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“SHEDDING LIGHT ON CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1983”
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016
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VOLUME 36, ISSUE 9
Sacred Heart Hosts John Kasich Town Hall U.S. presidential candidate draws media, politicians and students to Martire
HE SAID/ SHE SAID
Melanie and Anthony share their thoughts on modern media
SPORTSMANSHIP AT SHU The impact of sportsmanship in both athletic and non-athletic activities
SHUCARD
A look at the off-campus eateries that accept SHUCards as payment
MTV MOVIE AWARDS
Highlights and big winners from the award show’s 25year anniversary
HEARTBEAT PERCUSSION A new performing group on campus features percussionists utilizing unique objects
RACE IN U.S. SPORTS
Dave Zirin gives seminar on tne connection between social issues and sports
TWEETS of the Week @carmellino8 “When I get a selfie with one of the cops at the Fetty concert”
@eddief419 “When I get bored, I make connections on LinkedIn #adulthood”
@erinnmarry “Some kid just fell down the stairs and when I tried to ask if he was ok he ran for his life, I’m crying’” “Tweets of the Week” are taken from a public forum on Twitter. Tweets are opinions of the individual and do not represent the opinions of Sacred Heart University or The Spectrum Newspaper. If you want to see your Tweet in the newspaper, use the hashtag #ShuSpectrum and you may be featured!
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TRACY DEER-MIREK/ SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL JOHN KASICH SPEAKS TO A PACKED MARTTIRE BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTER LAST FRIDAY.
BY EMILY ARCHACKI Editor-in-Chief
On Friday, April 8 Sacred Heart University hosted a Fairfield Town Hall Meeting with Republican presidential candidate Ohio Governor John Kasich. The town hall forum was originally scheduled to be held in the University Commons, but was later moved to the Martire Business and Communications Center Atrium to accommodate a larger number of guests. The event was also streamed live into the Martire Forum, Martire Media Theatre, 63’s, Linda’s dining halls, and the Art & Design Gallery in the Edgerton Center. “The atmosphere was electric that day. Before Governor Kasich even began his talk, everyone was buzzing with excitement and the Martire Center was transformed; it was a completely different environment,” said junior Nick Capitelli. “There were cameras and banners everywhere and people were at every square inch of the atrium, even looking down from the second floor. Even for someone like myself who has a basic knowledge of this election, it was a special day that I’ll remember for a long time.” Before taking the stage, Kasich was introduced by Sacred Heart Student Government President senior Lily DiPaola. “The experience for me was humbling, educational, and eye opening,” said DiPaola. “I was honored to be a very small part of a very large event that sweeps the entire nation, which is the presidential race of 2016. Being in front of all of those people including my peers, professors, administrators, visitors, and important dignitaries was really quite an experience.” Following DiPaola, State Senator Tony Hwang, the representative of the 28th Senate District in the Connecticut General Assembly, further introduced Kasich. Hwang serves as the campaign chair for Kasich in Connecticut. Throughout his speech, Kasich touched upon the topics of education, job importance, economic policy and his goals of bringing people together in Washington if he were to become President. “My job is going to be to get everyone together down there, fighting across party lines,” said Kasich. Kasich also frequently discussed the subject of faith, and how individuals are made special and are given a purpose in life. “Whether we intend to vote for a Democrat or Republican
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candidate, it’s very valuable to hear a national candidate like Mr. Kasich express his views first-hand,” said senior Megan McDonald. “Our generation can have a great deal to say about who will be our nation’s next leader, and it was awesome to see so many SHU students interested and engaged.” Following his speech, Kasich took questions from those in attendance. Questions ranged from what Kasich’s plans for an improved tax system would be, to his thoughts on fracking. A Fairfield University student shared the story of losing her father, a veteran, who passed away from exposure to Agent Orange and asked Kasich what he would do for the nation’s veterans. “Veterans should have unwavering access to healthcare anywhere,” said Kasich. Kasich also shared with the girl his own experience of personal loss. Kasich’s parents were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in 1987. “I thought that John Kasich was genuine in what he talked about. When individuals in the audience asked him questions, he gave honest answers, rather than sugarcoating them,” said sophomore Karlee Picard. In his closing statement, Kasich expressed how he is going to work hard in his attempt to earn the presidential bid. “I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land,” said Kasich, promising not to resort to inflammatory language in a subtle dig to his main competition in the Republican primary, Donald Trump. “One thing that stood out to me was when Kasich said, ‘I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land.’ This shows his honest character and his will to stay true to himself during the race to become president of the United States,” said Picard. “I think that it’s really important that college students, no matter your political affiliation, are exposed to intellectual and political conversation as we prepare to move into adulthood,” said DiPaola. “Whether we like it or not, we are going to be thrown into the politics around us and the issues that both parties are trying to make better, so it’s important that we get involved young.” Primaries in Connecticut Republicans and Democrats will be held on Tuesday, April 26.
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News
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April 13, 2016
Maybe when you start seeing these posters around campus, you’ll think twice about what you’re saying, and I think the best learning comes from when you start examining things for yourself. Greg Madrid- Assistant Residential Director
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2 | News
G-Star Raid Sparks New Conversation on Underage Drinking BY MELANIE HOLEC Managing Editor
At a Nancy Drive house less than a mile from campus last Thursday, Dean of Students Larry Wielk joined Bridgeport’s Chief of Police Armando Perez and City Councilor Michelle Lyons to announce an increased effort to curb underage drinking in the community. This press event was a response to the police raid of Golden Star Café on Tuesday, April 5, which resulted in roughly 100 people being cited for underage drinking, 85 of whom were Sacred Heart students. Perez explained at the event that the police were already in the process of planning a raid of the popular bar in the near future when Alfonso Reid, 39, was arrested on Tuesday. Reid, who had previously been convicted of crimes ranging from gun possession to attempted murder, was arrested on a warrant for the sexual assault of a 19-year-old Sacred Heart student. According to the Connecticut Post, the student and her friends were at Golden Star before becoming separated. The Post reports that Reid convinced the women he was their Uber driver. Perez said Thursday that Reid’s suspected crimes and his detainment on Tuesday afternoon led to the raid being conducted earlier than expected. “We will not tolerate anyone hurting our kids,” Perez said of the events last week. “It could have been worse.” Regarding the sexual assault, Dean Wielk expressed deep sympathy for the victim and the other students involved. “I can’t put into words… it’s a tragedy,” he said. Perez, who was sworn in as Bridgeport’s police chief just last month, stated that there were people as young as 17 years old in Golden Star on Tuesday night who were cited for underage drinking. According to Perez, Golden Star Café has not yet been completely shut down. The next step is for the state liquor commission of Connecticut to conduct an investigation into
possible illegal activity within the establishment. Perez did claim that Golden Star will most likely be permanently closed. “I have shut down places like this before, and I will continue to do so,” Perez said. Lyons also condemned Golden Star, stating that Bridgeport “will not tolerate underage drinking with other people making a profit.” On the night of the raid, two Bridgeport police officers, revealed on Thursday by Perez and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim to be Chris Smith and Andrew Talavera, were moonlighting as bouncers at the Golden Star Café. Perez discussed their misdemeanors on Thursday but declined to outline a specific rule broken by the officers’ off-duty activities. According to the Associated Press, Bridgeport policy states that any employment sought by a police officer outside of the department must be approved, and working part time as a private security officer is against regulations. Perez said Thursday that the two officers have been placed on administrative leave and will be subject to an investigation of their conduct. The Thursday press event was held at a Bridgeport home where government officials had at previous, similar events addressed complaints about Sacred Heart students’ behavior in the neighborhood. Dean Wielk assured the gathered residents that Sacred Heart will bolster its efforts to enforce quality of life issues in the community. “We will continue to partner with the city, neighbors, and Bridgeport police,” he said. Lyons attempted to appease Bridgeport residents concerned about student conduct in their neighborhoods while also stressing the responsibility of the Bridgeport government to serve Sacred Heart students. At the press event she briefly outlined several new ordinances the local government will likely soon enact requiring students renting homes in the town to provide the government with more detailed information about themselves. “All students, we’re here to protect them as well,” she said. Lyons said that Sacred Heart is working with the police to establish new relationships that will hopefully lead to a safer environment for students.
