Fairfield Mirror 11-28-12

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Nick DiFazio/The Mirror

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By Danica Ceballos News Editor

By Emma DiGiovine Assistant News Editor

Three months of planning, singing and learning from each other will finally be showcased this weekend at the Fairfield University Glee Club performance, “On This Night.�

The music is a mixture of classical, Broadway and popular music and centers on the theme of rebirth. The Glee Club will be doing a gospel rendition

of “Oh Holy Night,� along with “Gloria,� which will be sung in Latin.

Several soloists will be singing popular songs taken from U2 and the musical, “Love Never Dies,� The entire club will be singing “The Many Moods of Christmas,� which is a medley of various Christmas carols.

The Glee Club, which is Fairfield’s oldest club, has been practicing every Monday and Wednesday evening since September and will have their final rehearsal this Wednesday.

According to one of the solo

Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping

singers, Seamus Barrett ‘16, this concert is “the most formal concert of the semester. It’s a big deal.�

In addition to the Glee Club practices twice a week, other groups within the club practice on their own. These groups include: Chamber Singers, Bensonians, Sweet Harmony and the performance soloists.

Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell is the director of Fairfield’s Glee Club, which is composed of 130 students. Maxwell made her debut as a conductor when she was 16 and later came to

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The Mirror handed out a survey that asked a total of 102 students about their holiday shopping.

Money Black Friday: $7,893

People who spent money

People who did not spend money

Graph by Loan Le/The Mirror

Cyber Monday: $ 3,040

DEALS| PAGE 2

@MirrorFairfield

the club grow in size and talent in monumental ways. “This is the largest that the club has ever been. When the students come in as young singers, they are told what is expected of them, and we follow through with it for their four years,� stated Maxwell. “They all have a certain pride and love of choral singing.�

Maxwell’s method for training and perfecting the various voices of the Glee Club is based on the passion that each

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By Kelsey Guerin Vine Editor

57

Fairfield in 1980. She has been the conductor of the Glee Club since then and became director in 1987. “I have played instruments.

I have sung. I have done all of that in preparation for this conducting career,� explained Maxwell.

When Maxwell first became a part of the Glee Club on campus, it was all-male.

This tradition was established in 1947; however, in 1987, the men and women were merged together. Since then, Maxwell explained that she has watched

On Monday night, a small but passionate group of student leaders assembled in the BCC to form a new network of humanitarian and justice activists on campus.

Known as the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), this organization formed for the purpose of bringing exposure to important causes on campus and providing support for student organizations trying to make a difference.

PSA first organized late last year, and so the network was still in its early stages at the end of the semester. As a result, they are “just now finding out how best to network to strengthen our movements collectively,� according to Arturo Jaras Watts ’14.

Jaras Watts is one of the two remaining students involved in the launch of PSA last year. However, both he and his remaining cofounder Luke Record ’14 were quick to emphasize throughout the meeting that the purpose of PSA was not to create a new or-

ganization with them as leaders.

Rather, PSA will function as a horizontal network of dedicated leaders who provide support for other organizations on campus with important causes. “Each of us here represent different clubs that we are committed to,â€? said Record. “But the purpose of PSA is so that when it gets to a point ‌ where you go and present these ideas and it’s on the line and you need backup, we can come.â€?

Record clarified that this support was not automatic. “If you need a petition that needs to be signed, we should all read it and not just blindly follow you guys,� Record said, “but I think we can see the benefits that this would accrue for all of us.�

Another important function of PSA is to increase the visibility of important humanitarian and justice events happening on campus. In order to accomplish this goal, PSA discussed options such as compiling a bathroom newsletter that lists these events and provides information about the clubs and organizations sponsoring them.

“We have events like the phenomenal Take Back the Night event that happens every year and we want participation to be as large as possible,� said Jaras Watts. “The newsletter would serve that side of the function of increasing the visibility and reaching a greater portion of Fairfield students.� The group also discussed creating a public space such as a bulletin board in the BCC that would display these events and club information.

In all, ten different groups and organizations were represented at the meeting on Monday, although not all clubs involved in PSA were able to send representatives to the meeting.

These groups ranged from the environmental club Leaders for Environmental Action at Fairfield (LEAF) to Act Against, a student movement that works to bring important issues to the forefront of campus consciousness.

The organizations and clubs involved in PSA are currently working on assembling their newsletter, which they hope to release during the first weeks of next semester.

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The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

News

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Martin O’Sullivan/The Mirror

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Fairfield during the holiday season Martin O’Sullivan/The Mirror

One of several Christmas trees in the BCC.

Slawek Guzierowicz/The Mirror

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You push back from the table, stuffed to the brink with turkey and dizzy from tryptophan. Now that Thanksgiving dinner is done, the question remains: Do you stay up until midnight to brave the crowds at Best Buy, or wait until Monday to buy that iPad online?

This year, Black Friday marked a significant progression in the trend of mass shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. With major chains like Wal-Mart opening as early as 8p.m. on Thanksgiving itself, shoppers were offered the earliest start to the tradition to date.

And for those who decided to stay in, retailers continued the tradition of offering significant discounts the Monday after Thanksgiving, also known as Cyber Monday. However, many companies hastened virtual sales by offering Black Friday discounts both instore and online.

The year 2011 saw 11.4 billion dollars in sales during the fourday Thanksgiving weekend, with an additional 1.25 billion in sales on Cyber Monday, according to CNN. The question remains: Will these individual days retain their appeal?

Senior Byron Garcia said, “Cyber Monday is no longer just Monday. Black Friday is no longer excluded to non-Internet based areas of commerce. They are quickly becoming one single thing: the start of Christmas.”

“I like to go out with the masses because sometimes you stumble upon something and I can often avoid shipping costs,” said Jordan Freeman ‘13. “I also do some online shopping for other smaller deals that I can get. So I think there are pros and cons so I see both institutions staying.”

Junior Hillary Maxson thought discounts could be found elsewhere: “I have never been Black Friday shopping in my life. If you want a real deal, go shopping after Christmas. That’s where the real deals are at.”

On Nov. 27, The Mirror con-

ducted an anonymous survey of 102 students concerning these shopping traditions. Survey questions were specific to whether or not students had shopped on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and how much they spent on each day.

Of the students surveyed, 56 percent did not spend money on either day. Those who responded as not spending anything were evenly distributed as male and female.

Forty-four percent of students surveyed said that they had spent money due to sale prices on one or both of these days. As with those who did not spend, the sex of respondents was also evenly distributed. The total amount spent by this group of students came to approximately 11,000 dollars.

Of the 45 students who made purchases on these days, 34 spent more on Black Friday. Twenty-six of these students spent solely on Friday, making no Internet purchases the following Monday. The total amount spent on Black Friday alone by those surveyed came to almost 7,900 dollars.

Of the same 45 students who made purchases, 11 spent more on Cyber Monday. Within this group, 9 students shopped only on Monday. The total amount spent on Cyber Monday alone of those surveyed amounted to over 3,000 dollars.

So what about the people who didn’t shop at all?

Some may have tried. “I went to the mall for about 20 minutes on Black Friday,” said Juliana Basset ‘14. “With the amount of people in all of the stores it was hard to find what I was looking for I so just gave up and left.”

Others avoided it all together: “... I stayed home, relaxed, and avoided all the madness,” said Deidre Simms ‘13.

Black Friday began as a tradition in the 1960s, followed by Cyber Monday in 2005. With constant new ways to offer discounts and more products to buy, the future may hold a new name for these shopping holidays.

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student possesses for music.

She explained, “I expect from them what I expect from myself, which is total and absolute commitment to what they are doing. I think a big thing that keeps us together is the esprit de corps, the energy that we give back and forth to one another. It’s why we enjoy being together in and out of rehearsal.”

