at 6 o’clock to do my accounting, because I knew at 5 o’clock it was happy hour and everyone was running around getting some beers. All of that scheduling capability allows you to establish what your priorities are. Now, does that mean missing out on hanging out? Well yes, you have to make sure you are doing that too. You do not want to be this robot that has everything scheduled. You need to carve out time to relax with your friends. So just find out what’s important to you, learn those disciplines now, and you’ll take that with you forever. Q: Is there anything going forward that you hope to give to your generation, or other generations? A: Cindi: I hope to give everyday, and I hope to make the world a better place everyday. I hope to be non-judgmental, but I know it’s hard to do everyday of every minute. I hope to try and appreciate, and to try and bring positive energy everywhere that I go. If I can do that, then the pain that I have experienced in my past it’s a good thing.
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
News
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November 2, 2016
Awards like this are very crucial to the future of Sacred Heart because any investment in a faculty member is an investment in dozens, if not hundreds, of our students. -William Reidy, VP of University Advancement
Professors Win Awards for Research BY MARGUERITE GIRANDOLA Staff Reporter
This past August, two Sacred Heart University Professors were awarded the 2016 Naclerio Faculty Scholars Program Award for upcoming research projects. The goal of these awards is to highlight promising junior faculty members by monetarily supporting their research. Professor Robin Danzak, an assistant professor of speech-language pathology, and professor Jessica Samuolis, an assistant professor of psychology, were the recipients. According to the press release, each of them has been bestowed $12,500 to aid their research. Danzak’s research involves the study of how children develop their bilingual writing skills while attending dual-language and bilingual education programs. “There are many bilingual children in our local public schools, and we need to better understand how to teach these children to be effective readers and writers in both Spanish and English,” said Danzak. Danzak has a doctorate in communication sciences and disorders, a master’s in linguistics and a bachelor’s degree in art history and Spanish. Samuolis’s study evaluates the implementation of a peerled, evidence-based suicide prevention program for college
students. “Establishing empirical support for this model of implementation will greatly increase the capacity for widespread dissemination of suicide prevention on college campuses,” said Samuolis. Samuolis has a doctorate in applied developmental psychology, a master’s in community counseling, and bachelor’s degrees in both psychology and Spanish, according to the press release. Danzak will be working with students in local public schools who are in dual-language and bilingual programs in various grade levels. She will collaborate with teachers to implement interesting and engaging projects that will result in the students writing in both English and Spanish. “Once I have all the writing, I can analyze the features like their vocabulary, sentence structure and text quality across languages, grade levels and bilingual and monolingual status,” said Danzak. “Hopefully, the results will help us understand the strengths and challenges of these children as they develop writing in bilingual academic contexts.” For Samuolis’s study, student peer educators will be recruited, trained and certified to conduct the implementation of Question Persuade Refer (QPR) trainings to other students. “A questionnaire will be implemented at the beginning of each QPR training as a pretest, and then again at the
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2 | News
end of the training as a post-test,” said Samuolis. “A small incentive will be offered to students for participating in the training and completing the questionnaires.” The Office of University Advancement helped guide the progress of the award. “One of the most important things that we can do in the advancement office is to support our provost, our deans and our faculty,” said William Reidy, Vice President for University Advancement. “In this case, we had faculty members with an idea in their head about something they wanted to pursue. That idea being supported only improves and accentuates the experience that our students are having here at the University.” This award is benificial to both the programs they are going towards as well as the professors running them. “I was fortunate that the committee reviewing our applications saw value in my research and wanted to support it to help me move forward,” said Danzak. Reidy believes that with the groundbreaking research done by professors like Danzak and Samuolis, Sacred Heart’s students will be the ones to reap the benefits. “Awards like this are very crucial to the future of Sacred Heart because any investment in a faculty member is an investment in dozens, if not hundreds, of our students,” said Reidy.
Ice Age Time Capsules Colloquium BY SABRINA GARONE Staff Reporter
On Oct. 28th, The Human Journey Colloquia Series presented “Ice Age Time Capsules: Clovis Caches and Pleistocene Adaptations in the Northern Hemisphere.” Dr. J. David Kilby, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Texas State University, shared his insight on the evidence of Clovis culture in North America during the last glacial period. The colloquium was also sponsored by the anthropology and sociology, history and biology departments. Students involved in these areas of study were encouraged to attend. “As a history major, I think that it’s important to attend these types of colloquium whenever possible,” said junior Eugene McDonagh. “You never know when you might need this information in the future, especially when it’s related to a field you hope to be involved in someday.” Students and faculty seeking to learn more about the subject filled the Schine Auditorium to listen to Dr. Kilby’s presentation. Dr. Kilby received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of New Mexico in 2008. His dissertation re-
search focused on Clovis caches, comparing their locations to understand their use of the land. “My primary research interest is the archaeology of the earliest inhabitants of the Americas,” said Kilby in a statement on Texas State’s website. His current research emphasizes “the relationship between Ice Age foragers and the changing physical environment of the North American Southern Plains, West and Southwest.” Clovis is a term that refers to the prehistoric Native American culture appearing in North America about 13,500 years ago. The Clovis people were nomads who existed before agriculture and the domestication of animals. Evidence of their origin can be found in Siberia, Alaska and parts of Russia. During the Ice Age, sea levels were shallow due to the build up of water on large glaciers. For this reason, the Clovis people were able to travel to the Americas by sea. “Evidence of the Clovis can be found all over the country, from Washington state to Florida,” said Dr. Kilby. “It wasn’t until 1932 that caches of stone tools were discovered in the United States, establishing for the first time that people inhabited the Americas before the last Ice Age.” Since the initial discovery, caches have been found all over the country, proving that the Clovis were extremely
mobile, and able to adapt to different types of environments. Dr. Kilby believes that these caches were strategically placed by the Clovis people with the intention of returning, which he described as “a high-risk endeavor.” Hiding caches was like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs to the locations where food and resources were most abundant. This also helped in colonizing the landscape, and allowed the Clovis to become more familiar with their new surroundings. During the Ice Age, the Americas did not experience harsh weather conditions. A cool and less seasonal environment allowed plant and animal life to thrive. Researchers believe that the Clovis were big game hunters due to the types of tools found within these caches. Spear points, blades and bone and ivory tools could have been used to hunt mammoth, sabertooth tiger and other large ice age animals. Remains of these animals are often found near cache locations. “Since their survival relied so much on their mobility, there have been few well-preserved artifacts found,” said Kilby.
