S A C R E D
H E A R T
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016
INTHISissue
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HE SAID/ SHE SAID
Anthony and Giovanna take on flannels. Are they fashion or function wear?
U N I V E R S I T Y
F A I R F I E L D ,
C O N N E C T I C U T
“SHEDDING LIGHT ON CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1983”
VOLUME 37, ISSUE 4
The First Presidential Debate: A Lasting Effect on America
SNAPCHAT SPECTACLES Not only does the company come out with a new name, but a new product
LINKEDIN FEATURES
LinkedIn gets bought by Microsoft and will display new additions to the site
GREY’S RETURNS
Season 13 premieres of Grey’s Anatomy bringing back hype around the show
HOPE FROM THE HEART
The Sacred Heart Choir program prepares for latest concert
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The team is off to great start coming out of a weekend of wins
TWEETS of the Week @LydiaWight “2014: Ebola outbreak 2015: Zika outbreak 2016: Clown outbreak We’re going downhill real quick”
@kenzie_johnsonn
“my uber driver is literally the identical to Lil Wayne”
@hailscraw “‘Why isn’t there a tinder for dogs? Cause if you have a cute dog and I have a cute dog I deff wanna hangout” “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!
HILARY CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP GO HEAD TO HEAD DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ON MONDAY SEPT. 26
BY JENNA BILLINGS
Public Relations Manager Election Day is barely over a month away, and the campaign milestones that mark the time between now and Nov. 8 are significant to both candidates. One of these milestones is the first presidential debate, which was held on Monday, Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump took the stage and met his democratic counterpart, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The debate was moderated by Lester Holt of NBC “Nightly News.” Holt announced the topics he would draw from a week ahead of the debate. They included “America’s Direction,” “Achieving Prosperity” and “Securing America.” Candidates also discussed more character-centric issues, including a comment Trump made about Clinton not having a presidential look and Clinton’s alleged attempt to get President Barack Obama’s birth certificate to prove his foreign lineage. “With approximately 20 percent of voters in the undecided and persuadable column, I would suggest that the debate on Monday night and the two that will follow have taken on extraordinary significance in this year’s contest,” said Professor and Chair of the Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies, Gary Rose. “The debates in this contest could very well be the crucial factors among the key swing states.” Though the hard scientific post-debate polling has yet to be released, online polls and surveys suggested a winner of last Monday’s debate. An ABC News/Washington Post post-debate poll found a near-record margin of Americans saying that Clinton won, nearly half saying that Trump’s facts were off base. Another poll by the Huffington Post found a similar result, with the majority of Americans citing Clinton as the winner. While views of both candidates remain broadly negative, ABC News found that post-debate, 64 percent of Americans expressed an
CAROLYN KASTER/AP PHOTO
unfavorable opinion of Trump overall, which is up 5 points from its pre-debate number. Fifty-three percent see Clinton unfavorably, but that number did not change a great deal after the debate. “The biggest problem for Trump is that challengers typically do better in first debates since it is the first time the public has a chance to see them on the same stage. Clinton is not an incumbent, but she is a de facto incumbent to the outsider Trump,” said Government, Politics and Global Studies Professor Dr. Steven Michels. “This was Trump’s opportunity to establish himself as a serious candidate and he failed. If he adjusts by getting more aggressive, as many of his supports would like, he will alienate the people he needs to win over.” Two different debate-viewing parties were held on campus last Monday, where university students actively engaged in discussion following the 90-minute contest. Dr. Rose held one debate watch party in conjunction with the College Republican and Democrat chapters on campus, as well as the AARP and the Latino Action Network. Another party, held in the Martire Building, was sponsored by Fox News and held by senior, and Spectrum Managing Editor, Jessica Chaloux, who interns as a Fox Campus Associate. Students had their own opinions on who won the debate. “I think Trump could have definitely capitalized more on the various scandals surrounding Clinton, especially Benghazi,” said senior Emily Kick. “That being said, I don’t think Clinton discussed enough policy-specific details to warrant a win.” Other students discussed the moderator’s effect on debate content. “I think that the moderator was attacking and fact-checking Trump much more scrupulously, while Clinton avoided questions and got the easier end of the stick,” said junior Tim Kelly. Regardless of who won, the first of several debates before Election Day is sure to have an impact on voters. Candidates will take the stage again for the second presidential debate Sunday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. EST.
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
News “
October 5, 2016
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2 | News
Through our cuisine, community, talent, global resources and flexibility, we have the power to nourish and inspire. Our new mission is to be the place where hungry minds gather. -Lisa McEuen, Chartwells President and CEO
South Carolina School Shooting BY ASSOCIATED PRESS COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A 6-year-old boy who was critically wounded in a school shooting died Saturday, days after a 14-year-old boy opened fire on a school playground, authorities said. Jacob Hall had been fighting for his life at a hospital after a bullet struck him in a main artery in his leg, causing him a major brain injury due to a “catastrophic” loss of blood, his doctor said. Jacob died about 1 p.m. Saturday, and an autopsy will be done Sunday, Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said. Authorities say Jacob, another student and a first-grade teacher at Townville Elementary were wounded by the teenager, who had just killed his father at their home. After the slaying, the teen — who is not old enough to have
a driver’s license — drove a pickup truck about 3 miles down a country road, crashed at the school and started firing with a handgun, authorities said. The wounded were struck as a door opened for recess. Another teacher who heard the first gunshot was able to get other students safely inside, school officials have said. The other wounded student and the injured teacher, Meghan Hollingsworth, were treated and released from a hospital. Jacob’s parents, Renae and Rodger Hall, thanked the nurses and doctors who cared for Jacob and Hollingsworth, “who put her life on the line to try to protect and save Jacob.” Jacob died surrounded by his family at Greenville Health system Children’s Hospital, his parents said in a statement. “Jacob came into our lives six years and four months ago and changed it completely. He showed us how to love, laugh and smile even on days we did not want to,” his
parents said. “God gave him to us and he was taken away from us by a senseless act. We know that Jacob has already forgiven this child for what he did to him and his family because that’s the kind of child he was.” Authorities have not released a motive for either shooting. The teenager was charged as a juvenile Friday with murder and three counts of attempted murder. The Associated Press typically does not identify juveniles charged with crimes. Dr. Keith Webb called Jacob a “tremendous fighter” but said he “unable to overcome the catastrophic blood loss and resulting cardiopulmonary arrest caused when the bullet hit his femoral artery.” Classes at Townville Elementary are set to resume Monday.
