On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Quinnipiac University students, faculty and staff thought they were experiencing a simple fire drill, as the alarm cleared out the Carl Hansen Student Center.
Caution tape, bomb squad and one anonymous post proved them otherwise.
Here are the details of the incident.
According to the Quinnipiac University’s crime log, Public Safety received a call from a student just after 2 p.m. The student informed Public Safety about a post on the anonymous social media app, YikYak, that mentioned a pipe bomb in a women’s bathroom in the student center. Two minutes later, the school notifed Hamden Police, according to the department’s daily log.
The post in question seems to have been made around 1:30 p.m.
A fire alarm sounded a little before 2:20 p.m. evacuating the student center. Officers cleared out the adjacent Tator Hall a little while later.
“At approximately 2:25 p.m. an officer (I am not sure if it was QU public safety or Hamden Police) opened the door and walked into my classroom and said, “You all need to evacuate the building because of an investigation,” Melissa Gibbons, parttime psychology professor who was teaching a class on the third floor of Tator, wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “Right away the students packed up their things and left the classroom.”
While nothing seemed unusual at first, Public Safety officers repeatedly asked students to move around 15 yards from the building as they roped off the area with caution tape.
Zack Marcario, a frst-year health science major, was in class in Tator Hall when the building was evacuated, and said that “everyone was just really confused.”
“We just thought it was a fire drill,” Marcario said. “I guess as we found out it was a bomb threat it got more serious.”
As a precaution, classes scheduled in Tator Hall were moved online for the rest of the day. The rest of the academic buildings stayed open and functional.
“We were making decisions based on the information we had at the time,” Chief of Public Safety Otoniel Reyes said. “The threat of there being a pipe bomb was specific to that (area). We were trying to minimize the unnecessary impact to the community. It’s one of the things that we determined (that) in the future we’ll extend it out to (the rest of campus).”
Approximately an hour later, the New Haven bomb squad arrived on campus with four K-9’s.
At 4:31 p.m., a QU Alert email informed students, faculty and staff that the building was cleared and deemed safe. All of the services inside resumed normal function.
“Our officers went in, we did a visual inspection of the bathrooms to see if we saw anything that might resemble a pipe bomb or anything out of place” Reyes said.
“(The New Haven bomb squad) came in and cleared the building.”
Unbeknown yet to the Quinnipiac community, at 4:50 p.m., Hamden police arrested Nkemakonam Okafor, a 22-year-old Quinnipiac student in connection with the bomb threat.
According to the department’s Sept. 5 news release, Okafor admitted to posting the bomb threat online, which read “who ever is on main in the student center don’t use the women’s bathroom there is a pipe bomb in there.”
“We evaluate each situation and each set of circumstances differently,” Reyes said. “We don’t always react to every post on social media. We make a decision that is considering all the information and the details we have for each situation.”
Okafor was charged with breach of peace to the first degree, a class B misdemeanor that carries a charge of up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $5,000 and probation.
Breach of peace to the first degree is issued when someone “with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, such person places a nonfunctional imitation of an explosive or incendiary device or an imitation of a hazardous substance in a public place or in a place or manner likely to be discovered by another person,” according to Justia Law.
Quinnipiac President Judy Olian announced a little after 6 p.m. that a suspect
in the case had been “apprehended.”
“Our emergency planning, along with terrific collaboration between Public Safety and Hamden Police, resulted in a quick resolution,” Olian wrote in a universitywide email.
“We worked with the social media company, we worked with our IT department, we worked with local authorities,” Reyes said. “Our primary goal was to try and determine if this was a credible threat and we wanted to make sure there wasn’t a more widespread concern for us to worry about.”
Okafor graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Quinnipiac’s School of Computing and Engineering in May.
John Morgan, Quinnipiac’s associate vice president for public relations refused to comment any further on the matter.
Okafor was released after posting a $10,000 bond.
His arraignment is set at Meriden Superior Court on Sept. 20.
This wasn’t the first bomb scare Quinnipiac has faced. The last one was during the 2014 commencement, when a former student called in a bomb threat to cancel the ceremony to hide the fact she dropped out in front of her parents.
“It’s not something that happens frequently,” Reyes said. “I wouldn’t say it’s unusual, but the important thing is to remember that when they do happen we have to take them seriously and we have to vet out how credible it is as soon as we can.”
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Quinnipiac celebrates opening The Grove
By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor
Quinnipiac University held the grand opening of the new residence hall, The Grove, Monday, showcasing all of its new features.
The grand opening ceremony included a ribbon cutting and tours of the building. The ceremony started and ended with remarks from Quinnipiac President Judy Olian, Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett,
Chairman of Quinnipiac’s Board of Trustees Chuck Saia and Quinnipiac alumn Dan LaTerra, who is the vice president of engineering and streaming tech for CBS Sports.
The residence hall holds 300 firstyear students, 94 upeperclassmen and 15 residential assistants, according to the press release by John Pettit, the associate director of public relations at Quinnipiac. There is also a faculty mentor and a residence hall director
living in the building.
The Grove features new additions that other residence halls don’t, such as massage chairs and a courtyard.
“From native plants and trees to rain gardens, water-runoff prevention measures and lighting designed to minimize light pollution, The Grove stands as a symbol of Quinnipiac’s environmentally conscious initiatives,” Pettit wrote in the press release.
Grove opening ceremony on Monday, Sept. 9,
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Quinnipiac Board of Trustees members, Dan LaTerra, Quinnipiac President Judy Olian and Quinnipiac Chief Experience Offcer Tom Ellett cut the ribbon at The
2024.
TYLER RINKO/CHRONICLE
The hammocks outside in The Grove’s courtyard are a nice area for students to relax.
TYLER RINKO/CHRONICLE
The Grove houses a new mentorship program for frst-year students.
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Quinnipiac
alumn LaTerra (‘08) gives a speech at The Grove ribbon cutting ceremony
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE Olian gives a speech.
Student peer mentoring program looking for new recruits
By AVA HIGHLAND and CARLEIGH BECK
Students and faculty involved in the Quinnipiac University Enriching Student Transitions mentoring program are looking to expand.
The QUEST program helps to ease the adjustment to university life for underrepresented groups in the student body.
Students are matched with both an upperclassman peer and a staff or faculty mentor within the program.
“Those peers are able to tell them what is going on in that class with that professor, in these buildings, in these student organizations … because they’ve done it,” said Claude Mayo, director of inclusive excellence.
Mentees are paired with mentors based on factors such as shared major or school, common interests, hometown, residence hall or other student organizations.
“Sometimes students feel more inclined and empowered to go to a student rather than a faculty or staff member, to confide in and ask questions to,” said Briona R. Grant, assistant director of inclusive excellence.
“That’s why we find so much value in having this peer mentorship relationship.”
The Department of Cultural and Global Engagement was restructured in December 2023 and from it stemmed the Office of Inclusive Excellence.
QUEST has consisted of 30 pairs in previous years. Grant aims for 50 this year.
“We can ensure that our frst-year students, but also our returners, know that they can tap into during this time,” Grant said. “I think my core focus area, and our emphasis in the Offce of Inclusive Excellence, is re-
ally tapping into our social support.”
The program is currently in the recruitment phase. Grant and Mayo have been working to assemble a team of mentors, and soon get them paired with their mentees.
In recruiting mentors, Grant has begun reaching out to various students from underrepresented groups and inviting them to be a mentor. Grant has provided them with her plans for the year, as well has her encouragement for them to join the program.
The Office of Inclusive Excellence will hold “monthly mix and mingles,” allowing for students and their mentees to socialize.
These experiences have themes that mirror events throughout the semester. In October, the theme will involve relaxation and selfcare to help students unwind during the midterms season.
