The Fairfield Mirror 2/4/2026

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026

INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

REEF SHACK WEEKEND RAID

Owner Arrested On Reckless Endangerment Charge, Alcohol License Surrendered

By JULIAN NAZARIO Managing Editor

Reef Shack, a local restaurant on Reef Road that opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing growing attention from local and state law enforcement officers amid overcrowding and underage drinking concerns.

The business, a frequented spot for university sophomores, saw its owner, Jason Lesizza, arrested last Saturday by the Fairfield Police Department on charges of reckless endangerment in the second degree after officers responded to a complaint of overcrowding.

“Upon arrival, the Fairfield Fire Department counted at least 314 patrons inside the business as they left, despite the certificate of occupancy allowing for a maximum of 49 patrons,” Sergeant Jenna Wellington said in a statement to The Fairfield Mirror. Officials determined that the number of patrons created a “significant life safety hazard” for those

inside the establishment.

Lesizza’s arrest was documented by a Fairfield student who attended Reef Shack over the weekend in a since-deleted post on Fizz. The 13-second clip, which The Mirror obtained, shows a police officer walking a handcuffed male to a patrol car.

He was released after posting a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear next Tuesday in the Bridgeport Superior Court.

However, this is not the only active case against Lesizza.

According to court records, the business owner was already facing a reckless endangerment charge in the second degree related to a similar event on Nov. 15 in which the police department responded to overcrowding complaints.

At that time, the officers observed “severe overcrowding inside the business, obstructed exits, and congestion in the surrounding parking lot.” From this incident, he was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court this Friday for

a plea hearing.

The Mirror made efforts to contact Lesizza via phone for a statement on the recent police activity. While the call was answered by Lesizza, he declined to provide a comment.

A week after Lesizza’s arrest, Fairfield Police and State Liquor Enforcement officers appeared at a private event hosted by Fairfield students. The bust, documented by a Mirror reporter in attendance, occurred on Nov. 21 at around 10:30 p.m., when several police officers showed up at the establishment asking for identifications.

The Mirror contacted the CT Liquor Control Division for information about the recent enforcement actions at Reef Shack, but have not received a response as of print.

Still, the business is operating without an alcohol license but is encouraging patrons to “BYOB”, an abbreviation that stands for “bring your own beverage.”

On Dec. 30, Reef’s Instagram page declared “we are officially a BYOB restaurant- no college fees, just great vibes and ambiance.”

New Sprinkler Cages Added to Loyola Hall

By OLIVIA MARCEDA Head News Editor

Loyola Hall has added protective cages around its sprinkler heads following flooding earlier this academic year caused by a sprinkler bursting after being struck by a football. The added safeguards aim to prevent similar incidents and limit future damage.

Freshman resident Devlynn King-McDonough, who lives on the second floor, recalled the impact of the flooding. “Our floor actually cracked,” King-McDonough said. “Our rug even had to be thrown out. But nothing super important was destroyed.”

While the incident caused stress for residents, repairs have since been

completed and many now view the situa tion with some perspective.

Senior RA Michael Boudrot, who’s a senior RA, said water reached his room during the flooding. “There was water that came into my room and even went under my bed,” Boudrot said, noting that he was able to move some belongings before they were damaged.

Boudrot said the new sprinkler cag es are a step in the right direction. “I don’t think we’re completely safe, but I think the school’s definitely taking precautions in terms of making sure this building doesn’t have another football thrown and hit a sprinkler with the cages.”

Opinion •

Bad Bunny Champions Puerto Rico Page 6

Vine •

A Musical Journey Beginning in Fairfield Page 8

Sports •

Men’s Lacrosse Season Preview Pages 16

By BRENNA BELASCO Associate News Editor

Those at Fairfield University are no strangers to service. “It’s baked into who we are, that I don’t have to explain what [it] is, people just get it, and they just jump [in],” says Campus Ministry Associate Director, Katie Byrnes. This passion is amplified during February when CampMin focuses on “...bringing the love from [Fairfield] to the outside.”

Despite February being the shortest month, there is no shortage of service opportunities for students to participate in, such as making Valentine’s Day cards for homebound seniors or providing food pantry donations. Many of the service projects during this month focus on the elderly and the unhoused. The first of these projects is Cupid’s Crew, where thousands of valentines are made for those living in assisted living or seniors who are homebound. The Class of 2026 is invited to participate in this event for their Senior Service Project, which will involve making valentines in McGrath Commons from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on

“We want to make sure senior citizens are still seen during Valentine’s Day... I always like to include funny jokes to try and bring a smile to the senior citizens’ faces when they get these!”

-Mia Swenson ‘26, Cupid’s Crew Coordinator

Monday, Feb. 9.

Senior student Mia Swenson is organizing the event. “We want to make sure senior citizens are still seen during Valentine’s Day, [and so we put out supplies] for the senior students to come and write a letter or make a valentine. I always like to include funny jokes to try and bring a smile to the senior citizens’ faces when they get these!” Swenson said.

She also shared that there isn’t a designated sign-up form or an attendance cap, but instead, the event is open to any senior who wants to participate. “Hopefully, the senior citizens will be able to feel that love and know that someone’s out there thinking of them, even if it’s not their families visiting, or if they’ve lost a spouse or a partner. They just know someone’s thinking of them on this holiday.”

Reportedly, the efforts of Cupid’s Crew are greatly appreciated. Swenson mentioned that the nursing home directors have told volunteers that the recipients of the cards are always “really, really touched” and that they “really mean something to them.”

“It’s awesome to put these things together and say, ‘I hope it does well,’ and it’s another thing to be able to hear that it’s really impacting our community,” she said.

Another program, Glamour Gals, provides makeover services for women and men in assisted living. There is also a technology

continued on page 2

Julian Nazario/The Mirror

College Democrats Organization Launches at Fairfield University

By OLIVIA MARCEDA Head News Editor

A new student organization is seeking to create space for dialogue, community and civic involvement on campus.

The Fairfield University College Democrats held their first meeting last Wednesday, marking the official launch of the club. The organization’s leaders say the group was formed in response to growing political disengagement among students and a lack of spaces on campus for open discussion.

The club’s president, junior Micheala Alsiadi, said the idea to start College Democrats developed gradually over her time at Fairfield. She described encountering many students who felt disheartened by the political climate and frustrated by what they perceived as limited opportunities to discuss those concerns openly.

That feeling intensified after the creation of the Turning Point USA chapter on campus this September, the president said, as some students felt one political perspective had become highly visible while others felt unrepresented.

“I’ve met many students who feel politically invisible,” said Alsiadi. “They felt that a loud, highly visible group dominated the conversation, leaving others without representation. I felt that way too.”

A shift came about from an unexpected conversation in a residence hall lounge. Alsiadi said she overheard a student discussing politics on the phone and later approached him to ask whether he felt politically represented on campus. Although the student identified as conservative, he said Turning Point USA did not reflect his values.

“That moment made me realize that

political invisibility was not limited to one ideology,” Alsiadi said. “It opened my eyes to how deeply disengaged this campus has become.”

The realization was particularly troubling given the historic role college campuses have played in social movements. Alsiadi pointed to events such as the protests in the past at Kent State and the Free Speech Movement at UC Berkeley, as well as ongoing political engagement at other Catholic institutions, such as DePaul, as examples of student-led activism.

“Historically, college campuses have been the drivers of social change,” said Alsia-

“ Historically, college campuses have been the drivers of social change... So then, why not Fairfield?”

-Micheala Alsiadi ‘27, College Democrats President

di. “So then, why not Fairfield?”

The executive board of College Democrats emphasized that the club’s mission is not to push ideology, but to support students through education, dialogue and community-building. In practice, they said, that means creating a space where students can discuss political issues respectfully, even when disagreements arise.

“We recognize how polarized politics have become,” the executive board said. “While we are firm in our values, we also deeply value engagement with people who hold different perspectives.”

Open dialogue, they said, is central to

the organization’s work, with an emphasis on good-faith discussion and recognizing the lived experiences behind political beliefs. The group plans to welcome all students to attend meetings, ask questions, and participate in conversations.

“Our goal is not to exclude, but to encourage civic engagement in all its forms,” the executive board said, adding that meaningful participation in democracy extends beyond party affiliation.

While the organization is open to students of all viewpoints, the executive board acknowledged that its primary purpose is to build community among students who identify as Democrats or more broadly as liberal or progressive.

“We’re realistic about the fact that we don’t expect students who identify as Republican or conservative to become regular members,” the executive board said. “And that’s okay.”

The group’s first meeting drew a larger response of 15 people, more than the president initially expected. Invitations were shared only through word of mouth, and Alsiadi said they anticipated a small turnout.

“The idea of getting more than 10 people in that room was a reach,” the pres ident said. “I’m grateful for the good friends and allies we have who were able to make it.”

As the club emerges, its leaders antici pate challenges, including student apathy and opposition. The executive board said many students underestimate how politi cal decisions affect their future, from the

job market to housing affordability. They also expect criticism as the organization becomes more visible, particularly online. In response, the president encouraged critics to engage directly rather than anonymously.

“Talking anonymously online is not the same as engaging in real life,” said Alsiadi. “If you disagree with us, we welcome you to question us openly and in person.”