Sacred Heart Recognized for REAL Food BY SABRINA GARONE Staff Reporter
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, The United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC) announced that Sacred Heart University has been audited and certified for Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership (REAL). This makes Sacred Heart the fourth University in the country, and the first in New England, to be awarded this recognition. “It’s inspiring to see universities such as Sacred Heart doing their part to shift the American diet towards a more healthy and sustainable model for generations to come,” said USHFC CEO, Lawrence Williams in a statement about Sacred Heart’s certification. “The food environment has a tremendous influence on dietary habits and health, which is especially critical during the formative college years when many life-long habits are created.” The USHFC is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting diet-caused diseases by encouraging food services to be more health conscious and consumer health friendly. According to the USHFC’s website, the REAL certi-
fication is a “nationally-recognized mark of excellence for food and foodservice operators committed to holistic nutrition and environmental stewardship.” In order to become REAL certified, food operators must earn points in the categories of nutrition (Responsible), preparation (Epicurean), high-quality sources (Agriculture) and variety of healthy options (Leadership). Chartwells is Sacred Heart’s dining service and food supplier. Chartwells also supplies food to 270 college campuses around the country. “Through our cuisine, community, talent, global resources and flexibility, we have the power to nourish and inspire. Our new mission is to be the place where hungry minds gather,” said Chartwells President and CEO Lisa McEuen in a statemnent on chartwellsschools.com. Another branch of Chartwells became REAL certified earlier this year, inspiring the dining staff at Sacred Heart to also apply for the audit. “We reached out to eatreal.org and submitted our application, giving a brief explanation of our dining services and what we offer our campus,” said Senior Director of Dining Services, Mark Tammone. “We had a few phone interviews and then a local dietitian came to campus to tour
and audit our dining venues, program and philosophies.” Linda’s and 63’s, Sacred Heart’s main dining halls, were audited over the summer. After an extensive look at food labels, invoices and dining programs, both dining halls received high marks in all REAL categories. Some of the ways in which Sacred Heart Dining promotes a healthy lifestyle include tray-less dining, offering smaller portion sizes, having fresh and local produce available and a brand new vegan station. Webtrition is a website where clients can view Sacred Heart Dining menus, recipes and nutrition facts to know exactly how their food is being prepared. Students can also find this information on the Dine on Campus app. “Our generation of students are the most aware of poor nutrition and the obesity issues in our nation,” said Tammone. “Students are away from home for the first time, and having the opportunity to make healthy eating choices now will create good eating habits for their future.”
Scholarship for Female Business Students BY TAYLOR CAMPBELL Staff Reporter
Sacred Heart University has recently accepted a $25,000 scholarship donation funding female business students, specifically with minors in entrepreneurship. Donated by The Entrepreneur Source, this scholarship will work to separate the current divide between genders in business workspaces and help increase the level of excitement towards the study of business. The scholarship is aimed towards the female gender because of the sudden increase in females finding interest in the field of entrepreneurship. The Jack Welch College of Business is predominately male, which is why this scholarship will hopefully attract more female business students. Sacred Heart hopes that this opportunity for a scholarship will further increase and encourage females to persue entrepreneurship. “Men, on the other hand, outnumbered women 2 to 1 in finance, entrepreneurship, information management and environmental policy and management,” according to Bloomberg Businessweek’s survey about gender differences for business employment. Although the majority of business majors are likely to be male, more female students have been becoming involved in the school of business.
“It is a great was to increase the female interest in the entrepreneur field. It’s interesting to see how much females at SHU have grown an interest in business” said senior Alicia Friscia. Eligibility for the new scholarship enrollment includes a few specific requirements. First, students must be committed to the Jack Welch College of Business and must exceed a 3.0 grade point average. The applicants must also be female. “The chance of possibly earning a $25,000 scholarship will definitely keep students on top of their grades and will motivate their future career goals in business,” said senior Rachel Nielsen. This scholarship is also donated in memory of Lisa Powell, the daughter of Terry Powell, who is the founder of The Entrepreneur Source consultant firm. “It is nice to see how excited Sacred Heart is to be giving opportunities like this to students. Whoever is chosen for the scholarship will be incredibly lucky,” said Nielsen.
October 5, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives | 3
Perspectives
Flannels: Fashion or Function?
She Said
He Said ANTHONY...
GIOVANNA... The day has come for my sundresses and jean shorts to be tucked away into the back of my Sacred Heart housing sized closet. My fuzzy socks, pants and gloves have all been re-welcomed into my daily wardrobe. However, this also means its time for me to dust off my collection of warm weather appropriate flannels to christen the fall season. Anthony, my trusty sidekick, discusses how flannels were popularized long before trends and fashion statements picked up their aesthetic. Their creation is credited to functionality over fashion. They are purposely formed with a warm woven structure, to trap in heat and soothe a chilled body temperature. As a perpetually cold person, I anxiously await flannel season. The warm summer months serve as a countdown to the appropriate time of the year when I can pull out my beloved flannel. Yet, in recent times, flannels have been suffering an identity crisis and this is something that I find as my duty to clarify. A flannel is a type of fabric. It refers to the make up and build of the cotton, wool, yarn or synthetic fiber structure. That being said, flannels are not defined by their patterned characteristics. It breaks my cold heart when people are under the misconception that any fabric printed with a plaid finish is classified as a flannel. This is just the naive speaking of a clearly uneducated human being. The mister to my right seems to have little understanding of this as he frequently refers to his flannels as plaid. To clarify, I am not saying that true flannels are not plaid. In fact, a majority of them are, which is where the confusion began. Yet, I am bringing to light the qualities and characteristics of a true flannel. In my personal opinion, fashion has
created utter mayhem regarding the identity of a true flannel. Thanks to media and trends, flannels are now often referred to as anything that has a plaid pattern. As a result, people are now finding themselves tossing on a “flannel” during all months. This is completely demolishing flannel season. If we do away with the great season, then we will lose the value of the warm and comfort that flannels bring us during the time we need them most. The concept is simple. If we ate candy canes during any month of the year, then their presence during the Christmas season would feel a little less special. Thus, by wearing flannels year round, we lose their seasonal footprint. Their identity and their warmth is undermined and under appreciated. As I constantly refer to the plaid adaptations of identity frustrated flannels, it is important to rebuttal, specifically, the short sleeve flannel. My statement stands, that if it is made of a flannel regulated fabric then it is indeed a flannel. However, traditionally flannels were designed for lumberjacks and men working outdoors. When was the last time you wore short sleeves to keep you warm? Flannel fabric traps in heat, but short sleeves hinder this purposeful quality. Flannel season is something that needs to be cherished. If we allow trends to take over and plaid to brand an identity, then the beginning winter months will just feel a little bit colder, and the flannel warmth will not be as strong.
It’s that time of the year again. Leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping, and people are starting to wear thick, long sleeve plaid flannels again. Some people would associate flannels with grunge rock and the 1990s. However, flannel was around long before Kurt Cobain smelled teen spirit. The original functions of flannel were warmth, durability, comfort and practicality. Thus, the cheap fabric was ideal for the American workingmen during the late 19th century. However, it wasn’t until the mid 1900s that the iconic plaid flannel came into style. The start of the plaid flannel could be accredited to America’s captivation of folklore character Paul Bunyan. Bunyan is a giant lumberjack that cleared forests in all of North America and got into other adventures. Bunyan’s toughness and sheer strength made him a symbol of pure 100 percent manliness. Statues of Bunyan in his original, red plaid shirt could be seen all over America. As a result, the popularity of these shirts skyrocketed. Bunyan’s tall tales influenced and inspired workmen. Anyone who wanted to portray themselves as a tough manly man would wear a plaid flannel. After these plaid flannels rocked the country, they disappeared from the spotlight for a couple decades. They were now being mainly used by workingmen. The plaid flannel reemerged again during the 1990s with a vengeance during the emerging scene of grunge rock. Bands like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots strayed into the spotlight sporting messy plaid flannels. What was once a symbol for the American workingman became a symbol for an anti-conformity zeitgeist. Ironically, they all
started wearing the same type of plaid flannels to show they don’t conform. I digress. Plaid flannels seemed to die out toward the new millennium, but have been reborn since. Today, you can see people sporting many plaid flannel articles of clothing and accessories. Probably the biggest reason why people wear flannels today is because of how comfortable they are. There’s nothing like just throwing on a flannel and running to your morning class. Even for going out, a flannel provides comfortability and good fashion sense, the best of both worlds. Today, plaid flannels aren’t just for the winter. Companies like L.L Bean, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and even Louis Vuitton have realized how popular flannels are and started producing their own products using plaid flannel. Now you can get short sleeve flannels to stay cool during the warmer days while still achieving an intense state of comfort. There are even flannel hats and pants for people who are daring enough. The evolution and revamping of flannel just goes to show how adaptable the material is. This also proves that plaid flannels will be around long after our generation is gone. My closet is filled with plaid flannels for any time of the year in case you haven’t seen, or if you were wondering. To argue against something that is so comfortable and fashionable should be considered a crime against humanity. Anyone who actually attempts to degrade the epitome of fashion that is the plaid flannel must have some deranged mind.
