The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 96, Issue 2

‘If you want to predict the future, create it’: Marie Hardin's frst two months at QU

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

Just over two months into her position as Quinnipiac University’s 10th President, Marie Hardin has found a feeling of home in the Bobcat community and looks ahead at her first year.

Hardin officially assumed her role on July 1 and eagerly awaited students’ arrival to campus.

The Chronicle had an opportunity to sit down with the new president and learn about her first few months in this position and what she has in store for the future.

Hardin comes to Quinnipiac with curiosity and excitement to learn and get to know students.

“I’ve wanted to understand what kind of students does Quinnipiac attract,” Hardin said. “And I’ve been blown away by the excitement that I’ve seen, by the professionalism that the students have, by their eagerness to engage.”

A favored part of her experience so far comes from the students and the constant energy.

“They have been so welcoming to me,

it’s been remarkable,” Hardin said. “If I’m in my office and I’m feeling a little, maybe I don’t have much energy, all I have to do — I figured this out in two weeks — All I have to do is walk out of my office, walk out into the quad, and you can feel the energy from the students on the sidewalk.”

Hardin finds this energy all over campus too, with strong student engagement and things always going on.

Former Quinnipiac women’s

lacrosse coach is suing QU for alleged sex discrimination

QU launches platform for international career development

By MADELYN DURKEE Contributing Writer

During the past year, Quinnipiac University’s Offce of International Students & Scholars and the Offce of Career Development & Experiential Learning have collaborated to bring a new platform, called Interstride, to life.

“Our offce identifed a need to provide additional support and tools to help our international students navigate an increasingly complex employment and visa environment,” Sarah Driscoll, director of international student services, wrote in an email to The Chronicle.

Interstride is a free online platform designed to assist international students with post-graduate job searches, career development and global networking.

The platform launched in June to a small group of student leaders for testing before the offce held the offcial launch party on Sept. 2 for all students. Over 120 Quinnipiac students are already using the platform.

Farida Gamuchirai, a graduate student in the Master of Science and Business Analytics program, was one of the frst students to test the platform.

“It’s great to see it actually come to life now,” Gamuchirai said.

One of the challenges international students face is fnding U.S. companies that sponsor visas like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Career Practical Training (CPT).

Other platforms, like Handshake or LinkedIn, do not have clear information on international hiring practices or effective search mechanisms. Interstride uses advanced job search flters to identify companies in the U.S. that sponsor work visas and green cards. Students can flter opportunities by industry, location and employer sponsorship history.

“The process can be quite daunting and overwhelming,” Kristina Galligan, senior director of student & alumni career development said. Interstride “takes a lot of confusion out of the job search process.”

The platform “has a lot of added functionality for fnding companies that are hiring or have hired internationally,” she said.

This function sets Interstride apart from other platforms.

“The thing that I love the most about the platform is all the flters that it has to just help you narrow down your search,” Gamuchirai said.“Especially for international students, it is a very useful tool, while still very easy to navigate.”

By

Former Quinnipiac University women’s lacrosse head coach Tanya “TK” Kotowicz is suing the university “for alleged sex discrimination against her in ways that included providing her team inadequate athletic trainer coverage and fring her in retaliation for her complaints about the trainer issue,” according to The Stamford Advocate.

The university terminated Kotowicz in January 2024 after allegedly playing an injured athlete.

However, The Chronicle’s deep dive into the situation revealed that the internal documents — and the athlete’s dad — said otherwise.

The Stamford Advocate reported last

week that “the suit seeks monetary compensation for economic damages such as lost wages and benefits and for non-economic damages such as emotional distress as well as “reinstatement or future economic damages,” punitive damages, interest and attorney’s fees and costs.”

Kotowicz filed the complaint in state Superior Court in New Haven on Aug. 21, according to The Stamford Advocate.

In the complaint, she alleges that Quinnipiac repeatedly “failed to provide athletic trainers to the women’s lacrosse team in the fall of 2023 — for practices and a one-day tournament — while providing a trainer to the men’s lacrosse team in com -

parable circumstances.”

Quinnipiac Athletics announced on Jan. 3 2024 that Kotowicz “is leaving the program.”

However, 10 minutes after the post, Quinnipiac’s rugby head coach Becky Carlson called the university’s offcial statement “outrageous and not the whole story,”

“The coach didn’t leave the program,” Carlson wrote in her repost on the social platform “X”. “The truth will come out.”

“The university does not comment on pending legal matters,” Associate Vice President of Public Relations John Morgan wrote in a statement to The Chronicle.

Read an indepth look at her claim at quchronicle.com

“Interstride helps narrow things down in a more effcient way, it saves time (compared to other platforms),” she added.

In addition to advanced search flters, Interstride offers a variety of resources for career development and global networking.

Students can access and attend online webinars hosted by industry experts and professionals, such as immigration attorneys. These experts teach students how to pursue sponsorship or navigate the complicated visa process. Workshops for career readiness and immigration resources are also available through the platform. These programs are specifcally designed to help international students succeed in the U.S. job market.

“Interstride helps international students make

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

AVA HIGHLAND and ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA See HARDIN Page 2

EARLY DAYS ON CAMPUS

MEET THE EDITORS

EDITOR- IN - CHIEF

Alexandra Martinakova

MANAGING EDITOR

Gina Lorusso

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Emily Adorno

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tyler Mignault

NEWS EDITOR

Ava Highland

OPINION EDITOR

Lillian Curtin

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Grace Conneely-Nolan

SPORTS EDITOR

Claire Frankland

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

Michael Petitto

DESIGN EDITOR

Katerina Parizkova

ASSOCIATE DESIGN EDITOR

Emily Katz

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS

Elisabeth McMahon

Quinn O’Neill

COPY EDITORS

Vivian Gage

Neve Wilson

views expressed in The Chronicle’s opinion section are those of the respective authors. They do not refect the views of The Chronicle as an organization.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter by emailing Alexandra Martinakova at amartinakova@quinnipiac.edu

THE CHRONICLE is distributed around all three university campuses every Wednesday. Single copies are free. Newspaper the is a crime. Please report suspicious activity to university security (203-582-6200). For additional copies, contact the student media o ce for rates.

ADVERTISING inquiries can be sent to thequchronicle@gmail.com. Inquiries must be made a week prior to publication. SEND TIPS, including news tips, corrections or suggestions to Alexandra Martinakova at thequchronicle@gmail.com WITH CONCERNS, contact e Chronicle’s advisor Vincent Contrucci, at vincent.contrucci@quinnipiac.edu

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be between 150 and 300 words and must be approved by the editorin-chief before going to print. e Chronicle reserves the right to edit all material, including advertising, based on content, grammar and space requirements. Send letters to thequchronicle@gmail.com. e opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily those of e Chronicle.

JOIN US

Staff Meetings on Tuesdays in SB 262 at 9:15 p.m.

CONNECT

@quchronicle/@quchronsports

@quchronicle/@quchronsports

@quchronicle

A look into Hardin’s early days on campus and plans for the year

FOR STUDENTS’

‘HERE

A key focus for Hardin is guiding students in accomplishing their goals, or helping to set them.

“We’re here to help students achieve their hopes and dreams,” Hardin said. “Students come to this institution because they have things they want to pursue, they have communities they want to build, they want to enrich their lives.”

No matter the goal they are working toward, Hardin says she wants every student to never let go of it.

“Our job is to help each and every student achieve their goals and hold those dreams well beyond college, that means so much to me,” Hardin said.

FROM

DEAN TO PRESIDENT

Bellisario College of Communications at Pennsylvania State University gave Hardin the skillset and knowledge to aid in her transition into Quinnipiac’s president.

Coming from a large state school, Hardin has found the transition to a smaller school to come with both benefts as well as obstacles. She has felt a more personal feeling and greater sense of family.

“Penn State is a comprehensive institution,” Hardin said. “Quinnipiac is too, in an environment that feels much more personal.”

However, the small size comes as a challenge too. With ambitious students

and an environment that she already feels so comfortable in, she finds that this causes a challenge as a university president as well.

ON CAMPUS PRESENCE

In just over two weeks since the fall semester started, Hardin often has been interacting with students and faculty around campus, attending several events, sitting in on classes and dropping in on student organizations.

Hardin is excited to continue attending all that she can around campus, from sporting events — both DI and club — to club meetings.

“My goal is to get to all of them,” Hardin said. “So for me, when I have those pockets of time to get to do that, I know students will know I might just drop in, that helps me learn, that helps me connect, and that helps me engage.”

MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

SOCIAL

Similar to on campus, Hardin has developed a strong presence on social media within the Quinnipiac community.

“I think social media is one of the ways that you can connect with people,” Hardin said. “It’s one of the ways that I can grow community.”

