The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 95, Issue 24

Quinnipiac faculty and students host first powwow in university’s 96-year history

By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor

The Quinnipiac University Indigenous Student Union and the Indigeneity Initiative hosted “Dancing in the Shadow of the Giant,” the first powwow at the university, Sunday, bringing together the five tribal nations of Connecticut and tribes from surrounding states.

A powwow is a gathering held by Native American and First Nation communities that often involves singing, dancing and ceremonies.

“When I became president of ISU, I was like, ‘Ok, this is my one goal before I graduate,’” said Aiyana Baker, a senior nursing major, a member of the Mohegan Tribe and president of the Indigenous Student Union. “Because I remember growing up, always going to Mohegan’s powwow. I just want to be able to have the representation on campus that would allow us to do this. So obviously, the past three years we’ve been fighting for all of our events to happen.”

Another reason why Baker wanted to organize the powwow was because she wanted to honor her late grandfather, who she credits to teaching her about her culture.

“I feel as though doing this is really like showing how much he instilled in me and everything like that,” Baker said. “So being able to make something so huge happen to represent our culture is like, so big to me, so I’m just really excited for that and for my family and friends to be there as well.”

Baker’s cousin, Kiara Tanta-Quidgeon, graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and was the former president of ISU. They collaborated to help plan the event.

“So (we just put) our brains together, trying

See POWWOW Page 2

School of Communications' Journalism Department reworks two program curriculums

By AVA HIGHLAND Associate News Editor

Beginning in fall 2025, the undergraduate journalism and sports journalism masters program will have new requirements geared toward visual journalism.

As the industry now sees a big focus on visuals and social media, the program’s changes aim to provide students with a larger skill set.

“We’re sort of reimagining the journalism curriculum to fit what the industry is looking for these days,” Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Journalism Ben Bogardus said.

Outside of writing and broadcasting, many journalists are utilizing social media and visual journalism in the industry.

“People are creating content,” Bogardus said. “They’re doing their own stories online and podcasts, social media, things like that. So we really want to teach students the skills that they’re going to be asked to use when they get into the professional world.”

The courses under the new curriculum will not affect students currently enrolled in the programs.

BA IN JOURNALISM

In reworking the undergraduate journal -

ism program, the courses will go beyond traditional writing or broadcasting.

“It’s designed to reorient the program to focus on modern storytelling techniques, including photography, short form videography, data visualization, social media reporting, podcasting, narrative storytelling, AI/AR/VR use in reporting, etc.,” according to the description of program changes document.

The journalism department recognized that consuming media has seen a large shift, as many people now get their news from social media platforms.

“In fact, a 2024 Pew study found that 54% of Americans ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ get their news from social media, and a 2023 e-marketer survey found that people spend an average of 4.25 hours a day on devices, compared to only 2.75 hours watching television,” according to the aforementioned document.

The department made six overall changes to the program, beginning with reducing the credits needed to graduate from 124 to 120.

One of the previously required courses, Fundamentals of Digital Journalism, will no longer be a requirement. Three courses are newly required as well: Photojournalism, Social Media Reporting and Data Visualization for Journalism, which is a new course.

The department also reduced the amount

of required electives from four to three, and the credits of the capstone course from four to three. The program’s set of learning outcomes, which were more than a decade old, is revised as well in order to align with the new curriculum.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what the students do in these classes, because as I mentioned earlier, they’re really about content creation,” Bogardus said. “They’re about unleashing the creativity of the students and not being sort of beholden to what a traditional TV reporter or an online web reporter can do.”

MS IN SPORTS JOURNALISM

Similarly, the M.S. in Sports Journal ism has nine modifications, starting with changing the name to “MS in Sports Journalism and Media.” This change was made to “better reflect the types of classes offered. . . which involve both journalism and creating media content, and to better reflect the jobs graduates get after graduation,” according to the description of the program changes document.

The changes to this program follow the same goal of keeping up with the industry expanding to social media and visual journalism.

“It’s sort of the same idea that we’re

looking at where the industry is going and where the jobs are, and it’s really more in the social visual space,” Bogardus said. “We’re adjusting the curriculum to match that, to hopefully give our students a leg up on the competition when they get out into the job market.”

In an effort “to make the program more accessible to external applicants and more efficient in scheduling and delivery,” the department reduced the number of credits from 36 to 33, according to the aforementioned document.

Most of the courses under the program will be renamed in order to better represent what is being taught and the program’s learning outcomes will be revised.

Students will have a new required course, Sports Social Media, as well as two new elective options, Photography for Sports Communications and Advanced Podcasting. They will also choose between Sportscast Producing or Digital Sports Newsroom. Students may also choose to take both courses, with one as a required course and the other being an elective.

Additionally, the current required Crafting the Sports Feature course and Producing and Presenting TV Sport Remote will be electives.

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to figure out how we can make it work,” Baker said. “We see so many other universities doing it, like UConn, Harvard, Brown, all of them do a powwow. So we were like, ‘Okay, so Quinnipiac can do it too.’”

Julia Giblin, professor of anthropology and an organizer of the Indigeneity Initiative, volunteered for the event. She often highlights Indigenous issues in her classes.

“All five of the (Connecticut) tribes are here today, it’s an opportunity to build relationships with the tribal communities, and it’s an opportunity for the public to also see our university as a space that cares about this culture and these issues,” Giblin said.

A tent was in front of Tator Hall, where dances, ceremonies and prayers were held. Multiple Indigenous music groups from across Connecticut provided the drums and singing for the event.

Keon Jackson, whose native name is Sookunon, is a part of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He is a part of one of the music groups that performed at the powwow.

“I’m the lead singer of the Young Blood

Singers, and we’re the host drum of today’s event,” Jackson said. “So there couldn’t be a powwow or any type of event for Native people without the heartbeat. And we call the drum the heartbeat, so we’re the host heartbeat of the powwow.”

Jackson traveled over two hours with his partner, Krystal Tredwell, who is a part of the Unkechaug Nation in Suffolk County, New York, to come to the Quinnipiac powwow. The pair travel across the East Coast to attend various powwows.

“Powwows are very important to me because not only do they express and show people our culture, but they also provide that insight of what it looks like, and in both emotions is very important when it comes to our culture,” Tredwell said. “You can feel things and you can see them, you can feel them and just be a part of that process. Whether you’re a part of a tribe or not, is a beautiful local family connection.”

In addition to the music and dancing, vendors lined the paths of the quad, selling food, clothing, jewelry, home decor and more.

Jeffery Baez came to the Quinnipiac powwow to help his mother, alongside his family, run a vendor tent with Golden Hill Paugussett, which has two tribes in Trumbull and Colchester. His family sold jewelry and traditional medicine and remedies.

“When people are in college and they come around to see stuff like (powwows), they get more invested into it,” Baez said. “So people come around, people look at it, people realize how much powwows are a good thing, how much powwows can actually bring people together. So I haven’t been to a powwow in a while, and I’m glad it’s at a college, because as people walk by, they see it, stop by, look at stuff. You know, (it catches their) interest.”

In addition to ISU and the Indigeneity Initiative, other organizations in and outside of Quinnipiac came together to fund and promote this event. The Mohegan Tribe and Connecticut Humanities helped fund the powwow. The Office of Inclusive Excellence, the Albert Schweitzer Institute and the College of Arts and Sciences supported this event as well.

Different organizations from Quinnipiac came to table at the event, including the Disability Student Union, the School of Nursing and Quinnipiac EMS.

“I’m here to table for EMS. . . but also I thought this would be a cool event to see,” said Samantha Laguere, a sophomore medical microbiology and pathology major. “So I’m really glad that I came here. I love to see all cultures, and I’m loving that I get to see this culture in person.”

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE

Various vendors set up tents on Quinnipiac University’s quad to sell clothing, art and jewelry at the first powwow.

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE

Cousins Aiyana Baker, senior nursing major and Kiara TantaQuidgeon ‘22, celebrate at the powwow.

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE

Cassandra Keola, Small Bear Warrior (left) Gary Tinney (middle) War Chief Kicking Bear Piper, all part of the Golden Hill Paugussett tribe, represent their tribe.

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE

The Yootay Singers, who are in the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, play the drum as the tribes come together and dance.

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE Keon Johnson, Mashpee, Wampanoag (left), and Crystal Treadwell, Unkechaug Nation (middle) await their food.

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE

Clan Mother Shoran Waupatuquay, Piper Tribal leader, attends the event as a vendor, selling jewelry and traditional medicine.

Not all rising sophomores guaranteed immediate rooming placement in newest housing updates

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA and AVA HIGHLAND

Twenty-four rising sophomore students will have to wait for their housing placements once the housing process is over, as shared by Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett Tuesday.

Confusion has been spreading across Quinnipiac University’s first-year class concerning the housing lottery process, after delays and fake information spread over the past two weeks.

A screenshot of a fake email circulated amongst the first year students Monday night that alleged The Commons Residence Hall will house both first-year and sophomore classes next fall. An official email sent by the university later that night proved that information to not be true.

However the university’s website stated that change as well, until about Tuesday midday.

“We didn’t do that, I don’t know who did it, it was not really smart,” Ellett said.

Originally, first-year students were set to select housing on April 7 and 8. They were notified on April 3, that selection dates were pushed back to April 14-16.

On April 7 students received an email informing them that a higher percentage of students applied for housing than in previous years.

“This year we had a much higher percentage of 93.4% compared to 88% of first year students wishing to be in housing, resulting in 100 more students than anticipated submitted contracts,” Melissa Karipidis, director of Housing wrote.

To combat this issue, each suite in The Village would now include two double rooms and one triple, instead of the previous configuration of three doubles.

The information site about The Village residence halls now includes a tour video showcasing the room as a triple, with a bunk bed and a loft bed.

The email also talked about a possible option of turning The Hill Residence Hall’s third room into a triple — which was also originally designed to be one — if the students wish so, but unlike with The Village, the university chose not to make this change mandatory.

“Hindsight maybe we should have,” Ellett said. “I thought it would still be good to have a diversity of options for students. We’ll see what happens, there’s a lot of change and turns that will happen in the next few weeks and months.”

And then on April 15 at 6:47 p.m. another email went out to the rising sophomore body from Karipidis, stating that “to date, 95% of the sophomore class has been assigned housing and the process will conclude tomorrow at 12noon. There may be some students who will be unable to choose a room. These students will be assigned housing in the coming weeks as space becomes available.”

The email continued with, “We acknowledge the stress that this process may have caused. We will continue to work with you to address any potential changes and support your needs.”

Which caused some uproar on the popular college anonymous social media app YikYak, with students commenting: “‘There might be some students who will be unable to choose a room.’ IM SORRY??? WHAT???” or “Crazy email office of housing.”

“Not everyone is guaranteed to select their space,” Ellett clarified. “But everyone will be given housing, so those 24 students as people cancel, they will be put in one of those spaces. It’s a lot less than the 100+ by doing the triples in the village.”

Ellett explained that the university makes predictions based on past years to allocate a number of beds for the incoming class.

“For the past three years, we have had 88% freshman to sophomore housing, so we saved

88% for the class or 1572 and we ended up with 1668 I believe,” Ellett said.

He attributes that fact to two possible reasons, fewer students appealing the housing requirement and more local students choosing to live on campus in their second year.

The university then explored possible options, which included placing the students in a hotel, creating a waitlist or turning The Village’s third room back into triples, like it was from 2006 to 2019. Ellett said the decision came down to him, the Student Government Association and the first-year advisory board.

“They thought the best would be to do the triples because the anxiety the students might feel over not having a space over the summer would be higher than having the anxiety of having a triple,” Ellett said.

Quinnipiac’s housing process differs slightly from nearby universities.

For example, students at Marist University accumulate “priority points” based on their “academic average, involvement with extracurricular activities, disciplinary history, and condition of their residence area,” according to their official website.

The University of Connecticut also faced a housing shortage, resulting in students across all grades no longer being guaranteed housing. Students received an email on Dec. 17 from The University of Connecticut Department of Residential Life explaining the issue.

“This meant that students who were not given housing after applying would automatically be placed on the housing waitlist and offered housing as vacancies occur,” according to The Daily Campus, UConn’s student-run newspaper. “Students who applied after the application deadline would also be placed on the waitlist, according to the 2025-2026 Housing Contract Draft.”

“We didn’t do what UConn did,” Ellet said.

“As I understand it, they sent a letter saying you people who signed contracts? We don’t have housing for you. We chose not to do that.”

Ellett also mentioned that the university is looking to potentially find a new company to work on the housing lottery process, to get away from the mandatory rule of having to fill a room to get a housing assignment.

“I have an MBA counseling class that I started working with in January that is looking at our lottery process,” Ellett said. “Other schools will do group numbers not individual numbers. We see what they’ll turn in. I will share the recommendations with SGA and then SGA will make a comment and then we’ll decide whether we’re gonna go forward with one of the proposals or tweak what we have.”

Confusion also reached Facebook pages, with concerned parents looking for answers. Several shared that when their children tried to select their housing, no options were left.

However, Ellett remains optimistic.

“Anywhere from 40 to 70 people will leave between now and summer in that class so I believe there will be openings that occur,” Ellett said.

The housing crisis has now plagued Quinnipiac over multiple classes, with the now-rising junior class filling up almost the entirety of The Crescent Residence Hall on York Hill Campus, due to the rising number of admitted students every year. Ellett says this will change.

“We don’t know what this new class will be, we’re planning on it being so much smaller than this class, that’s our plan,” Ellett said. “And as of today 98 students in the entering class have asked for waivers to be off campus, cause they’re local compared to the 45 last year, same date. So, it may be that some of this is going to be worked out. My feeling is that The Village will stay as 7 people, but people knowing it in advance will alleviate some concerns.”

New exhibit in Arnold Bernhard Library takes visitors through history between Indigenous and Irish

By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor

A new exhibit in The Lender Family Special Collection Room, located in the Arnold Bernhard Library, opened on March 25, it highlights the relationship built between the Irish and Indigenous people throughout history.

The “Indigenous Aid to Ireland during the Great Hunger” walks visitors through a timeline of the relationship, starting in 1830, when President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. This began the forced removal of 70,000 Native Americans, known as the Trail of Tears.

Then, in 1845, the Great Hunger, also known as the Irish Potato Famine, led to widespread starvation among the Irish, killing or displacing millions

“It’s remarkable because in America, (the Indigenous people), their land had been taken from them,” said Christine Kinealy, a history professor and the director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Institute.

“They were suffering themselves. That year, (the Irish’s) potatoes and corn harvest was very poor. So here were people who were suffering, and had suffered hearing about the plight of people in Ireland, and they felt moved to send money to Ireland. So the two stories combined, we felt we should tell people.”

Kinealy came to Quinnipiac in 2014 and

took an interest in The Lender Family Special Collection Room after her office was placed in the library. She began collaborating with the Arnold Bernhard Library to curate the exhibits about Irish history.

In recent years, the collection room has featured exhibits about Oscar Wilde and a group of nuns in Canada who aided the Irish during the famine.

For the “Indigenous Aid to Ireland during the Great Hunger” exhibit, Kinealy worked with some friends in Ireland and Canada who also study Irish history and other connections to bring the exhibit to life.

“It is falling apart, but it’s from the 1830s we have The Illustrated London News, which was a newspaper produced in London from 1842 onwards,” Kinealy said. “We have a copy from 1849 which shows how badly people were suffering in Ireland. So that’s from our library connection.”

In addition to various literature from the famine, there’s a model-version of a sculpture in Cork County, Ireland that recognizes the gift of the Choctaw People during the Great Hunger.

“I also (like) the statue (for) the Choctaw people,” Kinealy said. “I think it’s just a great model for us all to have at the moment, you have this concept of kindness and not doing it for any transactional reason, just doing it because it’s the right thing to do.”

The exhibit offers interactive aspects to learn about the dynamics between Indigenous people and the Irish, such as a 40-minute documentary and coloring station.

The “Indigenous Aid to Ireland during the Great Hunger” exhibit is open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 12 – 5 p.m. on Sundays. “I think it’s a tribute to all of these Native Americans. It’s not just the Choctaws and the Cherokees,” Kinealy said. “It’s a way of life that was lost and (to) just try and maybe recreate it and say how beautiful that way of life was because of that kindness that seemed to be at the center of it.”

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

The library exhibit features many artifacts like maps and coins from Ireland and North America.

Stop saying the Irish were slaves too

By VIVIAN GAGE Staff Writer

If you have ever believed that the Irish were once slaves, you fell victim to racist propaganda. I know because it happened to me.

The Irish were never slaves, and there is significant historical evidence to back this up. The myth that the Irish were slaves too, or that they were the first slaves in America, is a purposeful lie. It is a reimagining of real events weaponized by racists and conspiracy theorists to minimize the effects of hereditary chattel slavery on Africans and their descendants.

The myth has been used to deny the existence of racism against African Americans and falsely conflates the status of an indentured servant with that of a slave. The Irish slave myth continues to help spread the idea that African Americans are too vocal in seeking justice for historical grievances. It claims that the Irish were able to ‘move on’ from the past, so Black people should be able to as well. The difference the Irish slave myth seeks to erase is that indentured servitude did not even come close to hereditary chattel slavery.

The Irish slave myth is spread mostly by memes online. An example is a popular meme that was shared by a Tea Party Leader in 2013. It contained the following text: “White Irish slaves were treated worse than any other race in the US. When is the last time you heard an Irishman bitching and moaning about how the world owes them a living.”

This meme is wrong for many reasons, one being that the photo it accompanies is not even from the U.S., nor does it depict “White Irish slaves.” According to Irish scholar Liam Hogan, memes like this one are extremely common across social media. They spread false information and often use historically inaccurate pictures that aren’t even of Irish people.

White nationalist groups and others have purposefully spread “white slavery” or “Irish

slavery” propaganda online since the 1990s. After a little digging on the social platform X, I discovered that the myth is alive and well today with hundreds of posts about it in just the last couple of days. One such post claiming “The Irish were among the first slaves in the Americas” has over 13 million views.

The comments under this post created by @_ HistoryNerd are pretty much what you would expect. User @Watchdog_MP wrote, “You never see the Irish out on the streets protesting & demanding reparations for slavery … I wonder why that is?” Commenter @SeanElwell24 wrote, “This is absolutely true … No public school history books mention it. Textbook publishers prefer the black victim / white oppressor over-simplified fiction.”

These comments are extremely concerning. Not just because Americans are supporting and spreading harmful misinformation, but because they are using their flawed logic to attack and delegitimize the African American experience. The Irish slave myth has even been used to attack the Black Lives Matter movement and justify police brutality against African Americans.

Being misinformed is understandable, but spreading fake history without fact-checking it and using it to attack others is inexcusable.

When I was in middle school, I partially believed in the Irish slave myth. Like many Americans, I was under the impression that all people were slaves at some point in history so the idea of Irish slaves seemed plausible. I did not understand how different and devastating American slavery truly was. Unlike American chattel slavery, the indentured servitude the Irish endured was temporary, offered more lenient punishment for disobedient servants, and wasn’t hereditary. The children of indentured servants were born free, while any child born of an enslaved woman was automatically enslaved for life, according to History.com.

An internet meme that embraces the Irish slaves myth, which draws false and pseudohistorical equivalencies between the indentured servitude of Irish people and chattel slavery of Black people in the United States.

I had heard of indentured servants and the Great Hunger, so Irish slaves seemed in the range of possibility until I learned differently.

That is the genius in the lie; it is convenient and easy to believe that white people were also victims. Believing that the Irish were slaves helps release white people of guilt, and further separates us from the fact that many Irish Americans actually owned slaves. It frees us from recognizing the atrocities committed by our ancestors, leaving us in a state of ignorance that makes progress impossible.

Many who believe the Irish slaves myth

aren’t directly trying to undermine the legacy of the African slave trade, but are simply accepting a false version of history unknowingly. Unfortunately, the myth has attracted neo-nazis, white nationalists, neo-confederates and even Holocaust deniers. The root of the lie unequivocally comes from a place of racism and is a myth that needs to be put to rest so it can stop causing harm. Now, more than ever, we must understand history accurately and reconsider viewpoints that have exclusively benefited white Americans. Dismantling the Irish slave myth is one way to do that.

Swiping left on bad texting

By LILLIAN CURTIN Associate Opinion Editor

I love romance and the idea of love, but it’s hard to be a romantic today when most of my potential interests are hidden behind screens and bad texting.

I hate the way texting has transformed romance. I obviously have gripes about significant others liking half-naked photos on Instagram or finding new ways to cheat. But it’s not just problematic actions that are the issue. I would go a step deeper — it starts with linguistics.

Please, just spell out words. If I was texting my boss, I’m changing the way I text. If you’re trying to attract somebody, do the same. There is no reason I should be receiving “nun” instead of “nothing,” “sum” instead of “something,” and so on.

If I get one more unsolicited “wyll” message, I might just lose it. Is that how you’re going to set up the conversation? It translates to “Let me see if you’re hot enough for me to continue sending vague messages and innuendos or if I’m going to block you.” Do you know what’s a better sentence starter? “Hello.”

It’s also become, in a way, more acceptable for harassment. Sometimes, it’s generous if I receive the dreaded “wyll” text.

Other times, I’m opening a Snapchat message to someone jerking themselves off. If someone dropped their pants in public, that’s public indecency. If it’s a message, it’s shrugged off and laughed at. Well, very unfortunately, it hasn’t erased it from my mind. Yet, it’s become normalized, and it’s passed off as just a part of being on messaging platforms.

One of the biggest turn-offs? Bad grammar. I’m willing to hold out for someone who knows the difference between “their,” “there” and “they’re.” “You’re beautiful” is ruined if it’s written as “your beautiful.”

The first phrase will give me butterflies, the latter makes me want to scream into a pillow. It’s an immediate mood killer.

You may be thinking, “Turn off your phone and go out.” If only it were that simple. The damage is done. The superficial social media world has changed the physical one.

Even if you meet someone in person, if they’re into you, it’s more likely that they will ask for your Snapchat username than your number. With Snapchat, you can easily communicate via photos instead of having an actual conversation. But “Can I get your Snapchat?” is the default request now. I would rather be asked for my number; it just seems more genuine.

Let’s say everything is going well, and you’re letting yourself settle in and become vulnerable in a relationship. The last thing you want when you’re vulnerable is to feel like the other person hates you. Sometimes, others’ texts can come across that way even when they don’t mean it. Often, we’re left trying to decipher an “Ok.” instead of “okay.”

We overestimate our ability to interpret texts as if we’re professional archeologists interpreting hieroglyphics. It’s not that deep. I don’t want to be half-asleep worrying about how many “y”s I put on the end of “hey” to get my point across. I just want to say “hi.” If that sounds dry and you take that as me not wanting to talk to you, please understand I wouldn’t be reaching out in the first place.

I get it. I’m not saying I don’t overanalyze texts because I definitely do. But our lives (especially our romantic lives) have evolved in a way that does more harm than good. We’re stressing ourselves out over extra letters, we’re lowering standards and we’re not even communicating. I’m so over it.

Call me picky or high-maintenance, but I’d rather have connection than confusion. A good love story deserves more than halfassed and half-hearted messages.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Opinion

Libraries deserve federal funding

By NEVE WILSON Staff Writer

Last month President Donald Trump issued an executive order to drastically reduce the funding for the Institute of Museum and Library services, which funds 35,000 museums and 123,000 libraries in the United States. This is the only federal agency that is dedicated to funding library sources, according to EducationWeek.

In response, the American Library Association (ALA) released a statement calling this an “assault” that hurts the “aspirations and everyday needs of millions of Americans.” According to the ALA, there are over 1.2 billion in-person library visits a year.

As someone who has loved to read since I was a kid, I’m a frequent patron of the library. I go looking for a specific title or I browse the displays of librarian recommendations — either way I always leave with something. I’ve never actually bought a book for myself because it feels like a waste of money when I know I can get it at the library, although sometimes it requires me to be patient.

Since coming to college, I have been trying out e-books but I also borrow them from my hometown library rather than purchasing them. I appreciate the convenience of checking them out remotely, although I’m not sure anything beats holding a physical book in my hands and watching my progress. I should note that I’m fortunate that the library in my

hometown can afford to offer e-books, as it can be pricey for libraries which rent them from publishing companies.

At Quinnipiac, the Arnold Bernhard Li-

ILLUSTRATIONBYREBECCACOLLINS

libraries offer essential services. In a way, they are so much more than books. They offer high-speed Internet access, literacy development and summer reading programs

However, even if you don’t like to read,

schoolwork and job applications.

Libraries promote media literacy, lifelong learning and historical preservation in communities.

I love to study at the library and find that I am much more productive there than at home. My friend uses the CD scanner to get film photos onto her phone. I’ve used the printers in a pinch and one time signed up for an Oreo taste-testing competition simply because I was bored. While these may not be essential activities, they all improve my life.

They also serve as a third place for people which are “places outside the home (the first place) and the workplace (the second place) where people go to converse with others and connect with their community.” The term was created by Ray Oldenburg, an American sociologist.

Third places are meant to be free spaces to interact with other members of the community and build relationships. The libraries I go to are always bustling with patrons of all ages.

I agree with the ALA that the Trump Administration deeming these services “unnecessary government spending” is actively ignoring the essential resources that libraries provide and hurting the American public. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of the resources that libraries provide while they still can. You can also support your local library by visiting, signing up for a library card, attending library events and volunteering.

Ice, Ice, Maybe? Bobcat Buzz

By GINA LORUSSO Arts & Life Editor

I’m a coffee lover — hot coffee particularly — everyone knows that. But every now and then, I feel the urge to make it iced. That’s when reality hits: I don’t actually have any ice.

I didn’t refill my tiny ice cube tray, my roommate’s ice maker is growing weird things and making a special trip to the dining hall just for ice? Not happening. So, I’m left standing in front of my trusty Keurig, defeated. The Bobcat Den has never let me down — except for when it comes to ice. They have plenty of sweet treats that have replenished my soul the past two years, but the lack of ice has often left me, and many other Quinnipiac students, disappointed.

It’s the perfect place to have something as simple as bagged ice, or even just a dispenser that students can fill containers or Ziploc bags with to stash in their freezers for convenience. It’s a small addition, but it would make a huge difference, especially for ice lovers like me who are just trying to romanticize their life with an aesthetic iced drink in a cute cup.

I know what you’re probably thinking: “stop being lazy and just fill your ice tray.” You see, I would, however, my ice cube tray holds maybe 10 ice cubes at best. That’s barely enough for one drink, and having to refill it immediately after feels like an impossible task, especially when I have a growing list of things to do.

A cold drink hits, but an iced drink hits harder.

The ice elevates the whole experience — the clink of the cubes against the side of the cup, the perfectly chilled liquid, the way it keeps your drink from turning into a sad, lukewarm mess. Sipping on a cold coffee with no ice sounds like cruel and unusual punishment. Nobody goes to Starbucks and asks for a cold brew with no ice. That’s weird. Don’t do that.

We aren’t asking for much — just a little frozen water to fuel our overly-ambitious study sessions and over-caffeinated personalities. It doesn’t matter the shape, although pebble ice would be ideal, just give us ice.

ILLUSTRATION BY TYLER MIGNAULT

Arts & Life

Campus barber; fresh cuts on campus

By MATT MARIANI Contributing Writer

You walk into the third floor bathroom in The Grove Residence Hall, look in the mirror and realize you need a haircut.

Wondering where and how you could get a fresh haircut, being so far from home, you look to the left and see a chair, backpack and barbering cape sitting in front of the last mirror, farthest from the door.

Mikiyas Wolde, a first year business major from Atlanta, Georgia, resides in The Grove, Quinnipiac University’s new residence hall.

Wolde began barbering during the coronavirus pandemic, which he has since turned into his own business. He started researching and watching tutorials on YouTube in middle school whenever he had nothing else to do.

“Besides sports highlights, the only other thing I would watch is like haircut tutorials,” Wolde said. “I was just watching (haircut tutorials) for fun for a long time.”

First year computer science major Kaab Dawit has known Wolde since fourth grade. The two attended the same boarding school in Virginia, Mountain Mission. Dawit was one of Wolde’s very first clients in the eighth grade, and still gets haircuts regularly.

“Personally I rarely get haircuts from other barbers but I feel as if (Wolde) gives me the same or even better treatment then other barbers I have went to,” Dawit said. “I would recommend him to other people on campus because I have seen his work for more than five years.”

The pandemic helped Wolde’s learning process because his friends had no one else to get haircuts from. Friends from middle and high school gave him permission to practice cutting their hair. With this, he was able to get valuable practice while giving out free haircuts — a win-win.

Nowadays, Wolde has transformed his hobby into a part-time business, hosting eight to 20 clients every week. He charges $20-25 depending on what the client asks for, making a haircut rather affordable for college students. While he has a large client base at Quinnipiac, he realizes school comes first.

“I try and keep it like pretty controlled because at the same time I am here for school,” Wolde said. “I do like an hour a day.”

Wolde does not have a professional setup on campus, but he is able to use The Grove bathroom as his makeshift workspace. A bathroom may not be the most appealing place in the world, but Wolde makes it work and makes his clients feel welcome and clean. Wolde is also flexible and understanding with making appointments.

Wolde has experience with almost every type of hair, but he will take on a challenge here and there. He also enjoys experimenting if a client is unsure of what haircut they want.

“I feel like my favorite haircuts are when I do something new and then it turns out way better than I expected,” Wolde said.

Wolde plans to continue haircutting throughout and after college, but he is currently studying to become a business consultant when he graduates.

PHOTO: Horsing around on the Quad

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

Students gather on the Quad to admire a miniature horse brought as part of the occupational department's capstone project on April 10.

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

Students pet therapy horse, Steady Eddie, on the quad to de-stress before finals.

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

One of the miniature horses peeks through the fence and visits with students.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY MATT MARIANI

First year business major Mikiyas Wolde sets up his work station in the third floor bathroom in The Grove.

‘ The White Lotus ’ : all-inclusive chaos

Season three is a spiritual reckoning

By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Associate Arts & Life Editor

Just two weeks ago marked the season finale of what I’d argue is one of the most cinematic shows of the past decade.

“The White Lotus” has become a staple in my weekly routine over the last two months — a motivator to finish all my work on Sundays and something to look forward to at the end of the week.

Why? It’s like watching a masterclass in storytelling, a series that unpacks the lives of privileged, wealthy guests staying at the White Lotus resorts and the staff who navigate their demands.

Immediately after each episode, I’d dive into video breakdowns of each scene,

encourage focusing on the good and avoiding negativity, also reflects willful ignorance. That sentiment is woven throughout the season as we see the siblings start to face truths they’ve long avoided.

Saxon undergoes one of the most surprising and moving character arcs, largely due to another guest, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood).

Deeply spiritual and guided by the belief that everything happens for a reason, Chelsea is one of the few people who truly “sees” Saxon. She calls him “soulless.” At first he’s defensive, but her words stay with him. He begins to internalize the criticism and question his own values.

Saxon likes being seen by Chelsea —

being able to be with each other, just like when they were girls.

WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND — THE CHOICES WE MAKE

One thing about “The White Lotus” is that we rarely get full closure. Outside the retreat, we’re left to wonder what happens to characters — unless, of course, they die.

The last episode was a bloodbath. We saw characters choose ego over love, control over connection.

Rick (Walter Goggins) chose vengeance and lost Chelsea, the one person who offered him love he had been chasing his whole life.

Rick and Chelsea are opposites, a yin and

what really happened to Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge). She ends up using that information to her advantage and blackmails Greg (Jon Gries) for a fortune, enough to fund her own wellness empire. But success has its price. I wouldn’t be surprised if Belinda becomes increasingly materialistic, her sudden wealth shifting her values.

Belinda chose to put her and her family first, accepting “blood money” over any chance of avenging Tanya. In choosing self-preservation, she becomes complicit. She chose what would protect her peace.

PARALLEL'S BETWEEN

SEASONS

One popular fan theory is that each season of “The White Lotus” corresponds to one of the seven deadly sins. Each sin represents a fundamental moral failing and is often seen as the root from which other

Over time, these concepts have been ingrained in Western culture as a way to pinpoint immoral behavior — reflecting the

Season one (Hawaii) explores greed, focusing on wealth and entitlement. Season two (Sicily) delves into lust, examining sexual politics and desire. Now, season three centers on gluttony — exploring wellness and indulgence in pursuing enlightenment and confronting inner demons. Across all seasons, the show critiques the impact of tourism through a Western lens. It unpacks how white privilege manifests — not just in wealth and class, but in how it interacts with history, culture and even

Beyond these themes, the series features recurring characters and

to keep track of — while there wasn’t one central protagonist, some characters were more prominent than others.

Over the course of their weeklong stay, the guests underwent major transformations.

The Ratliffs — a wealthy family from North Carolina — have always lived a comfortable life, shielded from suffering, trauma or tragedy. Until now.

Mike White, the creator of “The White Lotus,” is known for his Easter eggs and hidden meanings. Many fans have connected the Ratliff siblings — Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) — to the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” proverb, represented by the Three Wise Monkeys.

This metaphor, typically used to

speak about one another behind each other’s backs.

But what seems like surface-level envy and passive-aggressive competition slowly evolves into something deeper.

On the last night, Laurie delivers a speech that is vulnerable and refreshingly honest — a powerful insight into the complexity of long-term friendships.

After a week of highs and lows, she confesses to feeling an overwhelming sadness. She’s spent her life searching for meaning and happiness through work, love and motherhood but finding no fulfillment.

She realized what matters is time; time gives her life meaning. “And, I’m just happy to be at the table,” she says.

Through the mess and heartbreak, she’s grateful to be there with them — moving through life on separate paths but still

the one she called “soulless.”

She believed in the idea of “Amor Fati” — embrace your fate, good or bad. What will be, will be.

Rick was the architect of his own downfall. His obsession with revenge cost him the one person he’s ever really loved. And it cost him his own life.

He became the very man who ruined him — the one who killed his father.

The finale wasn’t about who died. It was about what we let die within ourselves.

Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), a recurring character from season one, travels to Thailand not for a vacation but to learn from a local healer, Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul), and bring those practices back to the White Lotus resort in Maui.

She’s also the only person who knows

In season one, Belinda is a wellness worker at the White Lotus resort in Hawaii. She meets Tanya, who clings to her as a source of stability and healing following her mom’s death. Tanya doesn’t see Belinda as a full person; she sees her as a tool for her own emotional recovery. At one point, Tanya even suggests investing in Belinda’s wellness practice, raising Belinda’s hopes — only to back out. That decision is ultimately driven by Tanya’s desire to please Greg.

Just as Tanya once dangled opportunity and visibility in front of Belinda and then backed out, Belinda now does the same to Pornchai, and while he initiates the partnership, she leads him on. She puts herself first, leaving him emotionally and financially vulnerable. This season, some characters found peace while others fell deeper into delusion, but no one was left untouched. It is a study of transformation — how people break or bloom under pressure.

Season three brings together threads from past seasons and deepens the idea of morality and identity.

The Gr8

Alex Ovechkin shatters NHL all-time goal record

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Associate Sports Editor

It’s not every day in sports that a record is broken — let alone a historic record set 31 years ago.

However, on April 6, hockey history was made in Elmont, New York, as Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal.

The goal cemented Ovechkin as the greatest goal scorer in the history of the National Hockey League, as he passed retired NHL star Wayne Gretzky in all-time goals.

Gretzky set the goal record on March 29, 1999, in his final NHL game against the New York Islanders, playing for the New York Rangers at the time.

Ovechkin tied the goal record on April 4 in Capital One Arena, as the Washington Capitals' home turf erupted. While Ovechkin did have the opportunity to break the record in hat-trick fashion on the Capitals' home ice, he refused.

Per reports, Ovechkin told Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery he didn’t want to come in, which he later confirmed after the game.

With minutes left in the game and the Chicago Blackhawks goaltender out of the crease, Ovechkin’s only way to secure the record on home ice would have been with an empty-net goal.

“I tell ‘Carbs’ (Capitals coach Spencer Carbery) right away, ‘I don't want to do

The Capitals organization honored Ovechkin’s milestone with the pregame ceremony, where he and his family were presented with numerous gifts. Ovechkin was further honored on April 11 with the Gr8 City Celebration that was held at

A remarkable factor of this milestone is that Ovechkin tied Gretzky’s all-time goal record in one less game than him. Gretzky set the record in his 1,487 career game, while Ovechkin tied the record in his 1,486 career game. Yet, both athletes, at the time of publication, sit with an average of 0.60

Ovechkin and Gretzky further scored their all-time record-setting goal in the same seasons, their twentieth season of their careers, with Gretzky retiring after his

Another interview from 2019 has recently resurfaced where Ovechkin told ESPN’s Linda Cohen that if he broke the goal record, he would simply retire.

“You’re probably never going to see me on the ice

With one year remaining in his contract, it looks like Ovechkin won’t be retiring just yet. And you never know, with now 896 goals, 1,000 isn’t too far away.

From ‘Hairspray’ to has-been Nikki Blonsky's struggle to stay relevant

By GINA LORUSSSO Arts & Life Editor

Fame comes and goes, celebrities rise and fall — and they do everything they can to hold on to whatever remnants of the spotlight remain.

Soulja Boy, Lindsay Lohan, Rebecca Black, Vanilla Ice, the list drags on, but there’s one name who has taken a strange route to cling to her cultural relevance: Nikki Blonsky.

Blonsky, an actress who starred in the 2007 film “Hairspray” pushed her way into the spotlight during this film’s campaign, and rightfully so.

The movie is set in 1960s racially-segregated Baltimore and reflects counterculture movements with themes of joy and acceptance. Blonsky’s character, Tracy Turnblad, plays a large part in challenging racism and body standards at the time through music and dance.

Throughout the film, Blonsky showcases her singing talent and is praised for having a lot of soul for being white.

Her screen debut, “Hairspray,” awarded her two Critics’ Choice Awards and nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. Once the hype passed, Hollywood didn’t know quite what to do with her. The attention was short-lived, and thanks to an airport brawl in 2008, Blonsky was banished to the sidelines despite her promising talent.

Blonsky and her parents were waiting for a flight home from the Caribbean when they got into an argument with ex-“Next Top Model” contestant Bianca Golden’s family.

Golden told host and producer of “Next Top Model” Tyra Banks that Blonsky kicked Golden’s mother in the groin and Blonsky's father, Carl, had punched her in the face. Blonsky stated these were “absolute lies,” however, Blonsky and her father were arrested on assault charges, according to People.

The lack of substantial roles after a hit movie or TV show is a common occurrence for many actors, especially those who face the cruel reality of type-casting and assault charges. After “Hairspray,” Blonsky’s bubbly, larger-than-life personality and role as a plus-size character boxed her into a narrow range of characters.

For example, in 2008, Blonsky starred in “Queen Sized,” a film about a plus-size high schooler winning homecoming queen because people nominated her as part of a joke. The role seemed to further cement her as a token “plus size” actress.

Now, over the past few years, Blonsky has turned to social media as a means to stay visible and hopefully reconnect with her fans. While this doesn’t sound like something out of the ordinary, or like something that could backfire, it did.

Many people didn’t take her seriously as a former actress just trying to reclaim her space in the public eye. Instead, these attempts were viewed as a desperate plea to stay relevant as a celebrity past her prime. Users reduced her efforts to a cry for attention and overshadowed them with snarky comments about her being stuck in the past, or trying too hard.

However, Blonsky persisted.

As a result, long compilations of her Cameos, personalized videos from a celebrity to a fan, went viral on social media. I’ll admit they’re pretty funny, but it’s also sad to see a once widely recognized celebrity still chasing scraps of fame.

These Cameos were intended to be a fun way to engage with her fanbase, but they’ve taken on a much more somber tone as they’ve surfaced online. The attention the videos are getting is far from flattering.

Some people found it amusing at first, metaphorically pointing fingers and laughing. But now that it has sunk in, the videos highlight the

sad truth of her career: a discarded actress sending messages to fans for a $20 fee.

The videos themselves are filled with personality, Blonsky wishing her fans happy birthdays and the like. Each one begins with something along the lines of, “Hey! It’s Nikki Blonsky from ‘Hairspray,’” followed by her singing a few lines of a song from the movie.

Blonsky is a reminder that when people in the entertainment industry don’t maintain their

stardom, they risk downgrading to these strange, sometimes humiliating corners of fame.

The sad irony is that while she’s trying to carve out this space for herself to stay relevant, the platform she’s relying on is only amplifying her decline.

Instead of reclaiming her spot on the big screen, she’s become a symbol of a washed-up actress pleading for attention.

active athlete in the NHL at 39 years old. After scoring on New York Islander’s

putting on full display the respect the two athletes have for one another.

Don’t ‘Blink Twice’ with Shaboozey’s new song

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

April 12, 2024: I sat back and listened to “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey for the first time. A newer artist in the country music scene, beginning to make a name for himself. Now, 369 days later, that same song has 1.2 billion plays on Spotify and was nominated for Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance at the 2025 Grammys.

While that track remains his moststreamed by a wide margin, Shaboozey may have just released the next summer hit just a year later. On April 11, nearly a year to the day after releasing “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” he dropped “Blink Twice,” featuring Myles Smith.

Shaboozey did such a great job of subtly marketing the song that it went right under my nose, keeping it under wraps until March 28, when he officially announced the release date alongside the track’s first teaser.

The first hint actually came on March 13, when he titled his Instagram post, “Time flies so don’t blink twice … Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going Europe 25’.”

The song title was right there in plain sight, but I didn’t notice it. Smith also hinted at the release in the comments, posting a clock and hourglass emoji signifying the release was coming soon, but I looked right past it.

Shaboozey teammed up with Smith, who has been on a parallel path in the music world carving out his place in the industry. Smith has amassed 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify with tracks like “Stargazing,” “Nice to Meet You,” ‘My Home” and “Solo,” all of which

surpassed 100 million streams. His biggest song, “Stargazing,” has over 700 million streams and debuted at No. 77 just two weeks after its release. Smith recently won the BRIT Rising Star Award last month and appeared on the Hot 100 with “Stargazing,” which peaked at No. 19 and spent one week atop Pop Airplay.

rotation in my headphones since its release. Much like “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” “Blink Twice” features lyrics that are sure to get stuck in your head, while its upbeat tempo and playful tone make it perfect to listen to wherever you are.

After the year that Shaboozey has had — a No. 1 song, a Grammy performance

Shaboozey doesn’t want a rapid rise to fame to turn into a sinkhole and cause him to burnout. Though he has had all of the success as of late, he is now trying to find where he needs to go after “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” The chorus has Shaboozey looking to stay present and be true to himself. Shaboozey also tries to mention that there is no time to live an inauthentic life. “Oh me, oh my, would you look in my eyes?/ We laugh or cry just to feel alive/ Oh-oh-oh, ohoh-oh/ No time for living a lie/ Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh/ Time flies, so don't blink twice.”

Smith's contribution adds a layer of emotional depth to the track, reflecting on personal struggles and the desire to break free from patterns. His verse, "I've tried everything I thought that I may need /I've been trying to catch my breath since I was 17," speaks to the universal experience of seeking fulfillment and the challenges that come with it.

“Blink Twice” is the latest track included in the deluxe edition of “Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going,” which was released on May 30, 2024. “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going: The Complete Edition” will be released on April 25 with four new songs, two solo songs and two featured songs. The new collaboration songs include Jelly Roll's “Amen” and Sierra Ferell's “Hail Mary,” while his two solo songs are titled “Fire And Gasoline” and “Chrome.”

The song may only be two minutes and 36 seconds, but it hooked me from the first second till the last, so don’t blink twice or you’ll miss listening to the next summer hit, “Blink Twice.”

Katy Perry’s useless trip to space

Singer-songwriter Katy Perry went to space with five other celebrities Monday and public reactions to her journey varied.

Perry was part of an all-female crew, sitting among former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, scientist Amanda Nguyễn, CBS host Gayle King, film producer Kerianne Flynn and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sánchez. The team launched into space aboard a capsule and rocket developed by Blue Origin, the private spaceflight company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The crew launched at 9:30 a.m. EDT from Van Horn, Texas. The flight lasted roughly 11 minutes and took the crew just above the Kármán line, an invisible boundary at an altitude of 62 miles that is widely accepted as the edge of space.

At the very top of the flight path, the crew achieved weightlessness for a few minutes before their descent downwards This gave them a brief experience similar to the sensation felt at the peak of a roller coaster, according to CNN.

When talking with NBC News after landing safely, King revealed that Perry sang part of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” while in space. Perry also brought a paper butterfly to space with her, letting it float around the cabin while the crew was weightless. The butterfly had the set list for her upcoming tour, on April 23, written on it. Fans are still trying to decipher the names of the songs, working off a short blurry video clip circulating on X. So what is the point of all this? I have no idea.

I would consider this star-studded flight a waste of money and energy, and others seem to agree.

The trip has received some criticism online, with actress Olivia Munn calling it a “gluttonous” ride during an appearance on “Today with Jenna & Friends” last week. Others have mocked pictures of the crew posted on Blue Origin’s Instagram, in which they are posing in custom-made space suits designed by crew member Lauren Sánchez herself.

Users criticized the crew and the offensive display of wealth, with comments like “RICH PASSENGERS, NOT CREW,” “This is a reality TV show now. Has absolutely nothing to do with benefiting humanity,” “lol. Only half plastic women allowed Good thing your makeup is waterproof,” and “We have diluted and polluted the word ‘crew.’ They are passengers…nothing more.”

Some of these comments, which ridicule the women’s appearances and question their intelligence, prove why an all-female flight to space is so important. Conversely, others point out that these women aren’t necessarily deserving of the opportunity, just wealthy enough to reserve a seat on board.

The voyage marked the first all-female space trip since Soviet astronaut, Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963 as the first woman to travel into space. Considering how only 11% of people in space have been women, I think it is commendable that Perry and the rest of the crew want to set an example, but for whom are they setting it? Most of us, no matter how hard we try, could never reach the level of wealth necessary for such an adventure.

When speaking with the Associated Press, Perry said she has “always been interested in astrophysics and interested in astronomy and astrology and the stars.” She added that she wants to “inspire young girls to go, ‘I’ll go to space in the future.’”

In my eyes, the only thing she is inspiring is an ever-growing wealth gap.

A seat on Blue Origin’s flights can cost millions. Customers must fill out a form on the company’s website that includes a $150,000 deposit and then costs go up from there, according to Forbes.

Aside from being a flamboyant show of wealth, the 10-minute journey to space took a swing at our environment as well. The trip emitted an extravagant amount of carbon, as much or more than one person, in the bottom billion of carbon emitters, would emit during their entire lifespan.

Not all of the comments about the mission were negative. Most commenters expressed

their love for the women and wished them safe travels. On Perry’s Instagram page, many commenters wrote things like “GO MOTHER GO!!! What another crazy thing to add to your resume. We are so proud of you” and “Be careful, mom! I love u (please, perform E.T. for us).”

After landing, when asked if she would write a song about the experience, Perry said, “Oh, for sure, 100%.”

While many people are in support of the flight, I can’t help but think it was a waste. Aside from Perry becoming the first artist to perform in space and promoting her own brand, not much came from her costly trip to the stars.

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

By VIVIAN GAGE Staff Writer

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

Track & Field thriving on team culture in outdoor season

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Associate Sports Editor

Quinnipiac track and field is seeking its first MAAC title in program history after joining the conference in 2013. The Bobcats have been runner-ups in the MAAC Outdoor Championships six times since joining the conference.

Quinnipiac’s outdoor team is made up of 42 athletes, competing across the board in various events. For most of the girls, the season spans from the indoor to the outdoor season. However, distance runners face the longest season.

“I think that’s something that is really unique to our sport because for distance runners it’s spanning through the course of cross country, indoor and outdoor track,” head coach Carolyn Martin said.

With this unique component, Martin assists her athletes, providing them with time off when appointed by the university to other students, including winter and spring breaks. These breaks give the Bobcats time to rest and come back, thriving on the culture they have built all season.

“Being there for one another is really important, we really tried to emphasize that at meets, and even in practice,” senior sprinter Rylie Smith said.

By supporting one another, the Bobcats foster strong connections and strengthen team morale, even with the new additions to this year’s squad.

Coming into this season, Quinnipiac saw the addition of nine freshmen, ranging from distance runners to sprinters and jumpers. And despite stepping onto the big stage, Quinnipiac’s team culture helped assimilate the younger Bobcats.

“All of them meshed in pretty naturally,” Smith said. “We had a really good group of freshmen this year. They’ve really added a really good piece to our team culture.”

Going into the outdoor season, Quinnipiac ranked No. 2 in the MAAC preseason poll, sitting behind Rider, a team that beat Quinnipiac in the Indoor MAAC Championships.

While the Bobcats fell short of the Broncs by seven points, they look to build on their success from the indoor season.

While walking away without the overall title, Quinnipiac found some success at the Indoor MAAC Championships, breaking records and winning nine events.

At the competition, Smith recorded a 54.32 400-meter dash, the fastest time for a Bobcat in nine years. Quinnipiac’s 4x400, ran by junior sprinter Sydeny Lavelle, junior sprinter Izzie Anzaldo and graduate student sprinter Alyssa Romagnoli, broke the MAAC record, recording 3:45.62.

“Our goal is to always be in the hunt,” Martin said. “To be in the title and to be in the rankings, and to continue to improve as a team as whole.”

And the Bobcats have been able to do just that each time they compete, with each

athlete hitting personal records and pushing themselves to compete at the next level.

Opening up their outdoor season at the Raleigh Relays, many Bobcats recorded personal records and two program records were set.

Graduate student distance runner Alessandra Zaffina set the Quinnipiac record in the 3000-meter steeplechase, finishing with a time of 10:19.96. Freshman jumper Talia Graham set a program record for pole vault

in her first outdoor competition, clearing 3.75 meters.

As the season progresses, Quinnipiac continues to eye its first MAAC title after sitting in the runner-up spot for four consecutive seasons.

“We’re all holding up the roof. You know the roof isn’t going to collapse if we’re all holding it,” Martin said. “And if one person lets go, that’s OK, because other people have got your back.”

Golf ready to prove its top ranking in MAAC Championship

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

After winning three straight MAAC championships, Quinnipiac golf looked to be on pace for a fourth. But a rough second round in last year’s tournament derailed those hopes.

Yet 2025 presents a fresh opportunity.

The Bobcats enter the spring as the top team in the MAAC women’s golf preseason poll, earning four first-place votes. Last year’s champion, the Albany Great Danes, came in at No. 2.

The team believes it has what it takes to return to the top, but also knows nothing is given to them, after losing by three strokes last year.

“When we were picked one, we were like, ‘Yeah, that makes sense, but we still have to prove it,’” sophomore Samantha Galantini said. “Just

because we’re ranked one doesn’t mean we’re going to win, so it just helps prove that we believe that we are the best team.”

Their start of the season did not reflect their rankings, placing No. 11 at the Columbia Classic on Feb. 6. Playing in February comes with a tall task for Quinnipiac, as trying to play golf yearround in Connecticut is difficult. As temperatures drop, courses are unplayable, shifting the workouts inside to a simulation room.

“I feel like our first tournament none of us really played well, but I kind of gave us a break on that one,” Galantini said. “But I think just the first few tournaments, we’re just having not been outside at all, it was pretty hard, but I think we’re going to be better prepared.”

The team faced more than just rust but also

tricky course conditions. They placed fifth at the Butler Don Benbow Spring Invitational and seventh at the Low Country Intercollegiate.

“(Butler and Wofford’s courses) are quirky, and if you don’t hit the fairway off the tee, it’s going to cost you a couple of strokes,” head coach John O’Connor said. “(At Wofford) their greens were not receptive at all. They were small. They were mounted. So I saw way too many approach shots hit the front of the green and roll off the back, and once they rolled off of the green, either way, it was a mound that they had to contend with and around the greens this time of year, it’s tough to get the feel for it.”

The Bobcats finally got to practice outside on March 28, before traveling to Rutgers. That extra preparation paid off. They finished second in the first round and fourth for the whole tournament — their best of the spring.

With the MAAC Tournament in a week, the Rutgers Invitational was the first taste of the field. Five out of the seven teams in the MAAC Championships — Albany, Sacred Heart, Merrimack, Fairfield and Siena — competed at Rutgers. All five finished behind Quinnipiac, though Albany and Sacred Heart were separated by six strokes.

“We did beat all the MAAC teams, which was good, but we let Albany get a little too close,” Galantini said. “They were ahead of us for most of the final round. So (O’Connor) was pretty upset about that, because Albany and Sacred Heart, we only beat them both by a few shots. So it’s pretty much showing us that we know we could beat them, but we still have to play well to beat them.”

One of the promising developments this season has been the rise of the freshmen. Sophia Fujita, Marisa Flores and Vaidehi Shah have all been top golfers, playing key roles in the lineup.

“They’ve been doing well all year,” Galantini said. “Compared to the very first tournament in

the fall, to how far they’ve come now. I mean, it’s been a great improvement for all of them. They’ve always been kind of consistent and kind of showed that … (if) they have a bad tournament, then they are bouncing back the next tournament.” Fujita’s play has placed her as the No. 1 golfer for the MAAC Tournament. Her consistent play shooting in the 14-over-par range will help the Bobcats when her tee time is called.

“Sophia was my number one recruit,” O’Connor said. “She has done pretty well. And, you know, she’s no Leeyen (Peralta), and I was kind of hoping she was Leeyen, but it’s early; she’s made some adjustments. It’s been an adjustment for her.”

Flores has been a great addition to the Bobcats, with her ability to pull out consistent performances placing her in the No. 4 position.

“She doesn’t do anything fancy on the golf course, but she’s able to produce some pretty good scores, as indicated at Delaware, where she shot a 69,” O’Connor said.

Shah rounds out the lineup for the MAAC Championship after strong performances in the spring, including a season-best 13-over-par at the Columbia Classic.

“Vaidehi has gone as low as 73, and her highs are not too high that concern me,” O’Connor said.

The Bobcats’ championship lineup will include the three freshmen, along with Galantini and senior Fuge Zhang. And based on the numbers, the Bobcats believe they’re the team to beat.

“If you look at the rankings, we’re the highest ranked team in the MAAC,” O’Connor said. “Our numbers are the best out of any team in the MAAC. Right now, it looks like Merrimack will be our competition. I don’t expect Albany to be all that good. They have not played well this semester. They don’t have the talent that we have.”

COURTESY OF QUINNIPIAC ATHELTICS

Sophomore Samantha Galantini lowest score of the spring season is 16-over-par.

COURTESY OF QUINNIPIAC ATHLETICS

Junior sprinter Sydney Lavelle jumps over a hurdle.

Men’s tennis internationally bonded

CLAIRE

International student-athletes make up a large part of Division I athletics. The NCAA has reported that nearly 25,000 international students make up collegiate athletics.

Yet, one sport holds the highest percentage of international student-athletes — men’s tennis, with international students making up 64% of athletes in the collegiate sport.

Eight of Quinnipiac’s men’s tennis squad are international students, with 12 athletes in total on the team. It has athletes from across the globe, coming from the Czech Republic, India, Hungary, Sweden, Germany and New Zealand.

“You sort of understand where they’re coming from,” sophomore Carlos Braun Simo from Munich, Germany said. “The feeling of, coming to a new place. Most of us have been to the U.S., maybe once or twice, but never lived here. I understood how the freshman felt because I had the same feelings last year.”

Coming from different regions of the world, the international athletes have shared their experiences and stories, from playing tennis to moving to another country.

Despite not all having the same backgrounds and cultures, these shared experiences have allowed the international players to relate to and bond with one another.

“Also interesting to see how similar some of our lives have been, like (freshman) Elias (Hoxha) and I, coming from neighboring countries, it’s funny to compare how we grew up, and same with (freshman) Carl (Sjoholm,)” Simo said. “So that obviously brings you together a little bit. And I think just in general, we all understand, you know, being away from your family is tough, and we use each other as a support system.”

The international athletes have also found ease in living in the U.S. through

their American teammates. Despite there only being four American-born athletes on the squad, they have greatly helped their international teammates by understanding their unique circumstances and helping them with anything.

One teammate in particular has been senior Yashin Laskin, who has displayed a big brother persona for the younger international athletes off the court.

“I think our senior captain, Yasha, who’s from Cheshire, which is like 10 minutes down the road from here, has been really special,” sophomore Finn Burridge from New Zealand said. “I know both Carlos and I have been over to the house for dinner multiple times, and every year, the family will host us as a whole team.”

Laskin and graduate student Donovan Brown have helped the international athletes with all things, from finding the best

place to get a haircut to getting groceries. They have even displayed a great understanding of the obstacles that come with living in a foreign country.

“Yasha was super aware of the fact that as an international student, as a freshman or as a sophomore, you probably won’t have a car here,” Simo said. “All of them are super aware of just what our situation is, and helped a lot to keep the bond strong between each other.”

Not only has coming to Quinnipiac introduced the international Bobcats to new athletes, but they have also been introduced to different playing styles, ways of coaching and overall game play.

With tennis being such an internationally played sport, each country teaches athletes in slightly different ways. Competing at the collegiate level allows each athlete’s unique talent to be put on display while also provid-

ing a challenging component to opponents.

“Meeting Carlos last year and (graduate student) Daniel (Velek) who played a lot on, like, red clay, which is not something we have in New Zealand, was different because it was a different style of tennis,” Burridge said. “And I think it helps player development just having also being able to have those conversations about, ‘What can you do here? How can I adjust?’”

In their second season with the Bobcats, Burridge and Simo have been doubles partners, ending the 2023-24 campaign with a record of 13-10. And, despite being separated by thousands of miles, Burridge and Simo have found that their international background has brought them together, on and off the court.

“In Switzerland, we play doubles, not a lot, so I used to always keep everything pretty, pretty basic, pretty simple, and it works,” Simo said. “But we’ve been playing together for a year and a half now, and it’s cool to, you know, bounce around ideas, try new things, try things.”

On the court, the two different playing styles have helped Burridge and Simo grow as athletes, integrating different features of each other’s game to help out the other. This combination has allowed the two to experiment with their strategies and come out on top against their opponents.

“We’ve been more experimental, but there’s a lot of trust there, and I think that trust has been earned over the last year and a half, and it’s a nice relationship to have with someone in the same class as you as well,” Burridge said.

Off the court, having class and living together has allowed the men to grow their bond outside of the sport of tennis.

“There’s not forced brotherhood,” Burridge said. “It’s pretty special.”

ALAN MCNEELY/CHRONICLE

Sophomore Finn Burridge celebrates in a 4-3 victory against LIU March 23.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF QUINNIPIAC ATHLETICS/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TRIPP MENHALL

By

FRANKLAND Associate Sports Editor

SON OF A SUPER BOWL CHAMPION

Tommy Andruzzi is carving his own path on the lacrosse field

By RYAN JOHANSON Associate Sports Editor

A son of a three-time Super Bowl champion, Tommy Andruzzi had his athletic career laid out for him, at least in theory. Living in the shadows of Gillette Stadium with the last name Andruzzi, Tommy would have looked a natural under a helmet and shoulder pads.

But Tommy — now a junior long stick midfielder — had a different plan, one that has brought him to Hamden to blaze his own trail on the men’s lacrosse team.

“I think with the experience at the NFL and knowing that it’s not always easy,” head coach

Mason Poli said. “I think that’s where Tommy gets his work ethic from, and that’s where you really gain your confidence: putting in the work. It’s not thinking you can do it. It’s proving and showing you can do it. So I think he gains a lot of that from his father.”

Joe Andruzzi was a standout offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Coming out of Southern Connecticut State as an undrafted free agent in 1997, Joe carved out nine years in the NFL, three of them having him hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Patriots.

“But (I) was able to scrounge out 10 years in the NFL,” Joe said. “I was undrafted in ‘97 and played for three teams, won three Super Bowls as a player, (and) played in four.”

With the last name Andruzzi and living in Massachusetts, Tommy often heard, ‘oh shoot, you’re Joe Andruzzi like, that’s so cool.’ While that kind of attention may have discouraged some, it deepened Tommy’s appreciation for his dad.

“Since I never got to see him play, I think it helped show me, just like, how much he really did,” Tommy said. “Now that I’m older and I know the NFL and everything, you really do see how hard he worked and how much he had to do to get to that point. It’s super cool just to see how humble he is.”

Unlike many professional athlete parents who push their kids to pursue the same sport, Joe was the polar opposite.

“I (didn’t) want to push any of my kids into sports; it doesn’t usually work out for the kids,” Joe said. “Thomas, actually, when his brother started playing, I think it was like fifth grade, he found a love for lacrosse and wanted to play, but there was no age group for him. So I got it okayed for him to play in first grade with the U11 team.”

Tommy did play football like his father lin-

ing up as a running back, fullback and linebacker from eighth grade till his sophomore year of high school. Once lacrosse recruiting started to take shape in his junior year, he shifted his focus there. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic affected his junior year, not allowing him to play the whole season, prompting him to take a gap year at Loomis Chaffee in Connecticut.

As a long stick midfielder — a role not all college programs prioritize — Tommy found a fit with Poli, who understands the position firshand, being a long stick midfielder himself.

“One of my former teammates and his father were Tommy’s high school coaches,” Poli said. “I was an LSM. My teammate was an LSM Tommy plays in that similar fashion and style. So to know where he’s coming from and how he was coached and how I’m trying to play the game, it’s been a smooth transition.”

LSMs don’t come around as often, with two of the Bobcats’ eight MAAC opponents — Marist and Manhattan — not rostering a true LSM. But when Tommy stepped foot on campus as one, he was able to find a spot in the Bobcats’ lineup, playing in 30 out of a possible 40 games in his three years, as of publication.

With Tommy’s knowledge of football — both playing and watching his favorite football team, the Patriots — has greatly improved his play on the field, especially staying in front of his opponents and not letting them get around him like his father did for nine years in the NFL.

“You can see some of that, that O-line footwork, some of those drop steps we work on, and his ability to really, like, get hands on,” Poli said. “I compare defense at times to O-line play. At times we need to be pass blockers, or we need to punch and we need to separate, and other times we’re run blockers.”

In his three years, he has only scored once against Manhattan on March 26, with his dad

and grandparents in the stands.

“My parents live in Jersey, and they drove up, it’s like an hour away from them,” Joe said. “They drove up from their home and watched the game, and they were cheering and hollering, just because Quinnipiac scored a goal and they had no idea it was Thomas, until, you know, I told them, and they went crazy. ‘Oh Thomas. Oh my gosh.’”

Forged by his father’s grit and determination but guided by his own passion, Tommy Andruzzi is making his own legacy one hit, one ground ball, one shot and one step at a time.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JOE ANDRUZZI

COURTESY OF JOE ANDRUZZI Andruzzi visiting his dad when he played for the Cleveland Browns.