In the short term, the executive board said the club is focused on building a committed base and establishing a strong foundation for the future. Long-term goals include organizing voter drives, hosting guest speakers, and participating in protests.

Ultimately, the group hopes to become a lasting presence on campus.

“Success looks like building an organization that can outlast our current executive board,” the executive board said, “and contin-

Three Meaningful Ways to Serve Through Campus Ministry

continued from page 1

workshop for seniors that Byrnes notes is very popular, and there are groups of volunteers who shovel seniors out after snowstorms.

When asked to choose her top three service projects for February, Byrnes mentioned the program Fresh Start Furniture Ministry. Located at 140 Edison Ave in Fairfield, this program operates more uniquely than some of the other standard service projects that Fairfield University has to offer. She explained that, “...folks donate furniture for [those] who are currently unhoused and are moving into housing. So they get to go in and shop and say, ‘I love that table and

is the American Red Cross Blood Drive. The drive will take place on Feb. 12, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the RecPlex. “[This is] quite literally sharing the heart,” Byrnes said, “and donors are a critical need right now. [Having] people spend half an hour giving blood but realistically saving lives, I think, is a really good connection for us when we think about the work that we do. This is sustaining things that are far beyond our own reach.”

The third event she recommended was the Filling in the Blanks Mobile Food Pantry, which was started by Fairfield moms and has been operating since 2021. When they

those chairs,’ and then we deliver them to their new home.”

She went on to describe more of the process, saying that the volunteers took on the role of interior decorator, walking the new homeowners through the space, helping them pick out furniture, and setting up their purchases. “This is a really concrete way that we help make those dreams of home ownership a reality,” she said.

Another program in Byrnes’ top three

noticed that kids in the after-school program didn’t have snacks, they began making snack bags for them, eventually turning it into a not-for-profit.

Byrnes discussed the mobile portion of the food pantry as well, saying, “Our students can either make bags of snacks on campus, and we’ll deliver them, or they can go to the warehouse and pack weekend bags for kids, so things like Easy Mac, cereal, and oatmeal; things that kids can prepare

themselves, so that no kid goes hungry.”

Many of the service opportunities that CampMin promotes are based out of Fairfield. Byrnes claims that she’s particularly interested in the programs that have origins in Fairfield or ones that have connections to alumni. She elaborated, saying, “I’m particularly attracted to ones that do [have an alumni connection] because it’s a great way for us to talk about how being formed as people with and for others carries beyond our years here at Fairfield.”

Members of the alumni board are eager to get involved, and Byrnes specifically mentioned the Post Road non-profit, Woofgang and Co. The founders, Kelly Maffei, Amy Stern, and Kris Burbank, wanted to provide a new purpose for those who have aged out of their state-provided educational programs. Their main goal is to provide solutions that aren’t diagnosis-specific, meeting the individuals where they are. Additionally, U.S. Food Rescue, an app that allows you to sign up to redistribute leftover food from grocery stores or restaurants so that it does not go to waste, was also founded in Fairfield.

Byrnes stated that Campus Ministry has a certain approach to its many service projects. “One really important thing about service here is that we don’t arrive [at] the question. [We don’t act] as if we have all the answers; [when our] Community Partners raise an issue and are finding ways to address it, we work with them to make that happen. So instead of saying, ‘Bridgeport is a food desert, we need to bring food to Bridgeport,’ we find folks who are doing that work in Bridgeport and say, ‘How can we help make that a reality?’”

Additionally, the vast majority of service projects at Fairfield are open to as many people as want to volunteer. The only true exception is Black Rock Food Pantry, which Byrnes says is only about the size of her office.

She says that because of the size of the pantry, they only send five students at a time, but the smaller groupings allow the volunteers to make meaningful connections with the families they’re helping. The other food pantries, like Filling in the Blanks and Prospect House, are open to larger groups of volunteers, and students can borrow vehicles to get to the locations.

“We add [the students] to our insurance policy, and then they can borrow a car or van for free so they can go! There are really no barriers for students.”

Byrnes continuously vouches for the quality and importance of service at Fairfield, citing its ability to foster connections between students. “It’s a great way to meet other folks who are also passionate about service. So they’re good people that are doing it, and every kind of service project has people that you’re going to meet that are great.”

Fairfield students voluntering in the Lower Level Barone Campus Center writing out holiday cards.

Fairfield students working on Valentine’s cards for Cupid’s Crew. These cards are sent to homebound seniors and those in assisted living communities.

Photo Contributed by Katie Byrnes

Photo Contributed by Katie Byrnes

New Epstein Files Mention Fairfield U

By MIRROR STAFF

The most recent release of files related to the investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein included new email correspondence with multiple mentions of Fairfield University.

A search of the term “Fairfield University” in the Department of Justice’s new Epstein Library shows five PDF files with mentions of the university, with most of them referring to the education sections of the resumes of people mentioned in the files.

However, one of the files makes reference to a 2018 basketball game on campus against Penn State. In the email, a person who is identified as Blair Hall, emailed another individual, whose name is redacted from the file, that they would be making plans to be in attendance at a lacrosse game against the Nittany Lions.

There is no evidence that Epstein was on campus.

Editorial Board

Kathleen Morris, Editor-in-Chief

Danny McElroy, Executive Editor Julian Nazario, Managing Editor Caitlin Shea, Head of Editorial Integration

Section Editors

Olivia Marceda, Head News Brenna Belasco, Associate News

Conor Doonan, Head Opinion Katherine Kilsey, Associate Opinion

Talia Scarpa, Head Vine Lizzie Freeman, Associate Vine

Crystal Arbelo Head Sports Georgia McDade, Associate Sports John Malizia, Associate Sports

Sophia Haber Brock, Digital Editor Nathanael Wilhelm, Associate Digital Editor

Advisors

David Albright

Karla Barguiarena Tommy Xie

Contact Information

Fairfield University 1073 North Benson Road, BCC 104 Fairfield, CT 06824

Printing Valley Publishing Derby, CT

In Search of Community Creativity: Final Call for “Art By All” Submissions

By KATHLEEN MORRIS Editor-in-Chief

Art has a distinct, unifying power. The “Art By All” exhibition strives to build these bridges, connecting the community through the vibrancy of expression.

All Fairfield University undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff are welcome to submit one piece in any 2D or 3D format, regardless of skill level. The deadline for submissions is today.

Senior Emma Dobrovich serves as curator, partnering with the Department of Visual & Performing Arts, the Arts Institute of the College of Arts & Sciences and the DiMenna-Nyselius Library to display a diverse collection of artwork in the library’s lower level from Feb. 10 to March 31. An opening reception will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Dobrovich, who attended last year’s event, was invited to organize this year’s exhibition by Dr. Marice Rose, Director of Art History and Visual Culture, and Lisa Thornell, Head of Library Outreach and Communications.

She envisions the exhibition as a vessel to foster inclusivity, promoting social engagement and sparking interdisciplinary dialogue. These guiding ideas shape her approach to this project, as well as her exploration of art at the collegiate level.

“Rather than viewing art as isolated masterpieces, I began to see it as a visual record of cultural values, inequalities and historical moments,” she illustrates. “This shift in perspective, understanding art as something embedded in and responsive to its broader community, was really important to me.”

The call-for-submissions flyer lists a wide range of accepted media, from painting and sculpture to woodwork. An added note reads, “If you consider it ‘art,’ we do too.” The sentiment captures something rare about the exhibition: artists are not merely permitted to push the boundaries of their creativity, but encouraged to do so.

“‘Art By All’ creates a space where every voice in the community, students, faculty, and staff can participate in defining what counts as art,” Dobrovich explains. “For students, it offers a chance to expand their understanding of artistic practice beyond the ‘standard’, inviting them to engage with everyday creativity and to see art as a lived act rather than something only found in museums or galleries.”

The typical barriers to entry evaporate, welcoming artists at any skill level to

present their work to the public in a formal setting. To Dobrovich, all art possesses cultural and intellectual value.

“Creative expression does not need institutional validation to matter. By making space for student contributions alongside those of faculty and staff, inclusivity reframes art as a shared, community-based practice,” Dobrovich states.

From moving photographs to recreations of beloved Pokémon characters, she has found joy in sifting through submissions and assembling the exhibition as an “honest visual record” of the rich humanity of each individual who represents a thread in the fabric of the institution.

“I think learning why these

submissions are important to their creators has deepened my understanding of the community itself,” Dobrovich reflects. “It has really reinforced the idea that art is not only about skill or technique, but at its heart, about meaning, vulnerability, and intention. I think experiencing that level of openness has been incredibly heartwarming and has affirmed the importance of creating spaces where people feel invited to share what they value.”

For more information about “Art By All” and to fill out the submission form, please visit https://fairfield.libwizard. com/f/artbyall26. Questions may be directed to emma.dobrovich@student.fairfield.edu.

The Mirror is the recognized student newspaper of Fairfield University. Opinions and ideas expressed herein are those of the individual student authors, and not those of Fairfield University or its Board of Trustees.