“You Don’t Say” Campaign Works to End Offensive Words BY DANIELLE CHILDERS Staff Reporter
ALEXA DUFFY/ SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
RSA MEGAN MCDONALD POSES FOR A NEW SET OF “YOU DON’T SAY CAMPAIGN” PHOTOS
The office of Residential Life is sponsoring a campaign to end the use of offensive words and derogatory terms. The “You Don’t Say” campaign features students and faculty members and the words they refuse to say and why. Pictures can be found throughout campus promoting awareness on how common language can be taken out of context. Some of the words that are commonly referred to are related to race, gender, disabilities, or phrases that may be offensive.
Assistant Residential Director, Greg Madrid, implemented the campaign after it started at Duke University in 2014. “Maybe when you start seeing these posters around campus, you’ll think twice about what you’re saying, and I think the best learning comes from when you start examining things for yourself,” said Madrid. The initiative was brought to the Sacred Heart University community in Dec. 2015, to educate the community about the offensive language people use, and how that can affect people. Students were told when the Office of Residential Life would be at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit to take the pictures that would be used on the posters. Students were then responsible for choosing what word they don’t say and why. “I really think it’s because we have such a freedom with social media and the ability to just say things anonymously, and a lot of times we aren’t necessarily understanding of our impacts,” said Madrid. The “You Don’t Say” campaign will continue to take place at Sacred Heart, with the hope that the use of offensive and derogatory terms will decrease. “If we make a stand and really change how we view things now, it could get to the point where everyone isn’t just using foul language during every normal conversation,” said junior Laura Rinaldi. The “You Don’t Say Campaign” is one of the first of its kind to emphasize on language and bring awareness to the issue of verbal oppression. “I hope that this campaign will allow people to think more before they speak,” said junior Michelle Perrotta. “It is not a campaign that is trying to diminish freedom of speech, but instead educate people on why certain words and phrases diminish and invalidate many individuals.” Many student organizations, clubs, and athletic teams are involved with the campaign already, including Track and Field, the Student Ambassadors, Student Government and the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. “At Sacred Heart, a university with such a strong sense of community, everyone is so supportive of friends, classmates, teammates, and therefore publicly displaying these photos is a strong way to make students aware,” said Perrotta. For more information on the “You Don’t Say” campaign, visit the “You Don’t Say SHU” Facebook page, or contact Greg Madrid at madridg@sacredheart.edu.
Second Annual “Tunnel of Oppression” Raises Awareness for Injustice BY CODY LERNER Staff Reporter
On Tuesday, April 5, Sacred Heart University held its second annual Tunnel of Oppression event in the University Commons. The event aimed to educated students on the affects of racism, homophobia, injustice, and ignorance. The University Commons was separated into several different rooms, or “tunnels,” that would give presentations on certain topics. Students would walk through the rooms and experience the feelings of a person who is subjected to oppression or offensive situations. This event was also considered a colloquium.
“I went last year and could not wait for ‘The Tunnel of Oppression’ to return,” said junior Rafe Gangi. “It is an unforgettable experience that always makes me respect the struggles people face even more.” The Tunnel of Oppression entrance was decorated with notes students who had entered the tunnel had written. These notes were scattered along the walls for all to see and all to experience. The Tunnel of Light is how the Tunnel of Oppression ends. It is full of inspirational pictures and quotes to make sure students don’t leave with a negative mindset. “My favorite part is the tunnel of light at the end because it does a great job of reminding you that there is happiness out there,” said Gangi. One of the main aspects of the event was the room right
before the tunnel of light. Students sat in a circle and then were asked how they felt about the presentations after making the trip through the tunnel. “The ending where we all talked was amazing,” said sophomore Demetra Green. “I felt completely comfortable talking about my experience.” The Tunnel of Oppression is already gearing up for next year as this year’s event saw lines out the door. “All the rooms hit a different cord and that is what I think is the most amazing thing about the Tunnel of Oppression, the experience is going to be different for everyone, but just as amazing for each,” said Green. “It was completely worth the wait and I will definitely be attending next year.”
April 13, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives | 3
Perspectives The Modern Media
She Said
He Said
MELANIE... This week, Anthony wanted to discuss the media and how it presents facts and information to the general public. I thought this was very interesting, considering we both work for our campus newspaper. We are dedicated to spreading information to the community of Sacred Heart as well as making sure everything we print is accurate and un-biased. (Except this column and our editorial sections...We have been selected to share our very knowledgeable opinions with you about a plethora of topics.) So I wondered why it was important to talk about...well, talking about stuff. At its fundamental basis, reporting is just talking about things. There’s obviously much more that goes into it, but essentially, we are just talking. But then I got to thinking about it some more. Our society is dominated by news. We see Buzzfeed articles shared on Facebook, Youtube is flooded with videos from around the world, and Twitter is the new Weather Channel. In our parents’ day, when something globally important happened, they would read about it in the papers or see it on the 11:00 p.m. news. Now, everything is immediately presented to us through a variety of online forums. Many people believe that newspapers will soon become obsolete, and we will rely on the Internet. As a lover of the written word who grew up with my father as a manager of the New Haven Register, I’m partial to getting my news the ‘old fashioned way.’ I do see how this approach to journalism
ANTHONY... in the media can have its advantages. But I also see some major problems with it. Every person with a Facebook account has an opinion on something, and with the ability to “share” news articles, they can add their own personal commentary, causing unrest and even online fights to break out. Furthermore, the majority of the “news” Facebook circulates is less than groundbreaking. I love watching funny cat videos and recipes for buffalo ranch chicken dip as much as the next gal, but it leaves me wondering what articles were pushed to the side in favor of those. I think that the media’s obsession with comedy and entertainment has left room for improvement on more serious topics. I have only heard one political ad campaign during this election, and it was on the radio. I think that the more globally important topics should be circulating the world. Yes, my eighty-year-old great aunt would rather share videos of adorable puppies than the current refugee crisis. But, I wonder what would happen if I challenged my Facebook friends to even locate Syria on a map. I think the media has the tendency to highlight things that are less important in favor of things that provide entertainment. But the real problem is that the media responds to what people want. Therefore, we as a society need to start valuing things that aren’t deep fried cheetos and the like. We need to pick up a few more books and get just a bit more informed. But, you’re reading this paper, so I didn’t need to tell you that.