“Before the Flood” Film Reveal BY KELLY GILBERT Staff Reporter
On Oct. 25, Sacred Heard University’s Jack Welch College of Business presented an early showing of environmental documentary, “Before the Flood.” Produced and directed by Fisher Stevens, the documentary took viewers alongside actor and activist, Leonardo DiCaprio on a three-year journey to five continents he journeyed to. Traveling across the globe, he spoke with scientists, government officials and world leaders like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Pope Francis, seeking a deeper understanding of climate change, and its affect on the world. Dr. Enda McGovern of the marketing and sports management departments was one of the driving forces behind bringing this documentary to the university. When he learned that it became available to universities days earlier than the public release on Oct. 30, he jumped at the opportunity. “I was very keen on getting this message into the student mindset because I’m concerned about the general lack of interest amongst students concerning climate change,” said McGovern. “This is a silent storm. And when this storm raises its head there is no science that will push it back.” With about 150 students and faculty gathered in the
Edgerton for the showing, “Before the Flood” opened with a powerful statement from DiCaprio’s 2016 United Nations speech. “As an actor, I pretend for a living. I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems. I believe that mankind has looked at climate change in that same way, as if it were fiction,” said DiCaprio. The documentary claimed that the government officials who don’t acknowledge climate change are fueled by greed. Specifically, they have been paid off by powerful oil and fossil fuel companies, such as palm oil and the Koch brothers, to deny that global warming is a real issue, in order to maintain the financial success of their businesses. “It makes me sick to my stomach that politicians are being paid by companies to manipulate the public and tell them that global warming isn’t real,” said senior Alicia Torres. “Without the agreement of politicians on the matter, what’s our future going to be like? How are our future children going to survive? What’s going to be left?” DiCaprio and his team demonstrated how these small changes are quickly adding up to a larger problem. Issues such as rising sea levels, melting glaciers in the arctic, the depletion of coral reefs and carbon and methane emissions in the atmosphere being at an all time high, each of these factors have proven that if mankind doesn’t lessen
its carbon footprint now, global warming could possibly lead to disastrous circumstances in the next couple of decades, according to the documentary. “I don’t think people realize the severity of climate change, because of how gradual it is,” said Assistant Chair of Biology, Dr. Kirk Bartholomew. “We don’t have the ability to tie one specific event to climate change. It’s gradual, subtle changes, but they’re cumulative. This is real and it is going to have real effects.” As the documentary came to a close, it emphasized how the possibility of decreasing or reversing the large carbon footprint mankind has already planted all depends on how much humans are willing to change. DiCaprio showed viewers that efforts are being made to protect the globe. Companies like Tesla are constructing batteries with clean and efficient means of retrieving energy, massive countries like China are transitioning to energy efficient factories and buildings and Denmark and Germany are investing in wind and solar energy. “There is some hope that we can stop this, and the earth can actually re-stabilize, we just have to actually do something,” said senior Alicia Torres. “I think it’s up to our generation.”
November 2, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives
Perspectives | 3
A Spin on Gender Roles
He Said
She Said
ANTHONY...
GIOVANNA... Growing up with four eyes still did not help me find the gender norms that I was constantly breaking. As a child I roughed in the dirt, I kicked butt as a martial artist and I had no idea I was filing into a mans world. As a infant I was named after my father, John. (Giovanna is the female version of the Italian name Giovanni which translates to John). So even as a child I was pushed to abide to a male context. In the third grade my teacher refused to refer to me as anything but Giovanni. My prepubescent heart struggled to understand why my classmates would laugh at this mistake. It seemed trivial to care about the gender of a name. This was the same year I enrolled myself in martial arts, broken my arm within the first week and then went back to earn two black belts over the next ten years. Gender roles were never something I understood. As a kid I was fascinated by martial arts, so I signed up. One of my best friends was a boy who loved climbing trees and playing outside, so I did too. It never occurred to me that girls took dance classes and put makeup on. This was not something that was pushed onto me. In fact, my dad is the one who enjoys cooking and cleaning. He even had his own garden that I would help tend to. As a high schooler, gender norms slapped me in the face. I attended an all girls academy where girl power was preached and feminist hearts roared. However, again I could not understand a need to create two columns where men and women were separated. Gender roles are not an ancient concept. They have developed over time as a way to place a line between the purposes of men and women. Cleopatra had men kissing at her feet as she ruled an empire, but during the industrial revolution women were pushed towards domestic responsibility. Today our world still bickers over where men and women should file in. Personally, I believe there should be no filing cabinet. I am not writing to abolish gender or to exterminate an identity. What
I am trying to say is that the line between man and woman should be blurred. If a woman wants to be a mechanic then she should be a mechanic. Now, I know there is no written law saying that she cannot be a mechanic. Yet, social norms make it hard to be taken seriously as a man or woman in a contradictory field. For a personal reference, I am a proud Sacred Heart Factory employee. When I was first hired to work in the IT department, there were only five other female student workers out of 30. Again, this ratio did not even cross my mind. I thought computers were cool. So I applied for the job. The math was easy in my head. I liked something, so I did it. There was never a consideration of gender roles or norms and there never should be. Still not sold? NFL players have been known to take ballet as a way to strengthen their muscles and refine their footwork. Despite celebrities pushing boundaries like Jaden Smith who sports a skirt when he feels like it, there are still problems with acceptance, creating a need for clarity in our world. However, this clarity is not something we should need anymore. I think the difference between men and women is pretty easy to understand. Yet, for some reason we are left creating gender only products that just are not necessary. For example, the company Bic has a specialized pen only for women. Now you can try and tell me that it fits a woman’s hand better or it is specifically designed for the grip of a woman, but that might not apply to all women. This is the 21st century and our world should be praising individuality. We should not be telling each other where we should stand based on gender roles. My naive child heart cries as I try to bring this change. Whether you are a girl or a boy, kick butt at whatever you choose to do. Men should wear makeup and women should fix cars because ultimately it does not matter. There should be no line of division but instead a box of inclusion where we celebrate gender as as advancement in our social society.
Normally I would be writing to you about something inconsequential. Something like what a long sandwich should be called or whether or not the mullet should still be an acceptable hairstyle, which it should. However, this week the lovely lady to my left would like to talk about something much more serious, gender roles. The roles of women in society are something I, probably most men as well, don’t like to talk about because most of the time it ends with us getting slapped and called a sexist. Yet, here I am. Although men and women seem to find a way to live in harmony, the roles each of us play in society have forever been a hot topic. Throughout history men and women were given certain roles. For example, from the beginning of mankind, men would be given the role of hunters and gatherers while women would care for the home and children. Today, women are preaching that men get better jobs mostly because of this outdated stereotype. Some women even go as far as to say that there is no gender equality, that men run this world. Just because men have a larger percentage of getting hired doesn’t mean that the world is sexist. If I write a bad article it’s a lot easier to blame the pen that I wrote with, than to say I wrote a bad article. Personally, what I think some women forget is that equality amongst all humans means that we are all given the same opportunity, not that we all have the same jobs or the same salary. As a little boy, gender roles made no difference to me. In elementary school I would play tag with you, whether you were a boy or a girl. It wasn’t until high school that the idea of women having specific roles was put into my head. I attended an all boys catholic high school. Here is where the idea of women being subordinate to men got blasted in my face.
Whether it was English class, Religion class, or even Spanish class, the subject of women not being equal always came up. Ironically, every teacher I had was a woman. It was as if these teachers banded together and planned to make a bunch of self-hating men support radical feminism. Well, after four years of learning how to hate myself, I finally left that school only to come to a university that seems to do the same thing. The only difference here is that there are entire courses dedicated to gender inequality. For example, my freshmen seminar, a course I was required to take and couldn’t choose, was in fact about gender inequality. I’m not saying that women shouldn’t be considered unequal but I think its about time that I stop being forced to feel like a piece of s*** just because I’m a man. Honestly, sometimes I feel like Bruce Jennering this s*** and calling it a day. In conclusion, I just want to be serious for a moment and say that I think this country has taken individuality to an extreme level. If women want to have certain jobs than they should be able to try their hardest to get them. However, sometimes people need to take on certain roles for the greater good. This goes for men as well. If the man needs to stay at home while his wife works, then that’s what needs to happen.