Engaging in social media has also been a way to get to know more about the Bobcat community, as well as a way to help them learn more about her.

Often seen on her social media is her border terrier, Tator, who she adopted a

few months before arriving on campus. Hardin chose the name Tator after one of Quinnipiac’s founders, Samuel W Tator.

“I wanted a great name that also was a chance for me to get to talk about Quinnipiac every time I had him out on the quad,” Hardin said.

LOOKING AHEAD

Planning for her frst year, a large focus is on understanding the Quinnipiac community and then using that for strategic planning and setting goals for the university.

“A big part of my job early on is to understand the culture of the place, because there’s a unique and powerful culture,” Hardin said. “So my first job is to know that and understand that, and then start working with the team to figure out how can we elevate that.”

Hardin also looks forward to her upcoming second semester at Quinnipiac, when she puts that newfound knowledge into action through a strategic visioning process.

“The second thing I’m really excited about is, and this will happen next semester, we’ll come together as a community to drive forward a plan and to craft a plan that moves us forward as a unique and powerful institution, thinking about the future of society, culture, technology and career and industry needs,” Hardin said.

Hardin finds it exciting to look ahead to the future, following the notion of her favorite saying, “if you want to predict the future, create it.”

Temporary signs in The DOME fail to include proper braille signage

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

As part of the Quinnipiac University’s Mount Carmel Campus remodel, the former school of business has been renamed to The DOME. However, in changing room number plaques it currently lacks accessible braille signage, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.

The ADA defines temporary as “7 days or less.” However, more than two weeks have passed since the first day of the semester and the building is still without proper braille signage.

Outside each classroom, temporary cardboard plaques have the room number printed in braille; however, these plaques are flat.

“Raised characters shall be 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) minimum above their background,” according to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

“We are in the process of updating all signage in the DOME as part of the current renovation project,” said John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations in a statement to The Chronicle. “The new signs, which will be installed in the coming weeks, are designed to meet all accessibility standards and will include braille. Making sure that our facilities are accessible so that all students, faculty, staff and visitors

can navigate our three campuses with confidence is a top priority.”

According to Quinnipiac’s official website,“Quinnipiac University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.”

“Braille provides individuals with visual impairments and disabilities equal access to information, such as room names and numbers,” a statement from The Disability Student Union wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “Instead of maintaining and updating this accessibility, tape was placed over the original braille and the corrected room names were written with Sharpie. Signs with printed, non-raised dots also fail to serve this purpose and further demonstrate that accessibility was not prioritized in the redesign of The Dome. A building that is not fully accessible and inclusive should not be in use, and we are deeply disappointed in Quinnipiac’s failure to ensure that all facilities are accessible to everyone.”

Though the building’s name and thus room numbers have been altered, the ADA requires “altered portions of existing buildings and facilities” to be accessible.

This is not the first time the campus did not have proper braille signage.

In 2022, an investigation done by The Chronicle revealed 240 braille signs that

did not comply with the accessibility standards defined by the ADA.

“Quinnipiac University is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are supported and enabled to access the technology, information, programs, services and facilities they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom,” Quinnipiac’s official website states. “We strive to make these resources accessible in accordance with applicable law.”

The

HARDIN from cover

M&T Bank Center for Women & Business hosts panel discussion about women redefning leadership

By NATHAN ROJAS Contributing Writer

On Sept. 4, the M&T Bank Center for Women & Business hosted Shelly Carter, Cristina Schoeck, Sara Wilbur and Teodora Lupu to lead a panel discussing the challenges of being women in male-dominated felds.

This event was hosted in collaboration with the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Director of M&T Bank Center for Women & Business Tuvana Rua.

Carter is Hamden’s frst-ever fre chief who is both female and a person of color. Carter did not plan on becoming fre chief, in fact, she had no plans of becoming a frefghter at all. It wasn’t until talking to the lieutenant of a fre department that she thought of becoming one.

Schoeck, the Meriden fre chief, shares a different story. While in college to become a respiratory therapist, she joined the volunteer ambulance. Through that, she joined the volunteer fre department. After some time, she changed careers and became a full time frefghter.

Wilbur, much like the others, unexpectedly found her career after applying for a job with People’s Bank while studying marketing at the University of Connecticut. She is now the executive vice president of fnancial crimes at M&T Bank. Lupu is currently in her third career change.

She started in international trade before switching to portfolio management and data analytics. Her current job is as the head of U.S. SS&P Business Processes & Strategy.

During the discussion, each panel member spoke on the challenges they faced within their careers and gave advice from their experiences.

The main issue Carter faced in her career was switching departments. Having been raised in Hartford, after switching to Hamden, Carter needed to learn their procedures. “But the language, the processes, the policies, the Hamden way, I was like, ‘wait, so when you started talking about asking questions it’s not because I don’t know how to fght a fre. It’s because I want to know, why are you doing it that way?’” Carter said.

Schoeck experienced similar challenges early on in her career. Because of her upbringing, Schoeck did not know many of the skills other frefghters did.

“And when I joined a fre service, I didn’t have the same skill levels as a lot of the other men, but what I did have was the ability to learn and the willingness,” Schoeck said.

Similar to Carter and Schoeck, Wilbur used her curiosity to her advantage.

“In order to be strategic, I felt as though I had to understand the details at the lower levels frst

to then kind of be able to coach and develop the team and understand exactly what’s going on,” Schoeck said.

For Lupu, her main concern was getting people to listen to her. She believes that if an outcome is achieved through logical thinking, then that is the appropriate response.

“But I think it’s really important to trust your judgment. Obviously, think deeply and trust your judgment once you’ve done that thinking,” Lupu said.

As for the advice, each shared a variety of tips inspired by their own experiences.

“Go with that gut instinct,” Schoeck said. “That gut instinct that made you step up, that made you raise your hand, that made you walk into the center of the room and be a part of it. That’s what got you there. Don’t doubt yourself afterwards.”

Wilbur’s advice focused primarily on networking and building connections.

“Begin to build your network in terms of doing that. Now, you know, any sort of networking event like this is great, where you’re getting to know people, LinkedIn, things like that, but as you get into an organization, you know, set up those one on ones, get to know different people, ask other people that have been there, questions of, who are those people

you should get to know,” Wilbur said.

In addition to this advice, many of the panelists spoke about authenticity, something that resonated with many members of the audience. Kathryn Sakoulas, a second year 3+1 marketing major, agreed with the advice.

“I feel like the most important thing that I learned from this was being authentic, because sometimes you feel like you always have to be the one to ft in and be like everybody else. But I learned that it’s good to be okay, to be different and kind of shine bright wherever you want,” Sakoulas said.

Hazardous conditions cause Hogan Lot’s closure to food delivery and rideshare services

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Quinnipiac University students received an email from Public Safety Chief Tony Reyes informing them that Hogan Lot is now closed to food delivery and rideshare services.

“These changes are being implemented to reduce traffc congestion, prevent hazardous conditions and to keep our campus community safe,” Reyes wrote.

Hogan Lot was previously used as the main location for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Uber Eats, however in an effort to keep the campus and community safe this is no longer an option.

“Services such as Lyft, Uber/Uber Eats, DoorDash and others are prohibited from stopping on or parking along Hogan Road and New Road,” Reyes wrote. “All drivers must use the designated lots for pickups and deliveries.”

Now, the pick-up and drop-off location is the North Lot, located outside of The Recreation and

informed decisions and feel more confdent about their future,” Driscoll wrote.

Online resources for connecting with the Quinnipiac community, including posted events hosted by the Offce of Career Developments and OISS, are also available within the platform.

Students can easily connect with international peers and network within the greater community.

While initially created for international students, Interstride also offers opportunities for domestic students within the global community.

“It’s like a one stop shop for globe trotting, immigration, things like that,” Gamuchirai said. “I would encourage everyone who is globally mind-

Wellness Center.

When drivers arrive at the North Lot they are required to stop at the gate and provide identifcation and proof of the service they are providing.

As of now there are no plans for Hogan Lot being reopened for pick-up and drop-off services, however Reyes notes that it is possible.

Earlier in the week, rumors circulated via Yik Yak that a student was injured in Hogan Lot over the weekend. Yik Yak is an anonymous site used by students.

As a result of the speculated injury, students rumored that Hogan lot will be closed before the offcial announcement was made.

“Wait so what the hell happened?,” a student wrote on Yik Yak early in the week. “We can never use hogan again? What is going on?”

Reyes denied this rumor.

“I am not aware of any injury,” Reyes wrote. “This decision was made to ensure the safety of the community and to avoid hazardous conditions on Hogan (Road) and New Road.”

ed to join the platform.”

Domestic students can use the platform to search for global internship and job opportunities in over 160 countries.