Clown Sightings On Campus “I thought I was going to die, but a cute footbal player walked me to my building so that was the only plus of my night.” - sophomore Caroline King
“I was asleep while everyone was freaking out. I woke up to 500 text messages...it was the best sleep of my life.” - senior Alexa Cozzarelli
“We were freaked out but hopefully it doesn’t happen again!” - junior Brittany Joseph
“I saw my life flash before my eyes with every picture update.”junior Anna Leone
“My housemate’s car alarm went off during the clown scare, and we all ran out of the house like a SWAT team to investigate. We reported no clown activity.” - junior William Callahan
4 | Perspectives
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives
October 5, 2016
Introducing Snapchat Spectacles BY GIOVANNA GATTO Perspectives Editor
The social media company, Snapchat, has just rebranded their company to be called Snap Inc. This name change is not the only innovation that the company has recently marketed. Snapchat has officially publicized their new product, Snapchat Spectacles, which is set to be released later this fall. The purpose of these Spectacles is to record footage straight from the product directly to the app. The footage is placed on a user’s MyStory, which allows them to post a photo or video for a 24-hour time period. The Spectacles can record 10 to 30-seconds of film at a time. This design allows for video recording to be hands free and accessible. “There are so many memories we make at school,” said sophomore Stephanie Dohney. “Being able to just hit record on a pair of glasses, instead of taking out your phone, unlocking it and opening up Snapchat, makes life a lot easier. Just press a button in the moment and the video is recorded and stored.” Snap Inc. has reimagined a product that revised the way content is experienced and distributed. “I think the Snapchat Spectacles are an awesome idea,” said junior Kristen Walton. “It will give people a way of experiencing thrilling moments in a new way. I see them being a very popular trend on the Sacred Heart campus among other colleges.” The retail price of the Snapchat Spectacles is going to cost around $130 for a pair of these clip recording eyewear.
“After hearing about Snapchat Spectacles it occurred to me that they are very pricey. You can just as easily take a 30 second video on your phone, and I don’t think it’s worth the money,” said junior Laura Kryzanski. However, there are some that are wary about the product. “College students use Snapchat so often that it would seem like there is a good market for it at a place like Sacred Heart, but overall I don’t think they will be well received,” said Choir Rehearsal Assistant Greg Chase. Some even see them as a trend that rethinks the functionality of sunglasses. However, even with a new purpose, Snapchat Spectacles can be seen to have short comings. “While these are great for maybe someone who snaps frequently outside and on the go, these are still fundamentally sunglasses, so indoors, especially in classrooms, the fashion statement loses some shine,” said Chase. Some just think that the new name, Snap Inc., is only the beginning of changes to come. “I think it would be interesting to see what potential Snapchat has to offer. I am excited to hear of any new inventions being made in the future,” said Walton. Staff reporter Atene DiLuca contributed to this article.
A Viral Video Gone Terribly Wrong BY CAROLINE FALLON Staff Reporter
CAROLINE FALLON/SPECTRUM
JUNIOR, STEPH COONEY REACTS TO THE SHOCKING VIDEO THAT HAS CAUSED FACEBOOK TO GO CRAZY
When Lamel Yancy posted a video on Facebook of his three-year-old nephew smoking marijuana, it became extremely well known over the course of a few days. Videos put on the Internet have the potential to go viral overnight, and this one did. These videos can circle the web and the world. The person who posts it on any form of social media will never know where it may end up. Insider Fox News posted a video on Sept. 23 about 17-year-old Yancy recording himself in North Little Rock, Ark. giving his nephew marijuana to smoke. A major reason for why this video became so viral is because of the detainment of Yancy. Yancy has since been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a minor. This video had been on the Internet for over a week at the time of Yancy’s arrest. On Fox News Insider alone there are more than 1,600 comments, and a majority of them are negative. While watching the video, it shows that Yancy’s nephew, who appears to be a toddler, is shown sitting in the backseat of a car. It is also noted that the young boy is not secured or strapped into anything. The video shows Yancy laughing at his nephew inhaling the illegal drug. It also shows Yancy repeatedly trying to give the young boy more saying, “hit the blunt.” “Having a niece the age of 3, I could never imagine giving her anything that may harm her,” said junior Stephanie
Cooney. “I think it is disgusting that this man thinks it’s funny to give this innocent child a harmful drug that isn’t even legal in the state of Arkansas.” Based on the comments of the video, as reported by Fox News Insider and students at school, the actions in this video seem to upset many Sacred Heart students. “I started to cry when I saw it for the first time on Facebook. Before I even knew any of the specifics of it, I said aloud ‘this man better be going to prison.’ When I found out that he was only 17, it just made me sad. I’m only 20 and I know I would never do something so stupid,” said Borges. The overall content of the video baffled some students. “I don’t understand why a child at that age would even know what marijuana is,” said junior Katrina Borges. Channel 3 News reported that Yancy’s actions were only discovered due to how quickly his video went viral on the Internet. At the time the video surfaced online, the police had already been investigating Yancy on unrelated burglary charges. The events in the video were not tied to the burglary charges. “I think it’s absolutely barbaric,” said sophomore Lauren Petrozzi. “My initial reaction was rage for this man. I think he should have 30 plus years in prison. Being only 17 definitely does not justify his actions. This three-year-old boy had no defense against it.”