Over time, the word ‘journalism’ has been used from so many different ethical standpoints that it’s hard to pinpoint a single, “right” way of going about the craft. I believe most journalists would agree that presenting the facts of any situation before providing commentary (if any commentary at all) is a staple of the field. However, even that idea so widely practiced to the point of being dogmatic, branches off into different theoretical approaches. Being the way we are, so inherently different because of things like religious status, personality, and the like, it’s only natural that news-reporting is gone about in different ways. Some outlets pride themselves on sticking to the facts and nothing but, and others like to take a less statistical approach by providing more opinion-based, entertaining content, like the people at Barstool sports. There’s also a natural selection when it comes to presenting certain news topics over others. Critics might point to this and say, “if journalism is so ‘fair’, why do certain stories get way more attention than others?” Well, with only so much airtime or space on a page to present, then it makes sense why this is so. Whatever’s popular and most likely to get good ratings and circulation will be the content more of the public sees. The love of storytelling is also a good defense for the dexterity of journalism. If every news station, every newspaper, every website told a story the same way, who would be infatuated with the news? Nobody. That’s also why this ‘He Said/She Said’ section is usually better when Melanie and
I disagree: it’s like a boxing match on the page, and you can pick a side. Even with what I said suggesting how flexible journalism can be, that doesn’t mean I don’t find flaws in it. What bothers me in my browsing of media is when I come across content (TV, print, or whatever else) that claims to be a serious news source but goes about reporting in an overly-biased manner. It irks me if I’m trying to read a recap of what happened in, say, a Democratic presidential debate, and the writer bashes the candidates instead of reviewing what actually happened. I wanted a recap, dude, not your cynicism disguised as a voluntary political commentary. That’s why I appreciate a blog like Barstool, because the writers have a common purpose of being funny and rarely taking themselves seriously, and they want their consumers to know that. You’ll get some news out of certain pieces (they do quote fact-based articles in a lot of posts), but the main point is to be funny and present some ridiculousness to make people laugh. Is Walt Frazier’s wearing a cow suit for a Knicks game broadcast journalistic? Is it news? Why not? At the end of any day, news, to me, is whatever keeps us informed. If what’s being presented is covertly false, then it’s not news. Otherwise, whether it’s an article about a cow suit, or a feature on Bernie Sanders’ standing in the polls, it’s news, and I’m thankful for the options.
Was Fetty a Flop?
Students react to this year’s spring concert at Sacred Heart “Although I’m not a fan of that kind of music, “It was a good show, but not it was still a fun experience to go to be with something I’d go out of my way to my friends and teammates.” see again.” - Sophomore, Cory Seltman - Junior, Samantha Haug
“Besides my bruised spine, it was fun.” - Sophomore, Mckenzie DeGroot
“Not worth getting punched in the forehead, but still pretty good.” - Sophomore Wendy Estavien
“It was extremely short. And he almost ran me over while I was walking out of Linda’s. My chicken fingers almost went flying in the air.” - Sophomore, Joseph Durante
“I didn’t go to Fetty and I am so happy that I didn’t.” - Junior, Christina Zangaglia
4 | Perspectives
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives
Sportsmanship at SHU BY GIANNA IANNOTI Staff Reporter
From the sports field to club activities and academic events, sportsmanship is no rare trait among the Sacred Heart University community. Students and faculty alike experience sportsmanship differently as it crosses over into their daily lives. The most obvious example of sportsmanship is through athletic teams and clubs on campus. Athletes make connections with their teammates and fellow athletes due to spending many hours of practice together. “After the weekend of winning the 2016 Track and Field NEC [Northeast Conference] Championship, I came into class and a girl on the basketball team congratulated me. We never spoke but the fact that she knew I was on the team and extended that support and respect really demonstrated how SHU is all about sportsmanship,” said junior Taylor Ann D'Agostino, sprinter on the D1 Track and Field Team. Sportsmanship comes in many forms and it does not always occur after a big team win. Sometimes, the most support comes in time of struggle. “I rolled my ankle in a tennis match and my teammates were there to help me up," said junior Emily SanClemente. "I've seen football players get serious injuries and their teammates are there to carry them off the field and help them.” Sportsmanship however is not limited to just athletes, as students all over campus incorporate it into their extracurricular experiences. “In ballroom dance ensemble, I have seen the members of the group display good sportsmanship, because it's all about trust," said junior Kelsie Cunha, president of Ballroom Dance Ensemble. "In order for a dance to look good, you need to trust your partner and the rest of the dancers. It's
all about respect too, because you need your fellow dancers to help you at and encourage you to be the best you can be.” Sportsmanship is a vital aspect of every group on a college campus. "I think that sportsmanship doesn't just apply to an activity," said Julia Romano, Graduate Assistant for Student Activities. Romano aids in planning activities for students to participate in on campus as well as overseeing the student government for the class of 2017, all clubs on campus, and the Student Events Team. "I think that it is something that people should carry in their day to day lives, like cheering on you friends who may be nervous about a test. I think the sportsmanship behind that is to support others and it’s something that you should just have respect for people in what they want to do. And being positive and encouraging in your day to day life, not just in structured activity," said Romano.
April 13, 2016
Poet’s Corner: “Longing” - Freshman, Nicholas DelloRusso I am longing for love Not intimacy Not lust Not compassion But warmth. I long for the simplicity of affection Not the physical aspects Not the affection of friendship But the affection that rests deep in your vibrant eyes. I long for passion Not desire But the passion that pumps through my veins as your voice softly dances through my ears. I long for love I long for you.
Are You Paper Thin?
Dangerous new trend sparks conversation about body image on college campuses BY NATALIE LARINO Staff Reporter
Concern over body image issues has recently surged due to a new video challenge gone viral, controversially named: ‘Are You Paper Thin?’ Young women are posting pictures of themselves on social media with a sheet of paper over their waists to prove whether or not their waste is smaller than 8.5 inches. The challenge has especially raised concerns of body image issues on college campuses. According to a study at Georgetown University, 74% of normal weight college age females report being unhappy with their weight or appearance. “On campus, I don’t think body image is talked about and problems are being left unsaid,” said sophomore Kristen Mourao. “I definitely feel people are insecure about the way they look and afraid of being judged, for example on social media. I feel there’s a need for more conversation and awareness on these issues around campus.” The constant social media presence of today’s society has made it increasingly easier to circulate information, both positive, and potentially damaging. Jocelyn Novella, Assistant Director of Counseling for Sacred Heart University’s Health and Wellness Center, specializes in body image issues. “I do think that on this campus there’s an obsession with working out, even though that’s a healthy thing, it can be considered bulimic behavior if taken to extremes because exercising is a way of purging calories,” she said. Many doctors and health magazines concur that a healthy person should exercise at least 30 minutes five times a week. “It can be very damaging both mentally and physically, with potentially wearing your body out and it can become mentally exhausting to have to feel you always have to go to the gym,” said Novella. Other college-related stress may exacerbate body image issues. “When you’re doing counseling like this you have to look at all outside factors as well, such as other stressors, anxiety, and depression,” said Novella. Sacred Heart University has made strides in spreading awareness about body image issues.
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STUDENTS EXPRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE
CARA FUSILLO/SPECTRUM
“I think overall body image will always be an issue, but it can only get better the more that we spread awareness,” said junior Erika Thomas. “I think Panhellenic should sponsor more events garnered to raising awareness over body image concerns for all women on campus, not just Greek life, since body image is something that can always be improved.” Body image is a sensitive topic that encompasses many factors. “Currently, we’re doing more general counseling; we also have a nutritionist, Kathleen Healy. It always has been a pet passion of mine to figure out ways to make this campus a place where people feel comfortable no matter what their body type is,” said Novella.