“Art By All” curator Emma Dobrovich ‘26 poses with “The Red Studio,” an oil painting by Henri Matisse that is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Photo Courtesy of @emmadobrovich

By Yousef Ebrahim Contributing Writer

Prediction Markets: A Sign of Societal Collapse

If you watched the Golden Globes last month, you might’ve been a tad confused. Not only because the inaugural “Best Podcast” award was given out, but because the whole show was sponsored by cryptocurrency-based prediction market Polymarket. Hosts repeatedly encouraged viewers to bet on who would win each presented award, with odds being broadcast both in the ceremony hall and during the live telecast. Beyond plainly undermining the suspense and prestige of an awards show such as the Golden Globes, this collaboration signals a worrying legitimization of gambling apps, which could bring us towards an alarmingly monetized future.

Betting markets like Polymarket and its rival Kalshi function as online casinos where users can bet cryptocurrency on their predictions of the outcome of a given event, often centering around sports games but recently expanding to include economic indicators and, controversially, politics. Users are permitted to place bets on future events, and if their prediction comes to fruition, they get paid depending on how risky the prediction was. Scrolling through active bets on these apps presents a truly dystopian future, in which people can gamble on the life or death of strangers.

Kalshi has faced backlash for hosting wagers on subjects such as “Will the IPC classify Gaza as experiencing famine this year?”, in which users who put their money on “Yes” were paid out for their correct guess

regarding the mass starvation campaign. Polymarket is even more ostentatious, allowing users to bet on which side will win battles in the Russia-Ukraine war and what countries may be invaded by the United States in the coming future, with no regard for the material circumstances of those wrapped up in these conflicts.

Despite the unscrupulous nature of this enterprise, it keeps getting more and more entrenched in both daily life and politics. If it wasn’t enough for NFL stadiums to be literally lined with ads for the virtual casino “Stake”, CNN announced in December of last year that it would be officially partnering with Kalshi to display predictions regarding breaking news. Polymarket recently made a direct appeal to the President after he lifted regulations on the markets by granting Donald Trump Jr. an advisory role at the company. It’s worth noting that these networks are all closely tied to big tech and billionaires, with Palantir CEO Peter Thiel being a major proponent of Polymarket and prominent venture capitalist firm Sequoia Capital being the largest investor in Kalshi. With this normalization, prediction markets could play a very dangerous role in disinformation. Wagers are rarely reliable indicators of events. Polymarket projections for 2025’s New York mayoral Democratic primary always gave Andrew Cuomo at least a 50% chance of winning despite his 13-point loss in the election. Concerns of insider trading arose after Polymarket paid out $400,000 to a newly created account betting that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro would be ousted before February prior to any

announcement of strikes against Venezuela. Used in conjunction with the news, these markets will play a large role in shaping the public's outlook of current events, at worst becoming a propagandistic mouthpiece and at the very best painting a false version of reality.

Even if one looked past the flagrant ethical and legal sketchiness informing these apps, there would still be no purpose for them. They give nothing to the world and benefit nobody’s life; if anything, they promote an apathetic and misanthropic view of the world as merely something to be profited from. To be clear, that isn't an editorialization; it’s paraphrased from the words of Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour, stating that the company’s long-term vision is to “financialize everything and create a tradeable

asset out of any difference in opinion,” at the Citadel Securities Future of Global Markets Conference.

A gamified future where human lives are bargaining chips is unfortunately where we seem to be heading, fully armed with the knowledge that we’re moving towards it. I’d bet most people wouldn’t want that, though, as of this article, no wager for “will the world end in ice or fire?” has been put up. As virtual betting becomes more and more prevalent, it’s important to be aware of the trickery behind it and the damage that gambling in this manner can have on both an individual and society at large. These services prey on vulnerable users and victims of tragic events. We should do everything in our power to decry them.

When Clout Wins Casting: 2026 Bachelorette

By Katherine Kilsey Associate Opinion Editor

When you think of high-quality television, chances are your mind does not go to “The Bachelorette” franchise. Yet the reality dating show has garnered a cult following, with fans anxiously tuning in each week to see who the season's bachelorette will end up with. It’s got the drama, the competition, the romance – what more could you want in a television show?

For those unfamiliar with the premise of the show (which is a spin-off of “The Bachelor”): over weekly episodes, the season’s bachelorette goes on dates with a group of potential suitors, including group dates, one-on-ones and special events. Most episodes end with a rose ceremony, where the bachelorette gives roses to the men she wishes to continue dating. The season wraps up with one lucky man being chosen as the winner, frequently ending with a proposal or serious relationship decision. What a nice, organic way to meet your spouse!

Typically, the bachelorette is chosen from former contestants of “The Bachelor”, especially those who were fan-favorites but did not get the ring. This helps the show gain hype and traction, as viewers are already familiar with the star and excited to see them in a new light.

However, this upcoming season will be a little different – and quite frankly, it’s throwing things off.

Season 22’s bachelorette has been announced to be Taylor Frankie Paul,

a viral influencer on MomTok and a star of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”. These details are all fine and dandy, but here’s the kicker – she has never appeared on “The Bachelor” franchise before.

The media loves the Mormon wives. The stars of the Hulu show are everywhere because companies know their fanbase is strong and will follow this group of women anywhere they go.

Notably, Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt were in the most recent season of “Dancing with the Stars”, with Leavitt also announcing her Broadway debut. I’m not here to say these breakout stars shouldn’t get these opportunities

– but I’m not sure “The Bachelorette” is the best place to put them.

The unique element of “The Bachelorette” is that it almost works as a cycle – fans can root for their favorite women on “The Bachelor”, and even if they don’t win, they have the opportunity to be the next star and have their own shot at love. Season 22 has completely broken this cycle –and many fans’ trust. ABC is leveraging Paul’s mainstream popularity to expand viewership, but this comes at the expense of authenticity and integrity.

Many fans have expressed backlash at the choice to cast the “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star, as she has had several scandals and controversies, and they feel as if she’s being rewarded for this behavior instead of being held accountable.

I have further fears about how the season will be produced. Paul is already a big reality and social media star, meaning she is no stranger to the dramatics. The show will likely capitalize on this, manufacturing storylines and editing dialogue as they please. These are in no way new tactics, but I can see producers going to extremes based on Paul’s past and so-called “messy” behavior.

The new season of “The Bachelorette” airs March 22, and while I’ll probably tune in (or at least be subjected to fan posts on social media), this shows a lot about where the brand’s priorities lie, which could be a problem for the future. Let’s keep fan favorite shows the way the fans know and love them – there are plenty of opportunities for new, fresh ideas elsewhere.

Taylor Frankie Paul in a promotional photo for the upcoming season of "The Bachelorette". Instead of being a previous contestant on "The Bachelor", Paul was selected due to her rising media influence.

An advertisement in Times Square, showing predictions for the 2025 New York City mayoral election. Prediction markets and their role in society have been widely criticized.

Photo Courtesy of Fortune

Photo Courtesy of Vanity Fair

By Emily Nasrah Contributing Writer

Snow Days Deserve a Revival

or messages from their instructors regarding alternatives to in-person class meetings.”

The traditional snow day is a dying species, but it doesn’t have to be. Growing up, I’m sure we all experienced the joy and wonder that comes with a snow day. One, two and maybe more (if you’re lucky) days of the school year would be blocked out of the school calendar because of heavy snow and icy roads. But in recent years, the traditional snow day has been put in danger of being erased forever due to the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we all know, the pandemic introduced the concept of virtual learning. After schooling returned to normal, virtual learning was added as a key component of snow days. In my opinion, this shift has taken away the full magic of what snow days used to be, and now is the most pivotal moment to change it.

Fairfield University had its first snow day of the 2025-2026 school year on Jan. 26, a Monday. All in-person classes were cancelled, and students were advised by a Stag Alert on Jan. 23 to “refer to their syllabi and/

Back when I was in grade school, snow days were some of the most anticipated days of the year because they were an unexpected break filled with the joy of watching and playing in the snow as it fell outside. As a kid, I would take part in snow day rituals the night before a snowstorm in hopes that my little contribution would increase the snowfall by tenfold.

I would place a spoon under my pillow, wear my pajamas inside out and even flush ice cubes down the toilet. Did any of these rituals change the forecast for the next morning? No. But it was never really about the meteorological data. It was about the belief in something bigger than myself and the hope that I could contribute in some part to the magic of waking up, seeing snow layer the ground, and knowing that the world was my oyster for the day.

If you take that same scene and instead replace your traditional snow day with a virtual learning day, the magic disappears somewhat. Snow may be piled high all around them, but students are still mentally stuck in school through virtual means. The only thing that separates a virtual learning day from a regular school day is location, and in some cases, the activities and length of classes. By default, virtual learning days do not carry any of the same enchantment that traditional snow days do.

As I moved from grade school to high school, snow days shifted from days of relaxation to days dedicated to catching up on work. By the time I was in high school, the pandemic was already digging its claws

Bad Bunny: A Champion for Puerto Rico

By Crystal Arbelo Head Sports Editor

There are so many things I love about being Puerto Rican. The food, the music, the scenery; like every other culture, you can’t quite replicate it. I’ll die with a burning love for my island in my soul, and I’m so privileged to live in this country and to express it openly, without fear of consequence. In current times, this is an exception.