Poet’s Corner “Mannequin” By Robert McMullin
I stand all day A shield between me And them They stare all day I stand frozen My life is not my own The wardrobe predestined The price already marked My arms and legs and head and feet can move They freeze me I stand naked With cloth and lace and strings and beads I am a statue of fashion A beacon of light They look at me and see the new fad I don’t know what they see
They stand clothed The life that I have Is not mine My face is hidden by a mask The plastic smile I am forced to wear But they have their lives My eyes are open, but I cannot see I just want to close them I’m so tired Judging, stripping, staring, standing They go home But I’m still here They look at me But the mannequin looks back They see the new look But never the real me
October 5, 2016
meetTHESTAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF NATALIE CIOFFARI 2017 MANAGING EDITOR JESSICA CHALOUX 2017 COPY EDITOR GABRIELLA NUTILE 2017 CO. COPY EDITOR CHRISTIAN COLON 2017 ASST. COPY EDITOR JESSICA LEWIS 2017 NEWS EDITOR ALEXA BINKOWITZ 2018 CO. NEWS EDITOR ANTHONY SANTINO 2018 PERSPECTIVES EDITOR GIOVANNA GATTO 2018 ASST. PERSPECTIVES EDITOR ANTHONY MATTARIELLO 2017 FEATURES EDITOR GABRIELLA NUTILE 2017 ASST. FEATURES EDITOR THOMAS PETICCA 2017 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JULIANNA MAURIELLO 2017 ASST. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR JORDAN NORKUS 2018 SPORTS EDITOR SHAWN SAILER 2017
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Editorials A Real Life Breakfast Struggle: Poptarts Edition ALEXA BINKOWITZ CO-NEWS EDITOR
If you ask anyone about me, they’ll tell you that I’m really not a breakfast person. I’ve always been the grab-and-go type, meaning that I’ll always reach for the granola bar or the apple before sitting down for a big, formal breakfast. Now, I know what you’re thinking, Oh but, Alexa, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Believe me, I would never dispute the fact that breakfast is important, which is why I often find myself grabbing a quick Poptart in the morning before running off to get on the shuttle for class. However, earlier last week, as the morning sun crept through my blinds and I reached for my new box of “Spookylicous” Poptarts, I was horrified at what I saw. The beautifully spooky, orange-iced Poptart, with ghost and moon sprinkles that were advertised on the box, was definitely not what was crumbling into the crevices of my palms. Instead, in my hands was a sad, scarcely iced Poptart that did not feature any of the ghost or moon sprinkles that were displayed on the special edition Halloween box. With my fall spirit crashing down right before my eyes, I did what any flustered millennial would do, and I tweeted Poptarts immediately, telling them that they crushed my fall spirit and that I would not stand for this ugly behavior. After what seems like an eternity, Poptarts finally answered my passive-aggressive tweets and told me to direct message them for help with my issue. So, imagine me, already a convicted breakfast-skipper, feeling so cheated and lied to by the only breakfast I really trusted. After going back and forth with Poptarts on Twitter, we finally agreed on a coupon for a free box of Poptarts, which I realized it only benefited them in the end. I was still going to be buying and
WEB MANAGER BRYAN KELLEHER 2019 CIRCULATION MANAGER VICTORIA MESCALL 2019 PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR ALEXA BRISSON 2017 ASST. PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR MELISSA O’ROURKE 2018 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR GINA BATTAGLIA 2017 ADVERTISING MANAGER SYDNEY RUGGIERO 2018 FACULTY ADVISOR PROF. JOANNE KABAK
using their products, and like a fool, I fell for their charm. They told me not to lose faith in them, and like a loyal and blind Poptart puppy, I remained attached to the artificial chocolate breakfast pastry that has accompanied me to so many classes and events in the past. Persuaded by the word free, as many of us college students are, I slowly began to realize how powerful these companies really are. Poptarts, a company that has been around since 1964, has grown up with us, and has learned how to target consumers in an incredibly clever way. Social media has taken over the world, which means that companies like Poptarts have to deal with heartbroken, icingdeprived college kids like me over Twitter and Facebook every single day. However, they are smarter than the rest of us, because I was sitting here, devastated over my lack of ghost sprinkles and they still managed to save my business by offering me a free product. In conclusion, I am still staring at this box of inadequate Poptarts on my desk. They mock me every day, but I understand that maybe the Spookylicous Poptarts are really just a metaphor for life itself. Meaning, sometimes things look great on the outside, but are really quite disappointing on the inside. Even more upsetting, some things don’t always have the ghost and moon sprinkles that are promised to you. Please remember this life lesson when you’re making friends in the future.
Shopping on a Budget: Why I Switched to Trader Joe’s JESSICA LEWIS
CO. SPORTS EDITOR ALEXANDRA PADALINO 2018 PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER JENNA BILLINGS 2017
Editorials | 5
ASST. COPY EDITOR
My freshman and sophomore year living on campus at Sacred Heart consisted of Outtakes runs in lieu of grocery store trips and Linda’s salads counting as well balanced meals. Since then, I’ve not only graduated from dorm life and moved off campus, I’ve also moved on to cooking more than just mac and cheese cups and Lean Pockets. With this new food freedom comes the responsibility of grocery shopping on a college student’s budget. As most college students know, mastering the art of budgeting money between necessity and leisure can be tricky. Oftentimes, buying that new shirt to wear to Johnny Utah’s is far more enticing than spending money on fresh produce at the grocery store. With the help of my thrifty, bargain hungry roommates and a full year of the off-campus cooking experience, as a senior, I have finally found the tricks to balancing my needs versus wants budget in a very unexpected place. Like many Sacred Heart students living off campus, I did most of my food shopping at Stop and Shop. Being so close to both campus and many off campus houses, Stop and Shop was the most convenient option. As my friends left this grocery chain behind, I too began to question my monotonous grocery shopping routine. For many years, I had been under the false impression that Trader Joe’s was an all-natural, pricey food store. It turns out that this earthy-crunchy grocery chain is actually quite budget friendly. Before I knew it, all four of my roommates had become Trader Joe’s advocates. Skeptical, I decided to join them on a food-shopping trip in hopes of learning what all the hype was about. With their reusable grocery bags in hand, I was guided through what my roommates refer to as the Trader Joe’s experience, a
grocery shopping experience that combines great prices with an even greater store atmosphere. To my surprise, the colorful murals on the walls were just the beginning of the store’s unique and cheerful air. With almost all of their products being under the Trader Joe’s name, the store has the creative license to design their product’s packaging in a way that matches the store’s upbeat and quirky feel. Best of all, instead of spending twice the amount on a 12-pack of Dunkin’ Donuts K-Cups, I have happily accepted the switch to the Trader Joe’s $4.99 equivalent, which tastes exactly the same. While perusing through the aisles I was lucky enough to stumble upon the free sample stand, immediately whisking away any hesitations or doubts I had about the store. My mid-shopping snack was filled with friendly conversations and I quickly learned that Trader Joe’s not only offers its customers free samples, but also allows employees to open any product in the store for a customer to try upon request. How cool! I also discovered that all customers shopping with reusable grocery bags are entered into a store raffle every time. Rolling up to the cashier, I took note of the products in my cart. Differing only in exterior packaging, the items mirrored that of my Stop and Shop cart after a big food shop. As the last items were being scanned I was shocked by the total price-a-fraction of my usual weekly grocery bill. While Linda’s will always hold a place in my heart, with a little push from my roommates and some help from Trader Joe’s, managing an affordable yet well balanced diet and the social life of a college student has never been easier.
The editorial page is an open forum. Editorials are the opinions of the individual editors and do not represent the opinions of the whole editorial board. Letters to the editor are encouraged and are due by Sunday at noon for consideration for each Wednesday’s issue. All submissions are subject to editing for spelling, punctuation, and length. Letters to the editor should not exceed 400 words and should be e-mailed to spectrum@sacredheart.edu. The Spectrum does not assume copyright for any published material. We are not responsible for the opinions of the writers voiced in this forum.
