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“SHEDDING LIGHT ON CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1983”
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2015
INTHISissue
F A I R F I E L D ,
VOLUME 35, ISSUE 4
Tragedy Strikes Oregon Community College Mass Shooting Leaves Nine Dead and Nine Others Injured
HE SAID/ SHE SAID
Melanie and Anthony discuss the topic love at first sight
IS A DEGREE WORTH IT?
Focus on whether a master’s degree is necessary beyond a bachelor’s degree
CAREER FAIR
Usually in the spring, the career fair has moved to this fall
ARTIST’S CORNER Student artwork is highlighted
ALBUM RELEASES
Students share their opinions on the latest rap, country and electronic music
CROSS COUNTRY
Both men’s and women’s cross country sweep meets
TWEETS of the Week @bridgeythorns “I need a break from life #stressednotblessed”
@JessFahy “So when’s Hocus Pocus on?”
@carr_dell “My bank account has now flatlined”
“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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HEIDI WICKERSHAM, LEFT, EMBRACES HER SISTER GWENDOLINE WICKERSHAM DURING A PRAYER VIGIL SATURDAY, OCT. 3, 2015, IN WINSTON, ORE. THE VIGIL WAS HELD IN HONOR OF THE VICTIMS OF THE FATAL SHOOTING AT UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON THURSDAY.
BY ALLY D’AMICO Co-News Editor
On Oct. 1., Chris Harper-Mercer walked onto the campus of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. and opened fire, killing nine and injuring nine others, before turning the gun on himself. According to the Mass Shooting Tracker, this marks 294 mass shootings in 2015, including only incidents where four or more people were either killed or injured. At the time there had only been 274 days this year, making the frequency more than one shooting a day. With the increase in shootings happening on school campuses, it is hitting home with some students, who are realizing there is no way of telling where tragedies like this can happen. “It’s scary knowing that we go to school in a small community such as the one in Ore. and this could have easily been us or a loved one,” said senior Lindsey Balukonis. “It happens to innocent people and that’s why I think it really affects people, because it could’ve been any of us, especially after the Sandy Hook shooting which happened less than a half an hour away.” Since the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting in nearby Newtown, Conn., there have been 94 school shootings, including all fatal and nonfatal assaults, suicides, and unintentional shootings on a school campus, as reported by Everytown for Gun Safety. This incident has caused a lot of controversy regarding gun violence and gun control. Some people believe that the gun laws in America are too lenient. “As school and mass shootings continue to occur gun laws haven’t gotten stricter to prevent these shootings from happening,” said sophomore Devin Doran. “The government should make a conscious effort to not abolish guns; however, [they should make] the process of buying them harder for those who are not mentally stable.” Although some would disagree that gun laws should be harsher, they can agree that a better screening process could be beneficial. “I personally believe that stricter gun laws will not keep guns out of the hands of criminals, rather it will take them away from law abiding citizens who could use guns for protection,” said senior Stephanie Puleo. “However I think there should be a better screening process for those purchasing guns to ensure that they are mentally stable as well as putting a limit on the amount of ammo people can buy.”
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Many people, including Harper-Mercer’s father, were left at a loss wondering how he was able to obtain the six guns that were found at the scene. “All the guns that he had were purchased legally, yet he previously attended a school for those with learning disabilities or emotional issues. If there was a better background check and mental wellness test required before purchasing a gun maybe this wouldn’t have happened,” said junior Nick Zorbo. An assistant special agent in charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported that there were 13 weapons recovered, six at the school and seven from his residence, all of which were purchased legally by him or family. “In my opinion, no one should have to buy a gun in the first place,” said senior Kara Levine. “I don’t want someone to think that they need a gun for protection. We want to make this world a safe place.” The one thing in common between all of the school shootings is that they all took place in gun-free zones. So while some are for limiting guns, others are skeptical that this will reduce violent crime. “These incidents take place in areas where guns are restricted, so I don’t see how getting rid of guns is the answer,” said Puleo. “While everyone would like to have a solution to stopping things like this from occurring again, I think it’s near impossible to do so. We will never be able to stop someone from committing these acts if it’s something they have their minds set on.” While Harper-Mercer’s motive is still under investigation, witnesses reported that he asked students their religion, and if answered Christian, killed them. He injured those who replied otherwise. While in the past a lot of media attention has been on the shooter, this time around there has been an effort on social media to avoid glorifying Harper-Mercer, and to instead bring attention to the innocent people who were affected by the tragedy. “One thing that I was glad to see is that on social media there hasn’t been a ton of attention on the shooter. This time there has been a lot about Chris Mintz, an army veteran, who acted as a hero and charged him preventing him from injuring or killing more people than he did,” said senior Brian Gibson. But, unfortunately, people still have to deal with the harsh reality of school shootings. “It’s a sad day when you wake up for school acting like a normal day and then such a tragedy occurs and life is changed forever,” said sophomore Dina Cefalu.
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October 7, 2015
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2 | News
I want it to be essential that we can provide forums to discuss sex and sexuality in a factual and informative way without fear, embarrassment or shame’ - Father David Buckles
International Partnership
Sacred Heart Signs Letter of Intent with Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University BY CHRISTIAN CARTER Staff Reporter
Sacred Heart University has signed a letter of intent with the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) in India to develop a relationship of sharing faculty and educational opportunities. Both undergraduate and graduate programs from the Jack Welch College of Business (WCOB) and the School of Communication and Media Arts (SCMA) are participating in the new collaboration. India is one of the fastest growing and largest economies in the world. A lot of United States multinational corporations have significant presence in India and continue to expand their business there. “These multinational companies are looking for graduates who have cultural awareness of that part of the world,” said Rupendra Paliwal, vice president for strategic planning at Sacred Heart, who facilitated the arrangement. The heart of the agreement is “to send all of our students abroad for a short duration course or a semester. Partnerships with other universities such as PDPU will make this much easier to accomplish,” said Dean John Chalykoff of the WCOB. Chalykoff envisions future innovations of the PDPU academic program could become a lot more global from the mix of the students on campus and the ability of Sacred Heart students to operate globally. “There are two ways to internationalize a college. One is to send students abroad;
the other is to bring international students here,” said Chalykoff. Sacred Heart has teamed up with PDPU in India with the understanding that it is a young entrepreneurial university that relates to the value of global education for all their students. WCOB shares the same goal of creating opportunities on both sides for faculty and students. “I think this collaboration between Sacred Heart and PDPU is great for both schools to share cultures and experience a new type of environment. Studying abroad would definitely be an interest of mine, as an opportunity to study in India would be a beneficial learning experience,” said sophomore Tatenda Zenenga. There have already been plans for students from PDPU to come to Sacred Heart over the summer. “PDPU will be sending their students to our Global Business Summer Institute program and to both our undergraduate and graduate programs. We in turn will be sending faculty to conduct short duration courses at PDPU and undergraduate students to their business in the Indian summer program,” said Chalykoff. In the eyes of one student, “this partnership will be great for finance majors, as the long term affects of this collaboration will be positive in shaping the curriculum for the WCOB with learning how international business works,” said Zenenga. Sacred Heart’s SCMA will benefit in the partnership with PDPU, while an increase of international and global context shapes
E=Einstein Brothers Bagels BY ALEXA BINKOWITZ
Staff Reporter
Besides an array of technologically advanced equipment and professional-level workspaces, Sacred Heart University’s Frank and Marisa Martire Business and Communications Center also features Einstein Brothers Bagels. Einstein’s opened in Aug. 2015, offering a menu of bagels, coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and much more. “Overall, Einstein’s has been doing very well and has received a lot of positive feedback,” said Veronica DeVillegas-Hernandez, retail manager of Chartwells Dining. “We really like Einstein’s because they have a great selection for breakfast, lunch and a snack.” Many students are also enjoying Einstein’s, especially because of its friendly staff and positive service. “I do enjoy going to Einstein Bagels, the staff is always nice and welcoming and the bagels are always fresh,” said sophomore Nina Miglio. “I like to go a few times a week for breakfast because its new and different compared to Linda’s and 63’s.” The positive feedback doesn’t just come from the food they serve, but also for its location. Being on the first floor of the Martire building, it gives students the opportunity to enjoy their snacks whenever they want. “I think the location is great, and I have classes in the new building so it’s convenient for me to grab food before or after class,” said Miglio. Its location gives students the ease of staying within the vicinity of their classes and not having to go to main campus for food. Although this facility is an international franchise, it is still operated by Sacred
Heart’s Chartwells. Students are also given the capability of using their Sacred Heart card to make any purchase. “With Einstein’s Brothers Bagels being Sacred Heart’s first national brand brought on campus I am extremely happy with the company,” said Mark Tammone, Chartwells resident district manager. “Einstein’s marketing, variety in bagels, muffins, sandwiches and seasonal specials has been a win-win for Einstein’s and Sacred Heart University.” Chartwells employees attribute Einstein’s success to the staff’s dedication to quality and variety. “The Einstein’s concept was created to make sure all items are made daily, so the food always tastes fresh which is a great plus,” said DeVillegas-Hernandez. While this new spot on campus is flourishing, Outtakes and the Library Café’s have been slowly decreasing in sales. “There has been a small decline in Outtakes, however that is also due to the large amount of classes that have been moved to the Martire Building,” said DeVillegas-Hernandez. The location of Einstein’s also draws students who lives in Christian Witness Commons (CWC). But this is leaving some concerned because of the busy street that separates them from the Martire Center. “Having Einstein’s so close makes it easier to get breakfast, but more difficult considering residents of CWC must walk out of their way in order to safely cross the street,” said sophomore Keri Pringer. Overall, Einstein’s has been successful in providing students and faculty a new and fresh location for breakfast and a quick snack in between classes. “My body is 90 percent bagel and 10 percent of that strawberry lemonade they sell,” said junior Brianna Bono.