Students “would see all these resources for what it’s like to work and live in [that country]” and information on “what it might be like to pursue a visa there,” Galligan said.

“Whether you’re an American student eager to intern or work overseas, or an international student hunting for U.S. employers who sponsor, Interstride has helpful tools to navigate that journey,” Driscoll wrote.

The Offce of International Students and Scholars and the Offce of Career Development

The decision comes after hazardous conditions were observed over the frst couple weeks of the semester.

“Over the past two weeks, since the start of the semester, we’ve received multiple reports of students being dropped off along New Road and Hogan Road,” Reyes wrote. “These drop-offs created hazardous conditions for both pedestrians and drivers. After observing the situation frsthand, Public Safety—alongside the Hamden Police Department—determined that immediate action was necessary.”

They chose North Lot as the designated location for its “ample space for safe drop-offs” and because it “is centrally located, making it accessible to all areas of campus.”

For many students, the location comes as an inconvenience.

“I understand why they are doing it but as a student it can be frustrating,” sophomore nursing major Alyvia Bailey said. “Especially as a sophomore when it’s what you are used to.”

& Experiential Learning will be at the university wide career fair on Oct. 14, to showcase the new platform and help students access the variety of resources available to them.

“We really want to make sure we’re giving our international students (the) best in class service, just like our domestic students,” Galligan said. “We’re really excited about the potential (of this platform).”

Galligan hopes to include Quinnipiac graduates from the last three years on the platform later this fall. These alumni will provide additional support and resources for international students exploring employment opportunities.

Once the alumni are included, “it will be an

Hogan Lot sits close to several residence halls, while North Lot is a further distance for many.

“Closing the Hogan parking lot has created such an inconvenience for students who live in dorms close by,” sophomore marketing major Genna Calton said. “I would have groceries delivered to Hogan since I cannot park my car on main. Having to go out of my way to get to a further parking lot to pick up food is a waste of time.”

In regards to food delivery, a plan is currently in the works to reinstate a program allowing local businesses to deliver food on Bobcat Way.

“The program required businesses to register their delivery drivers with Quinnipiac Public Safety, granting them access through the South Gate,” Reyes wrote. “Students would then meet drivers at a designated location on Bobcat Way. We’re currently reaching out to area businesses to gauge interest, and if there’s suffcient participation, we’ll share the details with students right away.”

even stronger resource for student networking,” she said.

Remmy Khamis, a graduate student in the M.S. Cybersecurity program, expressed excitement for the future of the platform.

“Especially students who are graduating soon, to see how it’ll help them,” he said, and “to also see how the results from it motivate students who are coming in.”

He is looking forward to students successfully using the platform to land job opportunities in the U.S. and just wants to “see that fnal outcome.”

The launch of Interstride brings an exciting new chapter in Quinnipiac’s international career development resources as the new platform con-

TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE

From left to right: Tuvana Rua, Shelly Carter, Cristina Schoeck and Sara Wilber

Opinion

Fall of Skywalker, rise of Atreides

By RYAN HAJE Contributing Writer

In 2015, I saw “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” for the frst time and I was amazed. Sure, it was Episode four with a new coat of paint, but a Star Wars movie hadn’t been released in over 10 years, so it was an exciting time for fans. Little did we know, this was the beginning of the end.

I’ve watched “Star Wars” my whole life and couldn’t get enough of it, but ever since Disney bought the franchise, it has slowly been falling apart. On the other hand, when “Dune” released in 2021, it gave me hope for the science fction genre. Where “Dune” succeeded and “Star Wars” failed is in quality and frequency of release. Since 2015, “Star Wars” has released one project almost every year, and on paper, that’s great, but in reality, this is why I’m not a fan of the franchise’s current state.

From 2015-2019 a “Star Wars” movie was released annually, and if you look at each project individually, almost every single one is fawed. Episode seven, eight and nine struggled with no clear goal or endgame. Because of that, I think it’s the worst of the three “Star Wars” trilogies. I hated how there was not one director for the trilogy, and I think that if they had one cohesive vision it could have turned out so much better.

“Dune” currently is the complete opposite. The goal of the “Dune” trilogy is to tell the story of the frst and second books. Of course, there have been some small changes, but I really don’t care because the quality is there. The writers and directors of “Dune” have a goal just like

what George Lucas had back in the day when he was the head of “Star Wars.” This quality in the “Dune” movies is present in every aspect, from the storytelling to the visual effects. And the vision is out of the ballpark.

If you try to apply those three aspects to the Disney+ series, “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” you can see it fails in every aspect. I thought the storytelling had way too much fller, the visual effects were lackluster and the vision was not there. OK, that’s only one project, so what about “The Mandalorian?”

I thought this frst season was the best liveaction TV show “Star Wars” has ever released.

Each week, I was excited to see where Mado and the Child ventured off to, and when the season fnale aired, I couldn’t wait for season two. It succeeded in all three categories I listed earlier and if you don’t believe me, give season one a watch. Then the rumor mill for the second season started. A fan favorite, Boba Fett, was going to appear with many other beloved characters, and that got me even more hyped.

I will admit when the episodes released I fell in love with the show all over again, but when it was done and over, something felt wrong.

Spoilers for something that almost came out three years ago, but when Luke Skywalker, the

main character, the poster boy of the franchise came back, that is where the show lost me. For most of the show it felt pretty disconnected from the nine movies, and I thought that was for the better. It made the galaxy feel bigger, but bringing Luke into the picture threw everything the show was working up to out the window.

The fan term for all the TV shows connected to “The Mandalorian” is “The Mandoverse.” Creating this “Mandoverse” was honestly one of their greatest decisions but also has been a total fop. The creators of these shows and “Star Wars” as a whole are moving away from the Sequel Trilogy, but Disney cannot.

They refuse to retheme the Star Wars Park; Galaxy’s Edge. What was supported by a time capsule taking place between episodes eight and nine, became a confusing mess. I will not lie by saying I didn’t enjoy the opportunity of having a meet and greet with the Mandalorian at Disney World when I went. But, it was so confusing having him walk around when the theme of the park was a time set 20 years after the show. That might have been my realization of the “Star Wars” downfall.

With “Dune” being such a young franchise, it doesn’t have any of these problems and is only in its infancy. Who knows what Legacy Pictures is gonna do with the “Dune” franchise. It could very easily go in the same direction as Star Wars or go a completely different route and become something greater than “Star Wars” could ever be.

I will never stop loving “Star Wars;” but I think “Dune” may have taken a small sliver of my heart that “Star Wars” once had.

Loan repayment for ICE agents is beyond hypocritical

By VIVIAN GAGE

Copy Editor

Offering student loan repayment as a recruitment tactic for new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents is disturbing, but most of all, it is hypocritical.

On July 29, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new ICE campaign to “recruit brave and heroic Americans to join ICE…and remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets.”

The campaign, titled “Defend the Homeland,” introduces new incentives for people to join ICE as federal law enforcement agents. These benefits include enhanced retirement benefits, up to a $50,000 signing bonus and student loan repayment of up to $60,000.

The campaign’s funding comes from the $170 billion allocated to immigration and border efforts by the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025.

The bill gives ICE approximately $30 billion over four years to track down, arrest and deport immigrants. That amount is a 300% increase over ICE’s entire $10 billion budget last year.

The new ICE recruitment efforts, which include removing age restrictions on who can join and distributing posters that mimic WWII propaganda, are haphazard attempts to meet President Donald Trump’s goal of hiring 10,000 new ICE agents and deporting one million people a year.

While ICE is using its obscene new budget to repay agents’ loans and give away signing bonuses, our government is trying to restrict who can receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). The program allows certain government employees and people who work for nonprofits (public service workers) to have their federal loans forgiven after they’ve made payments for at least 10 years.

The program has always had problems, with a majority of workers not receiving loan forgiveness despite eligibility. However, more than one million borrowers were approved for loan forgiveness during the Biden-Harris administration, more than ever before.

In March, President Trump issued an executive order calling on the Department of Education (DOE) to draft new regulations restricting student loan forgiveness through PSLF, according to Forbes.

The executive order asked for the new defnition of “public service” to exclude organizations that “engage in activities that have a substantial illegal purpose.” His frst example of an illegal purpose was “aiding or abetting violations of 8 U.S.C. 1325 or other Federal immigration laws.” Surprise surprise.

The DOE published its proposed new restrictions for PSLF on Aug. 18.

They are not yet in effect, but the new regulations have been released for public inspection, meaning citizens can view the

proposal and argue certain aspects. The period for inspection will end Sept. 17. After which, a final rule will be published and put into effect July 1, 2026, according to an article by the CSLA Institute.

If this plan succeeds, which it probably will, the already disproportionate number of government workers receiving loan forgiveness will drop dramatically.