For many students, the Glee Club has played a major role in their experience at Fairfield. Senior Peter Lyons, the social coordinator, explained that leaving Glee will be a difficult task.

“It’s sad because I remember when we were freshmen and now I’m a senior,” said Lyons. “Out of everything that I’m going to miss when I graduate,

Glee will be the thing that I will miss most.”

Though they are sad that their Glee experience is coming

“I think a big thing that keeps us together is the ... energy that we give back and forth to one another. It’s why we enjoy being together in and out of rehearsal.”

-Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell to an end, many of the students are anticipating the upcoming performance. Maxwell also ex-

plained, the most exciting part for her is “the various ways I can challenge the students… and the audience too, I guess.”

She reflected on her goal for the audience during the performance.

Maxwell stated that the most important part is the focus on the rebirth and recognizing that every song is centered on the birth of Christ. “Everything points to that. Whether we’re singing about stars, whether we’re singing about angels or about something by U2, it all leads back to that,” stated Maxwell.

The concert is this Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Quick Center.

In addition to the performance this weekend, the Glee Club will also be having a Christmas Pops concert on Dec. Nick DiFazio/The Mirror 12 in Einstein’s at 9:30 p.m.

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News

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

IRHA jumpstarts the Christmas season

By Courtney Todd Assistant News Editor

Contributed Photo

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This Wednesday, Nov. 28, will mark the 79th annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center in New York City.

It will also mark the seventh year in a row that Fairfield’s Inter-Residential Housing Association (IRHA) will host their trip for students to attend the lighting. “The IRHA has been doing this specific trip for at least seven years now,� said IRHA’s Director of Programming, Brendhan Kolf ’14. “Since the beginning of this school year, the IRHA has been working on this trip, whether it be deciding how many buses we want, getting them, ticket sales, the departure time, etc.,� he continued.

Kolf went on to explain that the reason the IRHA continues to bring back the program every year is because of how well it is received by the student body. “It is a fantastic stress reliever to go into the city and be part of a tradition. It allows the student body to forget about the stress of finals, papers and projects,

even if it is just for a couple of hours,� he stated.

The tree itself is usually a Norway spruce and stands somewhere between 69 to 100 feet tall. The tallest tree ever to be put up in Rockefeller Center was in 1999. The tree came from Killingworth, CT and stood at 100 feet tall.

This year the Rockefeller Center tree, which hails from Mt. Olive, New Jersey stands at 80 feet tall and the event promises to be just as fun and entertaining as the previous years.

NBC will broadcast the event, as they do every year.

Hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie, the broadcast will include performances from Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart and CeeLo Green, to name a few. “This trip is extremely popular�, said Kolf. He also explained that because the trip is so popular the IRHA decided to add another bus this year to accommodate the large amount of students going. “Even though we doubled the number of tickets this year, they sold in record time on the very first day of sales,� he said.

Student interest seems to

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add up. “I didn’t know about the Christmas tree lighting trip until someone put up one of those IRHA papers with riddles on the bathroom stall. I’m not positive if I’ll go but I’d be interested in going,� said Devon Hogan ’16.

Joe Flanagan ’16 said, “I’ve heard about the tree lighting trip and I’m definitely going.�

Some students, though, explained that having the trip on a school night creates conflict with their classes. “It’s a fun activity and it’s nice that the school offers it for such a low price but it’s difficult to go because it’s on a Wednesday and everyone has homework,� said Carolyn Mannix ’14.

Kolf ended on a positive note. “My hopes for this year’s trip, as it is my first year as the Director of Programming for the IRHA, are that it is as successful as it has been in the last couple of years, and if ticket sales are any hint as to how it will go, I know my hopes will be fulfilled.�

Buses will depart from Alumni Hall on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

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By Crystal Rodriguez Staff Writer

“Let’s put the fair back in (fair)field� is the slogan for this year’s 3rd annual Fair Trade Fair.

The fair is scheduled to take place Nov. 30 at 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the lower Level BCC. Students for Social Justice (S4SJ) have been working hard to plan the event and to raise awareness of fair trade on campus.

Fair trade is a term that means buying a product and knowing that most, if not all, of the proceeds are going to the artisans, explains Cristina Richardson’14, an executive board member of S4SJ. By promoting fair trade, S4SJ hopes to discourage the use of sweatshops and support better work standards for artisans around the world.

S4SJ is working towards a fair trade movement that goes beyond an annual event with an ultimate goal of bringing the humanity back in consumption.

But do the students notice the change? “I have definitely seen the coffee in Barone say ‘fair trade’ but that’s the only place I’ve seen it,� says Tori Ready ‘ 14. S4SJ has worked to motivate administrators to always choose fair trade.

But every year the group is presented with a new set of struggles. If there is a change in the food suppliers on campus, like the recent switch from Jazzman’s to Einstein’s, the group has to reorient themselves to the new products. Sometimes the progress the group has made will hold true to the next school year but sometimes it doesn’t,

explains Richardson.

Although the fair trade coffee is noticed, some students say that one of S4SJ’s central projects has gone unnoticed. Andres Peschiera ’14 has never noticed the Alta Garcia products in the spirit shop or the downtown bookstore but jokes that it might be under all the Vera Bradley products.

S4SJ brought the Alta Garcia products to Fairfield because the company embraced strong labor unions and gave the workers fair wages. By hosting the fair trade event, they hope to support other groups that do the same.

The fair trade will include Nicaraguan handmade ceramic vases, pottery and wooden bowls brought in by the Hearts for Hands group on campus.

Jewelry, coffee, scarves, chocolate bars and home goods from

Ten Thousand Villages in New Haven, Conn. will also be sold.

When students attend the fair, their awareness may start with a purchase that fits their wants and desires, whether it’s for themselves or a loved one for the holidays. But as students check out the items and they read the pamphlets regarding fair trade, Richardson hopes they will become more conscious consumers.

But after shopping at the Fair Trade event freshmen year, Ready thinks there could be more information. Otherwise “people just think its nice products but they aren’t thinking about where it comes from,� said Ready.

Bringing awareness on fair trade is a difficult task. There are many varying qualifications to

fair trade and often times labels can be deceitful, says Richardson.

But there is hope. There is a whole wealth of knowledge out there on fair trade and S4SJ hopes to bring that knowledge to Fairfield.

They are hoping to include biographies on the artisans who reated the products. All that matters is that students do the most they can and stay informed said Richardson.

After all, buying fair trade means the people who work hard on the products are being respected and compensated for their hard work. And why buy something mass-produced at Walmart when you can buy something handmade and unique, said Ready.

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News

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Page 4

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Friday, 11/16

DPS that their laundry had been stolen from the building’s laundry room.

12:03 a.m. - A student was struck by a car on campus. No injuries were reported. The driver was referred to Student Conduct.

11:16 p.m. – A non-student urinating near the Fairfield Prep. gate was confronted by DPS. The individual was not cooperative with DPS or Fairfield Police and was arrested for trespassing.

9:12 a.m. - A Prep. student driving on campus was pulled over by DPS and was found to be in Sunday, 11/18 possession of marijuana. Fairfield Police was notified, as was Prep. administration.

12:38 a.m. – Exposed wires hung from where the hand dryer had been in a BCC men’s room. DPS Saturday, 11/17 has not found any suspects in the vandalism.

12:20 a.m. – A Townhouse resident reported that a beer can was thrown through their window. No suspects have been identified.

1:57 a.m. – Two students were involved in an assault at the Townhouses. Fairfield Police was notified for investigation.

3:14 a.m. – DPS received report of public urina- 4:17 a.m. – A taxi driver reported that two indition in McInnes Hall on an apartment door. The viduals urinated in the back of his cab. The stumatter is still under investigation. dents were identified and restitution was paid.

3:30 a.m. – A Village resident was arrested for 4:35 a.m. – A Townhouse resident reported a possession of marijuana in their room and was burglary during which a MacBook was stolen. No referred to Student Conduct. suspects have been identified.