In a country where humans are being kidnapped and stripped of their civil rights because of the color of their skin or the sound of their voice, Puerto Ricans are the loophole. We did not cross any borders; we were added to the map. You can claim we are illegitimate, but we were born as Americans. I exercise my First Amendment rights by standing up for my Latino brothers and sisters, who can’t speak up without fear of losing everything their families have worked so hard for.

On Jan. 5 of last year, Benito, otherwise known as Bad Bunny, sent a love letter to his island and his people in his sixth solo studio album, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”, also known as “DTMF”, represented by a photo of two plastic chairs in front of a backdrop of banana trees. The album opens with “NUEVAYoL”, a modern take on Andy Montañez and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico’s “Un Verano en Nueva York”, representing the historical importance of Nuyoricans.

My family’s story, like many others from La Isla del Encanto, starts with my relatives taking a chance on the American Dream and moving to New York City, giving up the sounds of coquis singing at night in exchange for cars honking on the streets. These “Nuyoricans” had a pivotal role in defining the identity of New York City, alongside African

into the snow day culture. My snow days were filled with assignments, Zoom meetings and Google Classroom posts. I felt too overwhelmed making sure I could finish all the work I needed to complete to even take a moment to enjoy the snow, let alone go outside and appreciate it. While it was fun to be home on snow days, the feeling of dread knowing that I would always have some work to complete never left me.

Now in college, snow days have changed once again for me. While the burden of having to do work for seven high school classes during a snow day has lifted, the expectations have not. On this most recent snow day, I was expected to still sit in front of my camera and attend my scheduled classes via Zoom calls until Wi-Fi issues resulted in their cancellation. In this case, I got lucky, but many of my fellow students were not so fortunate.

To make up for this lost time, I was given extra schoolwork to keep on pace with the syllabus, and my hopes of a free day faded away. However, I was determined to still enjoy some of it and put all my effort into completing everything early in the day. My reward was going sledding with my friends on the library hill on Monday afternoon. At last, this snow day felt like one of those magical snow days from my past.

Yet, I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that I had to work extra hard to get the snow day I always wanted and used to have so many years ago. Why do traditional snow days have to be sacrificed at the altar of productivity?

While I do understand that professors must follow a strict syllabus and get through the necessary amount of content, I think taking time off to rest and recharge holds

more value than people think. We are currently in the age of “always on” culture, and I think virtual snow days are a prime example of teaching young adults to conform to these social norms. The “always on” culture describes the tendency for employees to consistently and constantly be available and ready to work at any time of the day. In a time when the term “workaholic” is becoming more and more common, continuing to foster virtual learning days only makes these ideas more normalized. In extreme cases, employees (and by extension, students) can become burned out and unable to have a healthy work-life balance.

I am not arguing that having virtual learning days directly equates to student burnout. Instead, I think that it teaches students that their work and their free time should blend with one another to the point where they may become one and the same.

We are at such a special point in our world to actually make a change in terms of snow days for the better. Growing up with traditional snow days and then experiencing the shift to virtual learning days, our generation is the perfect group to speak out about how virtual learning days affect students. It is my belief that we must protect the traditional snow day because it holds just as much (and even more) value as virtual learning days. Overall, there are only a finite number of snow days that a person will experience in their educational journey. Why spoil the few days of wonder with virtual learning? Perhaps if we dare to look for it, there is something more valuable to learn outside the classroom in the snow while sledding down the library lawn.

Americans and other people of color who found a home in the capital of the world, but not without shared hardships.

Those hardships that so many people of color face when living in America are what make watching our people succeed so powerful. For Puerto Ricans, watching Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio lift his three Grammys on Sunday night was evidence of that.

All of the songs on the album are proof of Bad Bunny’s versatility, from the high-energy “VOY A LLeVARTE PA PR” to the angsty “BOKeTE.” Behind the musical genius of this album lies the message of Benito’s love for Puerto Rico.

“Debí Tirar Más Fotos”, translating to “I should have taken more photos”, tells the story of watching something you love change, and wishing you had taken advantage of the time you had in the past to truly enjoy its presence. This sentiment can be applied to many parts of the Puerto Rican experience, from the frustration of watching our beaches become illegally privatized and developed, to the pain of watching our grandparents age slowly through our smartphones on Facebook Messenger’s video chat.

The album’s eleventh track, “TURiSTA,” is an analogy of heartbreak and the detrimental impacts of tourism on the island. The opening lyrics, “Tú solo viste lo mejor de mí y no lo que yo sufría" ("You only saw the best of me and not how I suffered”), can be applied to the 7 million annual visitors to the island who see our beautiful beaches and enjoy our flavorful cuisine, but miss the importance of protecting the culture they are enjoying.

If I’m being honest, my parents weren’t the biggest fans of Benito, not until they heard him sound the alarms that they’ve been warning about for as long as I can remember.

What’s happening to Puerto Rico is not new.

In the album’s most political song, “LO QUE LE PASÓ A HAWAii,” Bad Bunny connects the dots between the annexation and commercialization of Hawaii’s islands to the invasion of Puerto Rico and the privatization of its land due to baffling tax incentives for outside investors to develop protected areas.

This gentrification, spurred on by the weakness of Puerto Rico after Hurricane María in 2017, has changed the island forever.

"Quieren quitarme el río y también la playa," ("They want to take my river and my beach,") he sings. Not only is there the literal heartbreak of losing the landscape of our people, but there are the financial consequences of rich Americans moving to the island that are pushing Puerto Ricans out of their homeland.

The Puerto Rican rapper choosing to express his love for the island at the peak of his tremendous career shows how passionate we are about our heritage. After building up a platform on the backs of his people, he has turned the attention to the place that made him who he is today, using his influence to echo messages of disapproval for the current administration’s hostility towards Latinos.

While accepting the award for Best Musica Urbana Album for “DTMF”, Benito made his message clear: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” he said. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”

His message was met with standing ovations from the crowd. When “DTMF” was announced as Album of the Year, he broke down in tears at his seat as the crowd continued to express their support.

That specific win, that album being the first-ever Spanish album to win, invoked a sense of pride for Puerto Ricans that I’ve never seen before. Watching Benito lift the golden gramophone and dedicate it to “all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country to follow their dreams” made all the heartbreak worth it to see one of our own claim such a big prize – for a confession of love to our homeland.

My Sunday night ended with my friends and family expressing how much this win and this album mean to us. Instagram Stories poured into my feed of our island, of families enjoying the shade of palm trees and waving our flag with nothing but love.

I joined in on the celebration, posting a picture from 2014 of me sitting in one of those plain white plastic chairs on my abuela’s balcony next to my dad. Those white chairs may seem insignificant to some, but to Puerto Ricans, they represent family gatherings and memories of late nights spent in those chairs singing, laughing and playing dominoes; those white chairs represent love.

Bad Bunny said it best while accepting his second Grammy of the night, “The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”

The author, in a chair reminiscent of Bad Bunny's "DTMF" cover.

Photo Contributed by Crystal Arbelo

Fresh snowfall on campus. Some students wish for old school snow days.

Julian Nazario/The Mirror

In a small Connecticut beach town nearby a glistening sound, the first note begins with violin strings and an undiscovered inkling for songwriting. Ada Pasternak is an awardwinning Nashville singer-songwriter with roots as a violinist from Fairfield, CT. Growing up with a violinist as a mom and a pianist as a dad, Ada found herself on a melodic journey at the age of 6.

“It’s Ada, rhymes with Prada,” she says as her tagline. Ada feels like her name is a piece of her identity and story. Most of her life, classmates and friends called her “A-dah.” Until one day, she decided to take ownership of the name that made her, well, her.

At the age of 15, Ada was a star solo violinist, performing in orchestras for crowds of 2,000 people. This career moment in time changed when she developed severe pains in the upper body. The pain was so intense that she could not play anymore. For three years, her violin sat in its case. But every bow stroke tells a story. The situation was bowed, not broken.

When it was time for college applications, Ada did not know what she wanted to do. She heard stories about her mother’s experiences

working in music therapy for dementia patients. The positive outcomes music brought to these patients, improving their memories and bringing back their joyful spirits, sparked an interest in Ada to research music therapy programs, discovering Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Ada’s mom had a “gut feeling” about her daughter applying to this school. Ada submitted the application the night it was due, receiving an audition which led to a full scholarship.

Ada described Berklee as one of the best times of her life: playing music with people from Italy, Israel and Ireland. She was exposed to a variety of music genres like jazz, bluegrass and mariachi. There at Berklee, Ada wrote her first song “Why I Let You Go.”

Ada’s writing comes from pain and break-ups, as she began songwriting after her first serious break-up. The topics extend from the shared growing pains like leaving home, moving away, and missing your family to heavier subjects like suicide awareness and drug addiction.

Originally from Moscow, Russia then New York City, NY, Fairfield was where Ada grew up and felt most at home. And at that home, after

A Musical Journey Beginning in Fairfield: Ada Pasternak

a tough break-up in Los Angeles, Ada found herself sitting in her childhood bedroom with her violin in hand. After hundreds of different versions of break-up songs that channeled the struggles of falling out of key with a partner, Ada composed a symphony that was unfiltered and personal yet healing.