Our President has made it clear that those not in full support of his abusive immigration plan are to receive no federal loan forgiveness. They don’t ft his defnition of public service. But ICE agents?

They deserve to have their debts paid! To him, the excess government spending isn’t wasteful as long as it is funding racism.

No matter your political beliefs, the hypocrisy is hard to miss. Thousands of government workers, such as prosecutors and nurses working in community healthcare (jobs that require advanced degrees), could lose access to loan forgiveness. Meanwhile, ICE agents (most of whom don’t even need an undergraduate degree, depending on their position), are having loan repayment dangled in front of them like a carrot in this new campaign.

Department of Education offcials, in a news release about the proposed cuts to PSLF, described the new regulations as a way to prevent taxpayer dollars from being “improperly provided” to borrowers whose employers are engaging in “illegal” practices.

That’s ironic. I thought that kidnapping

women and children off the street, holding innocent people in privately owned detention facilities with horrific conditions and violating due process to deport citizens would be considered “illegal” practices. But hey, at least some ICE agents won’t have to worry about their debt anymore.

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

By REX NAYLOR Contributing Writer

Gambling with addiction

Gone are the days of leaving your home state to go gamble in Vegas or Atlantic City. Thanks to the modern web and technological advancements that have come along the way, you can now gamble while sitting on your couch.

How did a topic once taboo, become so normalized in today’s world?

In 2018, the Supreme Court made the decision to allow state-sponsored sports betting. As of today, sports betting is legal in 39 states and Washington, D.C. As soon as the decision passed, companies such as Bet MGM, Draft Kings and FanDuel immediately became recognizable names in the industry.

In a study conducted by The University of Bristol, it was found that viewers of the Stanley Cup Finals this past summer encountered an average of 3.5 marketing messages every minute from betting frms. This equates to one message every 17 seconds. Combining the NHL and NBA fnals, across all 13 games, there were 6,282 gambling related instances like pop up betting lines and advertisements. Six NHL broadcasts were responsible for 94% of them.

From the study, it’s clear that betting companies have a chokehold on sports. In 2024, according to the American Gaming Association, the American Sports Betting Industry posted revenue of $13.71 billion, $2.5 billion more than in 2023.

So how are these companies making all this money if they’re spending so much on advertisements? Why would someone want to take a chance on their fnancial security? Well, it’s the same reason we spend so much

time on social media.

If you take one look at websites like Stake or Rainbet, you will see the connection. It’s the same reason why slots have so many users despite having the worst odds for winning.

Similar to Instagram or TikTok, you never know what you’ll get when you scroll. Maybe it’s a funny meme or a sports highlight, other times it’s an ad. These online casinos and websites do everything to pull you in, and just like any addiction, once you’re in,

to middle-aged men. In 2023, a report from the NCAA revealed 58% of 18-22 year olds had engaged in sports betting at least once. The activity is even more widespread on college campuses, where 67% of students are bettors.

you’re a buyer for life.

These buyers are typically young

There is a clear absence in the knowledge of gambling as well, as 16% of these students consider themselves to be risky bettors, while 6% have lost at least

$500 in a single day. Of these risky gamblers, 70% believe gambling will increase their overall earnings.

The National Council on Problem Gambling states between 60% to 80% of high school students have placed bets. While not all of these are sports related, it is a large chunk of the pie.

The biggest reason as to why gambling is so normalized is because there is little to no education about it. We have education against smoking, vaping, drinking, eating unhealthy food and now screentime on phones and how they all cause addiction if left unchecked. There is none of that for gambling.

Studies have shown those who start gambling as adolescents are at a much greater risk of gambling addiction in the future. Additionally, 18-24 year olds are targeted much more as their prefrontal cortex is yet to fully develop. This leads to more impulsive and higher risk decisions, rather than taking in facts and making responsible decisions.

Through education against the dangers of gambling — specifcally sports betting — people who are having problems, or are in danger of developing them, can get the education and help they may need.

There are resources for those who need help, like the national hotline (1-800-4262527). To prevent these problems from continuing, early intervention should be the goal. Middle schools and high schools across America should implement some sort of gambling education into their curriculum.

Gambling can be a fun social thing for friends, but it can quickly turn into addiction if left unchecked.

Literature creates false expectations of romance Opinion

By HARPER FERRARO Contributing Writer

Why do humans seek love?

Love can be many things. It can be pla tonic, romantic or a little bit of both. It can be beautiful, deep, messy and confusing. It can be ugly, surface-level, organized and life’s missing puzzle piece.

Love can be anywhere. It can be in the melo dy of a song, the scene of a movie, or a sentence in a book. If love can be anywhere and anything all at once, why do humans believe they know what to look for?

The answer is: They don’t.

Humans believe they know what a relation ship is supposed to be — what it looks like, what it feels like — and set their expectations in a way that ends up being unrealistic and ulti mately disappointing.

From this standpoint, humans seeking their idea of love set themselves up for failure. It can also prevent them from experiencing a version of a relationship that they did not expect. However, these beliefs do not stem from nowhere; they are either learned or interpreted at some point in life until they are changed or proven wrong.

The depiction of love in the form of a tragedy in literature affects society’s beliefs and expecta tions of what love should be.

Ranging from “Romeo and Juliet” to “The Great Gatsby,” there are many works of literature widely praised for their inclusion of a theme rec ognized as love. Regarding stories that include death, failure, murder and suicide alongside ro

they have known before.

Romeo and Juliet’s tragic suicide is commonly perceived as the epitome of romance — the fnal act of undying love. Death is not love and suicide is not success; both things are tragedies and result in devastation for all parties involved.

Authors write the stories that are studied, praised, retold, believed and passed on for many generations, becoming a foundation for people’s morals, values, beliefs and behaviors towards others and the world.

Directly, the depiction of love in the form of a tragedy, especially in literature, affects society’s beliefs and expectations of what love should be. In many ways, this leads to unrealistic expectations, disappointment and failure, all of which are elements of these stories — however often overshadowed by the perceived presence of lovers “destined” to be together.

Realistically, love is not world-shattering or written in the stars. Although, on the offchance that it feels that way, it should be regarded with caution and the possibility that it is something else in love’s disguise.

Love can be and often is a wonderful addition to a person’s life, and trusting how one feels is extremely important when deciding what is right and enough for them.

It will do no good for a person to search for a version of love they think they need; instead, if the love presented feels right, then that is the love that should be pursued.

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

OLAS serves more than just food at annual Asada

By GRACE CONNEELY-NOLAN Arts & Life Editor

On Sept. 7, the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) hosted their annual Asada, welcoming students from all different backgrounds to enjoy food, games, music and the community they bring to Quinnipiac. With a steady line of hungry college students, OLAS catered food from La Isla in Hamden and attendees flled up to-go containers.

“It’s really easy to feel not seen and what we’re trying to do is just bring everybody together,” OLAS President and senior psychology major Leah Flores said. “You don’t have to be hispanic, you don’t have to be latin, this is just an inclusive org (organization) where we’re just building a family here on campus and making people feel seen and heard.”

A new era for Vogue

Chloe Malle appointed top editor for U.S. edition

By GINA LORUSSO Managing Editor

After a 37-year tenure as head of Editorial Content, Anna Wintour appointed journalist Chloe Malle as Vogue’s editor-in-chief, making a historic leadership transition and beginning a new era for the magazine.

In this new role as top editor, Malle will lead the creative and editorial direction of Vogue’s U.S. edition, joining the 10 existing heads of editorial content around the world.

“Fashion and media are both evolving at breakneck speed, and I am so thrilled, and awed, to be part of that,” Malle said in a statement.

The daughter of actress Candice Bergen and flmmaker Louis Malle was born and raised in New York City with an ever-growing appreciation for fashion and storytelling. She graduated from Brown University with a degree in comparative literature and writing, which she turned into a career in journalism contributing to outlets like The New York Times and The New York Observer.

As a seasoned writer, Malle joined Vogue in 2011 as a social editor where she covered weddings, fashion, politics, home, beauty, gardens and health, according to the company's website. In 2023, she was appointed the editor of Vogue.com where

website traffc doubled under her leadership.

“I’ve spent my career at Vogue working in roles across every platform — from print to digital, audio to video, events and social media,” Malle said. “I love the title, I love the content we create, and I love the editors who create it. Vogue has already shaped who I am, now I’m excited at the prospect of shaping Vogue.”

Malle stepped into this role just ahead of New York Fashion Week which will take place Sept. 11-16 and features major designers like Tory Birch, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Michael Kors. As one of the world’s most high-profle fashion events, this will be Malle’s frst major test in her position, overseeing Vogue’s coverage of runway shows, designers and outstanding styles throughout the week.

With a new creative vision in mind for the magazine, Malle is eager to make changes.