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the curriculum designed for media studies students and faculty. “PDPU is very interested in building their communications and media programs. As Sacred Heart has experienced rapid growth in these areas, alongside the recent establishment of the SCMA with new facilities, we are in a good position to advise them moving forward,” said Professor James Castonguay, Ph. D., director of the SCMA. Faculty and administrators from Sacred Heart’s SCMA will help PDPU enhance its own communications bachelor’s program and together they will form an International Exposure Program to introduce students to the academic, research industry and cultural facets of the two universities. For communication students having the opportunity to study in India can be very beneficial. “We as Americans would be more technologically advanced. I feel like the advancements we have in the U.S. is something that we could bring to their country to learn from”, said junior Nicole
Granito. “The opportunity for me to travel abroad as a division I athlete allows me to consider diversifying myself within the Indian environment and being able to learn from people of different cultures.” This partnership seems to only be the beginning and according to Castonguay foreshadows future developments to come. “I envision faculty collaborations that could lead to the development of new programs, courses and scholarship focusing on media,” he said. “This collaboration provides us with an exciting opportunity for academic, intellectual and cultural exchange.” According to Paliwal, the seeds of the agreement were planted at a 2012 international conference in New York City, when he met and began speaking with representatives from PDPU. The letter of intent calls for the initial phase of the relationship to last five years, with provisions of extending it further.
#sexatSHU
BY DAVID RUSSO Staff Reporter On Wednesday Oct. 7, “It Doesn’t Happen Here” kicks off the first of the #sexatSHU Human Journey Colloquia spotlight series discussions. It features a panel discussion of various faculty and students including Father David Buckles, junior Addison Chau, Karen Flanagan, and moderated by Brian Stitlner Ph.D. “The purpose of this colloquia series is to invite students to hold conversations about sexuality, sexual practices, and sexual health on our campus,” said Professor Brian Stiltner. Junior Addison Chau originally thought up the idea of having a number of colloquia’s to focus on sex on campus. This is the first time they are holding this special event of colloquia’s to the students at Sacred Heart. “How is it possible to tell students that it doesn’t happen here,” said Chau. Chau wants to get the message out to the students that sex does in fact happen on campus. Another goal of the series is to bring light to the
ignorance that exists about the topic within Catholic universities. “As for the colloquia on Wednesday, it will be very broad,” said Chau. “I don’t want to force ideas off to the students, instead I want the students to be OK and comfortable to talk about sex on a Catholic college campus.” While the topic could be considered a bit awkward to some, this is not the goal. “Even so I feel some things shouldn’t be talked about, but things like sex shouldn’t be ignored,” says Chau. As for Father Buckles, his goal for the #sexatSHU colloquia is to convey the message to our students here at Sacred Heart that sex and sexuality are topics that should be discussed on a college campus. “I want it to be essential that we can provide forums to discuss sex and sexuality in a factual and informative way without fear, embarrassment or shame. Doing this colloquia will provide that forum to students here at Sacred Heart,” said Father Buckles. The series as a whole aims to address a topic that is only talked about in private. To some it is
frowned upon to discuss sexuality in a religious environment so the idea is to have an open discussion is to create a safe environment that will allow students to express their opinions and concerns about sex. This event is coordinated by the s.w.e.e.t. peer education program. “The series will not be preachy in any way. Rather, we’re bringing information to students to help them be thoughtful about these issues. The first event in this series is ‘How Do We Talk about Sex at a Catholic Institution?’” said Stiltner. Some would say this topic can’t be talked about at a Catholic institution, but according to Stilner, “Spoiler alert: The answer is yes, we need to.”
October 7, 2015
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives | 3
Perspectives
Is love a four-letter word? He Said She Said ANTHONY...