The song “FAIRFIELD” channels her feelings of change, hardship and selfdiscovery. After everything she went through with the breakup, she was back at home. “This is not a breakup song. This song is about me and where I was at in my life…quite literally,” Ada said.

Now, on a row of country bars eluding lyrical beats, Ada lives in Nashville, TN but still finds pieces of Fairfield in the quiet towns of this new city.

Ada has performed as the opening act for Rebecca Fergueson and Grammy-Award winner Kathy Mattea. These experiences were both very immersive and very different. On Rebecca Fergueson’s tour, Ada flew by herself to travel around on the UK leg of the tour two weeks before the pandemic hit. The exposure to new audiences led to individuals having an increased awareness of her music, especially at the Liverpool show where Ada has a fond memory of a standing ovation. The songwriter performed as the opening act for Kathy Mattea right here in our college town at the SHU Community Theatre. Ada shared how special it felt to perform right here in her hometown.

Through her lifelong music career, Ada is most proud of her perseverance. She acknowledges that the journey has not always been sound and even sometimes wavy. After violin lines dissolved into thousands of songs, she has grown as a songwriter and as an artist.

Taking her experiences and using them as words of influence, Ada has begun professional music coaching, working with artists on the rise. Ada advises musicians pursuing a career in the field to simply “enjoy the journey…: enjoy learning, enjoy getting better at your

Fantasia Italiana:

instrument, enjoy playing for your family at Christmas, enjoy the little things. Because that’s what life’s all about, you can’t always rush to the destination or the goal.”

Ada believes one can become inspired by many things. “I would say my greatest influence is Tchaikovsky,” Ada said half-jokingly, a nod to her classical upbringing. Her cousin introduced her to The Beatles at the age of 8, a group she loves. She also appreciates the artistry of John Mayer. However, Ada draws from her own experiences to write her songs.

On the notion of giving back to her community, Ada created a program called “Ada’s Gift For Music,” sharing music with children from underprivileged homes, veterans, hospital patients and the homeless. About a year ago, Ada began this mission when she attended a school in Boston with children from homes affected by substance abuse. Ada connected with them through music but also in conversation, making her feel dedicated to doing more things in bigger ways.

In addition to her song “FAIRFIELD,” Ada has also written a song called “Girl from Connecticut,” which she performed in concerts but has not officially released it. This song’s lyrics also have nostalgic undertones of hometown joys and big aspirations for future journeys.

You can find Ada on social media platforms such as Instagram @adapasternak and on TikTok @adapasternakmusic. She encourages supporters to interact more with her Instagram account, as she feels it is more authentic to her style. Ada’s heartfelt songs can be found on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Listeners can also support her through subscribing to an app called Patreon for just $5 a month to experience more exclusive content.

Stream “FAIRFIELD” on any listening platform now! You can also check out her brand new single “Not Broken” while you’re immersing yourself in her music. Bows to music, music to influence.

The 2026 Milan Winter Olympics

By Reem Kharbouch Staff Writer

At the heart of Milan’s stone streets, the Arco della Pace hosts the Olympic cauldron this year, its light set to spill across the modern buildings, warming the city through the cold winter season. To the north, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a second flame mirrors this. In Piazza Dibona, it casts a soft glow over powdery rooftops and wooden cabins, diffusing through the mountains.

Together, these flames depict the theme of the Games: Harmony.

The creative vision for the ceremony comes from Marco Balich, who set his design to unify movement, music, and architecture. According to Vanity Fair, the artistic theme, “Fantasia Italiana,” which translates to Italian fantasy, is brought to life by Italian songwriter Dardust, whose work combines classical music with a modern composition.

As already mentioned, music will play a huge role in the ceremony, which is perhaps why Mariah Carey has been the first international star announced. She is set to perform with Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, a global symbol of the Italian musical tradition. Joining them are singers Laura Pausini and Italian-Tunisian Rapper Ghali. While Laura Pausini is more of a pop-rock musical artist,

and Ghali has more of a trap rap influence, these two styles will come together in perfect harmony these Games (see what I did there), with world-renowned pianist Lang Lang rounding out the lineup.

In addition to music, the ceremony will feature performances by actors Matilda De Andelis and Sabrina Impacciatore from The White Lotus as well as Pierfranceso Favino from World War Z. Alongside them is violinist Giovannni Zanan, whose collaboration is set to pay tribute to Italy’s territories, visually linking Milan and Cortina.

Celebrity guests are expected to include Tom Cruise, as well as a return from Snoop Dogg, alongside Mike Tirico. Dogg will be adding commentary and perspective to the

events, a stark difference from his Torch run in Paris during the 2024 Games. Last week’s torchbearers Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are expected to return as well, however, their attendance is still not confirmed. Although, there's no doubt that everyone would love to see their faces once again, judging by how many likes the recent Olympics account Instagram post has gained.

Lastly, Italian President, Sergio Matterella, will kick off the 145th Ceremony at La Scala Theater.

With so many in attendance though, one does wonder, who will be the best dressed? If past appearances are any indication, Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been killing the fashion scene since

their popularity skyrocketed following the release of Heated Rivalry. With their Giorgio Armani and Saint Laurent looks at the 2026 Golden Globes earlier this year, I would not be surprised if they won best dressed at this year's Games. Although, artist Ghali always uses patterns, prints and shapes to impress, such as his look during the 2019 Venice Film Festival , or his VersaceFW18 look.

Given the theme of the Games, it will be interesting to see how each guest blends their individual style with the elegance of the event.

While very little is known about how this year’s ceremony will kick off, it is likely Milan will begin with a dramatic performance of lighting of the Cauldron beneath the Arco della Pace. Maybe from there, music will sweep through the piazza, with Lang Lang’s piano notes and Andrea Bocelli’s tenor voice. Dancers and performers will likely move through the streets as well, showing off the Milanese architecture and setting the stage for the glorious games.

With so much to look forward to, this year’s Opening Ceremony promises to be a true celebration. From the twin flames, to the diverse performances that will fill the city streets and piazzas, every moment is designed to reflect harmony.

By Talia Scarpa Head Vine Editor

Fairfield native Ada Pasternak performs at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

Photo Courtesy of Ada Pasternak

The Grammys: Glitz and Glamour’s Biggest

By Claudia Pettinato Staff Writer

The Grammys celebrate the most talented and iconic artists of the year annually in February. With an amazingly stacked nominee list and glamorous guests presenting the awards, the 68th Grammy Awards were a night to remember with returning host for the sixth time, comedian Trevor Noah.

Performances, fashion choices, and tributes made up most of the awards night in beautiful Hollywood. With 95 categories this year including two new ones, being Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, the night brought many viral moments and well deserved wins.

The performances stunned audiences and viewers at home with star studded visuals. So many artists were in attendance to support their fellow nominees and colleagues. All 8 “Best New Artist” artists (Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, sombr, and The Marías) performed a live medley to their songs, and ultimately ended in Olivia Dean receiving the award. Olivia Dean has been working and hustling on her music for ten years before being extremely

noticed in 2025 for her album “The Art of Loving”.

Opening up with Bruno Mars and Rosé was an amazing choice for their high energy single “APT.”, which was almost like watching a concert. Later, Sabrina Carpenter stunned in a beautiful white outfit dressing up as a flight attendant as she performed “Manchild” in a thrilling set of an airport! Justin Bieber calmly performed “YUKON” in just shorts and socks as he made the audience sway.

Later in the night the audience experienced “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga as she performed in a wild basket hat stunning the viewers. Tyler, The Creator delivered a captivating performance mid-way through the night singing a few songs from his two albums that he released between 2024 and 2025.

Post Malone performed an unforgettable tribute to the Black Sabbath rocker Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July 2025. Post Malone was iconically joined

by Slash and Duff McKagan from Guns N' Roses, along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer Chad Smith and Andrew Watt as they performed.

In addition, Lauryn Hill performed a touching tribute to Soul singer D’Angelo and the "Killing Me Softly with His Song" singer Roberta Flack.

The biggest awards of the night are song, album, and artist of the year. Song of the Year went to “Wildflower” by Billie Eilish, Album of the Year went to “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” by Bad Bunny, and lastly Record of the Year was received by “luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Billie Eilish swept at the Grammys in 2020 and received two awards for her song “What Was I Made For?” in 2024, but did not receive any in 2025’s awards; she was pleasantly surprised to win in this category.

The 68th Grammy awards were studded with unforgettable performances, appearances, and incredible wins.

To have so much of America and beyond be present in one space celebrating the best music of the year is always a special treat for viewers at home to watch each year. Congratulations to the winners of the Grammys, and here’s to an excellent award season coming up!

British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean was awarded with the Best New Artist Award.

Photo Courtesy of Vogue.

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo.

Bad Bunny wins Album of the Year, marking the first time in Grammys history that a Spanish language album won in that category.

Leather and Dust Jackets: Winter Reads for Staying In and Beating the Cold

By Caitlin Shea Head of Editorial Integration and Standards

As temperatures continue to drop there is no better way to escape the cold than cozying up indoors and making time for hobbies! With the first month of the new year behind us many have made spending more time on analogue hobbies such as reading a part of their top priorities for 2026.

Whether reading is a new or old habit, these eight books are sure to be incredible page turners for all readers.