Poet’s Corner The Straight Man’s Burden
By potent speech most rightful
by Tyler Lascola
Our protests they restrain,
Take up the Straight Man’s burden– Put down the rebel breed– Go bid your sons to exile Their hearts’ impious need; Teach your children to repress The fluttered folk and wild, The liberal-minded lovers Ye formerly reviled. Take up the Straight Man’s burden– Despite the turning tide, To join in common error And check the show of Pride;
But ye can keep them silent With constant threat of pain. Take up the Straight Man’s burden– The world will not know peace Lest ye purge the populace And bid the sickness cease; And when your goal is nearest, The end to others sought, Watch untold sympathizers Bring all your hopes to naught. Take up the Straight Man’s burden– Protest same-sex weddings. (Though Pope Francis seems to be
Benignant toward such things.) The politicians banter, Just waiting to be led, Go coax them with your livings, And choke the right to wed. Take up the Straight Man’s burden– And reap this cold regard: The shame of those ye better, The hate of those ye barred, The cry of hosts ye hasten (Ah, quickly!) toward the night: “Why sought he to extinguish Our iridescent light?” Take up the Straight Man’s burden–
Ye dare not stoop to less, Nor stomp too hard on Freedom– Tarnish her golden dress; By all ye cry or whisper, By all the fuss ye stew, The liberal-minded lovers Still of your Gods eschew. Take up the Straight Man’s burden– Impose old childish ways, Medieval social standards, On Lesbians and Gays. Come now, besmirch your manhood With Manhood’s basest fears, Behold the tear-fraught schism: Prejudgment of the Queers!
4 | Perspectives
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives
November 2, 2016
The Best Pizza is...? BY KELSEY HOR Staff Reporter
Do you know where the best pizzerias are in Connecticut? Well the Nutmeg state is actually ranked to have one of the best pizza pies around. According to CBS New York, the big apple state is normally known for its pizza all over the country. However, sources like NBC Connecticut claim that the best pizza in the country is right in the state that is home to the Sacred Heart University community. For some Sacred Heart students, Conn. has some of the best pizza places compared to any other states. “I am from New Haven and I think it has the best pizza in the world,” said junior James Taubl. “I’ve had pizza in Chicago, Long Island and New York City and none of them are as good as New Haven pizza. My favorite place is York Side Pizza in New Haven. It is thin pizza with a very crispy crust. They cook it so that the outer rim is crusty but the inside is soft and manageable.” In a recent article by NBC Connecticut, they stated that Conn. has five out of the 101 best pizza hotspots in the country. It was also mentioned that three out of the five were in New Haven. Alforno Pizza, Modern Apizza, Sally’s Apizza and Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria are only a few names that made it on the best 101 pizzerias in the country from Conn. Other students and faculty seem to also like the style of thin crust pizza as opposed to thick crust. “I personally like Colony Pizza because of their thin crust,” said junior Mackenzie Page. “Colony also has different types of pizza for certain people. Their hot oil pizza is awesome for people who like spice, while vegetarians can enjoy their very own salad pizza.” However, getting good pizza does not need to be a thirty minute drive. Some students believe pizza is just fine right in Fairfield. “One place that I used to go to before I went dairy-free about a year ago is Sally’s Apizza in New Haven, “ said junior Laurel Mason. “I used to go there as a kid all the time. Many times when I went to that particular place it would remind me of such things like my family and childhood.” Although many different sources in the media recall Conn. as the state for having the
STUDENT ENJOYING A SLICE OF PIZZA FROM MARIO THE BAKER
ALESSANDRA SETARO/SPECTRUM
best pizza, certain students still believe that other surrounding states have much tastier pizza options. “I’m from Fairfield, Conn. and I still think that New York has the best pizza,” said junior Danielle Perez. “There is a place I especially love to go to called Villa Barone in the Bronx. Just one slice alone will satisfy you.” Overall a number of Sacred Heart students can agree that one’s favorite pizza place is based on those individuals tastes. “I feel like every state is going to say their pizza is the best because pizza is such a popular food,” said Page. “I feel like as long as it is fresh and to the individuals personal preferred taste, it should be ready to be eat and enjoy.”
The Future of Gaming BY CODY ZARO Staff Reporter
The future is often depicted with flying cars, holographic people and talking robots. However, through recent technological advancements the concept of virtual reality has expedited this far fetched imaginary world. According to the Virtual Reality Society, virtual reality (VR) can be explained as a, “term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer generated environment, which can be explored and interacted with by a person.” Our world may not have flying cars or holographic people just yet, but now it’s possible to dive into a virtual world that might. This evolution of gaming is an advancement that has provoked controversy regarding the price, the experience and the future of gaming. “Many colleges and VR consumers are buzzing over the release of the new Sony PlayStation VR,” said senior Jim Kent. Each of these devices has different capabilities and qualities. Additionally, these set ups require a different outlet to run on, such as a PlayStation or computer. Virtual reality is
not only covering a wide range of quality but also prices at this point. Since VR cannot operate without a persons hands on control, it can be an inconvenience for the cost that it is marketed at. “I think that at this stage to purchase an entire VR set up is way too expensive for me. I am most likely going to have to wait for the prices to come down,” said junior Casey Reidy. Although there are many people who have not experienced VR yet, those who have can find the positives and hope for a continual growth. “I think the hype is real and I don’t see virtual reality dying down anytime soon. The possibilities of creating the next technology of the future are great with virtual reality,” said senior Cody Richard. “As long as there is a consumer push for virtual reality then there will be developers and companies trying to improve it.” Virtual reality gives a gamer an experience that is more interactive than in past video game consoles. It has the ability to use your senses in a way to create a more immersive setting. “The possibilities of putting yourself in a virtual reality
looks absolutely amazing. Being an avid video gamer, I think that VR holds a similar concept but actually puts you in the game to be more interactive with it, giving you a more intense feeling while playing games like Call of Duty, allowing you to take part in it like you never could before,” said Kent. For the elite few that have experienced VR, they understand how quickly it will change the way we live. “It is still growing and will continue to grow in future years. There has even been talk of some computer developers (HP, Acer, etc) getting into the VR development ring, as well as the larger key players that are already involved. The possibilities of being able to fully immerse yourself into a fictional world is something that has enticed entertainers forever and now with virtual reality it is becoming more possible than ever,” said Richard. The VR trend is growing worldwide and expanding to new companies, which is leading consumers to believe that it is something that could move in a predictable direction. “With the continual release of new products and hardware improvements, VR is continuously getting better and is clearly here to stay,” said Richard.