She is looking to make Vogue issues more of a collector's item by releasing them less frequently, focusing on specifc themes and cultural moments, according to the New York Times.

With the new outlook on printed issues and wanting to take a less-is-more approach to Vogue’s website, Malle aims to develop “a more direct, smaller, healthier audience” rather

than crafting Vogue to appeal to wide audiences.

For example, when singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chief’s tight end Travis Kelce announced their engagement Aug. 26, Vogue chose not to chase the same generic headlines every news outlet was printing. Instead, the magazine angled its story to analyze Swift’s $500,000 ring, offering a new fashion-forward perspective. As a result, this story received more clicks than traditional coverage, fnding its way to a niche audience with a knack for jewelry and style.

Her approach refects a shift in the industry, straying away from mass appeal and, instead, fnding those niche groups who genuinely appreciate Vogue’s depth of coverage.

As a student journalist who’s constantly monitoring news coverage of stories and looking into how unique an outlet’s angle is, I find it so inspiring that Malle is trying to steer Vogue toward intentional storytelling. The media landscape is always overflowing with articles that lack perspective and creativity, and it gets utterly boring when you’re reading the same information over and over again with no fresh analysis.

Malle has the potential to lead Vogue into a new era that focuses on so much more than chasing clicks — and I’m here for it.

For young writers like myself, Malle is one of those rare fgures who prove thoughtful storytelling can still cut through the noise. The world isn’t slowing down, everything is still happening at rapid speed, but originality and unique visions are the media’s most valuable asset.

Vogue’s future is in good hands — may the ideas stay fresh and the headlines unforgettable.

QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE

Valentin Jimenez, junior physical therapy major, Christina Hovnanian, frst-year mechanical engineering major, Jocelyn Amezquita Paredes, frst-year health science major, Nicholas Ortiz frst-year accounting major and Valerie Perez a frst-year health science major smile for a picture while attending the event.

QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE

OLAS welcomes all students to join them on the quad for their frst event of the year.

QUINN O'NEILL/CHRONICLE

The Organization of Latin American Students e-board host their frst event of the year as they offer various prizes for students who donate canned goods.

ILLUSTRATION BY KATERINA PARIZKOVA

An ‘Unknown Number’ of trust issues

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Growing up in a small town myself, I understand how toxic and crazy that dynamic can get sometimes. But the stories in Beal City, Michigan, had my jaw on the foor.

When I open Netfix, it’s usually for background noise while eating or doing schoolwork. That quickly changed when I found the new true crime documentary, “Unknown Number: The High School Catfsh.”

As a die-hard “Pretty Little Liars” fan, the description, “anonymous texts torments a teen couple for over a year,” had my curiosity piqued. Truthfully, I didn’t know what I was about to get into.

The documentary tells the true story of cyberbullying case that unfolded over several years. The harassment began in October 2020, and was fnally uncovered in December 2022.

Usually, when I watch a documentary, it’s about a case I’m already familiar with. This time I went in completely blind. I’m glad I did.

The production of this documentary was nothing short of genius … and messy. They would insert little parts of the story that would allow you to look back and say, “The signs were there.” Yet, they weren’t in your face. It only became obvious in retrospect.

A vulnerable high school girl, Lauryn Licari, and her boyfriend, Owen McKenney, were stalked and harassed. It was verbal, but had sexual undertones in a lot of messages.

I have issues with almost everyone in this documentary, save for a couple of the victims.

Everyone is bound to be in their cliques in a small town. It was safe to say there were a few options for who could’ve been sending these horrible messages.

was going to school with Lauryn and Owen. She was a reasonable suspect, considering she was painted as a stereotypical mean girl.

However, she was framed by the actual stalker because she was an easy target. When I say she was an easy target, I don’t mean that she was innocent or vulnerable. She tormented and bullied Lauryn beforehand, so she became everyone’s prime suspect. It wasn’t unsupported, so the actual stalker decided to frame her.

While I do feel bad that her

reputation was ruined, if that “new” reputation was that she was a bully, I don’t think that the accusations would be much to blame, considering she’d been a bully before any of this happened.

A lot of this is just normal high school drama, but they’re older now, and they haven’t changed their attitudes, which just makes them seem more like shady people and less like just excusable high school kids.

With that being said, the kids were the least problematic people in this case. To start, the principal of the high school was completely unhelpful in this situation. Two of his students were getting stalked and harassed, and when the parents wanted to talk to other parents, he was condescending and acted like it was an inconvenience.

He and a few others mentioned that they thought Lauryn was sending the messages to herself for attention. The basis of that accusation? There isn't one.

fawless. It may seem like the interviewer was too nice to Kendra, but it was perfect because all they did was allow Kendra to stick her foot in her mouth.

They kept it friendly and asked straightforward questions, but Kendra was acting like a victim. She believes that everyone commits crimes; she just got caught, but she’s no different from anyone else.

One possibility was Khloe Wilson, a girl who

Owen McKenney, though a victim himself in this situation, also got under my skin. Even in the beginning, he made some passive-aggressive remarks about Lauryn not being invited to a Halloween party, and her “having some issues” with the girls in the grade. Those girls included Khloe, a girl whom Owen later started dating, knowing how she treated Lauryn.

ILLUSTRATION

BY EMILY KATZ

If you’ve seen the documentary, you know the worst adult in this situation was Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra. Lauryn’s mother cyber-bullied her for a year. She body-shamed Lauryn and told her to kill herself, and that’s just scratching the surface.

She doesn’t even seem sorry about it. Now, this is where I think the production was just

Mind you, this woman lied to her family about being employed for a year, lost their belongings because she didn’t pay bills, sent sexually explicit messages to minors and told her daughter to kill herself on multiple occasions.

Call me crazy, but I think that’s a little different than jaywalking or loitering.

When all of this came to light, we got to see a little bit of where some of these kids got their personalities. Specifcally, Khloe’s parents, who still believe Lauryn had something to do with it, and that she and her dad are “playing" victim.

Even if that was the case, which I don’t believe it was, Lauryn was a child. She’s a victim. It’s clear enough that she’s been manipulated, since she’s still adamant about having a relationship with her mom.

Kendra may have cyber Munchausen by proxy. She most likely did this to Lauryn because she wanted to feel needed. She continuously put Lauryn in a position where she felt like she needed her mom. Kendra was able to be the hero. It was touched on a little bit, but I also agree with Owen’s parents when they say they think Kendra was attracted to him.

Almost everyone in this documentary makes me feel sorry for Lauryn. She’s obviously going to have a lot of trust issues going forward, but she clearly has very limited support, considering half of her town seems to be toxic and untrustworthy.

More than a show: Coldplay's mission for a sustainable music future

By COOPER WOODWARD Contributing Writer

Live music has a way of turning ordinary nights into memories that last a lifetime.

Seeing one’s favorite artist live in concert is something that is on the bucket list of music fans everywhere. The lights dim, the crowd roars and for a few hours, the outside world ceases to exist.

People spent a whopping $19 billion last year alone to attend concerts all over the world. But an often neglected side of the multibillion dollar industry is the environmental impact of these shows.

Moving thousands of pounds of equipment from one location to another takes its toll on our planet. Who was going to tackle this problem that kept mounting day by day? Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion of the British rock band Coldplay stepped up to the plate.

When Coldplay announced their “Music of the Spheres World Tour” in 2021, they made headlines. Not only for their frst tour in fve years, but for the aspirations that the band held. Their goal? To reinvent what it means to tour responsibly in the midst of a climate crisis.

How were they going to do that? By introducing a 12-step plan with one major headline: Cut carbon dioxide emissions in half compared to their last tour in 2017.

But that was in 2021. It’s 2025 now, and the band has logged over 200 shows with over 10 million people attending this tour.

At the heart of the plan was one major goal: cut tour-related carbon dioxide related emissions in half compared to their 2016 “A Head Full of Dreams Tour.” As of June of 2024,

the band has not only met their 50% target, but exceeded it.

Each concert is powered by a variety of renewable energy solutions. Solar panels laid behind the stage and on top of the speaker towers which charge as soon as they arrive in the venue, wind turbines placed on top of the towers, using the frst ever renewable show battery (in partnership with BMW) and even the audience themselves, help give the show the power it needs for the night and to help the magic come to life.

On average, the fan power produces 17 kilowatt-hours per show, which they use to power a 20 minute set on the C-Stage.

Another one of the band’s promises was waste management and in that arena, they’ve thrived.

They have swapped to biodegradable confetti, infatables used during the show are reused from night to night, and 86% of the glowing LED wristbands that light up the shows are returned and recycled after each performance. But the most tangible difference? Reforestation.