“Half His Age” By: Jennette McCurdy

A new risque novel from best-selling author Jennette McCurdy, “Half His Age” follows seventeen-year-old Waldo as she explores her budding fascination with her much older and married creative writing teacher Mr. Korgi. McCurdy’s first jump into the world of fiction was released on Jan. 20 and has been flying off the shelves ever since. Already accumulating 3.5 stars on the Goodreads scale, many readers value the novel for being an easy read that is almost impossible to put down. Others praise it for its human emotion and coverage of important topics.

“Heated Rivalry” By: Rachel Reid

With the countdown to the Olympics nearing its end the next two novels are perfect for getting into the winter sport spirit! Originally released in 2019, the second book of the “Game Changers” series “Heated Rivalry" was recently turned into a hit HBO Max television series taking the world by storm! The show’s starring actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams even took part in the 49th leg of the Olympic Torch relay. Similar to the show, the novel follows professional hockey rivals Shane

Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as their passion heats up the ice and eventually their hearts as they negate the complications of self identity and romance in the discriminatory hockey world. This book is also the perfect read for anyone who has just finished the show or is looking to start it!

“The Favorites” By: Layne Fargo

Continuing with the Olympic theme, “The Favorites” by Layne Fargo follows elite ice skater duo Katarina Shaw and Heath Rocha as they deal with the complexities of their own on and off the ice relationships. Years later, in the wake of a horrible accident, a tell-all documentary about their supposed secret lives hits the screen. Not wanting her story to be told for her, Katarina breaks her decades long silence to set the story straight. Compared to “Daisy Jones and The Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this novel has a 4.0 rating on Goodreads and received praise for its well-written, captivating story.

“Project Hail Mary” By: Andy Weir

Another highly anticipated adaptation, “Project Hail Mary” has been making its mark once again as the film starring Ryan Gosling hits the big screen on March 20. With well over a month to read the novel before watching the film, Weir’s intelligent humor and soul shocking scenes makes this novel an instant classic for any space lover. Also known for his hit novel “The Martian” turned into a film starring Matt Damon, the winter marks the perfect time to explore Weir’s bibliography. “Project Hail Mary” follows Ryland Grace as he wakes up in a spaceship with no memory of when or how he got there with no one but two dead crewmates. In order to save the earth from

extinction, Ryland must do everything in his power to rediscover his mission and complete it completely alone.

“Red Rising” By: Pierce Brown Staying within the science-fiction realm, “Red Rising” is the first novel of an ever-expanding six-book series. The novel follows Darrow, a miner on Mars who discovers the corruption within the ruling Gold elite as he decides to risk his life and lead a revolution for the betterment of his people. As Darrow is forced to become like his enemy in order to bring them down, he faces extreme brutality and must push himself further than ever before to do what is right. Often compared to novels such as “The Hunger Games,” this series is perfect for anyone looking to lose themselves completely in a dystopian world.

“The Prophets” By: Robert Jones, Jr. As we transition into Black History Month, it is important to remember to always include black authors in our reading lists. The following two books have been highlighted by black authors in articles published by Penguinrandomhouse. Each of these lists should be considered when searching for your next read! “The Prophets” by Robert Jones, Jr. intertwines the forbidden love between two enslaved men on a plantation in the Deep South as they face the harrowing reality of brutality, racism and religion.

“These Heathens” By: Mia McKenzie Set in the 1960s, “These Heathens” by Mia McKenzie follows Doris Steele as she journeys to Atlanta to receive an abortion. Along the way, the young girl is forced to

reexamine her worldview as she is exposed to the reality of the Civil Rights Movement and Atlanta’s Black queer community. Praised for its humor, heart and pageturning storytelling, the novel released on June 17 2025 has received a 4.2 star rating on Goodreads.

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” By: Shelby Van Pelt

Marcellus has a short life-span. Most of which he has spent crammed into a tank at an aquarium, a place in which he has learned by the plaque on his tank is meant for education. Looking for an escape Marcellus befriends the aquarium custodian and recent widower Tova Sullivan. Following themes of loneliness and family loss, "Remarkable Bright Creatures" has accumulated a 4.4 star rating on Goodreads.

From riveting new releases to older works flying off the shelves, this diverse list is sure to expose readers to some of the best winter reads of this year! Happy reading!

Photo Courtesy of Barnes and Noble

Cozy Winter Recipes to Keep You Warm

By Claire Fehlner Staff Writer

Being locked inside due to the mass amounts of snow and freezing temperatures means finding ways to pass the time while staying cozy too. Although as students we don't all have kitchens here at college, baking and cooking is one of the most comforting and rewarding winter activities. I personally have been craving some breakfast classics like cinnamon rolls and pancakes as well as classic comfort savory dishes. Here are some perfect winter recipes to try out during this snowy season!

Before returning for the spring semester, I wanted to bring a piece of comfort and home to school with me I decided to make a small batch of sea salt dark chocolate chip cookies. This recipe has the perfect crispy edges and gooey, soft inside that the best cookies have. The sea salt flakes on top compliment the rich dark chocolate chunks perfectly. These are best served warm and fresh out of the oven. They are the perfect, simple comfort cookie, taking about 25 minutes to put together! @ iramsfoodstory has a perfect small batch recipe on instagram to follow for these classic cookies. This is the perfect recipe to whip up late at night and share with your roommates and friends.

Another amazing baking account is @ redcurrantbakery on Instagram. She posts quick recipes and adds a link to her baking blog which has the full details described there. Her most recent viral recipe is a croissant cinnamon roll and it has the flaky buttery warmth to get us through these dark winter days. It has two cinnamon sugar fillings and a mascarpone vanilla bean frosting. The recipe calls for flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, 1 egg, whole milk, salted butter, and sea salt for the brioche rolls. To make the fillings the recipe calls for salted butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, sea salt, and vanilla extract. The frosting consists of mascarpone, cream cheese, powdered sugar, sea salt, vanilla bean paste, and whole milk. Try out this bakery level recipe perfect for a weekend morning inside.

The spring semester is upon us, but you wouldn’t know it from the frigid temperatures and heaps of snow that blanket the campus. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to stay warm and well during these cold winter months.

Research study strategies:

When it’s cold and snowy outside, the last thing you may want to do is study for that test a few days from now. Experimenting with different study methods can be helpful not only to increasing productivity and effectiveness, but also motivation. The Pomodoro Technique, for example, is a great way to push through a tough assignment. All it requires is removing all distractions, setting a timer, and remaining focused for just twenty-five minutes. Once the timer goes off, take a five to ten minute break, and repeat the cycle again. You may be surprised just how much you can accomplish in such short periods.

Take time for yourself:

While there are times to persevere and stay focused on schoolwork, there are also times when the best thing to do is take a break. There’s no use in staring at a textbook if you’re not retaining anything. If you feel yourself starting to burn out, grab a snack, chat with a friend, or even take a nap. While it may be tempting to scroll, this can actually make mental fatigue worse, because the constant influx of so many overstimulating videos sends the brain into overdrive. To truly rest

If you’re looking for an easy and quick dinner to whip up for yourself or guests here is the recipe to try! One of the best savory dishes for the winter time is a one pot orzo dish. It makes the dreaded cleanup so much easier so you can focus on the hearty meal that results. This dish is typically prepared by combining the orzo, which is a rice shaped pasta, with chicken broth, cream, and garlic. To this you can add many addins to customize the dish. I love adding sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and chicken meatballs which are all fairly easy to add in, and it typically doesn’t take longer than 30 minutes. This dish is so warm and the definition of a comfort meal.

Similar to an orzo dish is the even simpler pastina. Also a small pasta in the shape of a star, it is cooked in chicken broth and topped with parmesan cheese and butter. A nostalgic and warming meal, this dish is also known for being a favorite for aiding illness in the winter time because of its simplicity and healing effects. What mood can’t be improved with a little pasta and butter?

To finish off a day inside dessert is a necessity. A recipe that is currently going viral is homemade ice cream which takes the occurrence of a blizzard seriously. The idea is that you place a metal bowl in the snow and let it chill. You are supposed to sit outside and combine cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar in the bowl and whisk until it forms a thicker texture. When it is ready, you can add any toppings you like from Oreos to fruit to sprinkles. This is the ideal minimal ingredient recipe to try as college students, especially with the influx of snow this winter.

This list compiles recipes from breakfast to dessert that suit this cold, windy, and snow covered season. We’re all in need of a little warmth and comfort during this particularly cold winter. Try out some of these cozy and comforting recipes to help get through the winter this year as it has already been one of the snowiest so far!

and recover, slow, calm activities like reading or coloring are the best options.

Keep your dorm clean: After that first big reset that many of us do upon coming back from break, it’s easy to start to let things slide in the dorm room.

Starting the Semester Strong: Ways to Stay Well This Winter

By Lizzie Freeman Associate Vine Editor

Avoid peak gym times:

The implementation of New Year’s resolutions brings a large crowd into the rec plex, as any regular gym goer will surely have noticed. Just driving by the building at any hour between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. reveals the lack of a single empty treadmill on the upper level. If you’re looking to keep up healthy habits without navigating hordes of people, try taking advantage of the quieter hours in the morning or signing up for a workout class. Workout classes like pilates, spin, yoga, and more allow you to reserve a place, guaranteeing 30 minutes to an hour of solid exercise without stress.