1:48 p.m. – A group of males was observed throw- 6:31 p.m. – An exit sign was smashed in the Viling beer cans at an apartment window in the Vil- lage. Maintenance was called. No suspects have lage. All were referred to Student Conduct. been identified.

2:58 p.m. - One Townhouse resident was discov- Tuesday, 11/20 ered to be in possession of marijuana and was referred to Student Conduct.

4:16 a.m. – A Village resident was referred to Student Conduct for possession of narcotics.

6:38 p.m. – A Loyola Hall resident reported to *If you have information about any of these incidents, please contact the Department of Public Safety.*

Did you know?

Powerball fever spikes as jackpot hits $500 million

The jackpot hits over $500 million and is speculated to be the largest jackpot in the game’s history.

The FBI uses Twitter to expose fraud It has been reported that the FBI now sees Twitter and other social media outlets as “breeding grounds” for security fraud and currently has agents scouring the sites for tips.

Friday, Nov. 30 Head to the Quick Center for a holiday performance by the Glee Club. The event is from 8:00 p.m.

-10:30 p.m. and tickets are $6 for general admission.

Friday, Nov. 30 Graduate students will present their readings DQG PXVLF DW WKH )DLU¿HOG Bookstore at 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 30 5HS \D ÀDJ +HDG WR 7KH Levee to celebrate different cultures through music and dance from 11 p.m.-2 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1 Watch the lady Stags vs. St. Francis in Alumni Hall. Tip off is at noon and the event is free.

Monday, Dec. 3 ,W¶V WKDW WLPH RI WKH \HDU IRHA will be hosting its annual campus wide Deck the Halls competition. May WKH EHVW EXLOGLQJ ZLQ

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Cyber Monday slows mobile web to a crawl This year’s Cyber Monday bonanza set new records and shoppers attempting to purchase items using their smartphones. Tablets encountered extreme delays and sluggishly slow websites.

Home prices see their biggest rise in more than 2 years The housing market is experiencing a rebound as home prices posted the biggest percentage gain in more than 2 years in the third quarter of the year, according to the S&P/ Case-Shiller index.

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New ‘Girl Meets World’ will be sequel to ‘Boy Meets World’ Original cast members of the 1990s series “Boy Meets World,” Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle, will reunite in a sequel series titled “Girl Meets World.” It will pick up more than 10 years after the conclusion of the original series with Savage and Fishel playing parents to a 13-year-old daughter.

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The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Opinion

Online

Send your thoughts to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com.

Page 5

OPINION | 5 Editor: (OL]DEHWK .RXEHN RSLQLRQ@fairfieldmirror.com

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EDITORIAL Martin O'Sullivan |Editor-in-Chief Loan Le |Executive Editor Laura O'Reilly |Managing Editor

Better to give than to get Thanksgiving? Check. Black Friday? Done. Cyber Monday? History.

After a holiday dedicated to gluttony and a weekend devoted to uninhibited materialism, we can’t help but ask: How did we get here?

To be precise, it seems that society has come to a point where we value self-interest more than the people around us. Billions of dollars are spent in a few days to satisfy superficial impulses, while there are so many struggling to obtain the bare necessities of life.

So how have we come to a point in our country where a few deaths or gunshots have come to be expected on a shopping holiday? Do we really live in such a self-interested society where the demise of Twinkies gets just as much attention on the internet as the turmoil on the Gaza-Israel border?

But there is hope. ǔFSFhT B EBZ UIBU JT DBMMFE (JWJOH 5VFTEBZ 8IBU T the idea here? Several charity organizations banded together to promote the idea that after a weekend of self indulgence, one should realize that the needs of others should also be considered. Individuals are encouraged to donate to charities and the less fortunate in any way possible on this particular day.

Hopefully, people can recognize the importance of helping others through the organization of efforts like Giving Tuesday. In fact, this day should replace Black Friday altogether.

One might argue that the loss of Black Friday as a national staple would be devastating to our economy. And you’d be right - it promotes spending in a way that is not seen at any other time throughout the year.

We’re not saying don’t spend any money on the holidays. But instead of getting that iPad or flat screen television at half price, use that money to buy GPPE BOE EPOBUF JU UP 'PPE#BOL/:$ PS UIF MJLF :PV will still be pumping money into the economy, but you will also be helping those in need. Without having to spend every last penny on the bare necessities of life, those helped by donations can work towards things like education and entrepreneurship, allowing an even greater progression for our country than one weekend of shopping could provide.

Thanksgiving can stay. Enjoy a good meal with your family. But when it’s done, instead of buying the WiiU with 30 percent off, go help the family who couldn’t afford to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner.

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r 8PNFOhT CBTLFUCBMM beat St. Bonaventure 52-49.

Have an opinion about something else?

Send us your thoughts to opinion@fairfieldmirror.com

Lisa Tkach/The Mirror

Change adds to life's complication Molly Leidig Contributing writer

If you asked most people, “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?� most people would respond that they’d want the ability to fly, to have super strength, or to predict the future - something along those lines.

However, I’d have a much simpler answer. If I could possess one quality, it would be this: the ability to deal with change.

Change. It’s one of the most challenging things we as humans face. We lose friends and loved ones, and we switch schools and jobs. The list goes on. Changes come in all shapes and sizes positive, negative and everything in between. But what is it about change that makes it so hard?

When things in life change, a part of our character must change, too. It’s not always easy to change yourself in order to embrace the change your life has brought upon you. When your life takes on a different road, you must adapt. Some people take on this challenge with poise and elegance, but some dwell in the past.

I tend to see the past as brighter than it was and the future as

darker than it will be.

I am sure many of you reading can relate with my problem.

Whenever something in your life changes, you crumble to pieces.

When a friendship fails, or a relationship ends, you look in the mirror and beat yourself up. You ask yourself what you did wrong.

You think that maybe if you were skinnier, blonder, funnier, not as loud, not as quiet, maybe if you did things differently, things would have worked. Trust me, I’ve been down this road a million times and that is not the right attitude when dealing with change.

As clichĂŠ as it sounds, everything in life truly does happen for a reason. Even the hardest things you face in life happen to make you stronger. Just like you lift weights at the gym to make strengthen your muscles, you face obstacles in life to make yourself stronger.

Probably one of the toughest changes we face is the loss of a relationship - whether it be romantic or friendship. A successful relationship only takes two things; 100 percent effort from both persons involved. Relationships take work and can fall to pieces in the blink of an eye.

It’s hard when someone changes, because you look them in the face and see the same person, but on the inside they’re not.

And you almost wish they could flash back for a moment and remember how things were.

We’ve all experienced the loss of a best friend. That person who you once said to yourself, “They will never leave me and will always be there no matter what.�

And then, boom. One day, everything changes. Where do you turn from there? What do you do when the person you went to with all your problems is now the cause of your problems?

It has taken me experience and loss to finally find the solution.

First off, not all change is forever. Sometimes people leave us for awhile but come back later.

To deal with the loss of a special relationship is to cherish the memories. Always keep a part of that person with you. Memories are one of the most beautiful gifts we are given, because they can never be taken away. They are the diamonds of our past.

CHANGE| PAGE 2

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"You think you're doing things right, but you might get someplace and realize, 'this doesn't look right anymore.'"

Richard DeWitt "Orienteering pushes professor's life to great heights" page 8

The Mirror welcomes the opinions and contributions of its readers: Letters to the editor must be timely and submitted by email to info@fairfieldmirror.com or Box AA. All letters to the editor that are appropriate will be published either in print or online. The Mirror reserves the right to edit letters and articles for content, length and grammatical error. Letters should be free of obscenities and personal attacks and should contain correct and factual information not exceeding 500 words.