MELANIE... ... If someone were to ask my opinion on “love at first sight,” I would say that it’s a construct made up by conservative prudes in an attempt to explain immediate sexual desire between two people. I think that historically, people justified shotgun weddings by saying they fell in love at first sight. That way society accepted the couple, simply because they had that elusive spark when they met. The “spark” is a crucial element to love at first sight. People will describe this as fireworks, sparklers, or any other Fourth of July paraphernalia jolting through their bodies. I don’t know what kind of lives these types of people lead, but I get the exact same feeling when the movie theatre guy gives me extra butter on my popcorn. Personally, I have never experienced love at first sight and I think the concept itself is ridiculous. It implies that I would base my feelings for a person on their looks alone. I fall in love with just about every stuffed animal I pass in the store, so imagine if I fell in love with every cute boy I saw—I’d have 50 husbands by now. Despite the tawdry stereotype, love at first sight is one of the most common tropes in all of literature. Thousands of poems have been written about a man being unexplainably drawn to a beautiful woman. Even today, young adult novels always depict characters that meet for the first time and explode with intense desire. As much as I’d like to think two people can fall in love immediately, it just seems so juvenile. After all, Romeo and
Love at first sight sounds like a cute concept. Too bad it’s fiction. People who meet each other could “fall in love”; that happens all the time. But it takes getting to know someone before one could determine if the relationship could evolve into something meaningful. If love at first sight is a real thing, then I’ve fallen in love about 287 times since my freshman year of college. I cannot begin to fathom how many times I’ve stopped eating some grilled chicken and wild rice at 63’s to marvel at a cute girl I’m noticing for the first time. That also goes for girls I see all the time. Even in those moments, I’ve come to not mistake love for infatuation. So she smiled at me—great. Would you like steak or sea bass at the wedding? A big part of the problem is how movies make it look so easy. All you ter. have to do is look like Matthew McLater, my mom yelled at me and said Conaughey, save Jennifer Lopez from I’d never find a husband if I couldn’t getting hit by a moving dumpster, and keep my little mouth shut. voilà: an A-list celebrity is your soul I think there’s a part of me that submate. Something similar could happen consciously sabotages any chance I have in real life, but the chances are overat love at first sight because things like whelmingly slim. relationships and commitment make me What I do believe in are lost opportuuncomfortably itchy. In fact, I think I’m nities at love. breaking out into hives while writing Looking back on my early adolesthis. cence, I don’t think I’ve had true, deep Maybe I’m just jealous of people who feelings for any girl I’ve liked because know themselves well enough to know I haven’t given any a good enough they could love a person they’ve just chance. met. There were a couple of times between For now, I’m happy with where I middle school and high school I was am. And if I happen to see someone in absolutely convinced I was in love with the hallway that makes me feel like I’ve these two girls. just been struck by lightning, I’m gonna Then again, like the opposite of a keep my distance. Juliet were known for falling in love at first sight, and we know how that story ends. I am the type of person no one would ever fall in love with at first sight. I’m more of an acquired taste, like fine wine, or specialty cheese. People need to warm up to me. Once, I was getting a coffee at Dunkin Donuts and the cashier said, “Are you Melanie? We had a class together in high school. I was the only senior in your freshman math class.” Before I could stop myself, I responded, “Wow. That’s really embarrassing for you.” Another time, a guy approached me while I was in the mall with my mother and I told him that any man who has been through puberty shouldn’t be wearing an American Eagle T-shirt. Then, when he asked for my number, I asked if he was looking for a babysit-
smooth dude, I would barely talk to them. I’m not a dating coach, but that doesn’t sound like the best move in the playbook. Avoiding conversation with girls I liked wasn’t my only problem, though. Even if I’ve hit it off with a girl, I’ve always shied away from getting into a relationship, usually by finding something wrong with the situation. Basically, the romance in my life thus far has been like one long episode of Seinfeld (not that there’s anything wrong with that.) In reality, though, there is something wrong with that (the expression “not that there’s anything wrong with that” is just a notable line from Seinfeld.) Soon enough, I’ll have to grow up and tell a woman other than my Mom that I love her. At the moment, being single is fun and relatively stress-free, but that feeling will change one day. Just like I appreciate the single life now, I hope to eventually appreciate sharing my life with someone else (as long as she doesn’t throw out t-shirts of mine she doesn’t like; that would be annoying.) Evidently, I see the idea of telling a female human you love her in the romantic sense as a big step. Therefore, the concept of love at first sight isn’t something I want to take seriously. Give me some time, and maybe I’ll be mature enough to give it a shot.
Pickup Lines Gone Wrong Here is a collection of our favorite must-read mishaps.
◊ “I tried to ask her how her day was and it came out: ‘How’s your dog?’” Jake Adinolfi, Junior ◊
“One time in my freshman year of high school, at my first party, the guy throwing the party asked me to go to his room. I freaked out and said I wasn’t that kind of girl. He just wanted to show me his Lego collection.” Gwendolyn Mileti, Sophomore ◊ “Yo, you follow me on Instagram.” Michael Fritz, Sophomore
◊
“You have mashed potatoes in your hair.” Cody Richards, Junior ◊ “When an attractive guy was asking me to dance, I though he was making fun of me and I yelled at him and told him to leave me alone. He was really upset...” Emily Grilley, Sophomore
◊ “I once asked a girl how much she weighed when hitting on her and she took it as an insult. It was an accident... we were talking about working out.” Pat Robinson, Sophomore
4 | Perspectives
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Perspectives
October 7, 2015
Welcome to the E-Zoo Columbus Day Plans BY JENNIFER BAUCH Staff Reporter With the constant evolution of music trends over the years, one genre specifically has become more popular amongst college students worldwide. This mainstream style of music, known as Electronic Dance Music (EDM), is created through the use of different musical instruments and technology, such as synthesizers and computer programming. Each year, there are different festivals for fans of EDM to attend. These festivals are a live experience for fans to watch their favorite DJ’s perform the music they enjoy. Some students at Sacred Heart University who have attended these festivals have had a positive and enjoyable experience. Junior Michele Roy, who attended Identity Fest in New York said, “It was an overall amazing experience. It was my first festival and it was so different from anything else I have ever been to. I would hands down go to another festival." Popular festivals such as Electronic Daisy Concert and Electric Zoo have become known for its crowded fields with fans dressed in vibrant, neon outfits and dramatic light shows. EDM festivals are typically two or three days long and begin early in the day and continue on until late in the night. “EZOO was a really awesome experience. It was my first music festival and it was really cool seeing the creative outfit’s people wear and the lights all around the stage,” said sophomore Catherine Kennedy. “It was a mix of people of different
ethnicities and styles and was not a judgmental atmosphere at all. Everyone just enjoys the music, dances, and does their own thing.” Electronic festivals have become a popular event around the world for fans to attend. However, there are some students that attended these festivals that did not have a positive experience. “My experience at EZOO was terrifying. The atmosphere wasn’t for me and I felt like I was out of my element. I would never go to another festival again,” said junior Danielle Cetta. Each festival has a variety of popular electronic DJs from all parts of the world performing their well-known songs. Many of these DJ’s top songs are featured on the radio today, which makes attending these festivals appealing for some students. “I have never been to a festival but I would consider going. They look like a lot of fun and would be a good experience,” said sophomore Meghan Liquindoli. “I think music without lyrics is becoming more popular. When you listen to a remix of a song on the radio it normally has a ‘techno-electric vibe’ which is why I think this genre of music is becoming more appealing to people.” Students that attended these festivals have had their own unique experiences that will further decide if they will attend another in the future. There are also some students that know electronic festivals are something they would not be interested in. Junior Morgan Carolan said, “I wouldn’t attend a festival like EDC because they are way too crowded. Country concerts in the summer are always my go to because they are more relaxed and have a more positive vibe.”
BY ALEX DECHINO Staff Reporter With the weather getting chilly and the leaves on the trees falling, we all know that the fall season is upon us. One thing that students really look forward to in the fall, besides Halloween, is Columbus Day Weekend. “A month into school most people go home to see their family. It’s like a mini break from the start of school until Thanksgiving. We have four days off as opposed to just Monday off so it gives us more time to spend with family,” said junior Kelly Romano. Columbus Day Weekend takes place this year on Monday Oct. 12 and 13, giving Sacred Heart students a four-day weekend. “A long weekend of relaxation and getting away from classes and work is what I really need,” said junior Rachel Proffitt. This weekend is a perfect time to go home for the people that live close by to see their family, especially freshmen. “I know a lot of people usually go home, but you always have the students that live in places like Florida or California so they might end up staying at school or may go over a friend’s house that lives close,” said freshman Andrew Rosensweig. Most people tend to go home Columbus Day Weekend, but those with jobs close to campus or people who live far away do not necessarily have this option. Other students understand why everyone cannot go home to see their family and friends. “I know from being a cheerleader that some sports may have practice or a game so they’ll not be able to go home,” said junior Linda Guddemi. For some, Columbus Day weekend is full of fun activities with family and friends, but other people do not have the luxury to relax for the weekend. “Knowing my dad he’ll be outside on the front lawn waiting for me to pull in with a trash can and a rake,” said sophomore John Perricone.