We’ve all done it at some point: let the laundry pile up, go way too long without cleaning a water bottle, or procrastinate taking out the trash until the bag is nearly overflowing. Although these tasks are tedious, they are a quick and easy way to freshen up your room and renew your motivation. A clean space is key to a clear mind.

Get 8 hours of sleep:

Maintaining a steady sleep schedule is crucial to staying healthy in the winter months. Going to bed at a consistent time every night and getting up at around the same time every morning trains your body to know when to fall asleep and when to

wake. This helps reduce tiredness during the day, allowing you to stay alert and energized during class, while also making it easier to fall asleep easily at night. Getting enough sleep also makes it easier for the body to fend off sickness, a much-needed skill during cold and flu season.

Try something new:

Whether it’s a club you’ve been thinking about joining, an intramural team you want to join, or a friend you’ve been meaning to spend more time with, making small changes to your routine helps reduce some of the winter fatigue. Having something to look forward to each week makes the start of a semester more exciting.

Journal:

Journaling looks different for everyone, and there are no rules to it. Some may choose to write about each day in a diary format in order to clear their mind. Others may write occasionally about a situation or emotions in order to destress, just like how talking things out with a loved one makes things easier to process. Still others may make a list of things they’re grateful for; by keeping track of the little things that make you happy, it becomes increasingly easier to notice them, and soon every day is full of little joyful moments.

A new semester is the perfect time to establish new, healthy habits to take you through the new year. Remember to take care of yourself this winter!

"Chill" out your next snow storm by making homemade ice cream outside in the snow

Photo Courtesy of The Soccer Mom Blog

Field Hockey Announces Move to CAA

Fair eld eld hockey is set to begin a new era in 2026.

e Stags were announced last week as the newest member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), signaling a departure from the Northeast Conference (NEC) in which the team has competed since 2019.

“We are pleased to welcome Fair eld to the CAA as an associate member in eld hockey,” said CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio. “Adding a nationally ranked, championship program like Fair eld to the CAA makes what was already a competitive conference even stronger.”

e Stags are fresh o a 2025 season that featured a perfect record in NEC play en route to a second straight conference championship, as well as their rst NCAA Tournament win since 2019 via a 1-0 rst round decision over Boston University.

e team also has experience against CAA competition throughout its history, including wins over Hofstra in each of the last two seasons. Other CAA member schools include Drexel, Monmouth, Northeastern, Towson and William & Mary.

e move represents an avenue for greater recognition for a team that already earned a national ranking in the NFHCA poll at the end of last season.

Head Sports Editor: Crystal Arbelo >> crystal.arbelo@student.fairfield.edu

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

MEN'S BASKETBALL

With Sacred Heart

Page 15

SOFTBALL Awaits Cross-Town Showdown

Kicks Off New Season on the Road

With Tournament in Houston

Page 15

MEN'S LACROSSE

Senior defender

Pilar Mengotti was a third team All-American for the Stags in 2025.

“I think moving into the CAA is going to be a transformational chapter for the program moving forward,” said senior defender Alice Pi eri. “We’ve proven our success in the NEC and proven that we can compete with other competitive programs, so this is a new opportunity to show that we are hungry but humble for more.”

new opportunity to show that we are hungry but humble for Pi eri, the change is a testament to

Returns to the Turf With Vengeance

After Heartbreaking End to Last Season

Page 16

ough the competition will improve, the Stags have the bene t of experiencing numerous conference transitions already throughout the history of the program to help prepare them. Field hockey has at one point been a member of the NEC, Patriot League, America East, and the MAAC.

For a rising h-year like Pi eri, the change is a testament to the time and dedication she and her teammates have put into improving and growing the program.

“As much as I would like to have experienced this conference change for more than just my last year, I am so proud of the program that we have become,”

as I have experienced this conference so

No games scheduled. Women's Basketball vs Marist University Fairfi eld, CT @7:00 PM

Men's Basketball vs Sacred Heart University Fairfi eld, CT(SHU) @7:00 PM

true to ourselves and really I are capable of.”

Pi eri said, “and if we stay true to ourselves and really trust in our coaches, I have full faith that this team can show everyone what we all know we are capable of.”

Field hockey looks forward to new competition in a more competitive conference for their 2026 season.

FEB 4 FEB 5 FEB 6 FEB 7 FEB 8 FEB 9 FEB 10

Softball vs Houston Christian University and Houston Houston,TX @11:00 AM and 5:00 PM

Women's Lacrosse vs Rhode Island University Fairfi eld, CT @2:00 PM

Men's Lacrosse at Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA @11:00 AM

Women's Basketball vs Iona University Fairfi eld,CT @1:00 PM

Men's Basketball vs Marist University Fairfi eld,CT @7:00 PM

Men's Tennis vs Binghampton and Army West Point West Point,NY @10:00 AM and 6:00 PM

No games scheduled. No games scheduled.

Men's Basketball Awaits Cross-Town Showdown

Following a tough loss against Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon, Fairfield men’s basketball looks forward to a Thursday night clash against cross-town rivals, Sacred Heart, on Pioneer territory. The Pioneers are currently 10-14 overall and 6-7 in the MAAC, and had their own win streak snapped on Sunday with a 75-58 loss to Merrimack College.

The Stags have recently struggled against Sacred Heart, losing their last three contests, most notably in a first-round exit of the MAAC Championship Tournament last season. Looking to rewrite the narrative, Fairfield is focusing on harnessing its young power.

For the second consecutive week and the sixth time so far in his first-year season, Brandon Benjamin has been named the MAAC Rookie of the Week. He currently leads the MAAC with 10.3 rebounds per game and a field goal percentage of .579. He ranks second in offensive rebounds with a 4.48 average and 1.57 blocks per game. He also currently holds the record for most rebounds as a firstyear, with 238 and counting.

“I think we’re getting some good production from young guys,” head coach Chris Casey told the Mirror in a recent interview. “The freshmen have been fantastic, I mean, we’re starting four of them.”

With his sixth double-double of the season, first-year Declan Wucherpfennig set the tone for Fairfield against Quinnipiac with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The 6’7 forward has been awarded Rookie of the Week twice so far this season. Another leader of that game for the Stags is Braden Sparks, who banked 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

The Pioneers have some threats on their roster, including senior Yan Farell, who accounted for 18 of the Pioneers’ 58 points on Sunday night. He was supported by redshirt senior Anquan Hill, who contributed 12 points, and senior Dashon Gittens, who added 11 points and 10 rebounds of his own to compose his fifth double-double of the year.

First-year forward Declan Wucherpfennig looks to build on his breakout season in the next crucial set of games.

What hurt the Stags the most about their most recent defeat was how crucial that matchup was for the conference standings. Fairfield currently sits at seventh, but could’ve jumped up ahead of Quinnipiac to the fifth spot if they had won on Sunday. Facing a tough schedule ahead against Saint Peter's, Marist, and reigning MAAC Tournament Champion Mount St. Mary’s, the Stags must channel every bit of brilliance they’ve shown this season so far onto the last few games of their schedule.

“The thing we’ve done that I’m really proud of is rebounding the basketball,” Casey commented. “That’s been going good for us.”

A player to look out for is graduate guard Deuce Turner, who led the bench on Sunday with 13 points. Coming off a few good consecutive performances, Turner has been finding his rhythm again for the Stags.

“Deuce is a hard worker. He wants to play well, and he’s about the team,” Casey commented. “He wants to play well to help us win.”

The Stags will tip-off against the Pioneers at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the William H. Pitt Athletic Center in Fairfield. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, and tickets are now available on Ticketmaster.com.

Name a children's book you'd want to be trapped in.

What's Grammy'syourhot take?

Who from e Mirror would go on Love Island?

What is your Super Bowl prediction?

I'd love to add Harold's purple crayon to my art supply collection

Amy Allen, the Songwriter of the Year, is single-handedly fueling the music industry.

I'd vote for Billy McGuire, Associate Sports Editor Emeritus.

Drake "Drake Maye" Maye will earn his cookies for a stellar performance.

I would be best friends with my GOATs Elephant and Piggie

I like Golden but I really wish other songs from KPop Demon Hunters got attention.

If not Kathleen herself I think she’d start a social media campaign for Conor

Drake Maye is a hooper but the Pats have had a cakewalk road, I think the Seahawks win by 10+

Is it cheating to say “Tales From Pixie Hollow”? I’d love to y around Neverland!

I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t even know Lady Gaga came out with a new album…

Kathleen - a new bombshell has entered the villa!

As a Pats fan I fear the Seahawks are going to obliterate us.

Does the Lorax count? I don't know...SOS

I don’t know why Billie won Song of the year; no reason why!

Kathleen would so give a show, she would be like Huda.

Seahawks taking the win a er the ghostbusters show up to San Francisco

“ e Penderwicks” because I always wanted to be one of the sisters on their summer adventures.

Sabrina Carpenter was snubbed. Enough said.

“I got a text” it’s Kathleen.