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April 13, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Editorials
Editorials | 5
Introducing:
THE SPECTRUM EDITORIAL BOARD 2016-2017 ASSISTANT PERSPECTIVES EDITOR ANTHONY MATTARIELLO
EDITOR IN CHIEF NATALIE CIOFFARI
CO-NEWS EDITOR ANTHONY SANTINO
MANAGING EDITOR JESSICA CHALOUX
ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR THOMAS PETICCA
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR HANNAH MAXIMIN GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR GINA BATTAGLIA
CO-COPY EDITOR & FEATURES EDITOR GABRIELLA NUTILE
SPORTS EDITOR SHAWN SAILER CO-COPY EDITOR CHRISTIAN COLON
ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR JESSICA LEWIS
PHOTO EDITOR ALEXA BRISSON
CO-ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR GIANNA IANNOTTI
CO-ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR MELISSA O’ROURKE
CO-NEWS EDITOR ALEXA BINKOWITZ
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR ALEXANDRA PADALINO
A & E EDITOR JULIANNA MAURIELLO
ASSISTANT A & E EDITOR JORDAN NORKUS
CO-ADVERTISING MANAGER LIAM CLARE
CO-ADVERTISING MANAGER SYDNEY RUGGIERO
PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER JENNA BILLINGS
CIRCULATION MANAGER VICTORIA MESCALL
WEB MANAGER BRYAN KELLEHER PERSPECTIVES EDITOR GIOVANNA GATTO
FACULTY ADVISOR JOANNE KABAK
6 | Features
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
April 13, 2016
Features
Career Development Center Hosts Virtual Career Fair BY MADDALENA TONDI Staff Writer
This past week, Sacred Heart University’s Career Development Center held a Virtual Career Fair from Monday, April 4 to Friday, April 8. Similar to past career fairs, it offered students the opportunity to meet representatives from various companies, obtain interview experience and to possibly receive a job offer. However, this fair was unique for students, because all of the interviews were done virtually. “While we continually host a variety of employer events on campus throughout the year, we wanted to introduce a virtual option as well as it continues to be something both employers and students utilize more,” said Associate Director of Career Placement Ryan Corbalis. Instead of physically going and meeting the representative in person, students just had to create a free account on Spothook.com through their LinkedIn accounts and then choose an appointment time with the company representative they wished to speak to. “As long as a student has an internet connection and video capability, they can connect with a hiring manager directly,” said Corbalis. The platform, Spothook, also offers different features designed to help students have a better interview experience. “In addition to just being able to speak to a company representative the platform we’ve partnered with, Spothook, also includes enhanced features such as note taking, screen sharing, chat and the ability to save and replay your video – which is an incredibly unique and valuable tool for students as they hone their interview skills,” said Corbalis. “The system is also integrated with LinkedIn so it allows the student to share a great deal of information with the interviewer.” The Career Development Center contacted various companies to participate in this event, including ESPN, Federated Insurance, South Bay Early Childhood, New York Life, Nestle Waters, and Manpower.
“We reached out to employers as this is a technology that many have expressed interest in, in order to be more efficient with their recruitment efforts. Spothook also advertised the event to other employers that they’ve partnered with in the past, so the event offered us a great chance to expand our own network and build relationships with new companies. This will all better the opportunities for our students so it’s really a win-win-win situation all around for those involved,” said Corbalis. The positions offered by these companies also varied from general summer internships and office positions to company specific jobs, such as a Graphics Operator for ESPN. “The platform is very customizable for participating organizations, so some were interviewing for specific positions and others were offering the opportunity for more informational conversations similar to what would be had in person at an on-campus career fair like the one we host in the fall,” said Corbalis. This allowed students of many different majors and career paths to gain experience in the interview process and make connections within the working world. “The opportunity to get the exposure and practice for possible real world interviews is something that is so invaluable for when you go for a real job or internship,” said sophomore Kimberly Amoia. “I am very grateful that Sacred Heart gives us these opportunities.” It also allowed students to learn how to be professional even if they weren’t in a traditional interview setting. By incorporating technology into the job search process, the Virtual Career Fair offered a different experience that students could find educational. “I think it is a very interesting idea because it is using new technology that we use in every day life to advance our careers,” said sophomore Alexandra Sabia. According to Corbalis, the Career Development Center plans to continue working with Spothook and to offer more events like this one in the future. “We are always seeking to bring as many potential employers to campus for our students as possible and this platform presented another convenient option for both groups,” said Corbalis.
Fashion & Style: Winged Monkey In Westport BY MARINNA DESANTIS Features Editor
WINGED MONKEY FACEBOOK PAGE
NEW DRESSES JUST IN TIME FOR FORMAL SEASON
With the weather getting warmer, college girls are looking to update their spring wardrobe with this season’s hottest styles. If you’re looking for a hidden gem that
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meets every fashionista’s price point, look no further than Winged Monkey in Westport. The name of this boutique sounds like it’s going to be unusual, but that’s just not the case. The store sells babies’, children’s, juniors’, and women’s clothes; you can truly find something for everyone, When you walk in the store, there’s merchandise filling the entire floor space. To the right, you can look through rompers, sundresses, and trendy juniors clothes. In this area, you can find funky spring pieces that won’t break your budget. From $25 to $100, you can get some amazing pieces without completely draining your wallet. “I’m happy to have a shopping spot in the area so I don’t only have to shop at places like Forever 21,” said senior Alexa Ramirez. “It’s nice to go out and not be wearing the exact same outfit as the next girl.” The left of the store has formal dresses for prom season. These are definitely on the pricier side, as most long dresses are. There were many high school girls shopping with their moms for the perfect prom dress. Communion dresses also line some of the racks during this time of year. “I’ve never heard of this boutique until now, but I will definitely check it out for my commencement ball dress,” said senior Lauren Alecca. The middle of the store has tables of jeans in basically every color and style you can imagine. Their go-to denim brand is Articles of Society. At around $60 for a pair of jeans that are great quality, you really can’t beat the price. The pricier clothes are towards the back of the store. Brands like Skull Cashmere, which is very expensive with many shirts being $250 and up, and Dolce Vita, are in their own section, which is marketed to women. Shoes are always a girl’s best friend, and with dozens of shoes for everyday, nighttime, or special events, it’s easy to find something at Winged Monkey that speaks to you. The employees are very helpful, and if the item you want isn’t in stock they will order it for you on the spot. “Whenever I go to the Winged Monkey the employees are always so quick to help me in the fitting room, whether it’s getting me a new size or styling my outfits,” said senior Toni Bace. The adorable children’s section takes up the entire back of the store. Clothing, toys, and accessories line the walls. This truly makes Winged Monkey a parent’s one stop
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shopping boutique. While the store is lacking a trendy interior like other stores in the area, their merchandise makes up for it. To shop till you drop and get a gorgeous spring wardrobe, check out the Winged Monkey at 384 Post Road East in Westport, CT.
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April 13, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Features | 7
Features
Club Spotlight : American Chemical Society BY MANUEL VARGAS Staff Writer
If you think that Sacred Heart’s Chemistry club is just bunsen burners, think again. The American Chemical Society Club has been making immense moves to educate the school and community around us about chemistry and other sciences. The American Chemical Society club chapter of Sacred Heart focuses resources on outreach programs to spread knowledge of chemistry and science as a whole. The club generally involves students who either major or minor in a science. The club recently took a trip to San Diego, Calif. on March 11 to attend the American Chemical Society National Convention. The ACS convention was a national conference where Sacred Heart students were able to present their research in chemistry as well as attend a variety of lectures and discussions. It also gave students the opportunity to network with other schools and potential employers in the chemistry field. Sacred Heart’s ACS club is one of many chapters of a larger National ACS community. “Many SHU representatives, including myself, were honored to present undergraduate research to the American Chemical Society. Overall, the national conference was an absolutely amazing experience, and something that I’m glad to have been able to do in my last year at Sacred Heart,” said senior Molly Stewart, who attended the trip. Back on campus, The American Chemical Society club makes an effort to engage and inform the Sacred Heart community about science and how it can be fun and easy. From selling m&m’s in test tubes to making liquid nitrogen ice cream at Linda’s cafeteria, the club is always trying to stay active around campus. When they’re not off making sweet treats, The American Chemical Society Club uses their spare time to educate students at the surrounding elementary schools about science. The club has paid visits to John Winthrop Elementary school after hours to do demonstrations for the
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLY STEWART
(FROM LEFT) SENIORS, MOLLY STEWART AND JOEY FIERRO PRESENT AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD IN SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
kids. The young students have an opportunity to engage and learn about science with hands-on activities like making slime, fake snow, crystals, shrinky dinks, UV bead bracelets, and much more. The club has also been responsible for judging the regional science fair and hosting a chemistry “Mole Bole”
trivia competition with Fairfield University and Southern Connecticut State University. Like many other clubs at Sacred Heart, The American Chemical Society Club allows students to immerse themselves in a subject they love and better the community through engagement and education.