Drafting into Fantasy Sports BY JESSICA CHALOUX Managing Editor
Whether you follow sports religiously or play as a hobby, fantasy teams have been a popular past time for fans all over the world. From hockey, to basketball and football, people who are involved with fantasy teams are able to draft line-ups, which are made up of professional athletes. In fantasy, points are awarded to your team based on athletes performances in real time games. These affect the outcome of match-ups in play. These leagues act as an interactive way to keep fans engaged with their favorite sports. Even if your favorite team isn’t playing physically everyday, players are still interested involved with the overall brand. “Participating in fantasy sports allows me to mix my love of sports and competitive attitude into one. As a fan, fantasy sports allows me to consume the product in more ways than one and keeps me engaged,” said senior Andrew Chunka. Not only sports games broadcasted on television, but fantasy shows have been added to programming for extra involvement. There are two types of fantasy leagues. Leagues where you can draft a new team every-
day and leagues where you stick with your drafted team season long. “I play fantasy football and it’s really just a good way to reconnect with friends and it adds a competitive side to friend groups. A couple times a week you’re able to mess around and have some fun trash talking and competition,” said sophomore Greg Argenio. Daily games are considered a form of gambling as you are able to pay a certain amount to enter the game and can win a pool of money if you win the league. “I personally wouldn’t pay to play fantasy because I’m a poor college kid, but I understand it,” said Argenio. “It adds that extra level of competitive drive and also adds a lot more excitement.” While some Sacred Heart students enjoy taking part in fantasy, some found it a big time commitment to keep up with. “I played for two years, my team was pretty decent, but I lost every time because I would forget to set my players up. It was a very busy time in my life and while I enjoyed it a lot, keeping up with it was difficult. I had a lot of fun with it though,” said senior Lea Magliocchetti. If you are interested in playing fantasy sports, networks like ESPN are still allowing fans to request leagues for the 2016-2017 basketball season. You can either play online or download the application on your smart phones.
November 2, 2016
meetTHESTAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF NATALIE CIOFFARI 2017 MANAGING EDITOR JESSICA CHALOUX 2017 COPY EDITOR GABRIELLA NUTILE 2017 CO. COPY EDITOR CHRISTIAN COLON 2017 ASST. COPY EDITOR JESSICA LEWIS 2017 NEWS EDITOR ALEXA BINKOWITZ 2018 CO. NEWS EDITOR ANTHONY SANTINO 2018 PERSPECTIVES EDITOR GIOVANNA GATTO 2018 ASST. PERSPECTIVES EDITOR ANTHONY MATTARIELLO 2017 FEATURES EDITOR GABRIELLA NUTILE 2017 ASST. FEATURES EDITOR THOMAS PETICCA 2017
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Editorials
Editorials | 5
Loyalty Matters SHAWN SAILER SPORTS EDITOR
Loyalty is an important thing. People are loyal to many different people in their lives. There are loyalties between family members, friends, co-workers and higher ups. It is important to have each other’s back in good times, but also in difficult times. If someone did something well, you should support them. If someone is struggling with something, you should support them and if someone messes up, you should support them. If they did something well, they want to feel like other people care about what they did. Struggling may be a sign that they might need you to assist them or just be there to tell them everything will be ok. If someone messed up, whether it was their fault or not, you should be there to back them up and help them correct the mistake or make sure they know what should be done if a similar case happens again. With friends struggling emotionally, talk to them and see what is wrong. If there is some way you can tangibly help them, do it. If they just need your support, be there for them to talk to. When your friends accomplish something, you should praise them. It is especially important, in my opinion, to be loyal and praise those who have overcome adversity and need your aid and guidance. If you aren’t loyal, for one, you may not have friends, and secondly, the other people who you call friends, may continue to struggle for the worst. With family, whether it is blood-related family or extended family, you should always be loyal and helpful. In times of need, you should support them and in times of crisis, you should support each other. If you have another family member suffering, you should help them, even if you don’t agree with the things
they are doing or have done in their life. In the case of a workplace, co-workers should stand up for one another against upper management and upper management should back their employees against other companies and the public. Co-workers should help each other to fix the problem before it gets to the upper management or just talk to the upper management with the co-worker who made the mistake and help to explain what happened. Let’s say I’m a manager of a company and one of my employees makes a mistake. I talk to the employee about what happened and tell the employee that I (or we as a company) back you fully and will work with you to fix the mistake and make the problem as harmless as possible. If we could keep it internal, we will, but if the issue got out to the public, we would still back our employee and issue a statement of some sort saying we realize there is an issue and we have corrected it. Don’t let it linger where people in the public make a bigger deal of something than it really is. Loyalty is also remembering who got you where you are and both helped and supported you along the way. There could be many people from many different groups who helped you, friends, family, former and current co-workers and bosses. I support my friends and people I care about in good times and bad. If they made a mistake, I will tell them, but I will also stand behind them and help them get through it. I know I have people in my life who will support me and help me no matter what the circumstances are. That is what loyalty is about.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JULIANNA MAURIELLO 2017 ASST. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JORDAN NORKUS 2018
Looking At The Bigger Picture JULIANNA MAURIELLO
SPORTS EDITOR SHAWN SAILER 2017
ASST. COPY EDITOR
CO. SPORTS EDITOR ALEXANDRA PADALINO 2018 PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER JENNA BILLINGS 2017 WEB MANAGER BRYAN KELLEHER 2019 CIRCULATION MANAGER VICTORIA MESCALL 2019 PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR ALEXA BRISSON 2017 ASST. PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR MELISSA O’ROURKE 2018 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR GINA BATTAGLIA 2017 ADVERTISING MANAGER SYDNEY RUGGIERO 2018 FACULTY ADVISOR PROF. JOANNE KABAK
When life is feeling a little extra stressful, go to the highest point on land that you can. Recently, I have found that the way to cure my stress is to step back and take a look at the bigger picture. If you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I have the worst case of the travel bug. I was bit by the bug early on in life and I’ve been intrigued and fascinated by everywhere and anywhere in the world ever since. When I was abroad, I discovered my love for mountains. While in Interlaken, Switzerland, I did something out of my comfort zone and took a run off of the Swiss Alps to hang-glide through the town and over the valley. That ten minute hang-gliding experience was ten minutes of reflecting on my life and realizing just how small I am in the grand scheme of things. Flying at the peak height of the mountain is when I noticed all the houses that filled the town below me, how small each individual house was and just how many houses comprised this city. I thought to myself: imagine how many people live in each of these houses. Think of all the daily stress that each individual in that house has. Now look at the group of houses on that block or within the three blocks next to that, and imagine all their daily stress and issues. Now, zoom out even further and just look at all the land, the mountains surrounding the valley, the body of water
larger than the city center. Finally, I looked up at the sky. I realized that from a bird’s eye view, the problems that we all face when our feet are on the ground are not the end of the world. Our world is so much bigger than just our own individual everyday problems. There is something so comforting about knowing that you are not required to stay in one place for the rest of your life. We are not held solely in one location because we have the freedom to experience the world and all that it encompasses. If you do not travel, it can be hard to see the world from many different perspectives. Since traveling, I have gained the ability to put myself in others’ shoes from having seen so many different cultures and gaining a greater appreciation for the life I live. Traveling is more than just a hobby and passion in my life, but it is also an escape. A plane ride is my peace, being above the clouds is humbling and looking down on just how big the world really is brings me a greater sense of purpose. Whenever life gets a little too stressful, I head to the highest point on land that I can. Whether it is a rooftop or a mountain, I will go to any place where I can regain that perspective and understanding of just how small I am and how insignificant my stress is in the grand scheme of life. There is nothing more humbling than taking a look at the bigger picture, something much greater than yourself.