I’m just here to see the WAGs out ts and watch Bad Bunny. (Go Birds)

Caitlin Shea Head of Standards

Kathleen Morris Editor-in-Chief

Danny McElroy Executive Editor

Julian Nazario Managing Editor

Talia Scarpa Head Vine Editor

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Softball Kicks Off New Season with Tournament in Houston

Leadership, experience, and unfinished business define the Fairfield University women’s softball team as it enters the 2026 season. Coming off a 26–26 (18–7 MAAC) season that ended in the MAAC Tournament semifinals, the Stags return a veteran core focused on taking the final step toward a conference championship under head coach Julie Brzezinski.

Alyssa Weinberg, a senior left-hander, enters her final season as one of the most decorated pitchers in program history. Weinberg earned national recognition during the offseason, being named DI Softball’s MidMajor Top 100 and All-MAAC Preseason Team following a dominant 2025 campaign.

Last season, Weinberg posted an 18–10 record with a 2.29 ERA and struck out 190 batters across 180 innings. She was responsible for the majority of Fairfield’s wins from the circle and already ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in strikeouts (318), placing her in the top five in school history.

Despite the accolades, Weinberg believes she still has room to grow. “My biggest focus this offseason was attention to detail,” Weinberg said. “I worked on all my pitches and perfecting my spins so when it comes time to play in a game, I know I am ready. The little things are what win games.”

That mindset is driven by a taste of championship contention last season, as Fairfield earned the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Tournament before a semifinal exit left the returning players hungry for more. The Stags fell in a heartbreaking 6–5 loss to Siena University, mounting a late seventh-inning comeback that came up just short.

“With the season not ending the way we wanted, it really brings a fire to us this year. Every year the goal is to win, but this year especially for the seniors, it means more,” Weinberg said.

While Weinberg anchors the pitching staff, Fairfield’s defensive identity begins on the left side of the infield with senior captain Anna Paravati. The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year was a steady presence at third base last season, recording 77 assists while posting a .967 fielding percentage. Offensively, Paravati hit .331 with 33 RBI and opened the year with a 13-game hitting streak.

“I try to put my best foot forward for myself and my team,” Paravati said. “Our team has a history of great

defense, and we’ve been working indoors and outdoors, sometimes multiple practices a day. Establishing that work ethic early will pay off in the long run”.

Another notable leader on the Stags roster is senior captain, Delaney Whieldon. She finished last season as one of the MAAC’s top catchers. Whieldon hit .301 with a team high four home runs, all while posting a .992 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Offensively, Fairfield returns several proven contributors, including sophomore Ava Armuth. In her rookie season, Armuth recorded 11 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs. As she continues to gain experience, the Stags will look to lean more heavily on Armuth to help anchor the lineup and fill a larger role moving forward.

Outfielder Charli Warren, a 2025 graduate, leaves behind a significant presence at the top of the order. Warren led the team in batting average last season (.380), set a program record with 46 runs scored, and led the MAAC with 25 stolen bases. Over her Fairfield career, she finished top three all-time in both triples (13) and stolen bases (84). Replacing her speed, on-base ability, and

leadership will be one of the Stags’ biggest challenges.

Rather than relying on a single player to fill that role, Fairfield looks to manufacture offense by committee, emphasizing lineup flexibility and execution. That collective approach reflects a broader sense of confidence entering 2026.

“This year, we’re definitely more mature and seasoned. We have a lot of returners and a lot of upperclassmen. We all understand what’s expected of us and what it takes to win,” Weinberg said.

Fairfield opens the season at the three-team University of Houston Tournament on Friday, beginning with an 11 a.m. EST matchup against Houston Christian before facing host Houston at 5 p.m. The opening weekend marks the start of the team’s longest road trip of the season and provides an early opportunity to test itself against strong non-conference competition. The Stags will face UNC Greensboro, which finished last season 3918 (14-6 Southern Conference), and Columbia University, which finished 24-18 (15-6 Ivy League).

Fairfield Opens Regular Season with Home Matchup Against Rhode Island

Fairfield women’s lacrosse returns to action for their home opener and first game of the regular season against the University of Rhode Island (URI) this Friday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.

The game was initially scheduled for Saturday but was moved due to anticipated poor weather conditions.

The Stags enter this game as Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) preseason favorites, picking up 11 of the 12 first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Kelly Haggerty ‘27 was named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year in the preseason honors list, entering her third season with Fairfield with 67 goals and 22 assists to her name.

Haggerty earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC team, with graduate student Haley Burns and seniors Katherine Shammas and Brynn Donnelly also earning spots.

Fairfield travelled to Columbia University last Saturday for a scrimmage, where they won 17-11, with the fixture also providing the players with valuable playing time against competitive opposition ahead of the season opener.

Julia Preston ‘28 shared her thoughts on the scrimmage, and on the upcoming months for the team:

“After a solid preseason, we were very excited to open with a scrimmage against Columbia. It went really well and it was a good start to what we are hoping will be a great season. We’re ready to bring that energy into our home opener, and to be playing in front of our home crowd.”

This will be the first-ever matchup for the Stags against the URI Rams, as URI women’s lacrosse enters just their second NCAA season. They posted an 8-8 record last season and finished 4-6 in Atlantic 10 conference play. They were placed sixth in this year’s preseason conference poll.

Rams sophomore Caralie Basuel earned a place on the A-10 Lacrosse Preseason Team after earning conference Rookie of the Year honors last season.

Friday’s contest will provide the Stags with an early opportunity to assess their form as they open the regular season, with free admission for all fans.

Fairfield poses with the MAAC Championship banner last season after winning their ninth championship throughout their history.

Softball prepares for another year looking forward to their next chance at winning the MAAC Championship.

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Kelly Haggerty comes back for her junior season after winning All-MAAC Second Team last season.

Photo Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Week of February 4, 2026

Men’s Lacrosse Returns to the Turf with Vengeance

Heartbreaking End to Last Season

April of last year was a great time to be a part of the men’s lacrosse team. The team was 12-2 and ranked 14th according to USA Lacrosse. However, after losing to Towson 14-9 in their second-to-last game, they were eventually upset by Drexel.

Fairfield was one of the favorites to win the Coastal Athletic Association, which made their loss to Drexel in the first round of the playoffs, 14-6, even more disappointing for the team. But the team is now ready to not make that mistake twice by molding their offseason to help them play their best lacrosse towards the end of the year.

On the defensive side, key returners include Radossich and senior defender Eli Adams, who are the base of the defense. Still, that unit will look the most different this season after losing some of their senior defenders.

The goalkeeping projects to remain strong this year.

“Ever since Landon has gotten here, there's been a lot more competition at practice, and his experience as a starting goalie helps me with sharing our experiences,” Hirsch said.

The Stags are coming into this season as one of the pre-season favorites in the CAA, being predicted as the second seed in the conference, only behind Towson who has won the conference the past two years.

Some players for Fairfield also picked up pre-season honors, with senior midfielder Will Consoli and junior defenseman Julian Radossich getting preseason All-CAA. Senior attackman Jake Gilbert, graduate midfielder Rob Moore and graduate goalkeeper Owen Hirsch earned honorable mention status.

The talent is still there from last season, with 4 of the 5 leading goal scorers returning this year, including their starting goalkeeper and multiple defenders returning. But that didn’t stop them from being aggressive this offseason, bringing in 18 new faces with 16 from recruiting and two from the transfer portal.

The two players from the transfer portal are sophomore defenseman Gavin McCarthy, who played six games at Bryant as a first-year player, and junior goalkeeper Landon Whitney, who made 22 career appearances for Albany. Whitney started for the Danes during their 2024 America East Championship run, where he earned All-Rookie honors.

The goalkeeping unit will look similar to the past season, with Hirsch most likely receiving the nod again this year, as he will return for another after starting all 15 games for the Stags in 2025.

On the recruiting side, the Stags took in 16 new faces from multiple states. The class is led by midfielder Logan Bryant, who was a two time USA Lacrosse All-American from Louisville, Kentucky.

Joining Bryant are another two-time USA Lacrosse All-American at midfielder, Jack Cox, who comes from Ponte Vedra, Florida, and one-time All-American midfielder Luke Patchen from Jamesville-DeWitt in New York.

The Stags come into this season with a very similar schedule to the one they had last season. The slate will open up against Lehigh on Feb. 7th at 11 a.m., the same matchup from a year ago, when Fairfield won 10-7.

This similar schedule could be a catalyst for a team that was undefeated in nonconference play in 2025. The list of repeat opponents includes Sacred Heart, Manhattan, Brown, and Providence. Assuming the returning players from last season get better or stay at the level they were playing at, they should be very successful again in this part of the season.

“The extra effort that we’re putting in every day,.. especially the work in the morning, has been super helpful, and the extra one percent work we’ve been putting in,” Hirsch said.

Most of the stat leaders from last year are returning again this season, including the leading goal scorer, sophomore attackman Devin Lampron. Junior attackman Keegan Lynch is also back this year, who led in assists and points for the Stags last season.

The boys aren’t setting their sights small for this year, and they think they can compete with anyone this season.

The boys aren’t setting their sights can compete with anyone this season.

“Win the CAA championship and win the NCAA championship. We strive for the best,” said Hirsch.

Associate Sports Editor

Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Photos Contributed by the Sports Information Desk

Fairfield standout junior defenseman Julian Radossich prepares for another season after breakout 2025 season.