In the initial 12-step plan, the band promised to plant a tree for every ticket sold. With a total attendance of 12.3 million people, the band has matched that number and planted trees across 24 different countries, with an additional three million set aside for projects in the Amazon rainforest. The initiative covers 10,000 hectares of land, signaling a follow-through to their promise of ecological restoration that extends far beyond the tour.

Coldplay's efforts to take better care of the planet while on tour has caught traction, not only within their fanbase, but around the music world. Those light up wristbands you see at concerts nowadays? They were the frst ones to do them.

The “Music of The Spheres World Tour” has proven to be more than just a spectacle, it’s a case study on how one of the biggest bands in the world can begin to reshape the music industry's carbon footprint.

Many artists have walked the walk of touring green, but Coldplay have shown what a follow-through on those talks looks like, reducing emissions but keeping the same great show that has made them a “must see” act. What makes the band's commitment to sustainability and their success with it so striking is the scale. Planting over 12 million trees, recycling nearly nine out of 10 LED wristbands, and signifcantly reducing their carbon dioxide emissions isn’t some halfbaked promise or gesture; it’s a measurable change with an impact that will be felt for years to come.

It also sets a precedent for how musicians are to run their tours moving forward. If one of the biggest bands in the world is able to make measurable change on the largest scale, what’s stopping everyone from following suit, no matter the audience?

What began as a promise made by four musicians from the suburbs of London has evolved into a new standard for the music industry — a blueprint that outlines how a world tour doesn’t have to come at the cost of damaging our planet.

From backlash to breakthrough

Gap outsmarts American Eagle in the denim wars

By SOPHIE MURRAY Contributing Writer

Marketing strategies have the power to elevate a brand or sink it.

A strong advertisement should do more than just showcase a product; it must captivate the audience, clearly communicate the value of the product and position it ahead of competitors. Beyond that, advertisements should create a strong, memorable image for a company that encourages repeat customers and fosters brand loyalty.

However, not all brands succeed equally in this arena. Consider the recent advertising showdown between Gap and American Eagle. One advertisement delivers an engaging, vibrant and memorable campaign, while the other falls fat.

American Eagle released its “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” ad campaign on July 23, to launch the brand's fall ‘25 collection. This is a crucial time to be putting out engaging advertisements because of back to school shopping — a time when clothing companies get the most proft from sales.

The advertisement plays on a pun between genes and jeans. In a video promotion for the campaign, Sweeney looks into the camera, zips up her denim pants and says, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color.” Here, she is clearly referring to biological genetics, but then follows with, “My jeans are blue,” shifting the meaning to the denim she is wearing. A male voiceover concludes the ad by saying, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” ultimately tying together this play on words.

This advertisement is receiving widespread backlash, with many viewers calling attention to potential underlying racial messages. The advertisement's use of the phrase “great genes”

alongside a blonde, blue eyed white woman has led many to interpret the ad as promoting genetic superiority.

Online creators and commenters have even accused American Eagle of promoting white supremacy and ideals of genetic purity. During the controversy, foot traffc at American Eagle was down by around 9%, according to Forbes' website. Ultimately, the campaign failed as it alienated audiences and harmed the brand’s image.

Other brands saw this opportunity to attract upset consumers.

In response to the American Eagle controversy, Gap released their own jean ad on Aug. 19, featuring the girls group KATSEYE. While American Eagle fumbled on wordplay, Gap leaned into individuality, inclusivity and self expression — everything American Eagle failed to achieve.

“Their namesake, KATSEYE, is inspired by a cat’s eye gemstone which radiates a variety of colors — much like their members. Each one unique. Together, an unstoppable force,” Gap states.

Gap made sure each detail connected back to inclusivity to shine light where American Eagle failed. Not only that, but the ad itself is addicting to watch thanks to the choreography and music, hitting on the importance of creating a memorable campaign that cuts through the noise.

They showcased a variety of different styles of denim they were selling to attract a wider variety of buyers and emphasized the comfort of the denim by showing the cast dancing throughout the majority of the ad. The song choice was clearly deliberate as they are always intentional by setting the tone for the advertisement. The cast danced to the song “Milkshake” by Kelis, a song widely known and loved for its infectious tune.

Additionally, the song has a clear, confdent message in its lyrics, saying, “Damn right it’s

better than yours.” That is not a coincidence, that is calculated shame, and in this case, it clearly says Gap's denim is better than American Eagle's, and consumers are believing it.

“20 million views in the frst three days, 400 million views in total and eight billion impressions. ‘Better in Denim’ is the number one search on TikTok,” Gap CEO Richard

Ultimately, Gap jumped on American Eagle’s fumble and turned it into proof that their denim is for everyone. By being intentional about their sound and visuals, they were able to turn competitor backlash into their success. Controversy for one can equal capital for another, and that is exactly what Gap achieved.

Why fantasy football wins over America

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Contributing Writer

Fantasy football has cemented itself in American culture — every Sunday, people tune in to watch as it is something they must do, not just sit through.

Sure, people can spend their time more wisely, but once the NFL season starts, their time is most valuable monitoring how well their fantasy team is performing.

Fantasy football has grown into one of America’s most popular hobbies. About 62.5 million people in the U.S. and Canada played fantasy sports in 2022, and nearly 80% of them focused on football, according to the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association. Today, almost one in five U.S. adults says they participate in fantasy sports in some way.

Fantasy sports are no longer just a trend, as it’s now evolved into their own culture.

The overall impact of fantasy football on sports is hard to ignore. The industry itself has become massive, generating more than $23 billion in 2024, with early signs that it could nearly double in a few years. Even the NFL has leaned into the popularity, creating content and networks, like NFL RedZone, where you can watch seven hours of football, flipping back and forth between each game. So when each team is in the red zone, it provides fantasy players an outlet to track every touchdown.

Part of the appeal comes from the control and attention it offers. People are focusing more on their fantasy teams than

supporting their NFL team. This allows people to follow stats, injuries and player trends from other teams, increasing their involvement in the NFL season.

Fantasy football makes the season feel bigger, giving meaning to games that would otherwise not matter.

People treat draft nights like a signifcant event. This year, I went to Sliders to draft my dynasty team that required a $200 buy-in. I spend hours each week trying to decide whether to bench a wide receiver or if an injury is going to tank my team. It becomes something that you have to do, not just watch. You get sucked into sports news, stats and ESPN rankings, all

because you want to set your lineup right.

The competition is only half the fun as fantasy thrives on community. Leagues bring friends and families together in a way that lasts the whole season. A Yahoo survey found that players say fantasy football helps them stay close with friends, and is a big part of how they connect with family.

The internet was the turning point in Fantasy’s growth. Before, you could only call in your lineup or use a fax machine, and by 2008, the majority of players were managing their teams online. With mobile apps now sending constant updates, the game fts seamlessly into daily life.

The increased popularity of sports betting apps has also made Fantasy seem like the safer move. Unlike gambling, where money is always at stake, fantasy leagues are often more about bragging rights. It is a strategic game that always feels competitive.

Of course, there are downsides. Fantasy can eat up hours, with players, like me obsessively checking injury reports and matchups. It can also blur loyalties. Many fans admit they sometimes cheer for players on their fantasy teams over their own NFL team they grew up rooting for.

In competitive leagues, if you have the misfortune of being last in your league, the punishments can get severe. Fantasy leagues can sometimes go all out in terms of these punishments, and sometimes they can go too far.

For many people, a few hours every week that allow us to set school, work or stressors aside and focus solely on football can be a well-needed distraction. Yes, fantasy football can easily become one of those stressors, but at the end of the day, it is all about having fun, and fantasy allows us to take time for ourselves and enjoy the little things.

Fantasy football brings people closer to the game. It turns the NFL season into something more exciting by mixing sports with strategy, luck, and friendly competition. For millions of people, it is not just a game; it is our game.

Dickson said.

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE MURRAY

Rugby uses a lopsided start to fuel hopes for a title

By MICHAEL PETITTO Associate Sports Editor

“When you go out and get absolutely schlacked in your very frst game, there’s a couple things you can think about.”

Those were the frst words out of Rugby head coach Becky Carlson’s mouth after the team’s second matchup of the year, a 33-14 victory over Brown.

That frst game of the season against Dartmouth, a 59-0 bludgeoning at the hands of a rugby powerhouse, refused to leave Carlson’s mind.

Quinnipiac rugby is in an interesting position, with 13 players departing and 11 new ones coming into the fold this season. It’s diffcult to build a title-contending team with so many new faces, but not impossible.

The Bobcat’s resilience against Brown proved that. Many teams would be completely

demoralized after experiencing a 59-point shutout to open the season, but not Quinnipiac.

Rugby is a violent sport in nature, crashes and collisions happen nearly every play. But despite the hits, the bumps and the bruises, every time a Bobcat falls down, they get right back up.

