THE MIRROR Student newspaper
Week of December 11, 2013
www.fairfieldmirror.com @fairfieldmirror The Fairfield Mirror
Vol. Vol.39, 38,Iss. Iss.14 23
Students scheduled to lead humanitarian efforts in Atlanta By Enxhi Myslymi Associate News Editor During a service trip to help rebuild the city of Joplin, Miss., destroyed by the 2011 tornado, Luis Gonzales Rios ’14 met a mother who could not afford to buy books for her three daughters. “It made me really sad,” Rios said. “I remember growing up something my dad always told me was, ‘I can say ‘no’ to everything but I will never say ‘no’ to a book or to food.’” Deeply affected by the girls, whose basic needs of food and education were not fulfilled “because they weren’t able to,”
Rios decided to purchase books for them, to the girls’ delight. “Something hit me to where these girls were so glad that a stranger just bought them a book and to me it wasn’t something incredible that I did, but to them it was incredible,” Rios continued. “It made me realize people struggle whether they are hit by a tornado or they haven’t been … and they gave me a new perspective.” Rios is one of two student leaders who have taken the initiative to organize a Jesuit Universities Humanitarian Action Network alternative spring break service trip to Atlanta, Ga., for next semester where they will be working with the International
Rescue Committee to help refugees in the United States. “It’s a good opportunity for Fairfield students and it puts a face on the refugee crisis,” said Karen Parkinson, program coordinator for the Center for Faith and Public Life. Two advisers, Economics Professor Dr. Thomas Murray and Assistant Director of the Department of Public Safety Officer John Ritchie, will be attending the service trip along with the students. “We see the advisers as one more member of the group,” said Rios. The JUHAN service trip began two years ago when a Fairfield alumnus in Jo-
plin contacted the university in hopes of building a connection with Fairfield, according to Julie Mughal, assistant director for the Center for Faith and Public Life. Different from Campus Ministry service trips, JUHAN’s trip focuses on more humanitarian needs that “are not always front-page news,” said Rios. The students have control over where to go on the trip as long as it involves humanitarian efforts. In terms of the applications, Angelina Morisi ‘15 and Rios looked at professor recommendations, what the students were involved in on campus and if they had pre-
Let’s talk about sex
DPS, Admin. and FPD push for campus drop
By Leigh Tauss Opinion Editor Free condoms and red solo cups are probably the last things you’d expect to see in the Barone Campus Center on a Thursday afternoon. “The idea [is] to provoke people, to peak their interest, to titillate them if you will,” said Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka, associate professor of politics at Fairfield. Condoms and candy, with facts such as “in 47 percent of rapes, both the victim and perpetrator had been drinking,” were handed out to students to promote sex, sexuality and gender studies in a celebratory light at FU Between the Sheets. The third annual sex and sexuality fair that took place on Thursday, Dec. 5, was the culminative effort of the 30 students in Boryczka’s Sex, Sexuality and Gender class. A variety of stations focused on sexual assault and racial discrimination, with activities including water pong and mock speed dating. “The purpose of this event is to create a space at Fairfield University where students can empower themselves to engage in a positive discourse around sex, sexuality and gender,” said Boryczka. One of the stations asked students, “What do your clothes say about you?” Students examined photographs and wrote the first words that came to mind, drawing attention to the careless way words can be thrown around, fueling stereotypes.
READ STUDENTS ON PAGE 3
By Robert Joyce Crime Beat Reporter
Senior Danielle Levangie and Michael Genovese ‘16 are smiling happily behind a weird box. Danica Ceballos/The Mirror
“It’s depressing but you know it’s interesting to see what we think of,” said Michaela Crossen ‘14, referring to students writing “bros,” “douchebags” and “dicks” in response to a picture of guys posing in button-down shirts and jeans. “The words that we use have power, and sometimes we use them so regularly that we
don’t even stop and think of the power they have,” said Boryczka. “When you say something like ‘I raped that test’ … [think] what does rape mean, why am I using it as a verb in this context in relationship to an exam?” By breaking it down to a basic level, BorycREAD
DISMANTLING ON PAGE 3
The Office of the Dean of Students, Fairfield Police and the Department of Public Safety have all received numerous complaints from students and campus neighbors about general misconduct regarding taxis. According to John Ritchie, assistant director of public safety, “We have taxicab drivers who are not running the meter, which they are required to do. We have complaints about cab drivers making inappropriate comments to our students and we have complaints that cab drivers may take a long way back to campus or an indirect route, or they will not drop the students off on campus – they prefer to drop them off on the perimeter of campus so they can get back and pick up another fare.” Ritchie said that it is inappropriate for students to enter campus through a closed gate. He also said that “a cab company can only charge you for the transport. It has nothing to do with the number of
READ NEIGHBORS ON PAGE 4
Radio City trip still a Christmas hit By Danica Ceballos Executive Editor
INSIDE
On Monday night, 47 Fairfield students participated in a Christmas tradition that has been infamous in the New York City area since 1933: the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The Charter Bus left Alumni Hall at 4 p.m. and arrived at Radio City Music Hall just before 6 p.m., giving students time for dinner before the show. Promptly after the performance, the bus picked up students and brought them back to campus. “I always heard of the Rockettes, but this was my first time ever seeing them, and I had no idea what to
NEWS:
Fairfield’s best finals week study spots
Page 2
expect. I loved the performance,” said Caroline Surprenant ’15. “Going to this show really made me feel like I was a kid again and put me in the Christmas spirit.” The event was organized by FUSA’s Directors of Cultural Events Nicole Rende ’15, Megan Lewis ’15, Alexandra Dell’Anno ’16 and Sanya Porbandarwaia ’17. Fifty-four tickets were offered with four reserved for the FUSA directors. Despite the popularity of the show, it did not sell out on campus; however, the FUSA directors were pleased that they sold 86 percent of the tickets. READ
FUSA ON PAGE 2
OPINION:
One year after Sandy Hook
Page 5
On Monday 47 students boarded a bus charted for the famed Radio City Music Hall. Danica Ceballos/The Mirror
THE VINE:
SPORTS:
Rave reviews for Stop Kiss
Volleyball tournament run nixed
Page 8
Page 15