What’s the value of your degree? BY ILARIA DEANGELIS Staff Reporter Is a bachelor’s degree all you need to succeed? Is a master’s degree absolutely necessary? These are common questions that enter college students’ minds as they try to figure out what is needed of them in order to reach their goal of a dream job. For many students, they must realize what their particular major of study requires of them, and whether or not they would need to continue their schooling after receiving their bachelor’s degree. Executive Director of Graduate Programs, Anthony Macari, explained the true value of a master’s degree, and what it can do for a student in the future. “There are two factors to determine whether or not you need a master’s. The first is if you know exactly what you want to do when you graduate, and if your first job out of college is what you really want to do with your life. If
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this is the case, then a master’s may not be needed. On the other hand, if this is not the case, and you still need more in order to get a desirable job, then graduate school is a good option.” Many students may wonder what the value is of a master’s degree from Sacred Heart University, and what it can truly do for them. “A master’s degree equips you for later stages of your career and first job. It would also depend on what job you’re going to, and what your focus is,” Macari said. Many people may see a master’s degree to be superior to a bachelor’s degree, but what exactly can a master’s degree do that a bachelor’s cannot? “Your first degree, or your bachelor’s, gives you technical skill in your major,” Macari said. “Years later it’s about more than that. You must learn to manage, be strategic in your work, and be able to work with others. A master’s degree prepares you for the managerial level.” Two recent Sacred Heart alumni also gave their input on the importance of their degrees.
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Courtney Budenholzer and Stephanie Guminiak both graduated from Sacred Heart this past May, and neither of them are currently in graduate school. Guminiak graduated from Sacred Heart with a bachelor’s in Exercise Science. She has decided to take a year off from her studies before attending graduate school to receive her doctorate in physical therapy. She explained how she plans to go back to graduate school in order to get the degree for exactly what she wants to do. When asked why she is not attending graduate school right now, she said, “I’m still planning on attending graduate school. However I decided to take a year off and get more work experience.” “To become a high-end physical therapist, you must go for a doctorates degree, which is another 3 straight years, including summers, of schooling. And since I plan on doing that, I decided it would be best to take a break from school right now.” Budenholzer graduated from Sacred Heart with a bachelor’s in Media
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Studies and TV Production. She has decided to pursue her career straight out of college, as she got a job as an operations assistant at Original Media. “Though this is not where I want to be for my entire life, I was always told that in this industry that you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. I am a firm believer that if you work hard, and show your willingness to do the job well, you will succeed,” she said. Although Budenholzer is not going back to Sacred Heart for her master’s, when asked if Sacred Heart was worth the four-year tuition, she said, “If I had the choice to do college all over again, I would hands down choose SHU again. I had such an incredible experience and I learned so much over the course of four years.” “Thanks to my professors, I have had two great internships, News 12 Connecticut and the Late Show with David Letterman. Now, I have landed this full time position, which is the beginning of my pursuit of my career. So many employees were impressed by the skills I already had under my belt.”
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October 7, 2015
meetTHESTAFF EDITOR IN CHIEF EMILY ARCHACKI 2016 MANAGING EDITOR MELANIE HOLEC 2016 COPY EDITOR JESSICA CHALOUX 2017 COPY EDITOR BILLY SANCHEZ 2016 NEWS EDITOR ALLY D’AMICO 2016 NEWS EDITOR GABBY NUTILE 2017 ASST. NEWS EDITOR CHRISTIAN COLON 2017 PERSPECTIVES EDITOR MELANIE VOLLONO 2016 ASST. PERSPECTIVES EDITOR GIOVANNA GATTO 2018 FEATURES EDITOR NICOLE CANNIZZARO 2016 ASST. FEATURES EDITOR MARINNA DESANTIS 2016 A&E EDITOR NATALIE CIOFFARI 2017 ASST. A&E EDITOR HALEY TANELLA 2016 SPORTS EDITOR SHAWN SAILER 2017 ASST. SPORTS EDITOR ANTHONY SANTINO 2018 ASST. SPORTS EDITOR TAMARIC WILSON 2017 ADVERTISING MANAGER BRIDGET HUGHES 2016 WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER HALEY TANELLA 2016 PR & CIRCULATION MANAGER JENNA BILLINGS 2017 PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR FILIPE LOBATO 2016 ASST. PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR ALEXA BRISSON 2017 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR GINA BATTAGLIA 2017 GRAPHIC DESIGN EDITOR JULIANNA DIDONATO 2017 FACULTY ADVISOR PROF. JOANNE KABAK
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Editorials
Editorials | 5
Yo, I Gotta Snapchat This HALEY TANELLA ASST. A&E EDITOR
It goes without saying, but we live in a world immersed in advancing technology. These advancements have not only brought us successes in medicine, general communication and travel, and even how we’re able to watch television, but they have changed the way we look at social interactions. We are constantly Instagramming, Tweeting, and staying up-to-date with the most recent trends; all in the palm of our hands via smart phones and social media. But are all of these social media apps really making us more social beings? Or are they slowly stripping us of a quality known to all of the generations before us? I’ve recently started research on my senior project, which centralizes around this idea of social interactions via social media platforms. I was fascinated by the topic after driving down Park Ave. last year. I almost got into a pretty bad accident after a girl started crossing the street without looking up to see if any cars were coming down the road. After coming to a halting stop right before the crosswalk, I came to realize that no matter where you go, people will constantly be glued to their cell phones in fear of missing out on knowing the most recent information. Whether you’re grabbing lunch with friends, studying in the library, or even out at a concert or sporting event, people are constantly on their phones, completely ignoring the world around them. While these forms of social media can be useful to keep up with friends, are they taking away from living directly in the moment without distractions? Think about your own life. Think about the last party or social
gathering that you went to and ask yourself, “how often was I on my phone?” I know, even for myself, I make sure to charge my phone fully before leaving the house to ensure that I’ll be able to use it for the entire night. It’s hard to imagine that, even just a decade ago, these smartphones and forms of social media didn’t exist. People didn’t need to think of charging their devices before leaving the house in fear of losing that constant connectivity. But, when did updating your Facebook or posting on Instagram become the new form of social interaction? Now this isn’t a cry or plea to say stop using your social media, because I know that I am also a culprit of having conversations with friends and focusing solely on my cell phone. But take a moment to look at the world through a different lens or screen; your eyes. Take a walk outside or a trip to Sleeping Giant to just take in the beauty of nature and leave your phone in the car. Have a conversation with a friend over coffee at Starbucks and block out any other conversations that may be happening over GroupMe. Or even take the opportunity to read a good book or a newspaper (and fortunately for you, new issues of Spectrum are released every week with new and exciting articles!). Just remember, these forms of social media and newer versions of cell phones may be great, but they’ll never replace the quality of in-person conversations with friends.
A Public Service Announcement BILLY SANCHEZ COPY EDITOR
I am a hand shaker. Always have been, always will be. For as long as I can remember, I have always chosen a firm handshake as my preferred method of physical contact. Family. Friends. Strangers. They all get handshakes. Every single one of them. Even if I have known someone for years, or just a few seconds. They get my hand. Five fingers of respectable communication. A stable handshake is an honorable sign of mutual respect. You meet someone eye to eye and measure his or her personality by how soft or how firm he or she grips. A strong grasp is a show of power and determination. A limp grasp is weak and vulnerable. Business deals are sealed by handshakes and are legally binding in some cultures. However, as of late, I am losing faith in the respectful exchange. Especially with other men. I no longer want to shake some male hands. I am talking about a failure to wash hands after using the bathroom. Not me. But, the rest of the male gender. I bear witness in utter disgust as someone finishes his bodily business and casually walks out the restroom door. What’s happening here? He neglects basic hygiene and in doing so infects the world with his heinous germs that are left on his filthy mitts. I am sickened. Were you not taught to wash? Or are you just too lazy? The failure to marry soap and water to your hands baffles me. Washing your hands is free. The soap. Free. The water. Free.