6 | Features
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
October 5, 2016
Features
Dancing Into Fall with Professional Workshops BY DIANA HOFMANN Staff Reporter
This October the Sacred Heart University’s dance program is providing five different dance workshops that are available for anyone who is interested, not just members of the dance program. There are five different instructors, one for each workshop section, who will be coming to Sacred Heart to educate and perfect dancing skills. Anyone can come to have fun, be challenged and learn to dance from knowledgeable instructors. “It has been very important to me since my appointment to the Director of Dance position in April to strengthen and diversify the dance course offering through curriculum development,” said Director of Dance Kari Williams. “It is also important to me to improve the technique, historical and cultural knowledge of dance and performance quality of our current dance students.” Workshops include, “Dancehall Explosion,” with Rick Long on Oct. 8 in the University Commons (UC) and Hammerstep Irish dance and hip hop on Oct. 12 in the UC. Also, there are two theatre classes being held on Oct. 13, one with Marie Malanga in the William H. Pitt center and the other with Adena Ershow in the UC. “Through this workshop series and other initiatives, we have been able to maximize visibility of SHU dance programs both on and off campus by outreaching to local high school students to experience these classes for free. For participants, it is not only an awesome, collaborative artistic movement experience, but it has further enhanced their sense of community and belonging at SHU,” said Williams. The first workshop was a hip hop master class that was held on Sept. 20 by instructor
Kim Elliott, which was a huge success. Many Sacred Heart and Notre Dame High School students attended this class. Biology professor, John Karpinski and theatre arts professor, Sally Hong were also in attendance. “The workshop was fantastic. While I have some ballroom dance experience, I had never tried hip hop before, so I knew I would feel a little outside of my comfort zone. But Kim Elliot’s expertise, patience, and encouraging attitude made it so worthwhile. I also enjoyed dancing alongside SHU students, there is a lot of dance talent here,” said Karpinski. Hong, who is a dance instructor at both Sacred Heart and Notre Dame, went to the hip hop class with eight of her high school dance students. “Kari Williams graciously invited my high school students to attend Kim Elliott’s hip hop workshop last week. I had a mix of beginner and advanced students from the high school attend with me. I don’t get to take other people’s classes too often and I had a blast learning from someone else. I like that attendees came from all different backgrounds with various skill levels. It was a fun place to learn, relax, be challenged and have a great time,” said Hong. All interested in these workshops must RSVP with Kari Williams via email at Williamsk3@sacredheart.edu and can attend at the cost of $10 for each workshop they want to participate in, except Hammerstep which will cost $40. If any dance program student brings a friend who is not in the program, the dance student will have free admission. Except for the Hammerstep workshop, high school students in the area can also attend all workshops for free.
Veterans On Campus: They’re Just Like Us BY CHRISTINA DIMAURO Staff Reporter
Starting off their second year as an official club, the Veterans Club is making an effort to become more recognized on the Sacred Heart University campus. The Veterans Club is not your typical club. “We’re mainly an outreach club because we are predominantly veterans and it’s more of a support system. It’s open for everyone to come and meet each other,” said President of the Veterans Club Nicholas Quinzi. The Veterans Club is unique in the fact that it runs as both an undergraduate and graduate organization. While there is one president, there is both a graduate and undergraduate vice president. As a fairly new organization, they are striving to gain recognition from the Sacred Heart community. They also want to ensure that every student veteran knows about the club. This is in hopes that they’ll be able to use the members in the club as a resource for both talking and getting to know others on campus who went through similar situations. “After serving in the military, it can be challenging to transition to an atmosphere without military structure,” said graduate student Vice President Derek Moore. “It can also be difficult to relate to non-prior service members. The club helps with this process and provides a comfortable social and support network for veterans.” The club is seeking to make the Sacred Heart campus a more comfortable environment for student veterans and giving them the support they need while they transition back to normal life. “Attending school at a later age can bring some stress and anxiety for us, the Veterans Club is here for support and to show the students that they are not alone on campus,” said senior and Vice President David Russo. The club has reached out to Hearts United, a club on campus that helps veterans and active duty members to set up events on campus. They are also looking to hold another event on Veterans Day like they did last year. “As a club we organize group recreational activities such as paintball, camping and hiking. We also participate in veteran related community service events to give back to those who served in earlier wars,” said Moore.
VETERANS CLUB MEMBERS ENJOYING THEIR WEEKLY MEETING AT REDS PUB
Sacred Heart has assisted student-veterans with more than just the transition to college life. “We have a veterans resource center in Roncalli Hall on the second floor in room 253. It is a perfect place where all different military branches are welcome,” said Russo. The clubs first meeting was on Friday Sept. 30 in Red’s, where the main focus was to bring together student veterans to get to know one another and start building rapport with each other. While the club seems to focus on student veterans, a goal they have is to bring awareness to every Sacred Heart
DIANA HOFFMAN/SPECTRUM
student that veterans are here on campus and that they are going through the same college experience. “Student veterans are everywhere, but I think it’s good for the other students on campus to know that there are veterans here as well,” said Quinzi. “Yes, we are a quiet group and we stay to ourselves, but we are just like everyone else, but just a little bit older.”
October 5, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
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Features
Alpha Christian Community BY GABRIELLA NUTILE
Features & Co-Copy Editor The Alpha Christian Community is a nondenominational student led Christian community group that is open to all Sacred Heart students. The community facilitates spiritual connections with others and brings the Sacred Heart student body together in faith. Alpha was started by a previous Sacred Heart student. The group still carries on and works closely with Campus Ministry. Members meet every Friday night at 6 p.m. in room 107 in the University Commons to read the Bible and openly discuss their faith with one another, reflecting on their own lives as well. “Alpha was created for this exact purpose to branch out into various ministries, mentorships, and bible studies that bring awareness about our spirituality and strives to facilitate a deeper connection within our Christian faith,” said Vice President Justin Lee. Another important aspect of Alpha is mentorship. “Mentorship amongst Alpha members is very common and is a goal of the community. Mentorship helps me to keep myself in check, committed, and connected with my
faith and spiritual growth, while also allowing me to find spiritual direction in my own walk with the Lord,” said Lee. The group also holds events, such as the one they recently held on Sept. 30, called A Night of Worship. This was their first time hosting the event, and it was held at Sacred Heart’s Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Rob Guinta, a collegiate pastor at Black Rock Church in Fairfield, came and led a spiritually filling night of worship, hitting on points such as identity. “I thought the event was great. It was nice to hear from our guest speaker, Rob Guinta, who is from the area. It was just another reminder on just how awesome it is to see how faith can bring people together,” said senior Megan Charleston, President of Alpha Christian Community. Charleston said how she and the members want to keep growing and building, whether that entails being more active on campus or even bringing more members into their community. “I would love to see Alpha grow. I have built many close friendships in Alpha that have encouraged me and helped me to grow in all aspects of my life, and I would love to have others experience that,” said Charleston. While the group is not an official Sacred Heart club yet,
they are on their way to becoming one. They submitted their application at the end of last semester, and it is currently in the midst of being reviewed so that they can gain the official club status, hoping it will open up more opportunities for them. One member remarks on why he joined the community. “Back home I was a part of my church’s youth group, and my parents and I agreed that we wanted me to continue being a part of something similar to that when I went away to college,” said sophomore Mateo Soto. “I then found out about Alpha and joined because I wanted to move forward with my faith, not backwards.” Both Charleston and Lee encourage those who are curious about faith to come to one of their weekly meetings, describing their group as a very welcoming one. “I think what’s great about Alpha is that it gives you the opportunity to ask questions and grow in your faith alongside other students. I know for me, faith and religion can often be more of a private thing, but it’s so much greater when you get to share, grow, and learn from others, and Alpha is the place to do just that,” said Charleston.