Educational events will be held as well, including Critical Conversations that mentors and mentees are encouraged to attend.
Both of these programming series are open to students outside of the QUEST program.
“(These events are) not only to have educational opportunities together, but also just to relax and take it easy in the hustle and bustle of the semester,” Grant said.
The faculty connections that the program provides gives first-year students another support system. Grant and Mayo were both faculty mentors when they were hired.
“But then having that touch point with the faculty or a staff mentor is equally important, because we like to think that we know a little bit better about how to do things long range,” Mayo said.
The program comes full circle for some
students, where mentees are encouraged to stay involved in QUEST.
“QUEST is fantastic because of this purebased system, students that come in as mentees end up becoming mentors,” Mayo said.
The program is not only beneficial for those being mentored, but is fulfilling for mentors as well.
“Being a mentor was more rewarding than being a mentee,” said Autumn White, a senior criminal justice and sociology double major. “I felt like I was making (my mentee) feel more comfortable coming to the university especially as underrepresented communities.”
Mentees can go to their mentors or fac -
ulty members for advice and support across a wide variety of topics. The matching process is crucial for this, as mentees can be paired with mentors who have navigated similar college experiences.
“I’m really, really proud of (my mentee from last year), she’s also very independent like me,” White said. “But if she has questions about her major or basic organizational stuff, she’ll come to me.”
The program strives to not only help the adjustment to college easier, but also to build community
“Culture is past,” Mayo said. “Culture doesn’t just happen. It doesn’t get recreated every time it’s passed.”
Quinnipiac graduate aims to teach children about internet safety
By
Quinnipiac University cybersecurity graduate student Marcus Pierre turned his interests and ideas into launching a nonprofit organization.
The Massachusetts-based nonproft, Digital Defenders Inc., aims to teach children about internet safety and how to prevent online dangers, such as creating strong passwords, identifying phishing, scams and malware.
“About 1.7 million children fall victim to a data breach, meaning 1-in-every-43 kids had personal information exposed or compromised,” according to a 2022 survey by Javelin Survey and Research.
Children’s exposure to the internet can make them easier targets, as many do not know how to handle a cyberattack.
Being the oldest of two brothers, Pierre saw frsthand his younger siblings’ online activity and wondered if they were safe. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Pierre was interested in law enforcement, prompting him to apply to the 4+1 cybersecurity program at Quinnipiac.
However, Pierre didn’t plan to create a nonproft, until he enrolled in Assistant Professor of Management Danielle Beerli’s “Introduction to Nonproft” course, where he learned the history of nonprofts, the differences between nonprofts and for-profts and how to write mission and vision statements.
“I went into class thinking we were going to talk about nonprofits … but when we
had our first class, she said we were going to be making our own nonprofit,” Pierre said. “I was like that’s not what I signed up for. At the same time, I’m already here. I may as well put my effort into this and see what I can do.”
When thinking of ideas, Pierre leaned on the thought of creating a nonprofit to help children stay safe online. Originally wanting the name to be “Cookies 4 Kids,” a play on how websites use cookies to track users, but the name was already taken. Soon, with the help of a class assignment, he settled on “Digital Defenders.”
Though students create these projects for classroom purposes, Beerli saw Pierre’s potential and wanted him to make his idea a reality.
“(The projects are) all really good, but there’s probably one or two that stand out,” Beerli said.
Beerli, who is the founder of Belle Sol — a nonproft motivating women and young girls through social and emotional skills — guided Pierre through the registration process. With support from his stepmother, who also runs a nonproft, Pierre found guidance in those who saw his vision.
“She’s a very welcoming person, so I wasn’t closed off to asking her questions about her nonprofit,” Pierre said. “I think her just being so open and emailing me and asking me how it’s going, if I need help, I think that really helped me a lot to be able
to open up to her and ask her for her input on certain things.”
Pierre’s process involved receiving feedback on the mission, finding board members, getting tax exemptions from the IRS, filling out paperwork and calling state and government agencies.
“We started going at it for real in January, and we didn’t get the final approval until July,” Pierre said. “There’s a lot of setbacks, but it definitely was worth it.”
Pierre is Beerli’s frst student in fve years to take the initiative to start a nonproft.
“I think they all (leave class with the same feeling of, “Wow, I did something, look what I made,” and it was something that meant a lot to me,” Beerli said. “There are some that are personal … but nobody’s ever done it, so it was really awesome.”
Pierre has already found potential donors and is looking to line up activities with schools, libraries and community centers starting in October. The nonprofit will use “hands-on learning” about online safety through interactive games, role-playing scenarios and engaging web applications, according to Digital Defenders Inc.
Pierre started a GoFundMe page in hopes of receiving donations.
The past eight months have been filled with challenging moments, but Pierre said the experience taught him perseverance.
“There were so many things where it kind of tested how bad did I want to open
this,” Pierre said. “I think over time it came to me like, ‘you know what, if you want it, then do it anyway.’ So I kind of put my head down and started going.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCUS PIERRE
Quinnipiac University graduate student Marcus Pierre started his non-proft in one of his classes.
SAMANTHA NUNEZ Copy Editor
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
Quinnipiac University’s Offce of Inclusive Excellence looks to expand its student peer mentoring program.
By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor
Opinion
Phone jails put safety on hold
If you have a phone, chances are you’ve come across teachers who have forced students to put phones in phone “trees” in their classrooms. It didn’t have to be a phone “tree,” it could’ve been a bin or shelves where you had to put your phones. There are even miniature cages where students place their phones.
Phones were deemed too distracting and that’s why these phone jails were mandatory in some schools. Educators believe it to be the student’s best interest. Actually, it’s the opposite.
What if there’s an emergency where students would have to get in touch with their parents? What if they need to call 911? The extra few minutes, or even seconds trying to get a phone could cost someone their life.
In an age where there are so many school shootings, as awful as it sounds, some kids’ last words to their parents, are through text messages. Even if they’re fine, parents are comforted by updates from their children in those types of situations.
Students also may need to use their phones to find out what’s going on outside their school or classroom with news alerts. If they are in a lockdown and don’t have access to their phones, it’s only going
to worsen the situation. Even if someone took the time to retrieve phones from where the teacher was keeping them, that person could be placed in even more danger.
It also prevents students from learning the correct way to prioritize work while also having a cell phone on them.
High school is a great place where students learn responsibility and how to manage distractions before entering either higher education or the workforce.
Confiscating devices prevents this learning opportunity and will inevitably make it more difficult later on — specifically, when it’s most important to be focused.
Learning to responsibly use phones and other devices is so important in a time where everything is so digital.
In a place where students are supposed to learn, acting like technology doesn’t exist in the hope that students will learn “the old-fashioned way” is so counterproductive.
Students have to learn how to utilize the tools that they have in-hand, and that includes phones. Phones aren’t just for calling, texting and updating your Snapchat story. Students could also learn how to effectively take notes, play educational games and access school resources on their phones.
There’s no point in pretending phones
aren’t going to be part of everyday life forever, so we need to teach students the proper way of using them, both in the classroom or in the event of an emergency. Phone “jails” are only going to lock away learning opportunities and safety.
Vance is im-Palin his shot at Vice President
Sarah Palin’s candidacy should be a warning
By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor
In 2008, John McCain was running for president against former President Barack Obama. Like all candidates battling for the oval offce, he had to choose a potential vicepresident. It turns out he made a mistake
choosing former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Palin has now found herself in a new race: “Who is the worst VP choice?” Her opponent is now former President Donald Trump’s pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
If you would’ve asked someone at the beginning of the year if that was possible,
they likely would’ve looked back to 2008 and said, “There’s no way.” Now, according to ABC News, Vance is less popular than Palin. As USA Today’s Rex Huppke said, “Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, please turn in your crown.”