The paper towels. Free. The act does not cost you a thing. FREE. What a sanitary bargain. You owe it to yourself and the rest of the civilized world to vigorously wash your hands for 20 seconds. Even if your efforts are mediocre, an attempt is better than nothing. Take notice of the changing season and the temperature dropping. By not washing your hands, you are increasing the chances of spreading germs that lead to the common cold and flu. I do not want to get sick. I also do not want to start carrying hand sanitizer like a paranoid new mother. Men: If you were on a date and she did not wash her hands, a second date would be out of the question. No call back. Women: Wouldn’t you be grossed out if you knew the man sitting across from you did not wash his hands? Everyone: I am actively calling out my readers and I deputize every one of you. I encourage everyone to join the forces against the offensive non-hand washers. We need to join forces to motivate the gross and vile among us. If you see someone leaving a restroom, remind him or her to wash hands. By remaining silent, we are condoning their filthy behavior. I have had enough. We need to keep the genuine dance of handshakes alive. Please wash your hands. Let’s shake on it.
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 7, 2015
Features
Veteran Spotlight
United States Marine Corps Corporal Matt Walsh BY MARINNA DESANTIS Staff Reporter Sophomore Matt Walsh is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. His enlistment lasted from Dec. 14, 2009 to Dec. 13, 2015. While in combat, he was attached to 22nd M.E.U. Corporal was his highest rank. Q: Why did you first decide to join the Marines and why did you choose this branch? A: I always wanted to serve growing up and both of my brothers served in the Army. Knowing I was going to serve, I chose the Marines because they were the best branch in my mind. Q: What was one of the best memories from your experience? A: I was working at a traffic control point and a child, maybe eight years old, had his father pull the car over so we, my Marines and I, could sign his shirt because we were his heroes. That moment really made all my time in the service worth it.
Q: Has there been anything during your time in the Marine Corps that has helped you in school? A: Not really too much. I was artillery, so shooting cannons doesn’t really transfer back into the real world too well. Q: Did your time in the Marine Corps help influence your decision to major in physical therapy? A: Yes, I saw a lot of Marines getting injured and it seemed like the medical aspect was pretty low key. There is the stigma that if you go to “doc” you are weak so a lot of injuries go under-treated or not treated at all which leads to long term problems. I thought that physical therapy would be a good way to help people, especially veterans who realize it was kind of a bad idea like myself, who did not get treated when it first happened. Q:What has been your best memory at Sacred Heart so far? A: I thoroughly enjoyed playing rugby.
Q: Why did you decide to come back to college? A: I went to college because it was the next step in my life. I served my time and was ready to move on and take the next step in my life. College seemed like the logical next step for me. Q: Why did you pick Sacred Heart University? A: I picked Sacred Heart because of the proximity to my family, the excellent physical therapy program here, as well as the veteran services that the university has. Q: Are you working along with taking classes, or are you a full time student? A: Full time student. Q: Do you feel as if the Sacred Heart community has been welcoming and supportive? A: Yes, I joined the rugby team as a freshman and they are a great group of guys which made my transition to college life a lot easier. Q: Have you felt like it is difficult in any way to be slightly older than your peers? A: Ya, I find it a little bit weird to be older than my classmates. We are just at slightly different points in our lives so it is a little bit weird. Q: What do you think your biggest challenge/obstacle has been re-adjusting? A: I had the hardest time with trying to communicate with people. The military has its own language and behavior attached to it. Trying to realize that all questions could not be answered with one word or sarcasm really got me into a lot of trouble when I first got out. Q: How have the Marine’s assisted/supported you during your time back in school? A: Discipline. The biggest thing is just sitting down and doing papers and projects and the Marines gave me the discipline to do this even when I’d rather be out doing literally anything else.
MATT WALSH HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR SIX YEARS
PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT WALSH
Club Spotlight: Spanish Club ‘La Hispanidad’ BY CARA HOYT Staff Reporter A new beginning is in action for the Spanish club, La Hispanidad, at Sacred Heart. Not only is this club a gateway to the Hispanic community for those who are miles away from home, but it is also a great way to be involved on campus and interact with other students who obtain the same cultural values. Christian Colon has been a member of the club since he was a freshman. He is also very committed to the club, as he now holds a title and has authority. “Since my freshman year I have been part of this club. During my sophomore year I was selected for an e-board position, which has led me in being one of the copresidents of La Hispanidad,” said Colon. All students can agree that culture is part of how they define themselves. From Spanish, to Italian, to Irish and many more the community at Sacred Heart is diverse. But having a culture-based club is a great way to embrace your inner culture and share the love for your roots with other students on campus. This can be a great way to stay in touch with your culture and identity while being miles away from home. Leading a group like this has been a positive and
appreciative experience for Colon. “Being Hispanic is part of my identity. Being part of this club and leading it makes me appreciate my culture even more. I don’t go home that often, which makes me step away from my culture, however being part of the club makes me feel like I am home. Connecting with other Hispanic students who share the similar background as me is so awesome,” said Colon. Colon and his co-president sophomore Manuela Contreras have big plans and expectations for this upcoming year. From club bonding to campus wide events, they have already begun to improve the overall club experience and the organization as a whole. They saw a need for improvement in prior years, which led them to take action. “Throughout the years the club has been struggling. However this year my co president, Manuela and I decided to start fresh,” said Colon. “We renewed the mission statement, and began with a new mindset for the club.” Colon also brought up some new ideas that have been pursued by the club during its new leaf, such as event planning and game night. Planning cultural events on campus can be a great way to spread the culture to campus, and open the door to students interested in the
culture and joining the club. While game nights can help the group bond. This month La Hispanidad is hosting an on campus event known as Salsa Night. The event is open to all interested students. Attending this event will open student’s eyes to what the Hispanic culture is all about. For any students looking to get in the groove and learn some Spanish dance moves, this is the place for you to be. Salsa night will be taking place on Oct. 14 from 6-9 p.m. at the 63’s patio. The rain location will be in the University Commons Theater, same night, and same time. Not only is the club hosting this culture-based evening of Salsa dancing, but they are working towards planning a colloquium. The colloquium is planned to be the main club event for spring. It is going to be an educational event to spread world culture awareness to students. “Our current idea is to teach the Sacred Heart community the immigration process in becoming a legal citizen,” said Colon. If you are interested in joining La Hispanidad the next meeting will be held on Oct. 7 at 9 pm in UC 110. Also keep an eye out for information on their events through global emails.
October 7, 2015
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Features
Features | 7
The Odyssey at Sacred Heart
Online journalism site gives internship credit to students BY KYRA DERSARKISSIAN Staff Reporter Looking to be a part of something that exists at over 450 communities nationwide? Launched in 2014, The Odyssey is an online platform for the millennial generation that empowers its 3,500+ writers to contribute and share what matters most to them and what they find most relevant. “Writing for The Odyssey is unlike any other type of writing I have done. It falls along the lines of creative writing, but it’s different in the sense that the topics are so relatable to everyday life. It’s so cool to be able to write about online shopping, an 8 a.m., or even a dorm room,” said sophomore Alyson Gannon, a writer for The Odyssey. Students write weekly articles that fall under several different subcategories and formats such as: lists, 500 word pieces, open letters, news and sports. “We have lifestyle pieces and news pieces. 30 percent of our pieces have to cover the news and the rest can be whatever,” said senior Editor-in-Chief Margaret Bortner. More flexible than most news sources, The Odyssey gives students the opportunity to express themselves freely with less restriction while still providing prime information
to its audience. “It differs from basic news because it touches on topics more than just what’s going on around school. It’s more of things that are nationally relevant; there are no barriers for how far you can take the article, which is cool. I always encourage students to use situations that you find in your everyday life to give you inspiration for what you want to write about,” said Bortner. Different than any other journalism organization on campus, writing for The Odyssey is considered an internship, which requires students to be hired. “We go through an interview process where students submit a sample article that could possibly be on The Odyssey website. After analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, I can accept them as a hire,” said Bortner. The Odyssey at Sacred Heart is made up of 26 writers of all ages and social backgrounds. According to the CEO of The Odyssey Evan Burns, “We believe that you don’t have to be a certain age to be successful. So many times in corporate America they say, ‘You have to have this much experience. You have to have this many years of something to do, something that matters.’ And one of the big things for us is, it doesn’t
matter how old you are,” The Odyssey is strictly online which makes circulation through social media key. Writers share their articles via Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in hopes to get a high number of shares. “The best articles of the week receive 20 dollars which gives students incentive to get people going with the sharing,” said Bortner. The Odyssey works with schools across the country, sharing articles and promoting each other as individual writers. Each Odyssey association has a student editor-inchief, and an editing team as well as a managing editor that works with several schools within the area. “Working with students at Sacred Heart has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me as their Managing Editor. They produce quality articles ranging from current events to lifestyle to humor,” said The Odyssey Managing Editor, Lauren Peacock. “Their dedication and work ethic will take them far in any career path they choose and it has been nothing but an honor to work with them on a weekly basis. I can’t wait to see how they succeed in the future.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ODYSSEY WEBPAGE
Career Development’s Annual Career Fair BY JORDAN VENTURA Staff Reporter Interested in finding an internship or full time job after college? Then the career fair is the spot for you. It will be taking place in the main gym of the William H. Pitt Center. Students will have the chance to connect with employers such as First Investors, Boehringer Ingelheim, BIC Corporation, and many more. Sacred Heart University will be hosting their annual career fair on Oct. 14 from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. This is the first year that the career fair will be taking place in the fall rather than the spring and students are encouraged to go. Michael Twerago, the Associate Director of Career Placement, wants students to understand that this will be the only career fair of the year. “This year we are concerned about the turnout of the students only because the fair falls after Columbus Day weekend. We want to really get the message out that this is the one career fair that we are having this year. We don’t want students to think that there is going to be another one in the spring because this is going to be the major career fair that we have,” said Twerago. The career fair is aimed to attract students of all different majors and class years because there are going to be a variety of employers attending. “All majors and all class years are invited to come. We also invite graduate students and alumni as well,” said Twerago. The setup of the fair is going to be relaxed and easy to navigate. Students will have the opportunity to visit as many employers of their choosing and freely roam the gym to search for companies of their interest. Twerago says that Sacred Heart is expecting to get up to 100 employers, “They are going to be set up in rows so that it is very easy to manage. Students will be able to walk through and take a look at all the employers rather than being stuck congregating in a specific area.” Students are looking forward to the upcoming career
TRACY DEER-MIREK/SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
A SACRED HEART STUDENT WEIGHS HER OPTIONS AS SHE LOOKS FOR OPPROTUNITIES DURING LAST YEAR’S CAREER FAIR
fair and show excitement that this is a chance for them to meet with big time employers and make professional connections. “I think that the career fair is a great opportunity for us to be able to connect with these employers for potential future internships or jobs. Not only do juniors and seniors need to attend, but younger classes can also go and get the experience as well. I also think it also helps us get an idea of what we may be interested in doing with our future,” said sophomore Chris Tumio. For this year’s fair, the directors of career placement
have taken the time to contact employers around the area that they feel are worth while for the students. “This past year we had over 700 students attend and over 100 employers which were both our largest numbers ever,” said Twerago. “We currently have 82 employers signed up. Our goal this year was to cut down employers there and focus on getting quality employers for our students to meet with rather than quantity.”
8 | A&E
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
October 7, 2015
Arts & Entertainment Artist Corner
TINA TURECHEK 2016 / SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY
“LEAP OF FAITH”- COLORED PENCILS ON COLORED CANON PAPER
“Tested” f0r Greatness
A Screening of the Documentary with Curtis Chin
BY LISA CARBONE Staff Reporter
On Sept. 29, Sacred Heart University screened the documentary film “Tested” as part of the Human Journey Colloquia series. “This film is about the high stakes testing in New York schools and it’s a big system. Not only are kids tested, but the American educational system is tested, and a just society is also being tested,” said Jim Carl, Dean of the College of Education. According to the Sacred Heart University website, the film’s plot focuses on the admission process of one of New York City’s most prestigious public schools. The film follows different eighth grade students, all of whom are under different socio-economic conditions, as they fight for one of the limited seats in one of the wellrespected schools. The film also includes commentary from two esteemed education experts, Pedro Noguera and Diane Ravitch, who discussed their views on the controversial topic. Some Sacred Heart students who attended the screening
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thought the film was well done and portrayed a powerful message. “I enjoyed ‘Tested.’ It is such an important topic that was tackled well in the film,” said senior Caroline Cacciola. The film centers around the realities of lower-middle class families who wish for their children to have better educations for a low price. “It was amazing. It should be mandatory for kids to see not just here, but worldwide. I am happy awareness was brought to this and it was informative,” said junior Kerry Suvak. The film provided some students with the shocking facts and realities of the expectations of today’s public educational systems. “It was an informative film. I could never handle the kind of pressure these kids are under in middle school,” said sophomore Donna Messina. Following the screening, a question and answer session concluded the presentation, hosted by the film’s writer and director, Curtis Chin. Chin discussed his opinion on many issues that arose during the film and answered questions concerning interest
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in the film and it’s main plot. “The problem is there are so few options for these kids. But then you have to wonder, are these special schools the best education for these kids. The poor and immigrant families were shown to put more pressure on their kids, but what happens if they don’t,” said Chin. “The New York City Public School System gives kids a choice. They don’t necessarily have to go to the nearby schools.” Chin was a graduate of the University of Michigan. He was the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the San Diego Asian American Film Foundation. Appearing on MSNBC, CNN, and NPR, as well as in Newsweek and other media outlets, Chin has also given talks about the film to over 400 universities across the United States and abroad. “Tested” will soon be shown at the White House, in addition to at some film festivals as well. However, it is not currently known which film festivals will show it at this time. For more information about the film and how to donate to the film’s cause, head to www.testedfilm.com.
SHUSpectrum Newspaper
@SHUSpectrum
October 7, 2015
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Arts & Entertainment
A&E | 9
Fetty Wap, Thomas Rhett, and Disclosure A Look Into Their New Albums
BY BRITTANY EGER
Staff Reporter
AP PHOTO
THIS CD COVER IMAGE RELEASED BY 300 ENTERTAINMENT BELONGS TO THE SELF-TITLED ALBUM FOR FETTY WAP.
Rhett said the album “Tangled Up” was inspired by his wife and that the songs are easy for anyone to enjoy or relate to. “I’ve seen him twice in concert. Every time he blows me away. You get the country feel at his concert and he plays the guitar. I really love this album because it has very personable songs about his wife. ‘T- Shirt’ has a really great beat to it and its my favorite song on the album,” said McDonough. The energetic and electric dance album “Caracal” by electronic music duo Disclosure features some of the group’s newest songs including “Omen,” “Magnets,” and “Good Intentions.” The album features a smaller range of techno music, including songs that sound similar to previous tracks. “I listened to Magnets because iTunes said it was the most popular song on their album. I liked it but it sounds like something I’ve already heard before, nothing special,” said senior Kaitlin Pupa. Howard and Guy Lawrence, the English DJ duo behind Disclosure, are also brothers. The album features a number of collaborations including work with The Weeknd, Sam Smith, Lorde, Gregory Portner, Lion Babe, Kwabena Adjepong and Miguel Jontel Pimentel. “My favorite song on the album is ‘Omen’ featuring Sam Smith. It’s a song I can actually see myself listening to,” said Pupa. “Fetty Wap,” “Tangled Up,” and Caracal” are available now for digital download on iTunes and other online music sellers as well as physical CD.
EDGERTON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
On Sept. 25 three new albums were released by some of this year’s most popular artists. They included Fetty Wap’s self titled album, Diclosure’s new release “Caracal,” and Thomas Rhett’s most recent album “Tangled Up.”
“My favorite song from Fetty’s new album is ‘Trap Queen.’ I think for people who enjoy this genre it’s a good album but I’m more of a country fan so it’s not that great to me. When he comes on the radio I listen, but I don’t go out of my way to listen to him otherwise,” said junior Elizabeth McLean. Fetty Wap, a hip- hop artist, has become popular especially among young listeners. He can be heard on college campuses across the country. “Its fun music and not typical rap or hip hop because you can actually understand what he’s saying and he really sings,” says McLean. The album “Fetty Wap” features collaborations with artists Monty and M80, and includes 17 tracks including his biggest hits, “Trap Queen,” “My Way,” “679,” and “Again.” Thomas Rhett’s new album “Tangled Up” gives an extremely modern pop feel to the more traditional country music. According to Taste of Country, some critics claim that this album shouldn’t even be considered to be a country album and that Rhett has been taking a more popular approach to his most recent music. “I agree with what critics are saying, it’s not as country as it could be. Some songs could fall into the pop category,” said junior Taylor McDonough. Despite the criticism, the artist said the 13 song-album is true to who he is. “There is nothing fake about this record,” said Rhett in an interview. Featured on the album is his top hit single “Crash and Burn.” His other releases include “T-Shirt,” “Tangled,” and “Die a Happy Man.”
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ALL Students are welcome to audition for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas! Sunday October 18 | 6pm - 9pm | Edgerton Theatre Vocal Auditions | 6pm - 7:30pm | Prepare a song of your choice, and bring the music for the accompanist to play Movement & Dance Auditions | 7:30pm - 9pm | Wear appropriate shoes
10 | Sports
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
October 7, 2015
Sports
Wrestling Coaches Prepare To March To Madison Square Garden BY OSEDEBAMEN IMEOKPARIA Staff Reporter
The Sacred Heart University wrestling coaching staff came up with a creative way to raise money for the wrestling team. They will embark on a 60-mile run Oct. 22-24 from the Sacred Heart campus to Madison Square Garden in New York City. Yes, that’s correct, a 60-mile run. Head Coach Andy Lausier and Assistant Coach Derek Moore are more than ready for the task. Lausier is heading into his fourth year as the head coach of the wrestling team at Sacred Heart, and Moore is heading into his third season. Each year together they have seen the program progress. “When I got here in 2012 the program was in really rough shape. And one of the biggest problems was that it was financially broke. We didn’t have a dollar to our reserve account,” said Lausier. “Over the course of three years we have been able to bring in close to $200,000 to help advance the program through the generosity of major gifts.” The money from the gifts put towards the team’s expenses. The reserve account started to take a dip down, so another way to raise money needed to be put into place. “I didn’t want to do a golf outing, I didn’t want to do
something that was heavily administrative. So I decided maybe I could come up with a creative way to have a possible fundraiser,” said Lausier. “Then I said ‘hey, can we run from Sacred Heart to Madison Square Garden where NCAA’s are being held this year?’ as a way to raise money where people can pledge per mile.” Lausier and Moore not only want to raise money for the team, they want their journey to inspire the wrestling team and bring some attention to the Pioneers. “We are really hoping that we are going to have a qualifier or qualifiers this year. We hope this gives them that extra boost of confidence, as well just shining a spot like on Sacred Heart Wrestling,” said Lausier. “We have such an awesome story this program is a great underdog, those that hear about our story, the more that’ll become connected to our program.” The wrestlers on the team are inspired from the coach’s actions. “A lot of us are trying to get to Madison Square Garden ourselves for nationals in March. They are going to do it over three days and we’re going to do it over a whole season,” said junior Conan Schuster. “It shows their commitment to us as coaches. It’s not like they are just coming in the office trying to get through the day. They go over the top with everything they do,” said junior Casey Mitchell. Already the event has had a positive effect on the pro-
PlaybyPlay Women’s Volleyball 10/4 SACRED HEART 3, Bryant 2
Women’s Soccer
10/2 Bryant 1, Sacred Heart 0 10/4 Fairleigh Dickinson 4, Sacred Heart 2
gram. The recruiting has seen positive feedback from the kids and parents that stop by the campus. “We are having official visits every weekend so we had the opportunity to talk to a lot of the recruits and families. One message that’s been pretty cool that I’ve received is a lot of parents are saying this is a place where we want our son to come, because if you’re willing to do this for your program you’re willing to do anything,” said Lausier. When it comes to preparing for the journey, Lausier and Moore have increased the number of miles they run every week. “We’re going to run at an eight minute and 30 second mile pace,” said Lausier. “Throughout the week we run anywhere from four to eight miles per day, then you throw in one big day per week, so that’s where you go above your 10 miles, so about 12, 14 or 16 miles.” To stay up-to-date on Lausier and Moore’s journey on Oct.22-24, fans can follow via Twitter and Instagram on the official accounts of Sacred Heart Athletics, @SHUBigRed. In addition, fans can follow @SHUWrestling on Twitter for updates. Fans can also visit Sacred Heart University Wrestling on Facebook. “I am so fascinated and excited about this next step in our program life line and I think this is kind of a cool way to kick it off.” said Lausier.
COMINGup Field Hockey
SACRED HEART (2-7) VS Siena (1-9) Friday 7 p.m.
Men’s Ice Hockey SACRED HEART (0-0) @ Union (0-0) Friday, 7 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse Set To Compete For A Cause BY ANTHONY SANTINO Asst Sports Editor
The regular season may not be imminent, but the Sacred Heart men’s lacrosse team is going to find the back of the net this fall, and for a good cause. On Oct. 11, the team is set to compete in the ‘Northeast Classic – Faceoff Against Cancer’ in Braintree, Mass. It brings together Division I lacrosse programs from in and around the northeast to play scrimmages and raise money for cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass. Started in 2008 by a husband and wife—Ryan and Kelly Curtis—the classic was inspired by one of Ryan’s lacrosse players at the University of Vermont who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Ryan has been coaching the program since 2006. “We know that cancer does not discriminate and it doesn’t care how old someone is,” said Kelly. “We set out to inform as many young adults as possible about the importance of cancer screening and prevention.” Participation in the Northeast Classic has become an annual tradition for Sacred Heart head coach Jon Basti. He first competed in it while working as an assistant coach at the University of Hartford in 2010. When he took the
reins of the men’s program at Sacred Heart in 2013, Basti continued the tradition—this time as a head coach. For Basti, the event is useful in giving everyone a chance to play, as well as for allowing him to see where his team stands next to other programs. However, helping the cause is his main motivation for making the trip to Mass. each year. “The competition is great, but we can get competition anywhere,” said Basti. “You are playing for more than just the team that day. You are playing for a bigger cause—one that is bigger than what we are doing,” Basti’s players are also looking forward to the Northeast Classic, as it is a good opportunity to play against other teams competitively before the regular season. “It is the first time our team plays at the Division I level [for the school year], and we have a lot of new guys on the team, so it is the first time we get to play together,” said senior Chase Godfrey. Although they partake in the event for charity and not to improve their spot in the standings, Sacred Heart’s players take competing in the event seriously. “We approach these scrimmages just like a regular game,” said senior Alex Dodge. “The classic has a lot of good teams, and anyone could beat anyone. It’s just really competitive.” Besides the Northeast Classic, the team partakes in other
charitable efforts throughout the year—most notably the Wounded Warrior Project. “That’s a big cause for us; something we work with year round,” said Basti. “We’ll do our ‘Wounded Warrior’ game in the spring, we’ll have some t-shirt sales—things like that.” This past March, men’s lacrosse took on Vermont for the WWP game, having edged them 21-17. Another popular effort the team undergoes is their “Battle Beards Against Cancer” campaign. It sees the players grow out their facial hair for a period of time, and people who want to support can purchase a ‘Battle Beards’ bracelet from the lacrosse office for five dollars. The team also does a similar campaign in the spring for the WWP. “We have a lot of guys on our team—and people in our families—that are in the military, or are veterans, so our guys are really excited and proud to be part of that venture as well,” said Basti. With the winter months ahead, freshmen to assimilate, and a Division I schedule on the horizon, Sacred Heart men’s lacrosse has work to get done. Competing in the Northeast Classic – Faceoff Against Cancer should be beneficial in getting them ready for tasks they will be faced within the upcoming season. Raising money for a worthy cause in the process is not so bad, either.
11 | Sports
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
October 7, 2015
Sports
Men’s Cross Country Sweeps Fairfield Invitational BY CHRIS CAIOZZO Staff Reporter
The Sacred Heart men’s cross country team ran in the Fairfield University Victor F. Leeber Invitational on Saturday Sept. 25. The Pioneers took first, second and third place as red shirt senior Sean Ferguson took first, and sophomores Trevor Guerrera and Timothy Loehner took second and third place, respectively. Their main competition was Fairfield, but other teams were at the meet like Wagner, Concordia and New Haven. Ferguson becomes the sixth Sacred Heart runner in the men’s cross-country programs history to win this title, and his third individual title this year. He completed this course in 26:27.99. “It was pretty cool,” said Ferguson. “It really has historical significance, and now I really feel focused.” Sacred Heart tied the Stags with 30 points but won a tiebreaker, which is won by comparing in order the place finish of each of the five scoring members. “I was pretty happy,” said Guerrera. “We were missing our fourth and fifth runners to injury/illness this weekend, and other guys really stepped up.” Throughout the first half of the race, the three of them Photo Credit: Stan Godlewski ran side by side, but the second half Ferguson took the lead FAIRFIELD’S DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GENE DORIS AND REV. CHARLES H. ALL, S.J. PRESENTS SEAN FERGUSON THE TEAM TROPHY. to an easy victory. Looking at the team this year, Ferguson is the only winning the award this year. He is a perfect three for three, “Tim and I worked together the whole race,” said upperclassman while the rest is made up of freshman and with Northeast Conference awards and races run this year. Guerrera. sophomores. This is a big year for Ferguson, last year he was out with As Guerrera only beat Loehner by a second, Loehner “We have a lot of depth, and the team has improved a lot an injury. said, “Trevor led the first half, and I finished.” this year substantially from last year,” said Guerrera. Last year, Guerrera and Loehner would most of the time The Pioneers were short handed this weekend, but that All three of them said that the future is bright, it is a finish first and second in races, so they are used to the high didn’t mean anything as sophomores Bryan Reilly and really young team and their outlook is very optimistic. pressure. They told me they are so happy to have Ferguson Michael Giambrone both did better on their individual After a weekend off, their next challenge is the 103rd back as the pressure is off their backs a little. placement over the last two miles to give the Pioneers the Annual New England Cross Country Championships, Look forward to big things out of these three for the next victory. which will take place next Saturday, Oct. 10 in Franklin two seasons and for Guerrera and Loehner the next three “It doesn’t get any closer,” said head coach Christian Park in Boston, Mass. seasons. Morrison. “Bryan and Mike really came up big for us to They predicted they will do a lot better then last year, as Also, look out for Reilly and Giambrone who really seal the victory.” one of the toughest teams that will be there is Providence, stood out this weekend, normally they place sixth and Reilly and Giambrone finished 10th and 15th as they are a nationally ranked team. seventh but really showed up this past weekend placing respectively, who again helped hold off a tough Fairfield Ferguson who is the captain was named Northeast fourth and fifth for the Pioneers. team. Conference Athlete of the Week. This is his third time
Women’s Cross Country Pitches Shutout BY TOM PETICCA Staff Reporter
Photo Credit: Stan Godlewski
FAIRFIELD DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GENE DORIS AND REV. CHARLES H. ALLEN, S.J. PRESENT THE TEAM TROPHY TO CAPTAINS ALEXANDRA KAESLIN, CYNTHIA GRAY, AND SHANNON HICKEY.
On Saturday Oct. 26 at the 38th annual Fairfield University Victor F. Leeber Cross Country Invitational, the Sacred Heart women’s cross country team had an impressive performance. The Pioneers swept the race by finishing the first five runners as well as having eight total Pioneers finish in the top 10. This was the first Pioneer team to ever shutout a race. “We ran really smart that day,” said senior captain Shannon Hickey. Hickey finished first overall amongst the women with a time of 19:18:99. This is the first time Hickey won a title
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while at Sacred Heart. For this performance Hickey was also honored with receiving the Northeast Conference Athlete of the Week. This is the second time Hickey received this honor this season. Rounding up the top five for the Pioneers was sophomore Tara Connelly running a 19:23:27, senior Alexandra Kaeslin who finished with a time of 19:35:47, junior Jennifer Hahne who ran a 19:41:84, and junior Molly Barker who had a time of 19:44:59. Other Pioneers in the top 10 were junior Meghan Hutch, and freshman Emma Cary. “It really shows how talented our team is,” said Connelly. “It definitely shows off our depth.” “We really work off of each other well,” said Kaeslin. The teams dominating performance has landed them at a number 15 spot in the northeast rankings. This is the first time that the U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, or USTFCCCA, has ranked the Pioneers in three straight weeks in the history of the program. “It is very cool to be ranked in so many consecutive weeks,” said Hickey. “Since our freshman year we have not been ranked this many times so it is very exciting,” said Connelly. “To be ranked this early in the season is very exciting for us,” said Kaeslin. “It certainly shows we have some potential.” These Pioneers have accomplished many firsts. They had their first ever season opening win at the Stony Brook Invitational. They have placed first in two of their first three races and have a second place finish at the Bryant cross country invitational on Sept. 12.
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While off to a great start the Pioneers hope to keep that going as they head into some much bigger races as the season goes on. On Oct. 10, Sacred Heart will travel to Boston for the 103rd Annual New England Cross Country Championships. This race will have over 100 racers from across New England. This will be a much bigger race than the previous three but the team still believes that they can compete and perform very well. “I am not sure we can finish one, two, oe three again,” said Connelly. “We can definitely perform very well though, there is going to be a lot more competition.” In addition to this weeks big race, the girls are looking forward to their big race on Oct. 31. That race will be the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championship in R.I. This is an event that the team has won each of the past two seasons and they have it circled on their calendar again this year. “We are definitely looking forward to the NEC championship again this year,” said Connelly. The Pioneers do have three more races they need to take care of before the big conference championships. After the New England Cross County Championships the Pioneers have the University of Albany Cross Country Invitational, the Central Connecticut State University Mini Meet. This season has a lot of potential for this Sacred Heart team. An early season regional ranking and a few dominating performances to start this season has the teams confidence extremely high. It should be a very exciting finish to the season for this team.
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October 7, 2015
The Sacred Heart Spectrum
Sports
SENIOR NICK FAIRLEY POSES DURING THE PIONEERS’ WOUNDED WARRIOR GAME LAST SEASON
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