LinkedIn Adding New Features BY HANNAH O’BRIEN Staff Reporter This past June, Microsoft had bought LinkedIn for $26 billion dollars. With Microsoft’s recent acquisition, there are hopes of adding Microsoft features to this social networking company. LinkedIn was established for the use of creating a professional identity to show to the online world of businesses and companies. Microsoft sealing this billion dollar deal is expected to exceed the previous ways that LinkedIn members used to stay connected. Features that will be added are Office 365, Yammer, Skype and the calendar app Sunrise. With LinkedIn being the world’s largest professional network, the addition of Microsoft’s applications will hopefully widen the usage of LinkedIn for its users. “I really enjoy it,” said senior Allison Gibbons. “It allows me to promote my resume to several parties, as opposed to individually contacting people whom may never answer.” As for other students, LinkedIn was not as widely used. “I’ve heard of it, but really never thought about using it. Definitely in the future though I’ll be making an account,” said junior Gabrielle Fernandes. The use of LinkedIn can allow students to connect with people, but sometimes it is for the sake of finding a job or internship. “I primarily use LinkedIn as a means of making personal connections rather than business opportunities, so I’m neutral on the matter, but within every company it appears that upgrading resources to stay contemporary is always beneficial,” said Gibbons. Established in 2002, this platform has adapted to the digital world everyone lives in. “By taking control of your own brand and image in a social platform, LinkedIn has successfully combined the social media Americans love to stay engaged to, with the necessity for always being an advocate for oneself,” said Director of Career Placement Rob Coloney. With LinkedIn, a beginner user shapes their profile in the way that they want to be professionally portrayed. Users create and upload a profile picture, while also filling out information that will help shape the user’s professional identity. LinkedIn, using the data provided by the user, will suggest people to link up with based on career paths and former colleagues and classmates. “LinkedIn is the single greatest tool to start a job search, other than one’s resume. It allows for a cohesive approach to seeking out industry experts for advice, advocacy and
STUDENTS LOGGING ONTO LINKEDIN PROFILE
HANNAH O’BRIEN/SPECTRUM
assistance,” said Coloney. LinkedIn technology includes recruitment features, and data about companies and individual professionals. It also uses Lynda, where training tools can be found. The applications Microsoft has acquired seems that it will fit in with what LinkedIn is already working with. “I feel that these additions will either be overlooked or tremendous with no real middle ground,” said Coloney. “I am excited to learn them and assess for myself.”
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The Sacred Heart Spectrum
October 5, 2016
Arts & Entertainment The Return of Grey’s Anatomy Warning: Contains Spoilers
BY JESSICA ANDRIANI
Staff Reporter
The fictional medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy,” aired their season 13 on Sept. 22. “Grey’s Anatomy,” created by Shonda Rhimes, focuses on a group of doctors who began their careers as interns and eventually evolved into seasoned doctors, all the while trying to maintain their personal lives and relationships. The season 12 finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” was full of drama, relationships and family. Trauma surgeon April Kepner gave birth to a child, while Owen Hunt and Amelia Shepherd got married. Jo Wilson was caught in the middle of a love triangle with Andrew Deluca and Alex Karev, which ended badly as Karev let out his anger on Deluca’s face. “My reaction to the season 12 ending left me very emotional and with my jaw dropped,” said junior Megan Grimes. “I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. With the whole situation of Alex punching Deluca, I knew Alex had a protection instinct but never thought he would let his emotions get the better of him.” The season 13 premiere, titled “Undo,” picked up where season 12 left off at Owen and Amelia’s wedding. All is not well at the hospital as Deluca and his bruised
face are rushed in an ambulance with Karev alongside him. When Karev is confronted about beating up Deluca, he has to confess. “I was shocked to see that Deluca’s face was that badly beaten. I knew that Alex had punched him, but I didn’t know it was going to be as bad as it turned out,” said junior Olivia Mullins. In the midst of all the chaos, April recovers in her hospital bed from a c-section after giving birth. Viewers were then introduced to her daughter, Harriet. After Alex turned himself in to the police, the episode ended with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) visiting Karev behind bars. Karev worries about losing his medical license and no longer being a doctor. Grey tries to console him as the episode came to a close. “I am absolutely devastated. I don’t think there’s any coming back from it and it actually breaks my heart to see his face [Karev] so sad. After watching, I really felt like curling up in my bed and just crying for awhile,” said sophomore Taylor Flohr. Episode two of season 13, which aired Sept. 29, shows Karev first working at the hospital, but later he is in court where he is accused of felony assault, to which he pleads not guilty. At the same time, a battered Deluca returns to work to perform a kidney transplant surgery. Being that Alex is a pediatric surgeon, the staff at the hospital became
unsure on how to handle the situation of him working. The episode ends with Grey and Karev sharing a few beers, just like old times. Based on the first two episodes of season 13, fans at Sacred Heart University are already making their wish lists for what they’d like to see this season. “I would love to see Christina return, Jo and Alex getting married and only good things happening for once,” said Flohr. Other students reflected some of the same wishes for some of their favorite characters. “It would be great if Jo and Alex could work things out and I really hope nothing happens between Meredith and Riggs,” said Mullins. “Grey’s Anatomy” airs on ABC Thursdays at 8 p.m.
ARTIST CORNER
PHOTO TITLED “ON A LATE EASTER NIGHT”
PHOTO COURTESY OF DELANEY HOWE
October 5, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Arts & Entertainment
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Choir Promotes Having “Hope From The Heart” BY AMANDA NARDIELLO
Staff Reporter
On Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m. in Sacred Heart University’s Edgerton Center, members of the choir will sing songs promoting hope and love in their “Hope from the Heart” concert. The choirs performing at the event include Concert Choir, Pioneer Choir, Liturgical Choir, Blended Hearts, Four Heart Harmony, S.H.U L.O.V.E and the SHUpermen. These choirs will be performing two or three of their own signature pieces at the concert. There are about 230 members of the choir program. Though there are so many members in the choir program, each individual choir has a different amount of student participants. For example, Concert Choir has about 135 students, while Four Heart Harmony is a more selective chamber choir that has 30 to 40 students. With the help of Dr. John Michniewicz, Director of the Choral Program, the choir has grown tremendously over the years. Michniewicz has been the choir director for 12 years. He hopes this upcoming performance will
be uplifting, and will include a positive message about making the world a better place. “All of the songs are inspirational and uplifting. They are fun to sing and listen to,” said Michniewicz. The music at the concert will range from a pop song called “Sing a Song,” by Earth, Wind, & Fire to “Iza Ngsomso,” an African song by Christopher Tin. “I think people should attend to hear great music. When you hear a choir, it is a very powerful and energizing experience. The choirs have been rehearsing quite extensively, practicing some challenging, yet rewarding music,” said Michniewicz. The students really enjoy this theme of this years performance. “I think it expresses the true embodiment of Sacred Heart and what we all stand for on this campu,” said seior Jane Kenney, the Choral Program President and Four Heart Harmony’s Choir President. “I truly hope that those who participate in this performance with us can sense the emotion behind all of these wonderful pieces and the people singing them.” The performance is also something Dr. Michniewicz holds close.