Quinnipiac holds that same mentality game after game. It’s not about how you get knocked down, it’s about how you get up. The Bobcats are hungry, and it’s refective in their playstyle.

“We have a program that has a rich legacy of winning and (the players) want to bring that back, they are hungry to bring that back,” Carlson said.

As Carlson refected on player sentiments, she pointed to the Quinnipiac rugby scoreboard, which displays the three NIRA National Championships the program has, the last of which is from 2017.

“They don’t like seeing the gap between national championships, they don’t like it. We actively talk about language we haven’t used in a couple years, because we haven’t been putting the pressure on, we’re putting it on now and they’re responding to it.”

First year lock Carolyn Melody is one of the eleven new Bobcats who is just getting introduced to this mindset.

“One of our main focal points is continuity,” Melody said. “Trying to keep the ball alive, and that’s what helps us win.”

Continuity can be diffcult to establish during the beginning of the season, especially when you have 11 new players trying to integrate themselves into a system, something Melody acknowledged.

“A lot of us are frst timers playing on this feld. To get that momentum right off the bat, to know that we can do this it’s (huge).”

Something that might help carry that momentum game after game is how Quinnipiac approaches each opponent. The Bobcats are implementing a new system in order to get the team more prepared for each team they face.

Last year Quinnipiac did a lot of scouting on opponents, and heavily relied on watching scout flm to get an idea of what other teams were focusing on.

“Our game plan wasn’t getting much better because we were so focused on what the other team was doing,” Carlson said. “We’re going to keep continuing to work on the things we need to work on and keep pressing that in practice.”

It seems like the new strategy is beginning to pay dividends. After the loss to Dartmouth, Quinnipiac focused on improvement rather than trying to gain an edge on Brown, and it worked.

After fnishing last season with a record of 4-3-2, Quinnipiac has more than enough opportunities to surpass that record and return to the NIRA tournament.

But it won’t be a walk in the park, as the team will face some formidable competition including longtime NIRA rival Sacred Heart, who currently has a 2-0 overall record.

As the Bobcats look to satisfy their own hunger and bring a championship banner back to Hamden, they’ve already proven the ability to block out the noise and get back up.

It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you fnish.

Women’s tennis opens up 50th season with Hidden Duals

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Cheif

Following an undefeated last season, Quinnipiac women’s tennis opened up their 50th season with its Hidden Duals Tournament — but didn’t quite get the chance to fnish it.

“I just found out about this yesterday,” head coach Paula Miller laughed at the mention of the milestone. “We are in the works of planning something. Hopefully over alumni weekend we can kind of incorporate that.”

The Bobcats hosted a three-day hidden duals tournament, playing Marist, UConn and Fairfeld — or they would’ve, but their last game against Fairfeld was canceled due to rain.

Hidden duals means that there is no team scoring for the games played, but the scores still count for individual statistics, and these pre-season tournaments are a good place for the team to fgure out where they stand and how to structure the team. Quinnipiac’s included the aforementioned Marist, Fairfeld, UConn and Army and St. Francis, that Quinnipiac did not face.

The Bobcats came prepared to show that they are more than ready to build on their last year and continue their success, with a “win” against their conference opponent the Marist Red Foxes.

“We played really well for the frst weekend out,” Miller said. “That’s our goal for the fall, just compete and work hard and get ready for the spring.”

Sophomore Willow Renton had the longest match against Marist’s sophomore Viktoria Lorenzton, winning in a super tiebreak. The Bobcat was recently named into the prequalifying rounds of the ITA All-American Championships, the frst one to get this hon our in the history of the program.

“First ever player to qual ify for that, it is exciting,” Miller said. “Just playing those matches is getting her ready for when we go to North Carolina and compete against the best in all of DI colleges.”

The ITA All-Amer ican Tournament is made up from prequalifying rounds, qualifying rounds and main draw. This year they will be held on Sept. 20-28 in Cary, North Carolina.

She will be joined by Miller and another player as support.

Renton dominating isn’t anything new, but sophomore Catlin Flower held her own as well, supporting Renton in dou-

bles as well as easily cruising past

Quinnipiac’s newest additions got their own moments to shine as well. Junior Isabella Baker hails from Bowling Green State University, where she went from 21 wins in her freshman year to only one game played her second year. She supported her transfer partner and former BGSU teammate, junior Lilly Black.

Black saw no action while at BGSU, but in her frst game as a Bobcat, she sailed past her opponent easily in two 6-3 sets.

But while the Bobcats were prepared to face the Red Foxes, their Saturday match up against UConn was a different story.

Because UConn has a smaller team than Quinnipiac, not all of the players got to play. Renton, Flower and Black were back in the lineup, but head coach Paula Miller

put in some more familiar faces as well, in the form of senior Vera Sekerina and junior Anagha Sankhar.

While Flower and Black fought out their wins, Renton fell at the hands of UConn’s junior Ela Platenikova.

The team’s only freshman Isabella Sicignano played one doubles match with sophomore Caroline Schulson and offcially got her frst collegiate tennis win. This duo alongside Black and Baker “earned” the team the doubles point, while Renton and Flower fell to the duo of Platenikova and junior Victoria Matos.

So the Bobcats were technically tied 1-1 for this tournament. Maybe they would’ve “won” maybe they wouldn’t have, but these hidden duals showed that their last loss to Texas A&M in the frst round of the NCAA Tournament did not break Quinnipiac’s spirit at all.

“We concentrate on being agressive,” Miller said. “I think that was something where we could’ve done a little bit better, but the nerves got the best of us the frst match back.”

The Bobcats now have a little break before they head to West Point, N.Y., for the West Point Hidden Duals at Army on Sept. 26.

A MAAC Masters Tournament on Oct. 3, and ITA Regional Championship at Harvard on Oct. 9, will wrap up Quinnipiac’s fall tournament season.

TAYLOR HUCHRO/CHRONICLE

Quinnipiac and Brown face off in a scrum on Sept. 6 in Hamden.

BELLA KAMINSKY/CHRONICLE

TAYLOR HUCHRO/CHRONICLE

Senior hooker Lucy Lamborn attempts to escape tackle from Brown defense on Sept. 6.

Youth and uncertainty fuel Quinnipiac men’s cross country heading into 2025 season

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

Unpredictability can be a team’s biggest strength. And for Quinnipiac men’s cross country, they look to build off their unpredictable future to succeed this season.

Quinnipiac men’s cross country has been running on a bumpy road since joining the MAAC in 2013. In their conference, the Bobcats have never fnished better than 8th, demonstrated by their No. 11 spot on the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Only Niagara and Saint Peter’s sit below the Bobcats.

Last season, the Bobcats fnished 11th in the MAAC Championships with an average time of 26:39, with sophomore Alex Saldana being the highest placing Bobcat in 45th.

Yet, it’s a new season for the Bobcats. A fresh start to create something new for the program.

“We’re just trying to set good habits and work together to be close, because it’s challenging, being on the younger side, but we’re using that to our advantage,” Saldana said.

Quinnipiac cross country has a very unique aspect to its team: youth.

And by youth, I really mean youth.

A closer look at the Bobcats roster shows its team being comprised of fve freshmen, seven sophomores and one junior.

You read that right: a team with no senior class.

“I’m the oldest guy on the team as a junior that’s starting off, so I still have only had two years of college running under my belt,” ju-

nior Michael Strain said.

While some teams may see a team of young athletes as a negative, Quinnipiac looks at its youthful side as an asset that will help it prevail.

Youth provides a program with a fresh start, giving it the opportunity to reset and grow with one another over the course of seasons.

“Our team is very unpredictable this year. Any given day, a guy could be top 7, and just having such a young team where right now, we’re kind of at ground level with these guys going into college training,” Strain said. “Another year could honestly be a huge difference for some of these guys.”

Quinnipiac opened up the 2025 season competing in the Stony Brook Season Opener, placing fourth out of seven teams. Saldana fnished lowest for the Bobcats, fnishing the race in ninth place.

During this season-opening race, Quinnipiac competed against fellow MAAC opponent Sacred Heart, placing higher than the Pioneers, despite being ranked lower than them in the preseason polls.

The newcomers also showed out for Quinnipiac, with freshmen Shepard Livingston and freshmen Tyler Deme placing in the top 30th.

“A young team with plenty of newcomers defnitely brings uncertainty, but that’s a good thing. There’s just a lot of surprises,” Saldana said. “We have a really big, pack in

the middle of our team, which, on any given day, one of those guys can go and score, and just shoot up our performance, and our average, and our team score.”

Surprises might just be what Quinnipiac needs, especially for a team that has always been full of them. Not even four seasons ago, the Bobcats were coachless, before hiring head coach David Scrivines and assistant coach James Mas to lead the squad.