Explore Local Businesses With Your SHUCard BY CAITLIN MORRISSEY Staff Writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF SACRED HEART OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Sacred Heart University identification cards, better known as SHUCards, are indispensable for the Sacred Heart student. Not only does a student’s SHUCard hold the account funds for laundry, printing, and Sacred Heart meal plans; but the card can also be pre-loaded with cash. No hungry Pioneer leaves home without their SHUCard. Whether a late night munchie, a hot meal or a quick bite on the go, your SHUCard can deliver - literally. Beyond campus dining, students can visit various off-campus locations that accept SHUCards as payment. According to the Sacred Heart website, there are 41 vendors that currently accept the SHUCard. Sacred Heart frequently reaches out to local vendors to try to form connections and add location to that list of 41.
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In other cases, vendors reach out to the university asking to join in on the SHUCard system. “I think that if you live here for 10 solid months out of the year, you want to try to mix it up. You want to definitely try to experience some of the local cuisines and local vendors in the area. A lot of our students come from New York, Boston, some from Florida, the midwest, so it’s a chance for them to experience the northeast and what true New England is like,” said Director of the Student Union Michael Moylan. Not just any business is accepted by Sacred Heart to have the SHUCard as a form of payment. “The vendors need to be appropriate, it needs to fit with the mission of the university and provide a benefit to the students,” said Moylan. Two of the most popular restaurants frequented by Sacred Heart students are Garden Catering and Moe’s Southwestern Grill, both located on Blackrock Turnpike in Fairfield. “I use my SHUCard off campus at least once a week and definitely at Garden Catering,” said junior Justin Lee. Garden Catering offers a menu featuring chicken nuggets and fries covered in the restaurants special seasoning, as well as salads and wraps. According to Garden Catering, SHUCards are used for payment over 50 times a week. Moe’s, another Pioneer favorite, offers a wide variety of southwestern food, such as tacos, burritos and salads. Sacred Heart University organizations such as the Italian Club, the Field Hockey team and Chi Omega Sorority have held fundraisers at the restaurant’s Black Rock location. “Typically I use my SHUCard at Moe’s, when I do eat off campus,” said senior Scott Barruse.
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One of the most well known quick-serve establishments in Bridgeport is Merritt Canteen, a restaurant that was featured on the popular show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” hosted by Guy Fieri on the Food Network channel. The menu includes American favorites such as hot dogs, hamburgers, sweet potato fries and chili. The Bridgeport and Fairfield communities that surround Sacred Heart offer students a wide variety of food options at their fingertips, and the SHUCard offers a convenient way to pay for it all. A frequent sight on campus are Domino’s Pizza deliveries, and yes, SHUCards work there too. Managing your SHUCard and keeping it well funded is easy through the online SHUCard management located on the Sacred Heart University website, as well as through Sacred Heart’s BlackBoard website. Simply use a credit card to transfer funds to your SHUCard account. A deposit can also be made in person by going to the PHIL machine located next to the ATM across from the Student Union Office. It is different from a regular ATM in that once the funds are deposited, they can not be taken back out. No Sacred Heart University student wants to be without their SHUCard, but if it’s ever lost or stolen simply deactivate the card by logging on to BlackBoard and selecting the SHUcard tab. Under Card Services you can then deactivate the card, or you can simply call Student Union at 203-371-7931. The Student Union Office will issue you a new card or reactivate your current SHUCard for a 25-dollar fee. For a complete list of restaurants that accept SHUCards, log on to: http://www.sacredheart.edu/campuslife/ lifeonoffcampus/shucard/participatingmerchants/
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8 | A&E
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
April 13 , 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Celebrating 25 Years of Movies: MTV Movie Awards BY NATALIE CIOFFARI
Arts & Entertainment Editor
AP PHOTO
DAISY RIDLEY ACCEPTS THE AWARD FOR BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE FOR “STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS” AT THE MTV MOVIE AWARDS
On Sunday April 10, MTV had their annual Movie Awards at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, Calif. Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart co-hosted the show. The annual event was special because the Movie Awards have now been held for 25 consecutive years. Throughout the entire award show, MTV’s Snapchat and Instagram were constantly being updated with posts chronicling the night. There was also a live commentary feed on their website. Before the show was a pre-show hosted by Josh
Horowitz, one of MTV News’s correspondents. On the red carpet he interviewed Cara Delevingne, Seth Rogan, Gigi Hadid, Andy Samberg, Corey Hawkins & Jason Mitchell, and Chris Pratt. During the half-hour pre-show, the audience and people watching at home got to witness behind the scene exclusives of movies and trailers. The winner of the “Best Ensemble Cast” was also announced during this time. “Pitch Perfect 2” took home the golden popcorn trophy. At 8 p.m. Johnson and Hart came on stage with a “Mad Max” inspired float. The two engaged in comedic conversation with the audience, where “anything can happen” took on a whole other meaning. Hart brought on fire explosion, while Johnson pretended to battle ninja warriors. After that came more explosives and fireworks, as well as old-school photos of Johnson and Hart on the screen. Miles Teller came out to announce the “Best Female Performance.” Charlize Theron from “Mad Max: Fury Road” took home the award and made a special tribute to all the women in film. Johnson and Hart then made another appearance, this time in Batman and Superman costumes. Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele were the next to announce “Best Virtual Performance.” Amy Poehler from “Inside Out,” took home the award. “Did anyone vote? I don’t know… but, Pixar is the most amazing company, the movie gives a great message. I’m gonna pretend I won this for best dance moves during commercial break,” Poehler said in her speech. Chris Evans was up next with exclusive world premiere footage from “Captain America: Civil War.” He plays the main character, Captain America. Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, and Jessica Chastain from “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” took the stage right after, and turned the attention to Halsey, who performed her song “Castle” from their movie. Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, and Woody Harrelson presented the award for “Best Action Performance.” Chris Pratt from “Jurassic World” won the award, and said it was “a real honor... It is a dream come true.” Then, a series of performances ensued, beginning with Common bringing out Johnson and Hart again. They rapped about the 25-year milestone with comedic and vulgar lyrics, including references from Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie “The Revenant.”
The next presenter was Kendrick Lamar, who announced the “True Story Award.” The film “Straight Outta Compton” received the award, and the cast gave a speech. “So much behind music, it speaks to brotherhood – look at the friends you surround yourself – hang out with people who motivate you and support you,” they said. Seth Rogan and Zac Efron presented the award for “Best Comedic Performance,” where Reynolds won the award, and also received a special performance from Deadpool actors right before. The “Generation Award” was next, which is the highest award you can receive from MTV Movie Awards. Will Smith was “humbled” and “honored” to take home the award. “I think Will Smith deserves recognition because he always pours his heart into his roles, and portrays a lot of emotion. I loved that he emphasized his love for acting, his family, his fans, and other people in his acceptance speech,” said junior Amanda McQuire. Melissa McCarthy also won another huge award from MTV, the “Comedic Genius” award. She was carried on stage, and dedicated the award to her mom, where her advice was “not to fear being the butt of the joke.” Daisy Ridley from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” won “Best Breakthrough Performance” and “Best Fight” was given to the movie “Deadpool.” Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid warmed up the crowd for Ariana Grande, who she performed “Dangerous Woman” accapella. “Kendall Jenner looked amazing, her outfit was perfect,” said junior Gianna Notarianni. “Best Kiss” went to Rebel Wilson and Adam Devine from “Pitch Perfect 2,” who reenacted their intense make out session for the audience. Some other exclusive premieres were from the upcoming movies “Suicide Squad” and “Fantastic Beasts.” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” took home “Movie of the Year.” While several awards were not presented on stage, there were four other winners. Leonardo DiCaprio won “Best Male Performance” for “The Revenant,” Jennifer Lawrence won “Best Hero” for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2,” Adam Driver won “Best Villain” for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and the movie “Amy” won for “Best Documentary.”
“The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” The Theatre Arts Program’s next mainstage musical
BY JORDAN NORKUS
Staff Reporter
Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program is bringing “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” to the Sacred Heart community on Thursday, April 14. The show takes place in Texas during the 1970s and revolves around Miss Mona’s Chicken Ranch. The place is referred to as one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas, until television reporter Melvin P. Thorpe comes in with a determination to shut it all down. “The show is about a community and the effects that SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY’S THEATRE ARTS PROGRAM a giant scandal could have on everyone individually,” PROMO FOR THE UPCOMING T.A.P. SHOW said sophomore cast member Patrick Robinson. “The community is woven together and when one thing goes realizing.” wrong, everything does.” According to members of the cast, the show contains Members of the cast explained what makes this show themes of women empowerment, struggles with insecurity, different than other productions the Theatre Arts Program and government hypocrisy. has done before. “It’s really about this family of girls that, against all “This production is unlike any other because of the scale odds, survive and do what they have to do to make life of the show. There are over eighty cast members and the better,” said sophomore Melissa Ferlo. choreography is phenomenal,” said Robinson. “We have The Theatre Arts Program started a social media a very original take on the set design of the show, there’s campaign for the show, called “#WhoNotWhat,” to great acting, a fast moving plot, mind blowing musical promote the show and the real message behind it. dance numbers, and an old fashioned western band.” “We should never be afraid to be ourselves and we Since the show’s announcement, the production has should never be ashamed of our story or our past. It’s the received some negative backlash because of the title. inside that matters,” said Horne. “It truly is about who you “There is so much speculation about this show are, not what you do.” considering the title and some people’s negative first The show has additionally served as a learning impressions, but the show really isn’t about that at all,” experience for those involved with the production. said sophomore Katherine Horne. “Of course there are “Not only did my character learn these important girls in lingerie and most of it takes place in a whorehouse, lessons, but I did, myself, as well,” said Horne. “I’ve but there is so much more to this show that people aren’t started to realize that themes from this show still apply to
life today; not only to girls everywhere, but to everyone.” Cast members also discussed how the rehearsal process for the show has been. “It’s been pretty long because the show has been cast since November, but it’s definitely been rewarding,” said Ferlo. “It’s amazing to see how all of the hard work we’ve been putting in individually over the past few months is really coming together as we near opening night.” After months of preparation, the cast and crew look forward to putting their show in front of an audience. “The audience should expect the time of their lives. They will leave the theatre with a gratified feeling,” said Robinson. “I believe the love we all share on stage will leave an impact on them. We’re very excited for this opportunity and I believe it will be unforgettable.” They want the audience to laugh, cry, and smile harder than they ever have before. “The best advice I can give to the audience is to take your seat with an open mind. Don’t dismiss the show because of the title or what you think it may be about,” said Horne. “I guarantee that you will love it if you give it a chance. I know I do.” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” opens on Thursday, April 14 at 8 p.m. in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. Showings continue on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for senior citizens and Sacred Heart University faculty, staff, and alumni, and $22 for the general public.
April 13, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Arts & Entertainment
A&E | 9
A New Rhythm at Heart
BY JULIANNA MAURIELLO
Staff Reporter
Once Sacred Heart University’s Marching Band season came to an end this spring, the newest percussion group, Heartbeat Percussion, stepped in to provide the community with percussion music in a non-traditional style. “Heartbeat plays on anything that makes a sound,” said Keith Johnston, Sacred Heart’s Director of Bands. This percussion group differentiates itself from any other group on campus because of the unconventional objects that produce their music. “Right now they are using metal and plastic trash cans as well as plastic buckets as a part of their show. In the future we will add other things like brooms or maybe even pots and pans,” said Johnston. Heartbeat Percussion was started as a part of the band curriculum after gaining the interest of both band faculty and students. In the fall semester, there were 20 percussionists who performed as part of the Marching Band in either the drum lines or in the pit. Heartbeat Percussion was created to give these HEARTBEAT PERCUSSION PERFORM AT THE EDGERTON CENTER performers a chance to play in a group in the spring material,” said freshman Nicole Bettinelli. semester that would produce material different than the The group not only has the flexibility with the kind of traditional concert type ensemble. music they play, but they are able to be mobile with their “Some of the members of Heartbeat Percussion started instruments as well. rehearsing in the fall semester, while the rest of us joined “Since they use a lot of non-traditional items to play this spring semester upon returning from the band’s tour on, Heartbeat is able to play in a lot of different kinds of in Ireland,” said junior Joshua Hubert. places,” said Johnston. This section of the band is led by one of the band This percussion group, though just started at Sacred program’s percussion instructors, Charlie Kessler. Kessler Heart University this academic year, has already is experienced in the world of band, as he was also a performed at several concerts, sporting games, and member of the band program at Sacred Heart until his events on campus. In addition, the group was also the graduation in 2015. game opening performance for the NBA D-League team, The group rehearses both Monday and Thursday Westchester Knicks, on March 28. nights to create new material and prepare for upcoming “At Sacred Heart’s Pioneer Blast Concert we had performances. “Of course we rehearse the music that we will perform, many students come watch us and the hockey team, which showed great school spirit,” said Bettinelli, “The but we also try to think of new visual moves to do Westchester Knicks performance was another favorite while performing that might add another element to the
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of mine because we got to play for a whole other kind of audience.” Though the group does not solely play one genre of music, the objects used as instruments are usually loud, such as trash cans that create an energetic vibe to pump up spirits during sporting games or concert events. “When we played at the Westchester Knicks game, it was as if we were a pep band in a sort of way,” said Hubert, “We would play 30-60 second phrases of music during the time-outs.” Since the group has started, the members of Heartbeart are happy with the results of what it has come to thus far. “Sacred Heart is my home away from home, as well as a home for many other people. Heartbeat is just another part of the band program that makes me really happy that I chose to attend Sacred Heart,” said Hubert.
Literary Spotlight: Author Michael White BY MELISSA O’ROURKE
Staff Reporter
SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL WEBSITE
“RESTING PLACES” IS MICHAEL WHITE’S MOST RECENT BOOK
On Thursday, April 7, novelist Michael White read excerpts of his newest novel “Resting Places” in the Linda McMahon presentation room. This reading was a part of Sacred Heart University’s Literary Spring program. Other than “Resting Places,” which won the Tuscany Prize for Best Novel, White has written six other novels, including “Soul Catcher,” “A Brother’s Blood,” “The Blind Side of the Heart,” “A Dream of Wolves,” “The Garden of Martyrs,” and “Beautiful Assassin.” Between his six novels, according to White’s website, his works have won the Tuscany Prize for Best Novel and the Connecticut Book Award and numerous other honors such as New York Times Book Review Notable Book and Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers nominee. His novel “The Garden of Martyrs,” was made into an opera of the same name. White is also an author of short stories. His collection of short stories “Marked Men,” was published by the University of Missouri Press. He has also published over 45 short stories that have been in national magazines and journals and won he Advocate Newspapers Fiction Award. He has won the Advocate Newspapers Fiction Award and been nominated for both a National Magazine Award and a Pushcart. White is also the founder and former director of Fairfield University’s MFA Creative Writing Program. In the Linda McMahon presentation room, White read two excerpts from “Resting Places,” his newest novel. “Resting Places,” tells the story of a woman’s journey of self-discovery. The inspiration of “Resting Places” comes from the roadside memorials that people place where loved ones have died. “I really enjoyed him reading. His whole idea of a journey is interesting,” said freshman Romain Cannone.
The novel is centered around the main character Elizabeth, who lost her son, Luke. Elizabeth grows apart from her husband and begins to take comfort in alcohol. Elizabeth one day comes across a stranger on the side of the highway looking at a roadside memorial. The stranger encourages Elizabeth to travel across the country to the place where her son died, to help understand what happened. During Elizabeth’s trip, she learns to deal with her loss and guilt, but also gains faith in something. “Michael White’s reading was very visual. It felt like a movie when he was reading ‘Resting Places’,” said freshman Olivia Macgregor. In order to get in touch with his character, Elizabeth, White went on the same journey his character did in the book and traveled across the country to where he placed Luke to die. White found the roadside memorials he came across unique. Each memorial tells a different story of loss. White also drew inspiration for the idea of loss from his own personal life experiences. Loss is something that we deal with every day, even if it is just losing something for a few minutes, it is still something that scares us. After his reading, White had time to answer some questions, but also gave advice to those who are inspiring to become writers. White talked about how today people do not read as much, but more people want to write. If someone wants to become a writer, White says to start now. “I came because I am currently writing myself,” said graduate student Joe Heenan. “I thought Michael White was very informative. He went on the same journey as the character to write the story. It is an idea I might play around with myself.”
10 | Sports
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
April 13, 2016
Sports
Track & Field Has Their Eyes on the Prize BY ZACK TSAMISIS Staff Reporter
Sacred Heart University men’s and women’s track and field teams both came away in third place at the Central Connecticut State University Invitational on Saturday, April 2. Though ending early due to inclement weather, the Pioneers came away smiling as they had great individual and team performances. “We had a few individuals in each event group get some new personal bests despite the weather conditions. It goes to show that our training is on the right track and once we have better conditions we will only run faster, jump higher and throw further,” said assistant coach Kevin Gilhuly. Facing these challenges early on in their season is seen as an advantage, as the team looks ahead for a run at Northeast Conference Championship. “We are all progressing very well together. Our throws coach, Kevin Gilhuly, is preparing us for a championship season, and says that it is important to throw in bad weather. Throwing in the rain helps us be prepared for any weather conditions, it makes us more prepared than our competitors,” said sophomore thrower Elizabeth Tavnan. The Pioneers placed top three in the discus, Tavnan placing first with the best throw at 125’6”. Other standouts of the day included sophomore Trevor Guerrera beating his outdoor personal best time by 10 seconds with a time of 4:15.48, junior sprinter Kayla Lawrence winning the 400m race with a personal best and New England qualifying time of 57.98, and junior Ralph Gangi winning the 4x400 meter relay with teammate Guerrera. “Ralph Gangi was a standout performer at the CCSU Invitational. He ran the open 800m for the first time, exceeding his seedtime and the expectations that were set out for him,” said Lawrence. With upcoming events such as the Penn Relays meet and Larry Ellis Invitational, the Pioneers still have their mind on the Championships, improving everyday. “To have the opportunity to go against tough NEC rivals this early in the spring
was a great experience for our young team. We still have a long season ahead and the coaching staff is planning to have its athletes hit even bigger marks and times later in the championship season,” said Gilhuly. Despite their early success this season, the Pioneers are struggling with health. “Our staff is hoping the athletes who have been having lingering injuries remain consistent in their attempts to get healthy, because having depth is key in each event. We have had great individual performers but depth is our strategy to go after the NEC title,” said Gilhuly. With such a young team, the Pioneers are looking forward to not only the remainder of this season, but the future. “There is so much more room for growth and development for us being so young. We have been training very hard all year for these next two months. We are all on the right track to do very well,” said Tavnan. What makes Sacred Heart University’s track and field team so competitive is the the way they go about preparing themselves for the season ahead. “Being that it is my first year with Sacred Heart, I had a great opportunity to see the team chemistry the moment I walked in. The coaching staff has worked hard to create a championship mentality and the student-athletes have embodied that ideology in the classroom and on the track,” said Gilhuly. “I like to consider this track team as a group of work-horses. They push themselves so hard on the track and in the weight room and when it gets to the tough part of the workout, each athlete is cheering each other on. We train the way we compete; these athletes have big hearts and big dreams; nothing is impossible for them.”
MLB Season Off to Exciting Start
TYKERA CARTER Staff Reporter
With the start of the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, the weather is not the only thing that is heating up as spring is taking its course. The first games of the MLB season occurred on Sunday, April. 3. The start of the season included a rematch between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets, who faced off in the 2015 World Series. “The start of the season is exciting,” said junior Mike O’Brien. “I’m a Mets fan and they made a great run last year.” With the Royals defeating the Mets in the Championship series last season, they picked up right where they left off and defeated the Mets yet again on Opening Day. “Although they lost their opening game I still have high hopes for them,” said O’Brien. The Royals and Mets were one of three games to open the regular season on April 3. The rest of the league opened Monday, April 4, or Tuesday, April 5 since many games were rained out on Monday. “Opening Day is exciting in any sport, but it’s just something about baseball in the spring,” said Randy Brochu, who is both the lead broadcaster of Sacred Heart Athletics and the Student-Athlete Support Services Coordinator. “You know baseball season marks the end of winter, and then you look forward to the long season
that comes ahead; it’s a grind. You just look forward to watching baseball everyday as a fan.” As a Boston Red Sox fan, Brochu was pleased to watch them compete in their season opener against the Cleveland Indians. Both teams remained scoreless in the first two innings. The Red Sox were first to break the ice by scoring twice in the third inning. From there they did not look back and went on to defeat the Indians 6-2. Other key matchups that have occurred in the past week were the Houston Astros vs. the New York Yankees. The first time the teams met this year, the Astros defeated the Yankees 5-3, but the Yankees responded the following day by coming back strong and defeating the Astros 16-6. The Yankees then took the rubber match 8-5. “I honestly think that the second meeting between the Yankees and Astros was one of the most exciting games that occurred this week,” said senior Rose Hadsell. “The Yankees crushed the Astros 16-6 with Starlin Castro, Mark Teixeira, and Carlos Beltran all launching home runs. With 5 RBI’s last night, bringing his total to 7, Castro set the Yankees all-time record for most RBI’s in the first two games as a Yankee,” said Hadsell. That was not the only exciting news that occurred this week. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies has become
the first player since 1900 to open his career with a home run in his first three games. Although Story put on three great performances, that was not enough for him to lead his team to victory, as they lost two of three games this week to the Arizona Diamondbacks in their opening series. Based off of the Royals and Yankees previous seasons, they are two teams that Brochu and Hadsell predict will do well this year. “I think Kansas City is relocked and reloaded,” said Brochu. “They are young and I think them getting to the World Series two years ago and losing then coming back the past season and winning shows what they’re capable of. I think they’re going to do the same thing again this year.” Brochu is not the only one who believes in the capabilities of the Royals, as Hadsell expresses similar feelings towards the defending world champs. “I believe that the Royals have a good chance to do well again this year if they stay healthy and their players continue to keep producing,” said Hadsell. “I also think the Yankees have the capability to do well this season if their position players and pitchers can stay healthy.” While there is far more baseball to be played, opening week proved to be an exciting one, leaving the fans anxious for more as teams compete to see who will end up on top.