“It is an important theme because in the world sometimes we hear a lot of bad news, but I think if we can focus on the positives things, the world will be a better place with our opportunities to change that,” said Michniewicz. As a member of three choirs, Kenney feels that choir is her home away from home. “I’ve met so many amazing people through this program that continue to build me up and strengthen my abilities every day. My directors and my peers are like family and I think that is a very special trait for a program to possess,” said Kenney. Students will be able to listen and sing along with the choirs and support fellow friends at “Hope from the Heart.” The directors and choir members are putting on this show for the community to promote hope, love and faith. “We want the show to be very exciting. I think it will be a very powerful experience for people to come see it,” said Michniewicz.
iHeartRadio Takes Vegas
A recap of the music festival’s events “I had a couple roles at the festival,” said Mo’ Bounce. “I did a ton of branding for T-Mobile, I talked to the artists Staff Reporter on the magenta carpet and I posted a bunch on social media for iHeartRadio and Z100.” Aside from the scheduled performers, there were several surprise guests. Three different artists accompanied Zedd during his set. Nasri, from the group Magic!, came on stage to sing a remix of his hit song “Rude,” Aloe Blacc joined him to sing their remake of “Candyman” and Hailee Steinfeld and Grey surprised the crowd by singing their current single, “Starving.” If that wasn’t enough, Usher performed his throwback song “Yeah!” with special guests Ludacris and Lil’ Jon. Mo’ Bounce described Billy Idol bringing Miley Cyrus on stage to perform as a big moment for him. “Of course I know who Billy is, but younger people aren’t really familiar with him,” said Mo’ Bounce. “All in all, to have two artists from two different generations come AP PHOTO BLAKE SHELTON PERFORMS AT DAY 2 OF THE 2015 IHEARTRADIO out and sing together was a very cool experience.” Britney Spears opened night two of the festival with MUSIC FESTIVAL AT THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA ON six throwback songs, such as “Toxic” and “You Drive Me SATURDAY, SEPT. 19, 2015 IN LAS VEGAS Crazy,” along with tracks from her new album “Glory.” On Sept. 23 and 24, iHeartRadio held their sixth annu“My favorite part of the iHeartRadio Music Festival al, sold-out, iHeartRadio Music Festival at the T-Mobile this year was the throwbacks to Britney’s past hits,” said Arena in Las Vegas. junior Juliana Fetherman. “It was fun to watch her perform The iHeartRadio Music Festival is a weekend-long with the same energy she had years ago and be able to sing concert where some of the biggest artists in the world along to every word.” come together to perform their music. Performances inAfter announcing their headlining Las Vegas residencluded Britney Spears, Sam Hunt, Billy Idol, Usher, Ariana cy, “Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life,” on Sept. 23, the Grande, Zedd, Drake and more. Backstreet Boys made an appearance and sang “Everybody “The iHeartRadio Music Festival is the most diverse (Backstreet’s Back)” with Florida Georgia Line as their music festival in the world,” said Z100’s afternoon radio special guest. The boys also surprised the crowd with their host, Mo’ Bounce. “It includes all genres, all artists and own set including three of their greatest hits, “I Want It all different tastes. Artists agree to be a part of this mainly That Way,” “As Long As You Love Me” and “Larger Than because it is so diverse.” Life.” T-Mobile was a partner of the event this year. Being “The Backstreet Boys were the highlight of the night that Mo’ Bounce is a New York ambassador for T-Mobile, for me,” said junior Emily LoCascio. “They sang all the he was invited to Las Vegas to experience the action for songs from my childhood and brought back a bunch of himself.
BY ALEXA BIANCHI
memories. Their performance was so unexpected, but it just made it that much better.” For those who could not be in attendance at the twonight concert, there was a live broadcast on iHeartMedia radio stations all over the country. Also, both nights were available to live stream on CWTV.com or The CW app. “I was live streaming the first night of the festival on CWTV.com patiently waiting for Drake, but the stream ended before he came on,” said junior Alyssa Liszewski. “Luckily, my best friend was actually at the concert and FaceTimed me during his performance. He sounded exactly the same as the studio version. He was very energetic and humble.” The festivities didn’t just happen at nighttime. On Saturday afternoon, the iHeartRadio Music Festival Daytime Village was held at the Las Vegas Village across from the Luxor Hotel and Casino. This concert included performances from DNCE, Alessia Cara, Troye Sivan, The Chainsmokers, Daya, Tinashe and many more. “The daytime village is different from the shows at night because in a way, it is more raw,” said Mo’ Bounce. “It’s an outdoor concert with no seats and it gives you that festival feeling. You are in the heat, rocking out and it feels more relaxed. You just throw on a t-shirt and some deodorant and head out there for a good time.” Mo’ Bounce explained how talking about the show this time around is different than past years. “All the DJs under iHeartRadio are urged to talk about the festival, but the best way to talk about it and actually mean what you say is to experience it firsthand. This was my first time going and I couldn’t have had a better time,” said Mo’ Bounce.
Staff reporter Alexa Bianchi is currently working as an intern at Z-100, the sponsor of the iHeartRadio Music Festival.
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The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Sports
October 5, 2016
Valentine Named Administrator of the Year BY KENDALL GREGORY Staff Reporter
On Sept. 9, Bobby Valentine, the Executive Director of Athletics at Sacred Heart University, was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Administrator of the Year for Division I athletics. Valentine, along with 22 other administrators and student athletes, were recognized at the 2016 Honors Dinner on Sept. 22, in Danbury, Conn. This is the first time since 1998 that Sacred Heart has been honored with this title. C. Donald Cook was recognized during his eighth year with Sacred Heart Athletics. “I am honored to accept this award on behalf of the student athletes, coaches and staff of Sacred Heart,” said Valentine in a statement issued by Sacred Heart Athletic Communications. “It is a pleasure to be associated with these fine men and women and I thank the ECAC for recognizing the accomplishments of Sacred Heart Athletics.” Valentine joined the Pioneers staff in July 2013, making this his fourth year with the program. Before Sacred Heart, Valentine spent 10 years as a professional baseball player and a big part of his life as a baseball manager, both in Major League Baseball and in Japan. Valentine’s leadership has played a key role in the
success of Pioneer athletics. The 2015-16 season ended successfully behind the hard work of the coaches and players at Sacred Heart. Cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field teams, won the Northeast Conference (NEC) Triple Crown for the second year in a row. The bowling team won the regular season and tournament title. Women’s basketball also won their regular season title and had an appearance in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The equestrian team won the Western Regional. Rob Machan, head coach of the women’s volleyball team, credits Valentine for his help in creating a successful athletic department at Sacred Heart. “I feel much of our tremendous growth as a department, and the university as a whole, is a direct result of Bobby’s vision and leadership of our department,” said Machan. “Bobby’s energy is infectious. It is reflected in the efforts his coaches and administrators put into improving the experience of our athletes.” Student athletes were also successful off of the field last season. A press release sent out by the Sacred Heart Athletic Department noted that 31 teams posted a team GPA over 3.0. Sacred Heart was honored with the NEC Institutional Academic Award for their academic efforts. “The dedication and commitment of all of our Pioneers
is heart warming,” said Valentine in the press release. Valentine has made staff additions and aesthetic improvements as well. “During his tenure, we have added a full time Strength and Conditioning Program and completely upgraded our weight room and workout facilities,” said Machan. “We recently added new state of the art video scoreboards in the Pitt Center and on Campus Field. It feels like every day we are announcing a new renovation to the fields, facilitates, or offices.” Non student athletes are also aware of Valentine’s contributions to Pioneer athletics. “I think bringing in Bobby Valentine was a smart move,” said junior Michael Barry. “Because of his background and connections in the sporting industry, he gives our Division I athletes a chance to get noticed by professional organizations.” Valentine’s next project is the creation of the Bobby Valentine Athletic and Recreational Center. This new building will be at the north end zone of Campus Field.