Correction: In last weeks issue Oct. 26, 2016, “Men’s Cross Country Places at Princeton Invitational” was written by Carolyn Eckel. We apologize for the staff writer byline mistake. The editorial page is an open forum. Editorials are the opinions of the individual editors and do not represent the opinions of the whole editorial board. Letters to the editor are encouraged and are due by Sunday at noon for consideration for each Wednesday’s issue. All submissions are subject to editing for spelling, punctuation, and length. Letters to the editor should not exceed 400 words and should be e-mailed to spectrum@sacredheart.edu. The Spectrum does not assume copyright for any published material. We are not responsible for the opinions of the writers voiced in this forum.
6 | Features
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Features
November 2, 2016
Tell Us Your Story: Sandy Stevenson BY HANNAH O’BRIEN Staff Reporter
For any Sacred Heart University students who have ever been to the 63s dining hall, they most likely know who Sandy is when they hear her name. Sandy Stevenson from 63s has a memorable name for the students here at school. For Stevenson, working at 63s was supposed to be just a side job. Now, after nine years working at the dining hall, she considers it to be much more than that. “I love the kids,” said Stevenson. “I look at my job as it not being a job. Having access to the kids and seeing the kids smiling makes my day.” Stevenson knows most of the members of the sports teams at Sacred Heart because of how often they go to 63s after their practices. “I love seeing her every day,” said freshman Krissy LaSance, a player on the volleyball team. “She’s always in a good mood.” But regardless of whether or not a student is on a sports team, almost everyone within 63s has a connection with her. “Every time I see Sandy here in 63s, she makes me laugh,” said freshman Carly Pease. Besides making students smile on an everyday basis, Stevenson also tries to raise student’s spirits when they may be feeling down. “I know when the students are having a bad day,” said Stevenson. “When I see their sad faces, or when I give them a hug, that’s when I know it might have been a rough day. They hug a little harder when they’re upset. I try my best to put a smile on their faces to brighten their day.” A smile came across each student’s face when the name Sandy was mentioned. While Stevenson would say hello to the students passing, most of them stopped to have a conversation with her. “Sandy always looks like she’s having a good time with students,” said junior Emily Shenk, a member of the girl’s swimming and diving team. “Whenever I see her, she can
63’S FAVORITE, SANDY, ENJOYING HER WORK DAY WITH HER FAVORITE SACRED HEART STUDENTS
make me laugh. I would say she really does bring in good positive vibes to 63s.” Aside from Stevenson spending much of her time in 63s, she still manages to support all kinds of Sacred Heart activities and sports teams. She has been found coming into dance ensemble practices, theatre shows and sporting events. Most recently, students who had gone to past SHU Hoops Madness, which feature the men’s and women’s basketball teams, have seen Sandy there supporting every-
HANNAH O’BRIEN/SPECTRUM
one as well. She has been to almost every sport’s game at Sacred Heart, showing her dedication and love to the students. For the teams she has not seen yet, she has gotten their schedules in hopes of going to their games soon. “I support all the sports teams here. Have you been to a SHU hockey game? Those are my favorite,” said Stevenson. “I want the kids to know I really do want to support them. I want this to feel like their home.”
Girl Scout Cereal Coming To Grocery Stores Near You BY CHRISTINA DIMAURO Staff Reporter
Girl Scout’s are known nationwide for their cookies. While these cookies may only be available for “cookie season” once a year, their cookie fans can soon enjoy them for breakfast. The Girl Scouts organization has recently partnered with General Mills to create their cookies into cereal. General Mills announced Monday, Oct. 24 that in January 2017 they would be producing limited edition cereal. “When I first heard the cookies were being made into cereal I was very excited to try them. It’s a little sad that I found out this early and I have to wait all this time for them to be released,” said junior Haily Reatherford. Two of Girl Scout’s most popular cookie flavors are being transformed into cereal: Thin Mint and Caramel Crunch (modeled after Samoas). “I heard about the new cereals being released and even though I like Girl Scout cookies, I don’t really intend on
trying the cereal,” said junior Ashley Tully. According to General Mills, a partial amount of proceeds from the cereal sales will benefit the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. “I think it’s good for Girl Scouts to partner up with General Mills, it’s going to bring something people love and enjoy eating and make it readily available in the grocery store,” said junior Martha Sepulveda. This is not the first time Girl Scouts has partnered up with another company. They have previously partnered with Quaker, Good Humor, Coffee-mate and other companies to create cookie-flavored items. “The only thing that would keep me from trying the cereal is that sometimes the flavor is not the same,” said sophomore Sydney Hock. “Girl Scouts knows how to make cookies, but sometimes that doesn’t translate over into other companies products.” General Mills has not released any specifics about the cereal and pricing. “I would be curious to see how unhealthy the cereal is, most often those types of cereals aren’t very healthy for someone to eat,” said Sepulveda.
According to the Associated Press, the deal between Girl Scouts and General Mills is going to benefit both companies. It will bring more awareness to the Girl Scout’s six to eight week cookie sale period, while also helping General Mills overcome the decline in cereal sales. “As a former Girl Scout, I think it is an amazing organization, it helps local communities and helps young girls learn so many skills when it comes to actually selling the cookies,” said Reatherford. “The more exposure the organization is able to get into the public, the more it is able to benefit these young girls.” This announcement comes just a month after Girl Scouts announced they would introduce two different types of s’mores cookies to celebrate 100 years of cookie sales. “The organization has been around for such a long time and they are always able to make improvements and implement changes to stay up to date with what people like,” said Reatherford. “It really shows with this new cereal being released. I can’t wait to try it.” As the launch date approaches closer, more information will be released from General Mills.
November 2, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Features
Features | 7
Fox News Election Watch Party BY CHRISTIAN COLON Co-Copy Editor
Fox News and the Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies at Sacred Heart University will host a watch party on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. to view the live coverage of Election Day. Students, faculty, staff and even the Sacred Heart surrounding neighborhoods are invited to the Frank and Marisa Martire Center Forum for a night of free food and raffles to watch the nations 45th president elected. “I have had the opportunity to work with Fox News as a College Associate this summer and for this semster as well. A big part of my job is to work with the Sacred Heart campus as a brand ambassador to create events like this where the community can come together and watch history be made,” said senior, and Managing Editor for Spectrum, Jessica Chaloux. Fox had sponsored the first Election Debate at Sacred Heart back in September through Chaloux. For this event, Chaloux has teamed up with La Hispanidad, College Democrats, College Republicans, The Pulse, The Spectrum Newspaper, and Hearts United. These clubs will help sponsor the event as well as participate in short presentations throughout the night. Dr. Gary Rose, Professor and Chair in the Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies at Sacred Heart has taken part in promoting the watch party. “We will do all we could possibly can to mobilize student interest. Teaming up with Fox News has provided a unique opportunity to connect students to the 2016 election,”
said Rose. He urges students who are 18 years of age or older to go out and vote. “The election results determine so many public policies that will affect their future. Domestic and foreign policies are the direct outcome of who occupies the White House and the two chambers of Congress,” he said. Junior Manuela Contreras, one of the co-presidents of La Hispanidad, Sacred Heart’s Latino Club, is proactive in getting her club involved with Election night. During the watch party, her club will be speaking on the significance of this particular election in relation to the Latino community. “La Hispanidad works to represent the Latino culture at Sacred Heart. The election has been a big topic among our culture because there are many implementations it can have on our community. La Hispanidad is working to promote the election so people can be educated on both sides of the debate, ” said Contreras. “The week before election day we will be having table times in the main academic hallway to make sure people go out and vote as well as promoting this amazing event on Nov. 8.” Throughout the night, people at the event are welcome to cast their own vote in a mock voting booth to compare Sacred Heart results to the overall election. A poster will also be tracking the incoming election results of each state, sponsored by La Hispanidad. “It’s great to be able to work with Fox and bring these opporitunities to Sacred Heart. As a Fox Associate I am helping students apply for internships with the company and continue to create relationships in the area. I’m looking forward to the Election Day event,” said Chaloux.
All About S.M.I.L.E.S
Geriatrics Club Volunteering with the Elderly BY ATENE DILUCA Staff Reporter
On the Sacred Heart University campus, the smiles of the elderly are one of the most important things to the college students in the S.M.I.L.E Geriatrics club. The five letters stand for the clubs motto, “Students Making an Impact in the Lives of Elders.” The members of this club have the opportunity to raise awareness to the Sacred Heart community about the issues of aging. The organization is officially an academic club, which was started by students not too long ago. “About a year-and-a-half-ago a group of students who finished their requirements with their Geriatric minor asked if they could continue volunteering because they developed such a close relationship with the residents of the long-time care facility,” said Michele Suhie, Coordinator of Geriatric Health and Wellness Program. Presently, this club currently has approximately 40 members, and hopes to expand in the near future. “Since it is a very new club I would like everyone to get involved. I’m hoping to make this club bigger and more well known around campus by making it a part of the national honors society,” said president of S.M.I.L.E Stephanie Lowe. The group of students mainly works with the Jewish Senior Center, located just down the road from the Sacred Heart campus. The close proximity between the Jewish Senior Center and the university makes it easier for the college students to lend a helping hand to
the seniors in the area. “S.M.I.L.E Club also gives students who participate a way to experience and engage one-on-one with individuals who are older adults in the community,” said Suhie. This club also hosts fundraisers to help raise money for the Jewish Senior Center. “We are very proud to announce that we have a fundraiser coming up at Trumbull Mall’s Panera on Nov. 10 from 4-8 p.m. to help raise money for supplies and activities for the seniors, that way they can participate in events that will help make their day better,” said Lowe. The club is not only offered to Geriatric students, it is open to all students on campus no matter what they may be majoring in. “We are not exclusive and we are always open to new ideas. In fact, we have a diverse group of interests and majors from psychology to nursing, but we all come together to help the elderly who adore our company,” said secretary of S.M.I.L.E Samantha Burke. The members of the club see this as a very rewarding experience to be a part of. “Being a member of this club is a great opportunity to all students because it gives students a chance to boost their resume and give back to the community by volunteering to help the seniors,” said philanthropy chair of S.M.I.L.E Kate Sheridan. Ultimately, these students wish to break stereotypical thoughts about the senior community and to make their lives better. “The S.M.I.L.E Club benefits this elderly community because we have the opportunity to make the seniors’ day. It also helps the members of this club because it gives them the chance to see what life will be like once we are in their position,” said Lowe.
8 | A&E
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
November 2, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
November 2, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Arts & Entertainment
A&E | 9
A Look At “Poverty & Inequality” Sacred Heart University’s Newest Art & Design Exhibit BY AMANDA NARDIELLO
Staff Reporter
On Oct. 25, Sacred Heart University’s Edgerton Art & Design Gallery hosted an exhibit on poverty and inequality. The exhibit was a joint effort between Sacred Heart faculty and students, P.T. Partners and residents of P.T. Barnum Apartments in Bridgeport. P.T. Partners is a non-profit organization that assists low-income neighborhoods with the improvement of their living opportunities. The idea for the exhibit stemmed from Dr. Gerald Reid, an anthropology and sociology professor at Sacred Heart. Reid’s sociology lecture, “Poverty and Inequality in the United States,” assigned an oral history project where his students interviewed P.T. Barnum residents. “This started with my effort to try to bring the study of poverty and inequality to the real world, to turn this into a service learning project. The idea was to bring my students together with the P.T. Barnum residents to educate one another about the poverty and inequality in America today,” said Reid. Reid wanted to find a way to humanize and personalize
what his students were studying in his course, so he thought he could do it in a way that would also contribute to the whole Sacred Heart community. Many students and faculty members attended the exhibit to support their colleagues and become more informed on the topic. “I think it really puts poverty and inequality in perspective. You see the stories of what the residents went through and the struggles they are still facing. It makes you realize not only how privileged you are, but also the difference you can make helping these people,” said senior Danielle Tenney. Senior Lauryn Kostopoulos is currently a social work intern at P.T. Partners. She said how the residents want to have a stable home life but are unable because of the circumstances they live in. “Bringing this exhibit here to Sacred Heart opens up everybody’s eyes to what is going on. This needs to be fixed because this is our community and it needs to thrive,” said Kostopoulos. The exhibit had images of P.T. Barnum Apartments, the residents and the data collected from the project. It also included photography from the event that was produced by senior Gianna Ianotti.
Iota Phi Theta “Reap The Runway” BY JOSEPH LASPINA
Staff Reporter
On Friday, Oct. 28 the brothers of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity held their first Halloween oriented fashion show, “Reap The Runway.” Unlike a normal fashion show where individuals strut down a long runway, pose and then strut while exiting off, “Reap the Runway” was less couture as the contestants came up with their own costumes and they showed them off in unique ways. The models on the runway featured many members of sororities, fraternities, clubs and other organizations on campus. In order to be judged and reach a winner, each group of contestants from each individual organization was required to showcase his or her best costumes and create either a dance compilation or short skit. “I think it was super creative and unlike anything else on campus,” said junior Mikaela Sherlock. Students, faculty and community members joined in the Edgerton Theatre all in support of Iota Phi Theta’s philanthropy event. “This event was programmed to raise funds and support our national
philanthropy, St. Jude’s Research Hospital,” said senior Christian Carter, chapter president of Iota Phi Theta. The fashion show consisted of two rounds and then finals. In the first round, all the contestants were spotlighted, showing off their group costumes. Afterwards, through a panel of three judges, all groups but two, were eliminated, left to show off their costumes once more in front of the audience. Subsequently, two final winners were selected per each category: individual and group. The audience, through their applause, had the final vote, as they were responsible for choosing the final winners who would be awarded $50 gift cards for their win. “It was a great event,” said junior Mike Fritz. “It’s fun to be able to help out with each other’s organizations by going to them and supporting one another.” Iota Phi Theta, through the events they host on campus each year, wishes to raise funds to meet their national goal of $555,555 towards St. Jude’s Research Hospital by the end of the 2016-17 academic year. “I really loved the event and was glad I was able to perform in it,” said junior Manuela Contreras, Co-president of La Hispanidad. “I hope they raised a lot of money towards the cause.”
JOSEPH LASPINA/SPECTRUM
STUDENTS PARTAKE IN IOTA PHI THETA’S FIRST EVER “REAP THE RUNWAY” SHOW
“All the data from the exhibit was focused on poverty and how it’s represented. They wanted to show what kind of environment the P.T. Barnum residents live in,” said Ianotti. Professor Jonathan Walker from the College of Art and Design created the design of the exhibit. “The theme is about poverty and inequality in the Bridgeport area. The P.T. Barnum residents have been hidden away. The housing apartment projects themselves are surrounded by heavy industry like an asphalt plant, a concrete plant, sewage plant and a garbage and energy plant,” said Walker. Reid said that the idea behind this exhibit is to give people at P.T. Barnum Apartments an opportunity to tell their stories. They want to make sure that community isn’t silenced anymore. The exhibit hopes to educate on the situations that people affected by poverty go through each day. “Poverty and inequality is a significant problem in America. It’s a dangerous thought of how people in poverty are somehow responsible for the situation they find themselves in, when in reality these are people who work very hard for themselves and their children,” said Reid.
“The Walking Dead” Returns Warning: Contains Spoilers BY ALEXA BIANCHI
Staff Reporter
The season seven premiere of “The Walking Dead” aired on AMC on Sunday, Oct. 23. The finale of the previous season ended with a cliffhanger that left viewers guessing what happened for months. What the audience knew was that Negan, the villain of the season, and his group, the Saviors, had captured Rick Grimes, the protagonist of the show, and his group. The season ended with the screen going black to the sound of a bat hitting someone’s head, leaving it unclear as to who Negan killed from Rick’s group. “I am a huge fan of ‘The Walking Dead.’ It is so good and will have you hooked within minutes. This episode was unlike any other they’ve had before,” said junior Christie Wukovits. The fans had to wait six months to find out who was killed off and it ended up being two of the most beloved main characters, Glenn and Abraham. “I was surprised they killed off two leads, but I had been anticipating Glenn’s death for a while,” said junior Juliana Gullotta. “I was left a little disappointed at the end of the episode because the manner in which he died was not heroic. After escaping death in so many previous episodes, I figured that his eventual death would be more extensive.” Killing off two leads caused a multitude of reactions throughout the fan base and the deaths of these characters were not necessarily easy to watch. “Most people are sad over Glenn’s death because he’s been on since season one, but I was more upset that Abraham was killed,” said sophomore Kayla Browne. “It’s crazy how you get so attached to characters in shows. I was genuinely mad at Negan for killing them.”
Another post-premiere moment that some fans are talking about is when Negan forces Rick to make the decision between cutting off his son Carl’s arm or killing Rick, Carl, and the rest of the group. “The part when Rick had to choose between his son’s arm or everyone dying stuck out to me. He had to put the needs of the group before his son,” said junior Dymond Leroy. “Ultimately, he made the right decision though because Negan didn’t end up following through with either option.” Fans are trying to guess what the events that occurred in the premiere mean for the rest of the season. “I think it means that Rick will enter into a downward spiral similar to when he lost his wife,” said Gullotta. “However, I know that the group will not voluntarily let Negan take over without a fight, so I expect more people to die.” While some people are upset about the loss of such important characters, others are stumped by the show’s choices. “I have no idea how they’re going to continue the season without Glenn and Abraham,” said Browne. “It’ll be weird, but I’ll be extremely interested to find out what happens next.” Even though the viewers were left hanging for weeks to find out what happened, they felt the wait was worth it. “It was hard waiting for the premiere because the season six finale was so good. It left you on the edge of your seat and I was nervous the premiere was going to be a let down, but it was just the opposite” said Leroy. “It was unpredictable and worth the wait.” “The Walking Dead” airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.
10 | Sports
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Sports
November 2, 2016
Sacred Heart’s Wrestling Ready for Upcoming Season
Pioneers Looking To Fend Off Last Season BY WILLIAM CALLAHAN Contributing Writer
The Sacred Heart men’s wrestling season is right around the corner. Looking to build off their finish last year, the team is eager to have a more successful season in 2016. “The name of the game is to always do better than last year,” said senior captain Matt Fisher. “As coach preaches all the time, when you’re building a program, it’s not about wins or losses but it’s about the progression each of us makes.” The coach of the men’s wrestling team echoes these statements and believes leadership will be a key part of the team’s success. “We’re extremely excited for the upcoming year, myself included,” said coach Andy Lausier. “My first recruiting class are now redshirt juniors and seniors so I’m excited to have national leadership on our team that represents the standards and expectations I have for this program.” Having lost four dual meets last season in the final match, the team is anxious to right a wrong that has been simmering within them all offseason. “Those matches were difficult to lose but we feel this season will be the pivot point in those matches and we feel we’re going to come out on top,” said Lausier. “Schools like Franklin and Marshall, George Mason, VMI and Brown are the games we have circled on our calendars.” Both the coach and his players are looking to win these pivotal games this season. “The game that has been sticking out in my head for a few years now has been Franklin and Marshall because we’ve had such close matches with them,” said Fisher. “We lost in overtime to them in the last seconds last season so that’s one I’d definitely like to have back.” Their focus remains high for the other matches as well. Each match is different based on
the team the Sacred Heart Pioneers are facing. “Other than that, we’re focused on approaching each opponent the same way with the mentality of finding their weaknesses and beating them,” said Fisher. The two conference place winners from last year, Elliott Antler and Gerard Daly, are returning players from last season’s team. Antler is 184 pounds and Daly is 133. “Both of those guys are going to be on a mission this year to qualify for the NCAA championships,” said Lausier. Along with Antler and Daly, Fisher knows his role as captain will be vital to the team’s success this season. “I believe all the younger guys, especially the freshmen, need someone to look up to and I’m that guy,” said Fisher. “Not only am I the vocal guy, but I’ll be the one putting in the extra work to show them what is right and what is wrong.” Fisher does not shy away from the role he was cast for this upcoming season as he will look to be a role model for younger players. “Being a good leader is leading by example and hopefully they see the success me and the other guys have,” said Fisher. “Hopefully they’ll follow suit.” With this sense of attitude present, Lausier knows his wrestlers will be just fine this season. “They’re already better than they were last year because of their attitude,” said Lausier.“We’ve really focused on gratitude so we appreciate the opportunities we have.” The coach believes that his team’s positive attitude will allow his team to succeed. “Our sense of gratitude allows us to go out there and perform at the highest level possible,” said Lausier. The Sacred Heart wrestling team has their first dual of the season, Dragon Duals, on Nov. 5 at North Penn High School. They will be competing against Shippensburg, Lycoming and Gardner Webb.
Women’s Hockey Seniors Striving For Strong Season BY CAROLYN ECKEL Staff Reporter
The Sacred Heart University Pioneers women’s hockey team has started their season and currently hold a record of three wins and four losses. The team won two games against Rhode Island to start off their season The team’s upcoming schedule will only predict what is to come for the Pioneers. The head coach for the women’s team Thomas O’Malley, has been their head coach for 14 years, is hoping for another strong season. “I want to have a good season. We have the capabilities, we have a great team and great group of people,” said O’Malley. The team this year consist of six seniors, which means this season’s games will be their last as Pioneers. The senior defenseman consist of Elizabeth Johnson, Amie Varano, Sarah Walewski and Megan Finlay. The senior forwards are Julia Consorte and Teagan Ketchum. “We have very good seniors on our team, they are all good people and good citizens who represent our program very well,” said O’Malley. The seniors on the team have the experience and skills that are needed to guide the team to success. “I like the way they steer the team with their student leaderships. They are heavily talented on [the ice] and involved off, in critical moments of the game, they pull through,” said O’Malley. The seniors are hoping to see the underclassman continue their legacy with hard work both on and off the ice. Two of the assistant captains are juniors. When the seniors leave, the juniors will be able to continue their winning legacy . “As a senior I have to keep a positive mindset throughout the season during the negative and positive times we may face as a team. The seniors especially need to lead the team with the right attitudes,” said Senior Captain Amie Varano. The Pioneers are looking to continue their season and watch the underclassman learn to take control just like they
SACRED HEART ATHLETICS
SHELTON, CT – JUNIOR FORWARD BRITTANY SMITH SCORED IN THE SECOND PERIOD ON FRIDAY NIGHT AS THE SACRED HEART WOMEN’S HOCKEY TEAM LOST TO HOLY CROSS 3-1.
did at one point. The remainder of this season will be the determining factor as to whether the women make it to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), something the seniors have yet to accomplish during their four years on the Sacred Heart hockey team. “Since my freshman year, the team as a whole has improved,” said senior defenseman Megan Finlay. “From attitudes to leadership, I think we are the strongest we have been in my four years here at Sacred Heart.” With the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Finals being a few months away, the women will be looking
to continue their successful record, as they hope to make it to the ECAC. With the season dwindling down slowly, the senior class is looking to finish their season on a positive note. “We are hoping to finish strong by winning our end of the year tournament the ECAC Open Tournament,” said senior captain Amie Varano. “We are all putting in the work to come out on top.” The women will play their next game Friday Nov. 4 at Lebanon Valley University.
11 | Sports
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
November 2, 2016
Sports
Sacred Heart Football Falls To St. Francis BY HEATHER KELLER Staff Reporter
The Sacred Heart University Pioneers football team hosted the Saint Francis University Red Flash for a key Northeastern Conference (NEC) matchup on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Pioneers are now 6-2, 1-2 in the NEC after falling 38-17 on Saturday. The Red Flash came into the weekend matchup as the only NEC team with an undefeated record in conference play, and would be able to extend that record to 6-3, 4-0 in the NEC following the contest. “We didn’t execute, they executed, and good football teams do that when they need it to count,” said Head Football Coach Mark Nofri. “We kind of let it spin out of control late in the third and fourth quarter, we got beat by a good football team.” The Pioneers were held to 278 yards of total offense, including 111 yards passing and two touchdowns for senior quarterback RJ Noel. Defensively, junior CJ Parvelus, senior Khaamal Whitaker and senior Robert Steffe all set career-highs for tackles. Parvelus led all players with 15 as Whitaker tallied eight and Steffe seven, according to a press release from Sacred Heart Athletic Communications. With back and forth scoring opportunities in the first half, the Pioneers were “focused and had a business like attitude on the sideline,” said Nofri. With 4:29 left in the first half, the Pioneers were able to cut the deficit to seven with a 25-yard field goal by senior kicker Alec Finney, which made the score 17-10 going into halftime in favor of Saint Francis. The Pioneers would start the second half with possession. While that opportunity did not immediately lead to a scoring drive, the Pioneers regained possession after an interception by senior Tim Johnson, and they capitalized. Noel was able to even the game at 17 with a four-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Andrew O’Neill and an extra point secured by Finney. The Red Flash, however, drove down the field on its next possession and provided senior quarterback Zack Drayer with the positioning to complete his second touch-
PIONEERS FACE OFF AGAINST ST. FRANCIS DURING LAST SATURDAY’S GAME
down pass of the game, giving Saint Francis a 24-17 lead with 4:59 left in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Sacred Heart was again unable to answer the scoring drives by Saint Francis as the Red Flash added two more touchdown throws to end the game 38-17. “They are a great defensive team and I believe they [Saint Francis] lead the NEC in a lot of different categories,” said senior Ose Imeokparia. “It was tough up front and through the second half, they’re an overall good team.” The Pioneers have three conference matches left to play. Coach Nofri is adamant that the team’s momentum going
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forward will not be stunted by this loss, unless the team lets it. Sacred Heart held back-to-back NEC Conference Championship titles in 2013 and 2014, however they were unable to continue the streak last season. “If you want to play championship football, and you want to win a conference title, you have to continue to be consistent and play for 60 minutes, and we didn’t do that,” said Nofri. Sacred Heart will return home at noon on Saturday, Nov. 19 for their senior night and their final game of the season against the Bryant Bulldogs. Pioneer action is available via webcast for home and road games on necfrontrow.com.
The History Behind the 2016 World Series BY RYAN TOHEY
Contributing Writer It has been 176 years combined since the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs have won a World Series. In 2016, one of these teams will be named World Series champions, ending the drought for either the Indians or Cubs. Generations of fans for both teams have come and gone throughout these heartbreaking seasons until this year. For the Indians, it’s been 68 years since their last championship in 1948, when they defeated the Boston Braves in six games to win their second title. Since then, Cleveland has made nine more postseason appearances, including winning three pennants in 1954, 1995 and 1997. History has not been kind to the Indians during the rest of the drought, especially when their best place finish was third in their division from 1960-1993. Most people can’t recall the Chicago Cubs winning a World Series. That’s because they haven’t won it since
1908, when they defeated the Detroit Tigers for the second year in a row. The Cubs returned to the series in 1945 again meeting the Tigers, but this time they weren’t so lucky and lost the series. During Game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field with the Cubs up 2-1 in the series, Billy Goat Tavern owner, Billy Sinias, and his pet goat were kicked out of Wrigley Field, because of the goat’s unpleasant odor. As he was being ejected, Sinias apparently put the curse of the Billy goat, upon the Cubs and claimed that they would never win again. Subsequently, the Cubs lost for the rest of the twentieth century, and into the first decade of the new millennium, earning them the nickname, The Lovable Losers. Expectations are high for both teams in the 2016 series. Sacred Heart Athletic Director and former Major League manager Bobby Valentine predicts that the Cubs will win the World Series in 2016. “The Cubs are the more talented of the two teams, and they have more players on their team who feel they
deserve to be where they are. I think they’ll win quickly. I don’t think they’ll have to go back to Cleveland,” said Valentine. Sophomore Henry Indictor backs up Valentine’s thoughts with the prediction that the Cubs will win the World Series. “Cubs in six. I think they got a deeper team and better pitching. But at the same time, the Indians are going to make it tough because they got a bunch of scrappy players, and a really good bullpen,” said Indictor. Sophomore John Flanigan commented on the Indians’ superior pitching, who he feels their bullpen is the Indian’s key to victory. “The Indian lineup is deep in pitching. If it comes down to a bullpen battle the Indians’ bullpen will out-pitch Chicago’s any day,” said Flanigan. Regardless of who wins the 2016 World Series, a losing record will be put to rest as one curse ends, the other will be broken.
November 2, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Sports
SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY WRESTLING TEAM PRACTICING HARD IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR UPCOMING SEASON
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