“Our coaches defnitely are paving the way for us on how we need to approach training. Coach Scrivens and Coach James are

great,” Saldana said. “Coach Scrivens is writing our mileage, and Coach James is writing our workouts. So they’re just preparing us for the things that make the load easier for us.”

For a team missing its senior leadership component, strong coaches help smooth out the road for the young athletes.

And for this young squad, winning a conference title may not be an immediate effect, but over time, it will continue to move up in the MAAC.

“It’s really unpredictable. We’re gonna do very well this season,” Strain said.

Underclassmen shine during youth soccer showcase: women’s soccer notches frst MAAC win against Rider

By EMILY MARQUIS Contributing Writer

In a game all about celebrating local youth soccer, it was youth that powered Quinnipiac women’s soccer to a 2-1 victory over the Rider Broncos Saturday afternoon.

After starting the season 0-3-1, the pressure was on for Quinnipiac heading into its frst conference game of the season.

Its opponent? A hungry Rider team, also looking for its frst MAAC victory.

Early on, momentum favored the visiting squad. Rider was able to capitalize on Quinnipiac’s tough opening fve, with junior forward Ava Ferrie’s shot sneaking through the hands of senior goalie Gwen Hoyt even after freshman defender Audrey Lefebvre’s diving efforts to keep the ball from dribbling past the goal line.

After the opening minute jitters, Quinnipiac was able to sustain great pressure as the half continued.

However, it was execution that eluded the Bobcat side as the game progressed. With neither team maintaining signifcant possession and both sides creating meaningful chances, it was all about who would execute a complete play.

For Quinnipiac, that was sophomore forward Addyson Earl, whose effort pressuring the Rider backline resulted in a turnover within the penalty area. From there, Earl was able to locate senior forward Milena Branco cutting toward the goal, who put the ball away to tie the game one-all. Even after a few strong opportunities from both teams, including an Earl breakaway mere

minutes after the goal, the score remained tied at one. The half ended with a bit of chippiness, with Rider’s goal scorer receiving the lone yellow card of the half.

Going into the fnal forty-fve, Quinnipiac head coach Dave Clarke had an important decision to make. Keep running with Hoyt in goal, or test sophomore keeper Olivia Jarvis. In a game where ten other underclassmen took the feld, the decision was a no-brainer.

“The hard thing is you want to be able to look at Liv in situations,” Clarke said. “The longer it goes in the season...the less likely you are

to make changes.”

After a hard-fought frst half, Quinnipiac rallied around the young goaltender, coming out swinging with sustained pressure in the fnal third.

The Bobcats, who earned six corners in the frst, fnally managed to convert on their seventh attempt. After Earle earned the set piece, it was senior forward Morgan Cupo netting her frst of the season.

First-year defender Corey Anderson’s assist on the play would mark the second underclassman point of the afternoon, capping an excellent scoring effort from the young Bobcats.

Jarvis did not disappoint in her second showing of the season, stopping each Rider shot thrown on frame after the go-ahead goal and making timely diving saves on multiple attempts from beyond the penalty area.

“No one had any doubt that she was gonna play her best, and she did a good job,” Cupo said. Even with the infux of young players on the feld in the critical fnal moments, including Anderson and frst-year defender Marina Mahon, the Bobcats were able to withhold Rider’s fnal push to score.

After the game, it was all smiles from the Quinnipiac side.

“It feels amazing,” Jarvis said. “After every game, we’ve come back and we regain the focus. Everyone does the work on and off the feld.”

For senior Morgan Cupo, the feeling went beyond the joy of scoring her frst goal to lift Quinnipiac to its ffth straight win in a conference opener. It’s also about guiding the next generation of players to be their best.

“Leading by example and really working hard. I know I was in their shoes a while ago, so just doing the same as the people I was looking up to,” Cupo said.

For a Quinnipiac side looking to mix youth with experience and bounce back from its tough stretch to start the season, this opening MAAC win looks to be a fresh start.

Quinnipiac will travel to Niagara, N.Y., to take on Niagara on Sep. 13. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.

COURTESY OF QUINNIPIAC ATHLETICS

Quinnipiac men’s cross country was ranked No. 11 in the MAAC Preseason Poll, with Niagara and Saint Peter’s being the only squads ranked lower than the Bobcats.

QUINN O’NEILL/CHRONICLE

Senior forward Milena Branco shooting and scoring against Rider to tie the game at one apiece on Sept. 6.

Sports

@QUCHRONSPORTS

“We’re looking to do great things this season”

Quinnipiac feld hockey aiming to make its mark in program history this season

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

The good thing about being at the bottom is that you can only go up from there.

Yet, for Quinnipiac field hockey, climbing that mountain has been challenging, especially since the last time it had a winning record was over a decade ago.

Twelve years to be exact.

Last season, Quinnipiac went 2-16 overall, while not winning a single conference game.

Since joining the Big East in 2016, Quinnipiac field hockey has yet to even advance to the playoffs; however, that could all change this season.

“We’re looking to do great things this season,” junior defense Katie Shanahan said. “We know where our heads are at and you know, we work hard every day at practice, and it translates directly to the game.”

The translation from practices to games has already been in full effect for the Bobcats this season. Quinnipiac has already broken its win total from last season, currently sitting 3-1 at the time of publication.

And not only have the final scores shown growth within the program, but a closer look at the stat sheet drastically shows their growth from last season.

At the time of publication, the Bobcats have outscored their opponents 10 to 3, with an average goals per game of 2.50.

This same time last season, the stats read very differently for the Bobcats, being outscored by their opponents 9 to 4.

“Our team grew in playing the full 60 minutes this season,” Shanahan said. “Everyone’s out there, obviously working hard and putting in 110% on the field every play, and everyone’s bought in from all aspects of the team.”

Head coach Nina Klein is entering her third season with Quinnipiac, previously serving as assistant coach for the Bobcats for four seasons. Klein’s hard work, determination and drive contribute to the team’s strong culture that it has developed.

“When Nina Klein took over a few years ago, we adapted some new values and tried to really have a way of going about things with our culture,” senior forward Cameron Brower said. “I think that the returners have pushed that and really lived that every day in practice, on and off the field.”

Returners are a strong asset to any team, especially for this year’s squad. This season, the Bobcats see 16 familiar names on the roster, providing a great backbone for their ability to compete this season.

The magnitude of returners provides the Bobcats with the experience of competing together and the leadership that the team has been longing for.

“Something that I’ve been emphasizing is just team hockey,” Klein said. “We have a lot of talent. We have some depth, especially in our sophomore, junior and senior class, in terms of, you know, some returners that are getting substantial minutes.”

And this depth can be found all over

the roster, especially in the three captains, Brower, Shanahan and senior goaltender Cristina Torres, as well as senior midfielder Mo Quaile.

“Having two senior captains and then one Junior captain, with Katie Shan, has been fantastic as well. And they’re really doing a good job of bringing the younger ones under their wing,” Klein said. “We talk a lot about onboarding and making sure that people you know feel like they belong, and you know, just easing that transition for the first years, our seniors have done a really good job with that.”

Along with the upperclassman squad, sophomore midfielder Francisca Eschoyez is a name to watch out for on the Bobcats.

The Turin, Italy native came in full force during her first season in Hamden, making a name for herself in the Big East conference. During her freshman season, Eschoyez led Quinnipiac in points with 22, coming on 10 goals and 2 assists. She further led the Bobcats with 31 shots on goal on the season, and tied a program record with four goals against Merrimack on Sept. 15, a record previously set in 1999.

Eschoyez was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team, NFHCA Mideast Region Second Team and NFHCA Division 1 National Academic Squad. In just four games played this season, Eschoyez is already setting the bar high, with nine points, coming on three goals and three assists.

On top of all its returners, Quinnipiac

also has six newcomers, bringing new talent and skills to its squad.

With the mix of returners and newcomers, the Bobcats have a balance of experience and unpredictability, giving them the ability go far this season.

“A team motto that we have this year is we win or we learn,” Klein said. “I think we’re going to win a lot of games this season. But even if, you know, we have a couple of matchups, either in Big East or non-conference, that are challenging, we’re going to use it as kind of a stepping stone for growth.”

And for a team that is looking for growth this season, team culture greatly comes into play. A team with a great culture allows players to connect with one another on and off the feld, allowing a great competitive dynamic.

“Our team culture and buy in has greatly had an impact on our season thus far, and our team has worked really well together,” Shanahan said. “Everyone gets along and our team collaboration both, on the field, at practice, in the weight room, off field, our team culture is just great. I mean, I’ve never been on team with this great culture.”

So, the question now is, can Quinnipiac field hockey truly make program history this season?

All signs point to yes, but with 14 games left on the season, time will only tell what’s in store for the Bobcats.