Women’s Rugby Wins in Shutout BY CAROLYN ECKEL Staff Reporter
With their second win of the season, the Sacred Heart University women’s rugby team earned their first shutout on Sept. 24. They played against the Castleton Spartans with a final score of 56-0. The women are currently 2-1 coming off of their previous season with a record of six wins and 14 losses. Michelle Reed is in her first season as the women’s coach since Sacred Heart rugby transformed from a club to Division I sport. Competing in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) is an achievement for not only Reed, but also the players. “The program would not be successful if these student athletes did not push through the frustration, pain and challenges,” said Reed. The shutout at Castleton was a dominate win for Sacred Heart. After the first half of the game, the Pioneers collected 29 points with goals from sophomore Samantha King, junior Emily Migoni, junior Charlotte Tallman, junior Sarah Rodzevick and freshman Kaylee Hale. “After every score we reminded one another that we are going to play like it was 0-0,” said Mignogni. Going into the second half just as determined as the first, the Pioneers scored 27 consecutive points. Sacred Heart got goals from freshman Marissa Yost, sophomore Sunny Ravert, freshman Allie Rinaldi, Mignoni and Hale. Sacred Heart went on to defeat Castleton 56-0. “I was extremely proud and excited,” said Tallman. “We had a lot of fun playing and it reminded us all of why we love this sport. It was nice to see that our hours of hard work was being reflected on the field and scoreboard.” On Oct. 8, Sacred Heart will host their final home game against the West Chester Golden Rams at noon on Campus Field. The seniors will celebrate their senior night, along with all they have accomplished on the team. “Our seniors have really created high expectations for themselves and their teammates. They have helped to create a competitive atmosphere at practice setting the bar higher each week. As for senior day, I expect their tenacity to continue and to spread across the team,” said Reed. “We will need them to step up to support their teammates and play their best, as we cannot and will not underestimate
PHOTO COURTESY OF KELLY ROMANO
WOMEN’S RUGBY OFF TO AN EXCELLENT START WITH THEIR SECOND WIN RESULTING IN COMPLETE DOMINATION
WCU. If Kate, Emily, Sarah and Charlotte play against WCU the way they did against Castleton, we will have a very competitive and fun senior day.” The team is determined to continue their winning streak and the seniors are hoping to make the best of the remainder of their last season.
“It has been fun watching people grow and progress in the sport, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds,” said Mignogni.
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Sports
October 5, 2016
Women’s Volleyball Off to Great Start BY HEATHER KELLER Staff Reporter
HEATHER KELLER/SPECTRUM
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PRACTICING FOR THEIR NEXT GAME IN HOPES OF CONTINUING THEIR WINNING STREAK
The Sacred Heart University women’s volleyball team began conference play with a pair of wins on the road over St. Francis Brooklyn and Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn Sept. 24-25. Seniors Sarah Krufka, Lea Lieb, redshirt senior Allison Riggs and junior Makayla Dole had strong performances during the weekend of competition in Brooklyn, N.Y. “Playing the Brooklyn teams is always a challenging trip, but the team handled them-
selves very well,” said head coach Robert Machan. Going into the season 2-0 in conference play has helped to give players and coaches a positive outlook on the season. “I think it definitely got morale pretty high for us, especially since we played so well against LIU Brooklyn,” said senior Kiki Robinson. “We haven’t beat them in the four years I’ve been here, so it was pretty exciting.” This meeting marked the first time the Pioneers have defeated LIU since 2011. LIU finished second in the Northeast Conference (NEC) last season, while the Pioneers placed fourth. The Pioneers are hopeful that with their strong start to the season, the NEC title is attainable this year, and the win over LIU provided a motivational push for the players. “I think that one of our goals is to win the NEC and host the tournament,” said senior Maddie Losure. “To start out 2-0 is a step in the right direction.” Players and coaches said that the focus this season has been on the next task at hand, whether that be practice or a game. “One of the things coach [Machan] is really implementing into our practices is that we have to worry about the opponent we have coming up next,” said Robinson. The team plans to work hard each day and rely on the effort they have put in during practices to carry them through the season. “Our focus is always to keep improving our team play on our side of the net,” said Machan. “We feel that if we execute what we are trying to do and continue to improve in our system play, it does not matter who we play or what the opponent is trying to do.” Robinson and Losure have noticed a change in the maturity of the Pioneer team from last season. They agreed that while the team is still fun to be a part of this year, there is a lot more accountability and that they are able to rely on one another. “I think last year we were a very goofy, fun team, but with six graduating seniors this year, I think it has become very real to us that the NEC title is in our grasp,” said Robinson. The team will continue conference play facing seven teams in the NEC twice during the season. Machan believes it will be a tight race for the conference, but is confident in his dedicated athletes. “This is it, it’s time to put work in,” said Louse.
Tim Tebow Homers on First Pitch From the NFL to the Minor Leagues
BY DANIEL MARRO Staff Reporter
Tim Tebow, the baseball player? After his time as a NFL quarterback, Tebow decided to give up the pursuit in football and switch to baseball. Following a tryout in which 30 teams attended, he signed a Minor League contract with the New York Mets. Tebow was once again front and center as he played his first game in what is called the Instructional League, which consists of the MLB organization’s young prospects. All it took was one pitch to change some skeptics into believers, as he so often did as a NFL quarterback. On the first pitch of his first professional at bat, Tebow crushed an opposite field homerun off of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, John Kilichowski. Although that was the only hit of the game for Tebow, it obviously caught the attention of the sports world. “It’s pretty cool to see him actually have some success,” said senior Kyle Unger who is a member of the club baseball team. “It will certainly be interesting to see if this leads to something more.” That “something more” for Tebow is reaching the Major League level. While many people believe the Mets signed him strictly for publicity purposes, the homerun brings up the possibility of actually making it to the Major Leagues. “The homerun he hit was pretty remarkable, especially off of a lefty, there is no doubt about that,” said senior Mike CHRIS CARLSON / AP PHOTO O’Brien. “I don’t see him making the roster anytime soon, TIM TEBOW MAKING HIS EXCITING DEBUT IN THE BASEBALL WORLD but maybe in two or three years it could happen.” Tebow’s fans, although support his new career, are hesitant From the beginning of his NFL career to now pursuing a MLB career, Tebow has about his baseball abilities. astonished people with what he can do. He has been constantly mocked for the things he “As a huge fan of his, but a doubter in his baseball ability, it was crazy to see that actuhas done, but he continues to follow his dreams with a relentless work ethic. ally happen,” said Unger. “I think that it’s a great move because it brings attention to the team and possibly more Whether he makes the Major Leagues or not, it was impressive for Tebow to connect on fans,” said senior Edward Caperna. “Tim Tebow has a great athlete’s mindset. If he turns an opposite field home run on the first pitch he’s seen. out to be a great player, it would really benifit the team.” It’s even more impressive that it was Tebow’s first time hitting a homerun against an opponent in a live game since he was just a sophomore in high school.
October 5, 2016
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Sports
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SPIKING THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS
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SACRED HEART ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS