The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929. Proud Recipient of the New England Society of Newspaper Editors’ Award for 2015-2016 College Newspaper of the Year
APRIL 19, 2017
VOLUME 87, ISSUE 24
ARTS & LIFE: END OF YEAR CALENDER P. 8
SPORTS: PECKNOLD P. 16
OPINION: IT’S ALWAYS THE QUIET ONES P. 6
PRESIDENT LAHEY ANNOUNCES
RETIREMENT
PHOTOS BY ERIN KANE, JULIA GALLOP, CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO | DESIGN BY KRISTEN RIELLO
President John Lahey will retire after the 2017-2018 academic year, completing 31 years and three months as Quinnipiac’s president. Editor-in-Chief
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On Friday, April 14 President John Lahey announced to the University community that he will retire after the 2017-2018 academic year. Upon his retirement, Lahey will have served as president of Quinnipiac University for 31 years and three months. “Words alone cannot express the thanks and appreciation I feel for the privilege and honor I have been given to serve as President of Quinnipiac University for more than three decades,” Lahey said in his announcement. Under Lahey, the university grew from 1,900 students and three schools to 10,000 students and nine schools. Lahey also expanded the university endowment from $20 million to $450 million, according to the Quinnipiac University website. The university also established the Quinnipiac University Poll under Lahey’s leadership, while also creating the York Hill and North Haven campuses.
“I hope you share with me this same sense of pride and delight in all that Quinnipiac has become thanks to our collective efforts,” Lahey said. “The next academic year will provide many opportunities for Judy (Lahey) and me to express our heartfelt appreciation for your enormous contributions to Quinnipiac’s success and our enduring gratitude for your support, friendship and collegiality over the past three decades.” Many students, faculty, staff and alumni were supportive of Lahey’s announcement. “He has done an amazing job with the school,” Laura Brown Mullin posted on the announcement shared to the Quinnipiac University Facebook page. “I graduated in ‘94 when it was still (Quinnipiac College) and small. I have not been back in a long time but know that it has transformed into an amazing university under your leadership.” Senior and former Student Government Association (SGA) president Joey Mullaney was able to get to know Lahey
Did you go home for the long weekend?
CONNECT
By SARAH DOIRON
through sitting with him on the Board of Trustees and said he wasn’t shocked to hear of his retirement. “He is just a great guy,” Mullaney said. “Yes, it is sad to see him leave, but he did a great job here so I am excited to see where he goes from here and what QU is able to do once he leaves.” Former Athletic Director Jack McDonald also commented on the Facebook post congratulating Lahey on his retirement. “Cannot thank you enough for all you have done for the students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni. Hope your much deserved retirement is very happy and very, very healthy,” he said. This announcement comes two weeks after The Chronicle published a Q&A with Lahey. The Chronicle asked if he had any plans to retire soon, but Lahey wouldn’t give a definitive answer. “I won’t be here in 10 years and prob-
The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Court documents reveal former women’s ice hockey coach abused players since 2009-10 By ANDREW BADILLO and AYAH GALAL Q30 Television
Due to the explicit nature of the content, reader discretion is advised.
The most recent memorandum filed on April 3 in former Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey head coach Rick Seeley’s lawsuit against Quinnipiac and David Bills revealed that players at the school reported abusive behavior by Seeley as early as the 2009 season. Yet, the school extended Seeley’s contract three times after 2009. Former Athletic Director Jack McDonald denied knowledge of abuse allegations despite multiple examples cited in athlete surveys. Seeley coached at Quinnipiac from 20082015 and, according to the memorandum filed in the New Haven Judicial District Court, the University investigated an incident in which he grabbed one of his players at a game against Harvard on March 14, 2015. Seeley replied to Bills’ special defenses on April 13 and denied all allegations made against him. Seeley’s lawsuit against Bills will be going to trial on July 18. Following the investigation, the University “decided that it would be best to separate you (Seeley) from employment,” stated in a letter to Seeley dated April 9, 2015, signed by former Vice President of Human Resources Ron Mason. At the time of Seeley’s firing, McDonald, who has been the athletic director at University of New England since fall 2015, told Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network (QBSN), “Obviously, if we knew what is being alleged, then (the hiring) just wouldn’t have happened.” Yet, the surveys, dating back to 2009, paint a different picture. In the QBSN article, McDonald said that the athletes fill out the surveys and said that there were no problems up until the 20132014 season. In an email to Q30 Television, McDonald said he would not comment on the memorandum or anything pertaining to it. Associate Vice President of Public Relations John Morgan told Q30 that the university will not comment on ongoing legal matters. *** Surveys outline alleged abuse dating back to 2009 The 2009-2010 survey outlined alleged verbal and physical abuse by Seeley. Despite their success, players indicated that it “comes at the expense of emotional distress and verbal neglect” and that “the environment is extremely intense and often can get the best of a lot of players.” Another player wrote that, “coach was a crazy man, in a less then (sic) positive way.” One player recommended a team psychologist. In the 2012-2013 surveys, the alleged
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See SEELEY Page 14
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INDEX
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Opinion: 6 Arts and Life: 8 Interactive: 13 Sports: 14