Softball Looking Toward NEC Tourney BY VICTORIA SAPORITO
Staff Reporter
So far this season, the Sacred Heart University softball team has played 30 games, producing nine wins and 21 losses. Despite their current record, the women are certain that their solid pitching staff and their strong defense will bring them closer to a potential championship title. The talent and commitment that resides within their team is a sure thing, and the Pioneers, along with coaches Elizabeth Luckie and Pam London, plan to take that further into their season. “I think overall we have the potential to be successful. We have an amazing team chemistry and the mindsets of the team has changed in a more positive way,” said senior infielder Nicole Deissler. Deissler appeared in 23 games her junior season, earning the start as a middle infielder in four games. “We expect to continue to work hard and trust in the process. If we do this, we know the results will follow. We need to be more disciplined and selective at the plate. This will help us cut down on the number of strikeouts we have, so we can give some run support to our very solid pitching
staff,” said Pam London. The pitching staff has been propelled by freshmen Emily Orosco and Kristen McCann, who have been very valuable on the mound for the Pioneers. “Coach Jenn Russell [pitching coach] does a great job with these young ladies,” said London. “They give us a chance to win every game we play.” As the season moves on, the Pioneers’ entire defense has been improving, and this has become a very reliable facet of their game. An important highlight for the Pioneers thus far has been the return of junior pitcher, Jamie Carlson, from her offseason surgery on her torn labrum. “Having her out there for us always gives our team confidence,” said London. “I am expecting for us to break out and begin to win more games. We are now in conference play and have all the tools we need to succeed,” said junior infielder Victoria D’Addario. D’Addario appeared in 39 games during her sophomore season, getting the start at second base in 31 games. Also, during her 2015 season, D’Addario hit her first collegiate homerun and finished the season hitting .250 with a .340 slugging percentage, along with a .292 on base percentage. Aside from the immense drive the Pioneers have to win a title this year, their abilities to communicate and trust
in each other have been big contributors to the team’s success. “We’ve grown so close as a team, and the trust we have within each other has helped us tremendously,” said junior infielder Kelyn Fillmore. Fillmore started all 44 games last season at first base and finished second on the team with 15 runs scored - also tied for the team leader in homeruns with four. “This season, we’re focusing on smaller goals and trying to win every week, rather than focusing on the entire season. Ultimately, we’d love to win the NEC tournament, so we’re approaching that goal one game at a time,” said Fillmore. Among all the inspirations for success the Pioneers have, the leadership provided by all of the upperclassmen, as well as their tri-captains, stands out the most. Together they keep a positive, productive, and competitive focus on their team goals. “We are striving to make playoffs and win the NEC tournament. We put in the work and we have the capacity to do so, so we believe it is a reachable goal,” said Deissler. “The attitudes on this team have improved tremendously in focusing on the task at hand, which is to compete and win.”
11 | Sports
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
April 13, 2016
Sports
Baseball Team Looking for a Championship BY ANDREW ROACH Staff Reporter
In the hunt for their fourth NEC title in six years, the Sacred Heart University Baseball team has been playing nothing short of exceptional. The Pioneers currently sit at 13-13 overall and 6-1 in conference play as of April 11. “I feel like we have performed very. We made a few critical mistakes early on in some games, but we’re starting to click very well on both sides of the ball now,” said senior first basemen Victor Sorrento. “We think we have performed pretty well so far. We have had young guys step up and really do a great job in whatever situation they’ve been put in,” said junior shortstop Zach Short. The Pioneers recently played the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson University at the Ball Park at Harbor Yard on Saturday, April 1, and split with them, winning the first game 2-0 and losing the second 5-4. “As a veteran group of guys, we understand the target is on our back as the defending NEC champs and each and every game our opponent is going to bring all they’ve got,” said Sorrento. “We’re not worried about regular season winning streaks, we’re just taking it a game at a time.” Head Coach Nick Giaquinto knows that he has a group of upperclassment on his roster this year who have been in big-time situations before. “Having a veteran ball club with young guys stepping up, I think the guys are prepared to meet their goals this season as long as we continue to focus on the process,” said Giaquinto. Giaquinto has been pleased with how his team has played recently. In the Northeast Conference standings that were released on April 6, the Pioneers stand in second place behind Bryant University. “I would say I like where we’re at right now, but we still need to crank it a little more as far as team stability,” said Giaquinto. “We have a couple of goals that we want to meet as a team and I believe we are going to perform well enough down the stretch in conference play to achieve those goals,” said Sorrento. The baseball team’s strength and conditioning coach,
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SACRED HEART GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THEIR WINNING SEASON
Sam Reffsin, has played a valuable role in making this team one of the healthiest they’ve had in years at this point in the season. “I hand out a wellness questionnaire at every workout to get feedback from them. It’s also very important when they’re training in the weight room that we also recover the body as well,” said Reffsin. The players have had very high praise and appreciation for what Reffsin has done to improve their performance. In Reffsin’s second year with the team, players are seeing the results of his strength and conditioning program. “Sam has got to be one of our biggest supporters on and off the field. Every day throughout the week, he is working with some of our players trying to make us the strongest athletes he possibly can,” said Sorrento.
“Sam has been a leader since the first day we met him last year. He’s somebody who you can always look to for either motivation or any questions about what you need to do to be the best athlete,” said Short. Reffsin has focused more on the nutrition aspect, along with the physical training, and his athletes feel that it is paying dividends on the diamond. “He reminds us day in and day out of how we need to treat our bodies through nutrition, hydration, sleeping hours, and the process of recovering our bodies,” said Short. The Pioneers will have their next home game against the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State on Friday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m. at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
Race in American Sports with Dave Zirin TYKERA CARTER Staff Reporter
On April 5, sportswriter Dave Zirin spoke in the theater of the Martire Building at Sacred Heart University. This event was sponsored by the School of Communications and Media Arts, and the graduate programs in Sports Communication and Media, and Media Literacy and Digital Culture. Zirin is a journalist for The Nation magazine who often writes about the cross section between sports, politics, and culture. He is also the author of eight books, including “A People’s History of Sports in the United States,” and is a host for the radio talk show “Edge of Sports” on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. Zirin started off the seminar by telling the audience the reason that he got involved in sportswriting. “I knew I wanted to write about sports when basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did not go out for the National Anthem and every sports writer made a big
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deal out of it,” said Zirin. Zirin discussed examples of African-Americans who made their mark in sports, and the discrimination against women in sports. “Sports and physical activity was something that was not allowed from women in established families,” said Zirin. He went on to speak about how women took a big step toward overcoming restrictions on their sports participation in 1972 with the establishment of the Title IX act. According to the US Department of Education, Title IX says “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Another topic Zirin spoke about was how African-Americans in the early 1960s used their sport as a way to show black pride and stand up for what they believed in. He showed a picture from the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, with runners Tommie Smith and John
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Carlos raising their fists to represent the struggle for civil rights still ongoing in the United States. Zirin explained how Smith and Carlos’ actions affected the rest of their lives, making them symbols of the Black Power movement. They stood on the podium with no shoes on and black socks to symbolize oppression. They also wore civil rights badges on their left shoulders, along with their gold and bronze medals. “This was such a powerful moment in history,” said Zirin. Halfway through the talk, the topic switched from the history of sports to more current sports topics. Zirin discussed how athletes today are still using their platform and their resources, such as social media, to exercise their freedom of speech. “Athletes realize they can actually do something in the world around them,” said Zirin. He used the NBA players warming up in “Black Lives Matter” shirts and posting pictures on social media with their hoods up, symbolizing the death of Trayvon Mar-
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tin, as an example. “They can role model the idea that anyone can stand up and make a difference,” said Zirin.“They are taking this moment that we are in and reclaiming their space by saying they are going to stand up and use the platform that they have.” Zirin concluded his seminar by conducting a spirited question and answer session with the audience. During this time, he shared his insight on specific sports topics and also gave the audience a chance to express their opinions. “I really enjoyed listening to what Dave Zirin had to say and all the crazy stories he told,” said graduate student Justine Sibthorp. Sibthorp proved to not be the only one who enjoyed the talk, as people formed a line to personally meet Zirin after the conclusion of the talk. “I have never really been on the political side of sports, but he makes you open your eyes and, for me, almost change the way I view certain things,” said Sibthorp. “Overall, I’m glad I got to see him and listen to him speak.”
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April 13, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Sports
SENIOR COURTNEY MACHAMER GETTING READY TO BAT IN HOPES OF HELPING HER TEAM GET TO VICTORY
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