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Hey, you have a pretty nice smile

In other words, you don’t need to be a member of a club to be nice to someone, or to offer them a compliment.

This complement club reminds me of a group I encountered when a buddy and I visited Washington, D.C., this summer.

We were about to leave Old Glory Bar-B-Que, a Georgetown bar, when a small army of barcrawling guys and girls arrived

When’s the last time someone has stood outside the library with a “free compliments” sign and said, “hey, you have a nice smile?”

Sound creepy? I guess it depends on how you say it.

But two students at Tufts University say kind words including that. They’re members PG UIF iGSFF DPNQMJNFOUT DMVC a group that offer niceties for the sake of it.

Should we start our own chapter?

“I like the idea,” Father George Collins, S.J., director of campus ministry, told me as he sipped his Einstein Bro’s coffee Monday morning. “There’s days when everyone could use a free compliment.”

However, we agree that Fairfield doesn’t necessarily need a free compliments club.

We’re a nice campus as it is.

Most people I’ve encountered here seems to be extremely friendly. People held doors open for me when I’m 50 yards away.

in yellow “free hugs” t-shirts. And they made good on their offer, giving a hug to everyone who asked.

These people really changed the atmosphere of the bar and brought a more positive vibe.

Could you imagine a better conversation starter with women at the bar than “Excuse me, what’s that cool tshirt about?”

By Jay Polansky Staff writer

Boom. Conversation.

This group made the bar feel like a gathering of friends. Well, I guess friends that somehow don’t even know each other.

I’m not saying that you hug everybody at a bar. Certainly, it’s not advisable to hug someone

Page 6

who hasn’t showered in weeks. /PS BN * TBZJOH UIBU ZPV should give a compliment where one is obviously not due.

Surely, though, if someone is deserving of a compliment, you should give one.

We don’t seem to have a free compliments club at Fairfield. But if you do decide to start one, I’ll be the first to compliment you.

Lisa Tkach/The Mirror

Opinion

All that glitters is gold

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 /FWFS DIBOHF ZPVSTFMG CFcause of the loss of a relationship. If someone changes, that doesn’t mean you should ever change yourself for them. You can never go wrong with being yourself.

Sometimes the loss of a relationship is only temporary.

Remember that you might not have lost this person forever. Always have hope.

Look for the silver lining in every change. Most of life’s most useful lessons are manifested in change. Search for that lesson and implement it into your everyday life.

Change, whether positive or negative, will never be an easy task. But you can’t let change break you and you absolutely can’t dwell in the past. You must trust that every change, even the hardest ones, are just part of the building blocks of your character.

If I ever get a tattoo, I’d definitely get one with a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien: “All that is gold EPFT OPU HMJUUFS /PU BMM UIPTF who wander are lost.”

Just because a change doesn’t glitter does not mean it’s not gold. Trust that always.

Registration : the nightmare for every student

By Amanda McKelvey Contributing writer

Staring at the computer screen in a panic and frustrated beyond belief, I begin trying to register for classes. Even as a sophomore I expected it to be easier than it had been my freshman year, but I was wrong and at this point I had a feeling it would never get easier. This system that determines the kind of life I will have next semester is undoubtedly flawed.

Let me begin by saying that while I registered, I could not even get onto StagWeb. The site kept crashing, which made things even more difficult than usual. A note to whomever works on StagWeb, it would make things a lot easier if all of the kinks were worked out ahead of time. There should be no reason why I should have the spinning wheel in the middle of my computer while I am picking classes.

Secondly, out of the five classes I wanted to register for, I was waitlisted for four of them.

Then when I tried to add my back up classes I was waitlisted for 2/3 of them. I planned on registering for a U.S. Diversity that would also fulfill a part of my core. This left me extremely limited. Many of them were English, history, or social science, all of which I have already fulfilled. I found this problem to be frustrating when all the other ones were closed that matched a core I hadn’t fulfilled. Fairfield should

possibly think about crediting more classes as World and U.S. Diversity.

Students need more options that fit their majors and their schedules.

Another problem was that a aournalism course that all majors need to take only had one section with only fifteen spots. Luckily I was able to register for it but what if I hadn’t been able to?

What happens then? Even if I had asked to be written in and was allowed, why not just add more spots to begin with or create another section? If every journalism major needs to take this course at one point or another, there should be no reason why there is only one section of fifteen people.

Another problem I found while registering was that I could not register for a course in marketing because I am not a business major. I had wanted to take this course to see if I wanted to mi-

nor in it. But because no paperwork had been filed, an error occurred in registering. I ran into this problem again in trying to register for an upper level psychology course as well

to fulfill my Social Science core. /FFEMFTT UP TBZ by the end of regis-

tration I was left frazzled, upset and with a schedule I hated which did not work with my other activities.

Registration is a huge part of academics and Fairfield cer-

tainly has a running list of problems they need to work out. There must be an easier and more efficient way to sign up for classes. Fairfield, it’s time to figure that out!

Kelsey Guerin/The Mirror

The Vine

{The Vine}

Professor vs. Wild Dr. DeWitt hops the pond, goes over mountains and through woods in elite Orienteering

By Danica Ceballos News Editor

It was a cool, but sunny July morning in the Swiss Alps. Richard DeWitt left the ski village and headed to meet about 5,000 fellow competitors to be sent on cable cars, ski lifts and gondolas to their specific starting points for the upcoming competition.

At 10,000 feet, glacial terrain made it seem as though the race was about to take place on the moon. After a 45-minute ride to the top of the glacier with snow caps scattered all over, DeWitt prepared to embark on his orienteering competition.

On a daily basis, Fairfield’s Dr. Richard DeWitt, professor of philosophy, experiences a very different environment than that of his office in Donnarumma Hall.

“Through my experience in Professor Dewitt’s class, he definitely seems like a guy to have a competitive nature and be into sports,” explained DeWitt’s former student, Ryan Plourde ’14. “He always had healthy snacks and his Nalgene bottle nearby.”

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8

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

The Vine

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Orienteering pushes professor's life to great heights

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 To orient is to locate something in relation to the points of a compass. The sport of orienteering, popular in Europe, does just that.

Orienteers are separated by age group and given a specific map to follow. Because there is no predetermined course, racers have to figure out the best way to get to all of the points, or “controls,” on their map. They then must check in at their locations by pointing sensors over the controls.

Participants are staggered about every two minutes on the starting line. As soon as the race begins, DeWitt can view his map for the first time.

Compass in hand and racing against the clock, DeWitt’s first priority is to locate the first control.

“You have to keep ahead of the game,” explained DeWitt in a recent interview in his Fairfield office. “You’re problemsolving sometime ahead and figuring out the most efficient route to run 10 minutes from now.”

DeWitt reaches about 12 to 18 controls throughout the race. With a pace of about 10 minutes per kilometer, he runs through trails and up hills, constantly bushwhacking along the way. “You think you’re doing things right,” he said, “but you might get someplace and realize, ‘this doesn’t look right anymore.’”

The pace can seem misleading because it is based on the most accurate way to get from one point to another; however, competitors often run more than the assumed mileage. “The courses are designed so that the straight line is almost never the optimal one,” explained DeWitt.

Friend and colleague Dr. Joy Gordon of the philosophy department connected DeWitt’s personality in the workplace to his competitiveness on the course. “He’s someone who is thorough, articulate and has high standards of integrity in everything he does,” she said.

For most races, the competitors are not allowed to follow each other.

While their paths may intersect, it would be inefficient to follow someone because they could be looking for different controls.

While novice competitors can add minutes to their overall time by making navigational mistakes, the more experienced runners can plan their route more accurately.

When DeWitt and his wife first discovered orienteering, they called their local club and were quickly hooked. Now, DeWitt is the president of the Western Connecticut orienteering group. “If it’s the sort of thing that grabs you, there is nothing more fun,” DeWitt said.

Almost every summer, he travels overseas to compete in more

“Some people

do meditation, some people do yoga, and I do mapping.”

-Dr. Richard DeWitt

populated internationally sanctioned events. “The ones in Europe are by far the most fun!” commented DeWitt. “They have fantastic terrain.”

When he was about 40 years old, DeWitt set a goal of ranking as high as he could nationally. “That took an incredible amount of focus and training,” explained DeWitt.

Although he did not qualify for the U.S. team, DeWitt was near the top 50 competitors in the country.

“Orienteering can be kind of cruel in the sense that you train really hard for something and then you might just completely blow a race,” reminisced DeWitt. “That can happen where you just have a really horrible mistake and take yourself out of the running.”

DeWitt still tries to keep in shape. He has run over 10 marathons and an Ironman triathlon.

Some people would rather not go against him. “I wouldn’t challenge him to any races anytime soon,” joked Plourde. “He seems like he'd definitely beat me in a race.”

There is one kind of training that has remained close to his heart throughout the past 20 years: hash running. On Thursday nights, DeWitt and his buddies run about six to nine miles on a course marked by baking flour. “It’s our chance to just put work behind us and go act like children,” DeWitt said. “God knows how many miles I’ve run with them!”

Although most of the time it’s fun and games with his hash running group, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. The sun was slowly setting when DeWitt and his friends decided to play Frisbee after

a fun run.

Although his wife repeatedly warned him to be careful, DeWitt lost his footing amid the playing and laughing and took a hard fall.

Rupturing all the ligaments in his right shoulder and breaking his collarbone, DeWitt’s fun-filled evening quickly took a turn for the worse. “We were having a blast, but it was one of those things where it’s a lot of fun until someone gets hurt,” he said.

While no athlete wants to be injured, DeWitt recognizes that it is all part of the sport, saying, “As you get more experience, you get more patient with things. With injuries, you realize that it will take a period of months to get better, and it’s just something you have to deal with.”

Not only has orienteering provided DeWitt with a physical outlet, he also discovered another way that it can be mentally stimulating and satisfying: creating maps.

“It gives you a way of dissipating some energy,” explained DeWitt. This very time-consuming aspect of orienteering has become a relaxing part of the sport for DeWitt. With so few mapmakers in the United States, it is truly an art.

When creating a map of an area not far from campus, DeWitt would walk through trails and map every inch of the terrain. Because one map can take up to 300 hours to create, he explained that sometimes it takes years to complete his hourly dedication to one specific map.

DeWitt joked saying that mapping is like a second career - or rather, an alternative to his career.

“Some people do meditation, some people do yoga, and I do mapping,” he said.

Over the past 20 years, orienteering has played a large role in DeWitt’s life, whether through his training runs, competitions or mapping. “Running and competing has become a part of who I am,” explained DeWitt. Similar to most athletes, it was difficult for DeWitt to convey the significance and impact of orienteering on his life simply because it is his life.

All photos contributed by Richard DeWitt

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

The Vine

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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the rise

By MaryKate Callahan Contributing Writer

A

fter fighting their way onto the popular music scene, Seattle-based hip hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are finally cashing in on the success that persistence, a loyal fan base, and more than 10,000 hours of logged studio time studio will get you.

Macklemore (real name Ben Haggerty) and Ryan Lewis have been working together as a collaborative team since 2000 and are currently in the process of ascending from their status as hometown heroes to that of national superstars, having finally found success after their recently released debut album titled “The Heist.”

“The Heist” was released on Oct. 9 and entered at No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes download charts and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts, selling 78,000 copies in the first week.

As soon as their album was released, the duo embarked upon The Heist World Tour, which was created to promote and celebrate their debut album.

Recently, the band performed at Toad’s Place in New Haven, which was the first time either of the West Coast gentlemen had been to Connecticut.

Currently, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are not signed to a record label. According to Haggerty, this is completely by choice, as the band has been offered several contracts at this point but has turned them all down.

In a song off their album called “Jimmy Iovine,” Haggerty raps about what it’s like to be an independent artist in today’s modern

Nicholas DiFazio/The Mirror

Haggerty, popularly known as Macklemore, pumps up the crowd at Toad's Place in New Haven on Nov. 18. music industry and how, at the end of it all, the artists themselves are the ones left with the short end of the stick.

One of the many facets of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ overwhelming success as independent artists is the fact that their music, more specifically their latest album, isn't comprised of a bunch of similar songs. In fact, it could be argued that their diversity and variety is what’s making them so popular; it’s as if they have a song for everybody.

While some of their music is heavy and deals with serious topics such as their song “Otherside”

about battling addiction, they have produced plenty of light-hearted songs such as “And We Danced,” which is a humorous song about enjoying a really great impromptu dance party.

The pair have also been applauded for producing several songs that comment on and draw attention to civil rights topics and societal issues such as gay marriage, racism and the dangers of consumerism.

Like many artists who are making it big these days, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ success is rooted in a strong Internet presence and subsequent fan base.

Known for their artistic and high quality videos, several of the band’s music videos have gone viral, including the videos for their singles “Thrift Shop,” which is played regularly on BET, and “Same Love,” a video about marriage equality that has been viewed on YouTube more than 30 million times. This latter video has also drawn the attention of well-known celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres, who had the the band on her show for a live performance of the song and gave everyone in the audience a copy of their CD. Their Nov. 18 concert at Toad's Place, a small and relatively inti-

mate venue, was filled with a frenetic and nearly tangible energy that can only be produced by genuine fans. Many in attendance were college students from nearby schools such as Yale University, Quinnipiac University and Fairfield University.

Fairfield sophomore Patrick Kueny who attended the concert said, “The crowd was unbelievable, absolutely amazing… that was probably my favorite part. Everyone was singing along to every single song and we all knew the lyrics.”

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis gave an entertaining and lively performance that came with all the trimmings: sequin-clad dancers, multiple costume changes (including wigs) and more than a few stage dives and crowd surfs.

When the familiar beat and trumpets started blaring, introducing their most popular single “Thrift Shop,” the crowd roared and seemed to break out in dance simultaneously. Before Haggerty started rapping, he pointed to a few people in the audience who were sporting fake fur jackets and asked if he and Lewis could wear them as they performed the song. Unsurprisingly, they said yes and crowd surfed them up to the stage.

In between sets, Haggerty and Lewis would address the crowd and talk about a variety of topics, ranging anywhere from how thankful they are for their supportive fans to how pretty they think the girls in Connecticut are.

In what most fans would consider a highlight of the night, Haggerty complimented the crowd on their enthusiasm and energy, saying that this crowd may have cracked their top three favorites of all time.

New Music:

AWOLNATION

By Matthew Boley Contributing Writer

A

aron Bruno is the mastermind and front man behind AWOLNATION’s (AN) much anticipated debut album "Megalithic Symphony."

Their innovative, electronic feel pulls together elements of nearly every genre. AN is signed to Red Bull Records, and their creative control comes through as meticulous, clean and new throughout the entire album. Their album includes each of their three previous singles, “Sail,” “Not Your Fault,” and “Kill Your Heroes,” in addition to 11 other tracks.

AN broke through the music scene with their first single “Sail,” which became available for digital download in June of 2011. Professional base jumper Jeb Corliss features the song in his audacious YouTube video where he plummets through the Swiss Alps in a

wing suit. The video helped AN gain popularity with more than 19 million views. The song went platinum in the U.S., double-platinum in Canada and reached No. 5 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative Songs chart. This ground shaking song introduces a powerful bass and rugged synth, providing the defining elements of AN’s sound. Lead vocalist Bruno repeats the title “Sail” in a rough voice, complementing its electronic backdrop. The song is instantly ingrained in the minds of listeners, providing an anthem for the rest of the day and making everything they encounter appear a bit more epic.

Their second single “Not Your Fault” was released in October of 2011. AN’s electronic feel really comes through on this song.

It features a much more pixilated sound that holds onto soft a keyboard early and brings in the heavy synth later. The incredible build leads into a trashing chorus where

you can’t help but throw your entire body into the rhythm. The song landed the band with its second hit within Billboard’s U.S. Alternative chart, making its way up to No. 3.

In August of 2012, AN released their third single “Kill Your Heroes.”

The song climbed to No. 7 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative chart and sticks to the band's original electronic sound.

Fuzzy, hard-sung vocals are placed over a distorted synth and smooth guitar melodies that transition into another catchy chorus. The song’s sinister lyrics leave its meaning up to debate, but in any case, another jam is produced.

Some other great songs on the album include “Jump On My Shoulders,” “Guilty Filthy Soul,” “Wake Up" and one of the best

Contributed photo

tracks “All I Need,” which provides the album with another change of pace. The song incorporates the piano, along with a choir and a softer vocal sound to provide a gospelinfused rock feel that helps tie the entire album together.

"Megalithic Symphony" is an album deserving of its title and positive critical acclaim, as it suc-

cessfully spans across several genres, bringing them all together with unrivaled uniqueness.

AWOLNATION just stormed their way into the alternative/electronic realm with absolutely no fear and no looking back.

"Megalithic Symphony" is now available in stores and for download on iTunes.

The Vine

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

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The Vine

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Page 11

"Breaking Dawn" is a satisfying but forgettable conclusion

By Loan Le Executive Editor

I

n the final movie of the popular romance-fantasy Twilight franchise, "Breaking Dawn: Part 2," viewers see that young lovestruck teenager Bella Cullen (Kristen Stewart) is forever changed. After giving birth to a half-vampire, half-human baby while still in human form, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) had to change her when he realized he'd lose her otherwise.

This Bella is beautiful, strong and fiercely protective of not only the Cullens, but also her new family.

It seems that Stewart, whose acting is commonly compared to that of a stuttering robot - and this refers to viewers' frustration with her inability to exhibit a wide range of emotions - has graduated to a functioning human. Congratulations.

Bella's child, Renesmee, or Nessie, is introduced to Twilight fans, played by newcomer Mackenzie Fay, who does bear a great resemblance to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen.

Bella soon finds out that Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) has imprinted on Renesmee, meaning he has chosen her as a life mate. Suffice it to say, this immediately breaks apart the love triangle that many Twilight fans have obsessed over for the years.

Renesmee, it turns out, has the gift of transferring her thoughts and memories to other people through touch. Also, because of her unique

DNA, she ages more quickly than the normal child.

Stewart and Fay have a surprisingly believable chemistry, and Pattinson plays the part of a protective and devoted father well.

One day, a vampire from a nearby clan spots Renesmee playing with Taylor and Bella, and she mistakes the child for a dangerous Immortal Child. The witness then rushes to Italy to inform the Volturi, the powerful vampire government run by the oldest vampires to exist, of this "crime."

Centuries ago, it became illegal to change children into vampires after one child had gone on a killing rampant, incapable of controlling its new thirst. The Volturi stepped in to get rid of this vampire-child and its "parent," or the one who turned it.

When the Cullens realize that the Volturi will stop at nothing to put an end to this perceived crime, they start planning. Preferring to avoid war, Carlisle (Peter Facinelli), the head of the Cullen clan, decides they must recruit other vampires from the Denali, Irish and nomadic clans as witnesses to attest to Nessie's existence as a hybrid, not as an Immortal Child.

The movie finishes with an epic battle between the Volturi and vampires and their werewolf allies.

Thanks, Jacob.

There's one thing in this movie that needs praise: The choreography and cinematography for the battle scenes were masterfully done and

Contributed photo

Newly-turned Bella (Stewart) tackles some tough opponents, including brother-in-law Emmett (Kellan Lutz). fast-paced. Who knows? Maybe the boyfriends and husbands who were dragged to the movie even liked these final scenes.

With the gathering of vampires from across the globe, a lot of minor characters show up in this film, and it's actually sad that they got little screen time. A witty and seductive vampire played by Lee Pace might have been an American Patriot back in the day, and he is actually funny, delivering his humorous lines without causing the audience to flinch.

He woos Kate (Casey LaBow), a member of the Denali clan, and their love connection is established in just

a few scenes. Not to say anything against Bella and Edward's connection, which started when she saw him eyeing her angrily in biology class...

Some characters shine through among the mediocre acting that took up most of the movie. Dakota Fanning was brilliantly deviant as the sadistic vampire Jane, and actor Michael Sheen, who played head vamp Aro, was sufficiently creepy and overwhelmingly gleeful at the possibility of inflicting punishment on the Cullens.

It's a disappointment that the special effects of "Twilight" haven't

changed since that fateful day when Pattinson scaled up a tree with Stewart (read: spider monkey) on his back. Baby Renesmee was composed through computer-generated imagery, but unlike the success that CGI had with the werewolves in previous films, little Renesmee ended up looking cute but ultimately unrealistically composed.

The "Twilight" book and movie franchise does not have the same sentimental value as, say, "Harry Potter," which people of all ages grew up with. So the ending of "Breaking Dawn: Part 2" was expected, but not seen as monumental.

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

COFFEE BREAK | 12

Online

Send your thoughts to info@fairfieldmirror.com.

Editor /RDQ /H ª LQIR#IDLUÀHOGPLUURU FRP

IDLUÀHOGPLUURU FRP

Ask Miss Anne

zio sD iFa ola :N ich

Dear Sad Sack, I can’t tell you if you will ever be happy or if you will ever find someone to be happy with.

Blaming yourself is very easy, but it’s not something you should do often.

What are you not doing?

by

Sincerely, Sad Sack

oto

Is it me or is everyone coupled off on campus?

I feel like everyone has a boyfriend or girlfriend.

What’s worse is that I don’t think I could ever find anyone on this campus. Will I ever be happy?

Will I ever find someone I can be happy with?

My answer to those questions is that you can’t blame people for the way they are.

More important, you need to understand that people aren’t going to change, especially a large group of people that makes up this University.

Just try to ignore others‘ indiscretions and shortcomings.

SS, maybe it isn’t your time to be with someone. I am not saying this in a bad way at all.

What I mean is it’s equally likely that you will find someone once you graduate this college life.

Sometimes, the relationships you see happening on this very campus are not as cracked up as they seem to be.

Maybe the relationship you’re looking for is not what you’re

Ph

Dear Miss Anne,

Are you not leaving your house?

Are you not brushing your teeth in the morning? Are you not wearing deodorant? These are pretty easy fixes. Smelling good can really improve your chances in meeting someone you could find worthy to love, or even have as a friend.

Blaming everyone else is also very easy. Why is everyone such a snob? Why does everyone think it is okay to wear Uggs and Timberlands for every occasion and every day? Why don’t people just come up and make thought-provoking conversation with me when I actually feel like talking to people?

Because we could all use a little advice now and then...

seeing. Don’t fret.

If you are unsatisfied with a particular group of people, just be satisfied with the fact that you understand yourself that much more.

I’m going to blame you again. Walking out your door is a great start but if you are really dissatisfied with life on campus, get off.

There is a train station a quick fifteen-minute walk away.

Get on it and go somewhere anywhere but here.

Go to a museum, visit a friend, just walk around and get lost in a city (well, don’t really get lost, just explore). But you can’t just keep doing the same thing and think that things will change around you. I believe someone once told me that is a sign of insanity…

Stop perpetuating your misery and change. Change your socks.

Change your diet.

Change your friends. Change your sheets.

I’m not saying change who you are, but sometimes you have to change what you do.

Love, Miss Anne Send your questions to askmissanne@gmail.com Disclaimer: This is column is for entertainment purposes only. The author is a student, not a therapist, and the column is not intended to take the place of professional advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mirror and its staff members.

Anna Wolk ‘13 Columnist Loan Le ‘14 Editor

Can you spot the differences?

It’s getting tougher. Try to find five differences between the first photo and the second photo. Tweet the answers to @MirrorFairfield and get a possible RT!

Original Photo

Retouched Photo

Sports

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Page 13

This Week in Sports Watch out for Fairfield Athletics

Congrats to men's cross What To Watch For country on winning the IC4A University Championship!

Wednesday - No games

Thursday - Volleyball at USC, 7:30 p.m. (PT) Friday- No games

Saturday - Women's Basketball vs St Francis, 2 p.m.

Sunday - Swimming vs ECAC Warm-up Monday - No games.

Tuesday - No games.

-Junior Howie Rosas was the runner-up in the five-mile

By The Numbers 6 26 9.5

Senior Desmond Wade scored 26 points for men's basketball in their 74-71 win over Fordham on Nov. 20

race with a time of 26:05.7.

-The women's team finished seventh in their meet.

-Sophomore Maureen Crimmins achieved the fastest time ever for a Stag with a time of 18:49.4.

Volleyball will travel to L.A. to play in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against 6th ranked USC

Women's basketball's Katie Cizynski '14 averages 9.5 rpg earning her MAAC Player of the week

Quote of the Week " What a way to win a MAAC Championship, you know? Being down 2-0, coming back and winning in the fifth set, it’s unreal."

- Kara Reis '13 about winning MAAC

Sports 3x5 Because they like to talk ... sports.

Jennifer Calhoun Sports Editor

Michael O'Keeffe

Thanksgiving was this past week. What was your favorite food on the table?

The winter intramural season will be beginning soon. What sport would you sign up for?

Volleyball takes on USC in L.A. on Thursday in the NCAA Tourney.

Will you be making the journey?

It's under a month until Christmas...can you feel the Christmas spirit yet?

Black Friday is one of the scariest days of the year.

What is the only thing you would go out to buy on Black Friday?

If it was left on the table, I must not have liked it very much. The best food though has made it to my fridge back here ... actually sounds real good right now....STUFFING!

Dodgeball! Will I be good at it....absolutely not. Ever.

I will actually be a liability to whatever team I'm on.

I most certainly cannot dodge a wrench so I cannot dodge a ball.

Well, now that it sounds like David Beckham is on the way out of L.A. the appeal of the city is going down for me. But for now he's still there, so expect me there before its too late

If our room is any indication, I would say room 118 is feeling the Christmas spirit. We have 5 different color lights, a tree and Pierre. Oh yeah, Pierre's the man.

I would say that the only thing that can get me out of my house on Black Friday would be if I could buy a Manchester United player for the day...and I mean that in the most PG way possible.

Scotchy scotchy scotch, down down down, down to my belly.

As a reigning dodgeball champion, I will have to defend the title, but I am looking to apply my trade in something a bit different. Maybe sinking and diving?

(Unfortunately Michael was not available to write this post as he is currently running across country hoping to make it before the first serve. We wish him well)

Can't wait until the ugly sweater parties officially start up. I have been having unofficial ugly sweater parties all year long. Finally I won't look like a complete muppet!

It is very scary because it's so dark and black! I would buy a torch so I could see...

I ate everything on that table. Then I made them restock the table, and I ate that too.I'm pretty sure I ate some food that fell on the floor after that. #noshamethanksgiving

If there's a sport that involves me in my bath robe, on a couch, and a bottle of whatever booze I can afford, then I'll sign up for that.

Otherwise, I'm hibernating.

Not yet, but I've bought a lot of spirits lately, so I'm hoping the Christmas spirit can be found at the bottom of one of those bottles.

People shopping duringBlack Friday are insane, they beat the hell out of each other for 10 percent off baby clothes. I'll gladly stay in on Black Friday and gorge myself on leftovers.

The Mate

Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

Your 2012-2013 3x5 Columnists: Jennifer Calhoun, Thomas Shea and Michael O'Keeffe.

I'm not nearly the same athletic caliber as The Mate, so I'm resorting to hitchhiking with truckers and staying in a cardboard box. Truckers are trustworthy people, right?

Sports

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Page 14

Fairfield fights off Vermont

By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

The Fairfield University women’s basketball team squeaked out another close win on Tuesday night, this time defeating the Vermont Catamounts 51-47 at Alumni Hall.

The teams traded points for much of the first half, with Fairfield taking a 15-13 lead on a three-pointer by Kristin Schatzlein ’16 with just under nine minutes to play. Vermont would come back to tie it on two different occasions before halftime, but Fairfield never relinquished the lead and had the 24-23 advantage going into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Fairfield’s defense held Vermont scoreless for over four minutes, and was able to build a 31-23 lead. The Stags had their biggest lead of the day at 10 with seven minutes remaining when Katelyn Linney ‘13 connected on her second three pointer of the game. Linney scored eight points for the game, all coming in the second half.

Vermont battled back to make it a two-point game, and with just 20 seconds remaining, Catamounts forward Kaylea Britton attempted a three pointer to give Vermont the lead, but missed, with Alexys Vazquez corralling the rebound. Linney sank two clutch free throws to ice the game for the Stags and ensure the four point victory. The win avenges a 65-48 loss to Vermont suffered last year by the Stags up in Burlington.

The leading scorer for the

Stags on Tuesday night was Katie Cizynski ’14, who had a career high 19 points to go along with six rebounds. Freshman Schatzlein added a career-high nine points in 14 minutes off the bench for the Stags.

“I thought it was kind of messy, but a win is a win,” said Cizynski. “We didn’t play well against them last year, so this is good redemption.”

“We struggled guarding them inside [at the end of the game], but I thought Felicia handled the ball really well bringing it up. She didn’t turn it over, and she just kept going,” said Cizynski.

Head Coach Joe Frager called the win a “complete 180” from last year. “[Vermont] is incredibly big and physical, their kids are so much thicker and stronger across the board, and we did a better job of handling that tonight,” said Frager.

“In the first half, the really beat us up on the boards, and in the second half, for about a five minute stretch, their physical play really got us ragged with the basketball. But outside of that, I consider this a real solid win.”

The tight victory on Tuesday follows another close win at home against St. Bonaventure’s on Nov. 20 at Alumni Hall as well.

Cizynski had her second doubledouble of the season, finishing with 16 points and 10 boards.

Junior Alexys Vazquez went five for eight shooting, scoring 13 points, while Brittany Obi-Tabot ’14 and Brittany MacFarlane ’13 scored eight apiece as well in the victory.

“We’re feeling good, and it’s also good that we’re being put in

jennifer Calhoun/The Mirror

Senior Katelyn Linney fends off two players for Vermont. The Stags went on to win 51-47. these situations early in the season, so we can get comfortable with it,” said Cizynski.

“They’re embracing the fact they know they have to play as a team,” said Frager. “We made a few young mistakes down the stretch, and one defensive mistake that almost cost us, and fortunately it didn’t.”

The win over the Bonnies was an impressive one for Fairfield, given that St. Bonaventure

was considered among the best non-power conference teams in the country last year, and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m real thrilled,” Frager continued, “because I don’t think a lot of people thought this group would be 4-1, with a win on the road at Butler and over St. Bonaventure.”

Since allowing 71 points to Florida in their first game of the

season, the Stags defense has played quite well, not allowing an opponent to score into the 50s since that game. On Tuesday, the defense held strong again, forcing the Catamounts to shoot just 36 percent for the game, and go 0 for 9 from three-point range.

The Stags look to pick up their fifth win of the season this Saturday when they take on St. Francis Brooklyn at 2 p.m. at Alumni Hall.

Volleyball wins MAAC Tournament

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

25-21 win in the set, and keeping their hopes alive.

The fourth set was dominated by Fairfield early on, as they jumped to an early 6-0 lead behind the serving of Carsen Mata ’15. Siena yet again answered, and soon had a two advantage at 16-14.

After a serving error by the Saints, Coffey again came up big by serving four straight points to regain the lead, and Fairfield would take the set 25-20, forcing a fifth and final set.

By that fifth set, it seemed that everyone in the packed and loud Alumni Hall knew what was transpiring before their eyes: a monumental shift, and the collapse of a team that had dominated the Stags in years past. This moment seemed impossible.

Fairfield jumped out to another early lead behind Mata’s serving, and led 4-0. The Stags maintained that lead and momentum, which carried them to a

15-11 victory in the set, capped off by a Marilyn Peizer ‘15 kill, sealing their trip to their first NCAA Tournament in over a decade, and finishing off the season and collapse for Siena.

“I literally don’t have words for how happy I am—this is the best feeling in the entire world,” said Reis with tears in her eyes after the marathon final game was over. “I could not be happier with my team and my coaches. I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything in the world.”

“What a way to win a MAAC Championship, you know? Being down 2-0, coming back and winning in the fifth set, it’s unreal,” said Reis.

“It’s like we broke a curse, it really is, and it’s always us against Siena,” said Dixion. “It’s like they have our number, and we finally pulled out a win, and a big one at that. It just feels unbelievable.”

Pittenger didn’t try to hold back emotions after the game as well. “I’m just so proud of this team right now. To come back

and win those three games, that’s incredible in any game, and considering it was a final, even more so,” said Pittenger. “Siena is a great team, they fight for every single point, they’re not going to give anything away … I’m so proud of [the team], and making that happen, because it was all them, they just made it happen.”

One surprise of the tournament was the play of Marilyn Peizer, who saw limited action during the season due to injury. She finished Sunday with 11 kills, tied for second most on the team with Hayley Moyer ’14.

“My coaches have been training me all year to be versatile … so I’ve been training at different positions and trying to understand the different positions, and I know when I come in, my teammates will be there to support me,” said Peizer.

“She was a difference maker absolutely, if we didn’t have her, it would have been a different story.

She did a great job doing whatever we asked of her,” said Pittenger re-

garding Peizer.

Peizer was named to the AllTournament Team, along with teammates Dixion and Rachel Romansky’14.

Dixion was named the 2012 MAAC Volleyball Championship Most Valuable Player after posting 34 kills and 23 digs in the two matches over the weekend.

“I can’t even believe it, I was so surprised by it. It really takes all of us to do this … I went up to every one of my teammates and was like, ‘You did this [for me]’. Each little piece fit in to make one big puzzle.”

Never before in MAAC history has a team come back to win a match in the tournament final after being down two sets to none.

The 118 digs for Fairfield is good for second-most all-time in a single game in program history, and the most ever in a MAAC Tournament game for Fairfield.

Romansky finished with 47 assists and a season high of 22 digs, joining Mata, Reis, and Coffey as the four Stags to have 20 or

more digs. Romansky also moved into second all time in Fairfield history by notching her 3,506th dig of her career.

In a way, this victory was for more than just the players on this team. This victory was for Lindsey Lee ’07, Katie Mann ’09, Haililani Pokipala ’11, and every player who has come through the program in recent years and has seen their tournament hopes dashed year after year by the same nemesis. It was for every fan who came to the games, every person who came to help the team in any way, and every person who saw this team flounder with years of frustration under Siena’s dominance.

Now the Stags will go on the road to play the University of Southern California in the opening round game of the NCAA Tournament this Friday at 10:30 p.m. EST. But no matter the outcome of that game, this team knows it has made history and will live in Fairfield sports lore for years to come.

Sports

The Mirror | Week of November 28, 2012

Page 15

Tracking men's basketball over the break Lehigh University Nov. 19

(2012 NIT Season Tip-Off )

- Lost 67-82 - Junior Keith Matthews led the team with 17 points

Providence College Nov. 23 (At Providence)

-Lost 47-66 -Senior Derek Needham tied his season high of 18 points

Maybe you were too busy finishing school work or eating your weight in Thanksgiving goodness and didn't pay attention to the Men's basketball team. The team travelled from east coast to midwest to play

against competitive teams.

Some games were won and some were lost. In the end, the Men's basketball team players did their best.

Fordham University Nov. 20

(2012 NIT Season Tip-Off )

- Won 74-71 -Senior Desmond Wade scored a season-high 26 points

DePaul University Nov. 27 (At DePaul)

-Lost 78-85 -Needham scored a season high 29 points

Photo Illustration by Jeannine Nocera/The Mirror

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SPORTS | 16

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Week of November 28, 2012

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(Above) Volleyball celebrates as a team after winning the MAAC Tournament. (Below) Kaitlin Chin and Hayley Moyer embrace and cry in a post game celebration.

By Thomas Shea Assistant Sports Editor

In a sense, there was no other way it could have, or should have, been done.

Fairfield volleyball has consistently been a good team over the past decade, garnering numerous awards for individual players and half a dozen regular season titles in that span.

A very good team, but not great. They could not be considered great until they overcame the final hurdle: making it back into the NCAA Tournament. Every time they found themselves at that hurdle, the Siena Saints were there waiting for them, and every time Siena was there to stop them.

That is, until this past Sunday.

Perhaps never before in Fairfield history has a win exorcised more ghosts, avenged more former players, so invigorated a fan base, and generally meant more to a team than Fairfield volleyball’s 3-2 stunning come-from-behind victory over Siena in the MAAC Tournament Championship Final.

In a match that tested their limits both physically and mentally, Fairfield scratched and clawed their way back from a two sets to none deficit, to win the match and send themselves to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.

After defeating Niagara on

Saturday in four sets to earn their second consecutive trip to the MAAC Tournament Championship game, and sixth appearance in the last eight years, Fairfield took on a Siena team that they had defeated earlier in the season in four sets.

But history was on Siena’s side. The Saints were 8-0 in MAAC Tournament finals, with six of those wins coming against Fairfield. They had met Fairfield in the finals every year between 2005 and 2008, winning every one of those games, sending them to four straight NCAA Tournaments, and sending Fairfield home.

After trading points in the first set, the Saints eventually established a three point lead at 12-9, and maintained that lead for the rest of the match, going on to win 25-20.

The second set started off with a service ace for Siena, off a serve that changed direction after hitting the net hard, and finding a no-man’s land in Fairfield’s defense.

Throughout the set, the ball seemed to find the ground consistently on Fairfield’s side, while the Stags’ shots were either always defended well, or fell just out of bounds.

Despite that, Fairfield did battle to a 23-20 lead following a kill from Brianna Dixion ’13, one of her 17 kills for the game. The

Saints would answer, however, and score seven of the next nine points, winning the second set 2725. It appeared as though history was destined to repeat itself, and Siena was well on its way to another NCAA Tournament berth.

“I think it was a little bit of nerves, mixed with a little bit of panic that sort of set in,” said senior Kara Reis about why the team got down so early. “It was panicking in the sense that we were overcompensating, we were doing too much. And it backfired—we weren’t making the plays that we normally do. We weren’t staying relaxed, we weren’t focused.”

“In the locker room, I said ‘We’ve got to flip the switch, guys.

We’ve done it before, and we can do it again,’” added Reis.

No one knows what that switch Reis alluded to better than Head Coach Alija Pittenger, saying “they decide when they want to flip it on and make plays.”

“We told them it’s up to them, and if they wanted to, they could get it done.”

That switch was not hit directly after halftime, as even in the crucial third set, Fairfield found themselves down 15-12. But a Camille Coffey’15 kill started a rally that led the Stags to take 13 of the next 19 points, giving them the

VOLLEYBALL| PAGE 14