Similar to the McCain campaign, Trump would’ve benefited in picking a conservative that leaned more in the middle of the political spectrum, rather than Vance, who is a bit more extreme than Trump — who is already seen as an extreme Republican candidate.
Instead, both McCain and Trump picked candidates that may deter voters with their choice of extremist.
Whether Trump believes it or not, he does need the votes of independents and younger voters.
Vance wasn’t even Republicans’ top choice for a VP pick. Only 3% of Republicans would’ve chosen Vance, according to YouGov. About 40% of non-MAGA Republicans either don’t know how they feel about him, think it’s a somewhat bad idea to have him as the pick or think it’s a really bad idea.
At the time, Palin’s fall was unprecedented, but mistakes were made and most political hopefuls learned the lesson. However, it seems Trump hasn’t.
Trump will do what Trump wants to do, but I do find it surprising that the same man who fired so many people from his administration is letting Vance get away with dragging his campaign down.
Palin took the spotlight away from McCain during their run. Vance may be doing the same. Like most candidates returning to offce, Trump has a reputation as a president, whether it be good or bad. Trump’s successes are cast aside with Vance as a pick, because now the media is focused on his “unique” way with words, instead of policies and goals for the second term in offce. He should also be using this platform to emphasize his own goals as vice president. Instead, he is seemingly trying to mimic Trump’s behavior of taking cheap shots at opponents. They could’ve made somewhat of a good team if Vance took a separate approach to educating voters on what they’d do together in office or even educating them on who he is as a person since he is lesser known than other potential VP picks.
Maybe Trump is too big-headed to admit that this pick was the wrong one. Maybe he can’t find someone as loyal as Vance. No matter the reasons, he might be letting history repeat itself, and it could cost him the election.
Republican Vice Presidential candidate, JD Vance should take notes on what not to do as a candidate from former VP candidate, Sarah Palin
Opinion
You can’t blame the president for everything
By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor
If I had a nickel for everytime I heard, “Trump was better for the economy,” I would be able to fix the economy.
The truth is, no president makes or breaks the economy, or basically any other aspect of the country for that matter. They just seem to get praised if things are good, and blamed if things are bad.
When it comes to the economy specifically, the president can make policies that contribute to it. But overall, it’s a mix of factors including global and congressional decisions. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic played a huge role, but no one could control that.
One of the key points in a Republican ar gument regarding the presidential is that the economy was better under former President Trump. Gross domestic product grew under both President Joe Biden and former President Trump, but more so under Biden. They both did better and worse than each other in
aspects like the job market, infation and gas prices.
In reality, presidents don’t have direct control over any of that. Gas prices are controlled by global supply and demand. If we want lower gas prices, we need a combination of policy and lawmakers. This includes all three branches of government. Abortion and reproductive rights are a major topic in this election. Candidates claim that they’ll either make reproductive healthcare illegal or totally accessible.
Well, as we saw with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, it’s not totally up to them.
people.
Especially during social movements, policies and decisions are often made because of public opinion. If a government is a good one, they will listen to the public’s needs based purely off of who they’re representing. Most of the time though, it’s because leaders want to be reelected. The best way to ensure that you won’t get reelected is if you blatantly ignore the public’s needs. Separation of powers, is quite literally what it sounds like: the separation of the powers in the government. Meaning, the executive branch has separate powers than
With all of these promises about policies that the candidates can’t keep, voters lose trust and end up disappointed. This emphasizes why it’s important to vote in non-presidential elections. Every election counts because they all add up to an overall goal. If you vote for the people who can do their part to make that goal happen, it just might. But having representatives fight with the president on issues isn’t going to solve anything, and if it does, it’ll take a while.
It’s not just on us. Although presidential candidates have a race to win, they should be honest. To keep expectations realistic, when addressing voters they should say, “The president only has so much control, we need to look to congress or the supreme for…” and then list what they can and can’t realistically
We need to stop overestimating the president and underestimating other government leaders and ourselves.
Dana White’s ego hurts the UFC
By BEN BUSILLO Associate Opinion Editor
Let’s start off by saying this —
UFC President Dana White has been integral to the growth of the promotion. The risks he took to see out his vision of a world where mixed martial arts is mainstream is one of the reasons why the UFC is as popular as it is today. However, his ego, favoritism towards certain fghters and his decline of the drive to maintain integrity within the promotion has handicapped the growth of the UFC.
Belal Muhammad, the current welterweight champion, is one of White’s least favorite fghters on the roster. Although his skill is impeccable, his style of fghting, which relies heavily on wrestling, can be seen as boring to casual viewers. Therefore, White kept him away from a title shot even though he was the most deserving in the division.
Instead the title shot was given to Colby Covington, who was coming off of a win versus 37-year-old Jorge Masvidal. Muhammad was unbeaten in his last 10 fghts, and coming off a win against elite fghter, Gilbert Burns. The same Burns who demolished Masvidal only a month before he matched up with Muhammad.
“Obviously there’s a reason for it, but don’t sit there and make up lies … he’s 2-2 in his last four fghts.” Muhammad said about White giving Covington a title shot before him. “He didn’t earn it, he didn’t deserve it.”
After Muhammad had the best performance of his career and won the title, in the post-fght press conference White said the fght “Wasn’t a barn burner.” Does that sound like someone interested in hyping up their new champion?
On the other hand, White’s favoritism shines when it comes to Sean O’Malley. Starting his UFC career on White’s contender series, O’Malley has since gone on to become Bantamweight champion. Since the decline of Conor McGregor, White has been looking for a new
face of the UFC, and he has found it in O’Malley. O’Malley has a very marketable personality and an entertaining fghting style that creates a perfect recipe for a superstar.
White saw O’Malley’s potential from the very beginning, pushing him as much as he could. When he eventually got his title shot against Aljamain Sterling, he was at a signifcant advantage. Sterling was just three months removed from a fve-round war with Henry Cejudo, where he suffered injuries to both his legs and his bicep.
Despite his injuries, Sterling felt pressure from White and the organization to take the fght quickly against O’Malley. White had openly criticized Sterling for wanting more time to recover, suggesting that Sterling was trying to delay the fght. This pressure likely infuenced Sterling’s decision to go ahead with the bout, even though he wasn’t fully healed.
O’Malley knocked him out in the second round.
White’s loyalty lies with money. Whomever he thinks will bring in the most revenue, will be pushed to the front.
Jon Jones versus Stipe Miocic. The arguably greatest fghter of all time versus the greatest heavyweight of all time. This highly anticipated fght was booked for UFC 295 in November 2023. However, a month prior, Jones tore his pec clean off the bone. With Jones unable to fght and the UFC wanting to keep the division moving, they booked Tom Aspinall vs Sergei Pavlovich for the interim title.
Aspinall knocked out Pavloich in the frst round, ultimately setting up a title unifcation bout between him and Jones. After all that would make the most sense. Right?
White disagrees.
Riding high on his superstar Jones, White has continually insisted that Jones and Miocic is the matchup to make. Jones beating Miocic at this point does little for his legacy. Miocic hasn’t fought in four years and doesn’t have a
win against anyone on the active roster.
Under White’s leadership, watching the UFC has become simply unaffordable. Pay-perviews have become increasingly expensive. As of 2024, a standard UFC PPV costs $79.99 in the U.S., a signifcant jump from a few years ago where the price sat at $49.99. Not to mention before even purchasing the fghts in the frst place, you need a subscription to ESPN+. These price hikes have caused frustration among fans and ultimately price out viewers. Many casual and diehard fans alike then turn to illegal stream sites to combat the rising costs.
White’s solution to end piracy is to “start fucking prosecuting people for stealing.” This quote symbolizes White’s angry and blunt personality, while also being a byproduct of his insecure and fragile ego. Prosecuting millions of fans is also impractical and doesn’t adress the route cause of why they’re pirating in the frst place.
The UFC had 14 pay-per-view events in 2023. At $80 a piece, and adding the additional $110 a year for ESPN+, a UFC fan would have to spend just over $1200 a year to see every event. These costs simply price out fans. A lot more people would buy a fght if it was $40.
But White doesn’t think that way. His fragile ego drives most of the company’s decisions. He’s not interested in helping grow the brand as a whole.
White cut rising fyweight star Muhamad Mokaev, who is 7-0 in the UFC and mauls his opponents with his wrestling. In a weak fyweight division with no real next big star, Mokaev, who was ranked No. 6, was destined for a title shot. However when White discovered that Mokaev recived an offer from rival MMA promotion, the PFL, he cut him from the promotion.
White’s ego has prioritized proft and sacrifced the integrity of the promotion, screwing over anyone who he may see as a monetary liability.
ANDRIUS PETRUCENIA/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
Dana White is the current president of the UFC.
Arts & Life
Flower power: Grow with Women Empowered
By AMANDA MADERA Arts & Life Editor
Students from all different backgrounds gathered in the Lender School of Business Room 121 for Women Empowered’s kick-off event on Sept. 3. Club members celebrated the event by potting plants, laughing with friends, eating snacks and learning about what this club has to offer.
“I just love the community we made,” Women Empowered’s President and junior interdisciplinary studies major Rebecca Huyck said. “I love being able to meet and work with all the different people in this organization and just be an outlet for people.”
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Women Empowered kicks off their frst meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.
plants.
fll the
Fridgescaping: Succumbing to consumerism
By GINA LORUSSO Associate Arts & Life Editor
“Fridgescaping” transforms an everyday appliance into an articulate display of luxury.
Beyond the neatly arranged rows of snacks and sleek, clear containers, fridgescaping consists of placing items like picture frames inside your refrigerator.
As this trend gains popularity, it highlights a growing focus on aesthetics in spaces that are, or used to be, purely functional.
Although Kathy Perdue coined the term “fridgescaping” in a 2011 blog post, the concept has evolved over the years. Perdue’s idea of the trend focused on practical organization, similar to today’s popular restocking videos where people put their groceries into clear containers to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
“I thought, every time you open up your refrigerator — and we do that several times a day — it needs to be pretty, too,” Perdue wrote at the time.
Decorative ornaments are what set fridgescaping and simple restocking apart. Some people add fairy lights, flower vases and ceramic knick-knacks among their groceries. These non-traditional items turn the fridge into a unique, personalized space rather than just a storage area.
Since Perdue pioneered the trend,
infuencers like Lynzi Judish, (@lynzliving) on TikTok, have taken it to new heights.
In a circulating TikTok video, Judish showcases her meticulously designed fridge and addresses questions about the purpose behind fridgescaping.
She explains that the organized layout helps her keep track of her produce, encourages her to try new food and cook more, resulting in less food waste and makes it easier to keep her fridge clean.
Judish has even created themed displays for movies and TV shows like “Bridgerton” and “Beetlejuice.” She also designs seasonal setups for holidays to keep her content fresh and engaging.
While fridgescaping offers creative benefits, it poses potential risks.
In a Healthline article, Dr. Maria Knoble, the medical director of Medical Cert UK, discusses the possibility of contamination.
“When you place decorative elements inside your fridge, especially if they are not foodsafe or are diffcult to clean, you could inadvertently introduce contaminants,” Knobel said.
“For example, decorative items
might harbor bacteria or mold, which can then come into contact with food items.”
As with many social media trends, fridgescaping is sparking debates over its practicality.
Unlike Judish, who thinks decorating her fridge helps reduce waste, Allie Chanthorn Reinmann, a staff writer for Life Hacker, draws the line at simple organization.
“I like my fridge best when I can actually ft my groceries in there properly,” Chanthorn Reinmann wrote. “Again, you don’t have to store eight mini vases of fowers in your fridge to achieve a pleasant look, save money, and waste less. Try not to purchase more food than you can properly store.”
However, supporters of fridgescaping see it as an opportunity to inject personality into overlooked spaces in their homes.
They argue that much like decorating a living room or bedroom, enhancing their refrigerators allows them to express themselves unconventionally.
Fridgescaping also coincides with the
increasing “Instagrammable” nature of interior design. Since platforms often boost home organization videos, infuencers are seeking to decorate every nook and cranny of their homes to align with their brand.
When viewers watch videos of infuencers stocking their fridges with anything but food, they often want to participate and it blurs the line between genuine need and the pursuit of an idealized life.
Fridgescaping represents more than a social media trend — it’s an outrageous example of consumerism.
Fridgescaping actively pushes people to buy more, not for practical reasons, but for the sake of adopting a lifestyle that prioritizes image over health, wellness and necessity.
As infuencers like Judish are pushing the boundaries of creative expression, the trend invites adoration and critique.
Whether seen as a representation of personal style or a symbol of excessive consumerism, fridgescaping taps into a broader cultural shift where the dullest spaces are groomed to be picturesque.
In the end, fridgescaping serves as a reminder of how aesthetics fll every aspect of daily life, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary.
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Katerina Wachtel, a sophomore interdisciplinary major, learns about Women Empowered.
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Students
room SB 121 to celebrate growing into the semester by potting
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
President Becca Huyck, a junior interdisciplinary studies major, addresses the group at the meeting.
ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA
How pop culture inspires upcoming fall styles
By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Associate Arts & Life Editor
One of the many joys of the changing seasons are the fashion trends that come with it.
Transitioning from coastal chic linen dresses and relaxed denim to cozy layers, knit sweaters and oversized jackets are the perfect way to enter the cooler months.
Fall 2024 calls for a moodier palette, according to Vogue, embracing burgundy and dark chocolate as staple colors in everyone’s wardrobe. Dark colors are richer in depth and can be paired with monochromatic textures and shapes — brown is severely underrated and has a classy touch.
Tired of the pastels? Animal print, fur coats, dark denim and leather have arrived and are here for the foreseeable future.
Every year, styles and textures flter in and out with the help of major brands' input on what is in for the season and what’s out. But how much of our style is determined by outside infuences like pop culture?
Fashion has long been a way for people to express their individuality and creativity, with pop culture as a primary driver. Pop culture now has the power to infuence our lifestyle faster with social media.
Stylist Chloe Malle, an editor at Vogue, embraces tailored suits as one of the top fall trends inspired by none other than Vice President Kamala Harris, whose crisp wardrobe has made its way into trends — emphasizing public fgures' infuence over every aspect of society.
This fall is also embracing an authentic Western look. Beyonce's powers are at play with her album, “Cowboy Carter,” pushing us into a wild, Western style, according to Cosmopolitan. Fringe jackets and, more importantly, cowboy boots have been a staple revival in everyone’s wardrobe.
Cowboy boots have been infuenced by several cultural moments, including the “Barbie” movie, the “Yellowstone” series, Taylor Swift’s "The Eras Tour" and as a part of the revival of Y2K and ‘90s fashion. This versatile boot is an alternative going-out shoe, worn with jeans, long skirts and dresses.
A surprising comeback this season is sporty track pants. Stylist Christian Allaire, senior fashion and style writer at Vogue, credits this up to the aftermath of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with sportier pieces leaning away from traditional activewear. Track pants can be styled with chic jackets, ballet fats, pointed heels or loafers.
Inspired by “The Sopranos” style of fur coats, another resurgent trend is leopard print. Working in light touches, not going overboard, but is present in going-out sets, coats, handbags and jeans.
One of the fall’s most popular trends is a “downtown” aesthetic, according to The Tower. Infuenced by celebrity streetwear, this style consists of dressing like a New Yorker with dark wideset pants, a tight black top with oversized leather or suede jackets. Adding an “on the go” element with shoulder bags, earbuds or a drink in hand
encapsulates a mysterious component.
A continuation of style choices from the 1990s, focusing on layers and primarily dark colors, a rough look combined with sophisticated loafers and Mary Janes. This style has become more popular with characters Rory Gilmore and Elena Gilbert from classic fall shows “Gilmore Girls” and “Vampire Diaries.”
These characters have inspired several trends but are known for the embodiment of effortlessly simple, fashionable outfts.
Jean-based looks with heavy cable knit sweaters and tight long sleeve button-downs apply more to high school and college level style and those who are fans of the shows.
Guiding styles among the younger
generation, infuencers are effective on TikTok and Instagram for picking new styles. A push for more sustainable clothing has been a great way to cycle trends, alter clothing pieces cheaply and continue someone else's story.
My takeaway? Keep your clothes — they may become relevant and cool again in the next fashion cycle.
Fashion is constantly moving and changing due to pop culture, the shows we watch and celebrities we love.
Pop culture is powerful. It can foster growth and creativity, shaping how we see the world and defning how we express and defne ourselves.
From icon to incomplete: The fawed release of Ye’s ‘Vultures 2’
By MICHAEL PETTITO Staff Writer
It’s a sad moment when you realize that your favorite artist’s prime may be behind them, and whatever they release now will never reach the heights that their music once did. I’m almost at that point.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is one of the most popular hip-hop artists of all time. His discography spans two decades, with each album serving a purpose in telling the story of his life.
From the humble beginnings of “The College Dropout,” where a young West sets out to prove the industry wrong, to his 2021 album “Donda,” a tribute to his late mother, Donda West. All 12 of his albums released during that time have meaning and were crafted with care.
In 2024, West worked with Ty Dolla $ign to release two collaborative projects, “Vultures 1” and “Vultures 2.” The frst installment, released on Feb. 10th, received positive acclaim from listeners and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Despite not seeing the same acclaim as his previous works, it was clear the album received the proper attention to detail that once made his music iconic.
The second “Vultures” installment, released Aug. 3, published in an incomplete state. Over a month later, it is still missing the elements of a fnished product. The record leaves a stain on the rapper's music catalog — it’s lazy and unacceptable.
When the album was frst released, it wasn’t properly mixed. If you were listening with headphones, you could only hear some of the songs out of one ear and the “fnal
product” did not sound polished whatsoever. Eventually, West and his team would update the album with fnished mixes that made the record easier to digest. But this should have been a nonissue in the frst place, the expectation is to release a fnished album from the start.
Sure, there are high points on the album that make me believe the West I grew up with is still inside there somewhere. But the faws and irredeemable qualities seem to creep their way into almost every corner of the album.
Take “530,” for example. The frst half fnds West refecting on his strenuous 2022
divorce from Kim Kardashian, struggling with the idea that he won’t be able to see his kids every day like he used to as he attempts to suppress his pain with Patrón.
West raps, “5:30, the car missing/ No text backs or call misses/ I feel like we all victims…/ The past year been a strange time/ visitations on FaceTime/ And who's gonna break who's heart frst?/ Always just breaks mine.”
The second half? An incomplete mess that lacks any cohesiveness, the song ends on two minutes of West mumbling into the mic about nothing.
Ten years ago, West would never release
an incomplete song, let alone put it on his album. Yet the unfnished verse is the least of “Vultures 2” problems.
Two songs on the project — “Field Trip” and “Sky City” — feature AI-generated lines from West. The aforementioned “Sky City” features an entire verse of artifcial intelligence. The robotic and empty delivery of West’s lines makes the song feel shallow. The album’s lowest point isn’t the incomplete verses or the AI punch-ins. It’s “Husband,” the 13th song, which is a complete snoozefest. Arguably one of the worst songs in the rapper's entire catalog, the track fnds West singing for two minutes about a woman needing a husband, which comes off as slightly misogynistic.
Throughout every listen of “Vultures 2,” I get an empty and incomplete feeling once the tracklist ends. Because that’s what the album is, incomplete. It’s disappointing and unacceptable, especially coming from a hiphop icon like West.
The saddest part is, I still enjoyed parts of the project despite its faws. But those faws drag down my enjoyment of the record. I can’t fnd entertainment in the album when these glaring and extremely fxable issues are present.
Is West still capable of making great music? Absolutely. But the question then becomes whether or not he will ever be motivated enough to release fnished products.
I used to hate when people would say, “I miss the old Kanye.” But now, I’m starting to miss when West was a perfectionist with his albums.
I have four words: Wake up, Mr. West.
ILLUSTRATION
KENNY SUN/FLICKR
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, releases the second installment of "Vultures" on Aug. 3.
By AMANDA MADERA Arts & Life Editor
A ‘Love
song’ to a masterpiece 'Norman Fucking Rockwell!' is a timeless album
Something I love about music is growing with it and appreciating the little details you didn’t notice before. No matter how much time has passed, the messages still resonate with you today.
Lana Del Rey’s sixth studio album, “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” is full of ethereal synth and hard-hitting lyrics. Some of which I’m only now appreciating, fve years later.
In 2019, I was a frst-year in high school. I was hopeful and just beginning to learn who I was. While the frst Del Rey song I ever heard was “Summertime Sadness” on the radio in 2012, “NFR” was the frst of her albums that I listened to.
The tracklist for this album was truly genius. It felt like each song was carefully picked in this certain order to tell a story. The title track as the opener was a no-brainer. “Norman Fucking Rockwell” is so painfully beautiful and it encapsulates settling for someone who hurts you over and over because you love them.
Her vocals while singing “'Cause you're just a man/ It's just what you do/ Your head in your hands/ As you color me blue” are heavenly. Del Rey is so full of emotion and it's as though you’re going through what she is at the same time.
She continues, “Why wait for the best when I could have you?” This singular line sells her point of the song, and possibly the message of the entire album. No matter how often someone will do you wrong, you just can’t leave them.
This theme stays true throughout most of the songs that follow this opener. However, the vibe switches once you hear “Doin’ Time.” This song is
a cover of Sublime’s 1996 “Doin’ Time” from their album “Sublime.” From the slow guitar strums of “Fuck it I love you,” to the atmospheric fast-paced melody of “Doin’ Time,” it feels like whiplash.
“Doin’ Time” makes this album seasonally universal. To me, this track screams summertime. Maybe because she opens the song by saying “Summertime, and the livin’s easy,” but that’s beside the point. There’s something about driving with your windows down blasting this song, it never gets old.
But my top three tracks from this album have to be “Cinnamon Girl,” “How to disappear” and “California.” This three-track run made me fall in love with “NFR.”
“Cinnamon Girl” portrays Del Rey begging her partner to love her instead of hurting her as her past relationships have done. Her partner tries to shut her out, but she refuses to give up. She sings “There’s things I wanna say to you/ But I’ll just let you live/ Like if you hold me without hurting me/ You’ll be the frst who ever did.”
Her feelings travel to “How to disappear,” as she shares her feelings on men being unable to express their own. This track is my absolute favorite, especially at the end of the song. The guitar solo after she sings the chorus for a second time feels so nostalgic.
In the third verse, she recounts her memories of this failed relationship. She sings “Now it’s been years since I left New York/ I’ve got a kid and two cats in the yard/ The California sun and the movie stars/ I watch the skies getting light as I write as I/ Think about those years.”
Despite this, sometimes you can’t help but
wish for a traditional American love story. In “California,” Del Rey sings about the regret she feels from losing a special bond she once had. Her soft, high-pitched voice as she sings the chorus flls you with melancholy and puts you in a somber state. She sings “If you come back to California, you should just hit me up/ We'll do whatever you want, travel wherever how far/ We'll hit up all the old places/ We'll have a party, we'll dance 'til dawn/ I'll pick up all of your Vogues and all of your Rolling Stones/ Your favorite liquor off the top shelf/ I'll throw a party all night long.” She desperately yearns to rekindle this lost connection.
As the album comes to a close, “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have — but i have it” is an amazing ending. It ties the album together and shares a similar message of feminism, hope, yearning and regret. The public expects Del Rey to act like a well-behaved pop star, but that isn’t who she is.
At any point in your life, you can relate to these themes. This album perfectly summarizes what it’s like to be a woman; being let down, cast aside and expected to put on a show. It’s evident that Del Rey is one of “The greatest,” and this album will forever hold a special place in my heart.
'Abbott Elementary': A heartfelt look at education in lower-income communities
By GINA LORUSSO Associate Arts & Life Editor
As a kid, I never truly appreciated the lengths my teachers went to to provide for my education — until I saw it on screen.
In a television landscape packed with fashy dramas and reality shows, “Abbott Elementary” stands out for its sharp wit, heartwarming moments and its portrayal of challenges in underfunded schools in lowincome communities.
Through the lens of its educators, the show offers a humorous but honest representation of what it means to teach in a system that often falls short for those who need it most.
Premiering in 2021, the show quickly garnered critical acclaim. Set in a predominantly Black, lower-income neighborhood in Philadelphia, “Abbott” highlights a group of overworked teachers who work tirelessly to support their students despite limited resources and systematic obstacles.
Key characters include Janine Teagues, an optimistic second-grade teacher eager to make a difference in the school; Barbara Howard, a no-nonsense kindergarten teacher who serves as a mentor for the younger educators and Gregory Eddie, a rigid frst-grade teacher who contrasts Teagues’ free-spirited self.
Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of the show, drew inspiration from her mother’s experience as a kindergarten teacher in West Philadelphia. Brunson gained an inside look at the education system, which ultimately inspired her to create “Abbott.”
“That’s what was compelling to me about doing this kind of show because there’s so much more to show: Real people who are choosing, most times, to do the most underpaid job in the world. What makes up that kind of person?”
Brunson said in an article by NBC.
The show illustrates the consequences of underfunding in public schools, highlighting how the lack of resources directly impacts teachers and students.
Outdated books, minimal supplies and accessibility issues force the teachers in the show to improvise. Oftentimes, the teachers are dipping into personal funds to provide for the classroom. Chronic understaffng leaves teachers overwhelmed with large class sizes and the inability to attend to individual student needs.
The pressures of teaching with inadequate resources also lead to burnout.
Teagues is consistently pushing herself to the brink to compensate for the school’s shortcomings, taking on multiple roles and responsibilities that aren’t sustainable. Her relentless, though admirable, drive leads to
exhaustion and self-doubt as she struggles to balance optimism with the system’s harsh realities.
Another example of burnout is shown with Howard. As a veteran teacher, her character arc reveals the emotional toll of working in a broken school system for decades. In a school that barely provides the necessary support for its students, she tries to shield them from the impact of budget cuts.
These challenges aren’t made-up scenarios — they are daily realities faced by educators in underfunded schools.
Equally vital to keeping the school functioning are contributions from parents, local businesses and the community.
In the episode “Wishlist,” Teagues and her colleagues ask the local community to donate supplies since the city doesn’t provide enough funding. After teachers
post videos online sharing their limited resources, community donations pour in.
While the generosity doesn’t go unnoticed, it’s important to recognize that schools should not have to rely on outside resources for basic educational tools. This episode is both comedic and uplifting, but the overall message implies failures in public school funding.
In a Seattle Times article, Chandra Moon, a special education teacher in the Seattle area, commented on the show’s accuracy.
“I think it’s pretty legit in the fact that they found a way to make a comedic twist about real things that happen within the teaching world that people are not always open to accepting,” Moon said. “They see it as teachers complaining again, but it’s real reality, and instead of it being fully put out as a negative complaint, they found a way to put comedy into the mix so people are more apt to have understanding and empathy.”
The production team of “Abbott” doesn’t just address these issues, they do something about them.
Since its frst season, a portion of the marketing budget has gone toward providing resources to teachers and students, according to Variety. The show also partnered with brands like S’well to donate reusable water bottles and French Toast to provide uniforms to Title 1 schools.
“Abbott Elementary” is more than a sitcom. By blending humor with systemic struggles in education, the show humanizes the educators and communities that provide for students every day.
Through powerfully exposing these challenges, the show leaves a lasting impact on viewers, encouraging them to recognize and advocate for much-needed change in the American education system.
ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPP MENHALL
NAE DEL REY/FLICKR
Lana Del Rey's album"Norman Fucking Rockwell!" has three billion Spotify streams.
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Women’s
By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief
Third time’s the charm.
Two years ago, Quinnipiac volleyball made history by winning its frst-ever MAAC title, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Its historic run got cut short by a painful loss to No. 1 Wisconsin in the frst round.
Last season, the Bobcats fell to Fairfield in the MAAC finals, just short of winning back-to-back titles.
The Bobcats certainly have the means to make another title run — though their start to the season would seem to prove otherwise, as they currently sit 1-6 with a sixgame losing streak.
But Rome didn’t get built in a day. Quinnipiac’s last two seasons started the exact same way too, losing left and right until the team got back on the proverbial horse and swept the conference with little to no problem.
The Bobcats are nothing if not warriors, as head coach Kyle Robinson likes to refer to his team. And they are a team that knows each other very well.
Eleven out of the 13 players from last year return to the roster. As impressive as it sounds, the Bobcats are sure to feel the loss of the remaining two.
Especially that of outside hitter Aryanah Diaz, who ended her fifth season as the most decorated player in program history.
“There’s no words,” Robinson said after last season’s fnal loss. “You can’t replace an Aryanah Diaz, as a volleyball player but also outside of the game. We’re lucky to have had her.”
Middle blocker Lexi Morse, the second play-
volleyball looks to match 2022 magic
er to leave, transferred to Southeast Missouri State University for her fnal season of eligibility.
With Morse gone, junior middle blocker Tuana Turhan is sure to see more time on the court. In 2023, she appeared in 14 sets total. This season she has already racked up 10 sets before the conference season even started.
Her fellow junior middle blocker Bailey Brashear has been a starter for a while now and seems like she will be this year too. And with junior middle blocker Milena Silva back in action after missing last season due to an ankle injury, Quinnipiac’s defense seems to be in good shape.
That defense is rounded up with senior libero Fa’avae Kimsel Moe and two of the three newcomers to the team, freshmen liberos Yasmina Baum and Carola Negron Diaz. Kimsel Moe has been the team’s only libero for the past two years, while neither Negron Diaz nor Baum have yet to see any action.
The Bobcats have been a powerhouse when it comes to offense, mainly thanks to junior outside hitter Ginevra Giovagnoni. The Italian native racked up 407 kills in just two seasons and has snatched the title of the 2024 MAAC Preseason’s Player of the Year — the first one to do so in Quinnipiac volleyball’s history.
She is sure to be supported by senior opposite Alexandra Tennon and sophomore outside hitter Leilani-kai Giusta — both of which have made their marks on the team last year.
Alongside them is junior outside hitter Yagmur Gunes, another staple of the team, that was plagued by a shoulder injury in 2023.
Sophomore opposite Cynthia Skenderi
looks to be a depth piece for her second season again. With the last new addition to the team in the form of graduate student opposite Elena Giacomini — who in her seven appearances so far already racked up 97 kills — it seems even more likely.
Graduate student setter Chloe Ka’ahanui is back as well, after an injury sidelined her for most of her senior season. She already appeared in five matches so far, so it seems like the Hawaiian will see more court time in her final year.
Saving the best for last is the junior setter Damla Gunes, last season’s MAAC Setter of the Year and the member of this season’s AllMAAC team, alongside Giovagnoni.
The Bursa, Turkey, native became a starter in her freshman year and has led the
team to conference finals twice in a row.
The bottom line is, this could be the team that earns that sought-after second MAAC title. But no matter what, Quinnipiac is always a wild card.
The MAAC adding two new teams to the conference in the form of Sacred Heart and Merrimack should surely spice up the season, with the Pioneers ranked No. 3 in the preseason coaches poll, bested only by Quinnipiac and the reigning champion Fairfeld.
The Bobcats had their Cinderella story two years ago. Last year they proved once again they belong at the top. Will this be the season they push their limits once again?
DI SC LAIMER: Quinnipiac volleyball did not respond to requests for interviews
Women’s cross country aiming for MAAC three-peat
By JAMES KASSAN Staf Writer
“Why not?”
That’s what Quinnipiac women’s cross country head coach Carolyn Martin asked her squad at the start of the 2024 campaign.
“We kind of started off the season with why not?” Martin said. “That was kind of our thing. Why not us? Why can’t we do more?”
Quinnipiac women’s cross country came out of the 2023 season as back-to-back MAAC champions, cementing themselves as one of Quinnipiac’s most consistent teams.
The Bobcats are looking to become the first MAAC team to win three consecutive conference titles since Iona, who won sixstraight from 2016-2021.
“It would be great to repeat as MAAC champions, Iona’s gonna be very strong this year so we’re not gonna take that lightly,” Martin said. “(We’re) just trying to continue to look at it as we’re going to try to keep improving as a team.”
The Bobcats were ranked No. 1 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, even with the additions of Sacred Heart and Merrimack this fall.
Merrimack finished 30th out of 37 teams in last year’s Northeast Regional finals, while Sacred Heart finished 31st.
“I think it’s always a privilege to be picked as a team that’s going to be in the hunt for a title,” Martin said. “Does it put a target on our back? Absolutely, but it’s a
privilege to be able to have that target.”
In the 2024 Northeast Regional Poll, Quinnipiac was ranked No. 10, with a chance to accomplish something historic.
Quinnipiac has its essential runners from the championship team returning for 2024, graduate students Corrine Barney and Alessandra Zaffna, who both fnished in the
top fve to aid the Bobcats in their MAAC Championship meet, as well as junior Rachel St. Germain who fnished sixth overall.
The Bobcats have already started the season off on the right foot, placing first in the Stony Brook Season Opener for the second-straight year, with graduate student Lauren Selkin leading the Bobcats on the
day finishing third, along with St. Germain and Zaffina rounding out the top five.
“They’re all awesome kids, and I think they all have a unique personality that they bring to the team, and they have different styles of racing which I think is really important,” Martin said.
The main reason why women’s cross country has been so successful for nearly two decades begins with Martin, who has been with the Bobcats coaching staff for 20 years — 15 as the head coach.
“She’s an amazing person, this is my ffth year and I’m so grateful to have been with her for fve years,” graduate student Corinne Barney said. “She makes us all feel welcomed, and supported, and during preseason we’d go to her house and she’d barbecue for us, she’s awesome, she’s the best.”
Martin, a three-time conference Coach of the Year, has helped women’s cross country grow into a regionally-known program.
“Knowing that we’ve won two times in a row, I think that really shows what we can do,” Barney said. “Going forward, that will really help us become motivated for the upcoming season.”
The Bobcats will be back on the track this weekend when they travel up to the site of the 2024 MAAC championship for the Jasper Fall Invite.
“I think our goal is to do something we’ve never done before and raise ourselves as a team in the region, nationally get us known a little more,” Martin said.
PEYTON MCKENZIE/CHRONICLE
Quinnipiac volleyball starts its 2024 season 1-6 with fve non-conference matches remaining.
PEYTON MCKENZIE/CHRONICLE
Senior Lydia Keys competes in the NCAA Regional on Nov. 10, 2023.
Memorializing milestones
By AMANDA DRONZEK Sports Editor
It’s noticeable on an athlete’s jersey — a number embedded in the stitching, a letter, a symbol to mark something significant.
The Red Sox wearing No. 49 on their sleeve for Tim Wakefield, the New York Giants designing special jerseys for their 100th season.
It’s not an exaggeration, there truly is always something going on in the sports stratosphere — whether a team dawns it on a uniform, a league comes together to acknowledge a turning point in the game or if it’s simply stated aloud.
At Quinnipiac, it’s no different. This fall, there are several milestones to memorialize across athletics.
T WENTY YEARS OF ERIC DA COSTA
He was once a superstar on the field for Quinnipiac. Now he’s its longest-standing head coach in program history.
“It’s a privilege to be here,” Eric Da Costa said of his 20th season with men’s soccer. “It’s an honor to be able to work with these guys.”
Da Costa has brought the Bobcats to conference tournaments in 10 of their last 13 seasons (NEC in 2012, MAAC from 20132022), reaching the title match in fve. Quinnipiac also received votes from the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll in 2021 — an acknowledgment given to the top Division I soccer teams in the nation.
But rankings don’t necessarily matter. It was what came in 2022 that did, when Quinnipiac closed a nine-year gap and captured its first MAAC victory since 2013.
And for a team coming out of the MAAC and entering the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Da Costa’s squad held
its ground and lost in a 3-2 overtime thriller to No. 8 Vermont.
It’s more than evident that men’s soccer has earned its stripes around Quinnipiac. Like women’s cross country, its consistency as a MAAC dynamo doesn’t go unnoticed — with much of that credit going to Da Costa.
“I haven’t kicked the ball since 2001 on this field,” Da Costa said. “Every win is there, so is every loss of mine. It’s a great place to work. And I’ve been really, really fortunate to have some really great kids and really great teams. And hopefully, we’ve been a little bit successful.”
T WENTY-FIVE YEARS OF DAVE CLARKE
Head coach Dave Clarke enters his 25th year at the helm for Quinnipiac women’s soccer. He’s the winningest coach in program history and has led the Bobcats to three NCAA Tournament berths since assuming the role as head man in 1999.
“It’s not a job, it’s more of a vocation,” Clarke said. “Anytime you’re out on a field, you’re doing stuff and what you love. And I never get to the point where I’m like, ‘I don’t want to go again.’”
The first and arguably most significant NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2000 when Quinnipiac played in the Northeast Conference. Women’s soccer was the first team to qualify for a Division I NCAA Tournament in Quinnipiac Athletics.
Since then, the Bobcats have transitioned to the MAAC and brought back-to-back conference championships to Hamden in 202223, with eyes on a third victory in 2024.
“I’m too much of a tracksuit coach,” Clarke said. “I love being out there, jumping, playing, running, competing with t hem, so it keeps me young. ”
THIRTY YEARS OF FIELD HOCKEY
It’s a momentous season for Quinnipiac field hockey, the big 3-0.
“Obviously, the inaugural season was, you know, 1995 and we really were, we’re knocking on the door,” head coach Nina Klein said. “I mean, last year, we could have made history. I’m excited for the drive and passion that these athletes have every day to continue to put the program, you know, on the map.”
Klein — just the second coach in program history — has already made an impact on the turf. Quinnipiac came within inches of a crack at the Big East Tournament last fall, a feat it has yet to achieve.
But before the Klein era, Quinnipiac field hockey lived under former head coach Becca Main, who served 28 seasons for the navy and gold.
And like most origin stories, Main wasn’t always coaching a Division I team. Field hockey became a Division I program in 1998, three years after its first season.
Main earned two of her three NCAA Tournament appearances while Quinnipiac played in the NEC.
Field hockey entered the MAAC ahead of the 2013 season with Main steering the ship. The four-time Coach of the Year anchored Quinnipiac to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance the same year.
Now that the Bobcats are settled in the Big East, there’s really only one thing left to do: gift field hockey a trip to the playoffs for its 30th birthday.
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WENTY YEARS OF CAROLYN MARTIN
Women’s cross country and track and field are arguably two of the university’s
most consistent teams in the last 20 years — the same period Carolyn Martin has been coaching at Quinnipiac.
”I don’t really count the years, but I do look back often and see how far our women’s programs have come and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to build a program,” Martin wrote.
Martin started as an assistant coach to the men’s and women’s teams in 2004, catapulting cross country to NEC powerhouses. The women won four straight conference championships from 2005-08, the men’s three from 2006-08.
In 2009, Martin assumed the head coaching position for the men’s and women’s cross country and track and feld teams. After Quinnipiac men’s track and feld dissolved in 2009, Martin led the remaining three teams until 2021 when she deviated strictly to the women’s teams and David Scrivines began coaching men’s cross country.
Once transitioning to the MAAC in 2013, Quinnipiac maintained its prowess as a top competitor. Martin’s tutelage, women’s cross country accumulated its frst conference championship in 2015-16.
Since that first ring, cross country and track and field have remained first-rate MAAC teams, with cross country taking consecutive conference championships in 2022-23 and indoor track earning runnerup slots in 2018 and 2020-24.
Additionally, cross country fnished a program-best ninth in the 2023 NCAA Northeast Regionals, cementing itself as a highly-ranked program along the East Coast.
“I had a tremendous start after being handed a very successful distance program and it has been so much fun and such a passion for me to continue to grow our programs,” Martin wrote.
PHOTOS BY QUINNIPIAC ATHLETICS/PEYTON MCKENZIE/TRIPP MENHALL/AIDAN SHEEDY/PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPP MENHALL
Quinnipiac women’s cross country head coach Carolyn Martin (left), women’s soccer head coach Dave Clarke (bottomn left) and men’s soccer head coach Eric Da Costa (right) all celebrate different milestones.
NEVER LOOK BACK
Quinnipiac graduate competes in 2024 Paralympics
By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor
While the streets of Paris may not be flled with Remy and his rodent crew, a Bobcat is lighting up the city skyline in their own way.
Quinnipiac graduate Victoria Isaacson ’23 didn’t just walk away with a master’s degree in occupational therapy — they also became a Paralympian.
Isaacson, 26, discovered their love for fencing at 13 years old, when a friend invited them to a lesson. From that moment on, they never looked back.
“I just enjoyed the mental strategy involved with it,” Isaacson said. “I wasn’t always the most athletic person growing up, and I really had really poor coordination, but I was able to be creative and still be successful. And also, stabbing people with swords is really fun.”
They were an able-bodied fencer through high school until they experienced consecutive left femur injuries in 2015, forcing them to take a break and heal.
After recovering, the Poughkeepsie, New York, native returned to the sport only to face new challenges. They began experiencing tremors and frequent migraines which led to a collapse at a meet. Isaacson was in the hospital for three days after an episode, sidelining them from fencing.
While studying anthropology at Stony Brook University for their undergraduate degree, Isaacson discovered their symptoms were a match for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
EDS is a group of hereditary connective tissue disorders that manifests clinically with skin hyperelasticity, hypermobility of joints, atrophic scarring and fragility of blood vessels, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Under the guidance of their coach, Eric Soyka, they pivoted toward parafencing, fnding a new way to stay connected to the sport they loved.
“I was starting to have a lot of really bad health issues following hospitalization, and (Soyka) kind
of sat me down,” Isaacson said. “He was like, ‘I know nothing about wheelchair fencing. You know nothing about wheelchair fencing. Let’s go on this journey together.’”
Isaacson spent a gap year working as a barn manager at a farm where they lived and cared for 50 horses. During that time, they explored various options for graduate school and found Quinnipiac.
“I was just kind of like looking for programs — knowing I was gonna try to do Paris — that were close to New York, and Quinnipiac has a really good occupational therapy master’s program, and I saw they were allowing applications for the doctorate program, and I applied,” Isaacson said.
Staying near home to be closer to their training in the hopes of qualifying for the Paralympics and for graduate school killed two birds with one stone, but the move to Quinnipiac was for the program.
“I didn’t really know about (Quinnipiac) that much, but then I was just reading about how good the program was, and I’m really happy I went there, because they gave me (an) extremely good education that has really helped me so far,” Isaacson said.
When Isaacson enrolled at Quinnipiac, they knew the school didn’t have a fencing team. Fortunately, they still had ways to continue training for Paris.
Sandra Marchant, who co-owns Rogue Fencing in Woodbridge with Soyka, had Isaacson assist with classes and teach lessons at Rogue. They balanced their schoolwork while receiving lessons from Marchant whenever possible, even when the world fipped.
“During COVID, I was taking lessons in her basement,” Isaacson said. “I would go to classes, then I would go to Rogue, I would teach, I would work out, I would train and it was whatever I could ft into my schedule.”
While many people may think that the transition from able-bodied fencing to parafencing would be a great challenge,
Isaacson thought differently.
“I had to relearn everything from scratch,” Isaacson said. “But I kind of found peace with it, because I’m also coaching fencing, so I didn’t have to let go of that aspect of fencing that I already knew. So everything I had learned up to that point, I was able to hone and use as a coach while also working on my separate journey.”
They transitioned to parafencing in 2018 ahead of the 2019 World Cup Championships in Cheongju, South Korea. At the World Championship, they participated in the Individual Epee A, Individual Foil A, Team Foil and Team Epee, fnishing ninth for both team events.
This wasn’t their only appearance at the World Championships as they qualifed for the 2023 Championships in Milan, Italy. They competed in multiple events, fnishing 10th in women’s Team Foil, 21st in women’s Individual Epee A and 23rd in women’s Individual Foil A.
Next stop, Paris.
Isaacson went from a 13-year-old kid following their friend to a fencing lesson to a Paralympian going against the best that the world has to offer — and that road is never smooth.
“The objective of Victoria was to qualify through the regional path, which they take the top fencer out of the Americas slash Africa zone,” Soyka said. “We were aiming to be the top fencer in one of the categories Victoria fences in. The qualifcation cycle is about a year and a half long, so we have six competitions which we can qualify from. The objective was always to basically train to keep positioning ourselves as high as possible in those competitions.”
And position themselves they did. Isaacson competed in fve — three individual and two team events — different competitions in the 2024 Paralympics. In the team events they made the Table of 16 in Women’s Épée Team and made the quarterfnals in Women’s Foil Team. In individual events they made the Table of 16 in the Women’s Foil Category A, the Table of 32 in Women’s Épée
Category A and made the frst round in the Women’s Foil Category A.
“One of my favorite things about doing World Cups is just seeing all the different cultures and the different people,” Isaacson said. “But I’m just really excited for the overall experience, and I think the energy is just going to be very positive and very supportive from my team.”
Isaacson’s journey in fencing has surely been a different path than most. But when all is said and done, they made it to the big stage and got to perform.
Victoria Isaacson competes in fve events at the 2024 Paralympics.
