January/February 2023 Issue

Black student leaders react to “The Embrace”

On Jan. 13, the City of Boston unveiled a new monument in Boston Common to honor the relationship between Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The sculpture commemorates a photo captured in 1964 of King embracing his wife after receiving a Nobel Peace Prize.

The sculptor, Hank Willis Thomas, is an American conceptual artist whose design was selected and funded by Embrace Boston in 2017. Thomas’ design for “The Embrace” was chosen over 125 alternatives, and now rests in front of the Freedom Plaza in the outskirts of the Boston Common.

However, many were unhappy with some creative decisions made by Thomas, expressing the exclusion of the couple’s heads created an ambiguous look to the sculpture that undermined its true meaning. Some went as far as saying the sculpture looked inappropriate from certain angles.

CNN and the New York Times are a few of the sources that reported the criticism, including comments from Seneca Scott, a community organizer in Oakland, California, and Scott King’s cousin, who told CNN the monument was ‘insulting to his family.’

On campus, student leaders in clubs and organizations like Black Student Association (BSA) and Multicultural Student Union (MSU), spoke about their initial reactions and what the monument means to them.

Egypt Garland, President of MSU, said she first saw the monument on social media but its importance was not highlighted. “When I first saw the sculpture, I witnessed it on social media as a joke in the sense that it looked like something inappropriate…

out of all things you could have symbolized the two people you decided to make something that looked kind of like oddly shaped,” Garland said.

Lynn Hilton, President of BSA agreed. “At first, I thought it was a mockery because I was confused by the statue itself in the shape and form of why the sculptor chose that,” Hilton said. “I can’t explain it, it just didn’t correlate that that story was going to then be the love and embrace of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott.”

While the sculpture has received backlash, Garland appreciates the meaning behind wanting to represent this time in history. “That was definitely a rough time in life and the fact that they want to celebrate it is pretty beneficial to me,” Garland said. Despite this, Garland wishes Thomas “paid a lot more attention to what they could have been doing and benefitting and listening to the people and what they want the sculpture to look like.”

However, when it comes to diversity in the city as a whole, the sculpture is only a small piece of a much larger puzzle. While having monuments to appreciate black stories is important, Hilton emphasized the importance of having other resources in place to serve the same purpose. “Not everyone has the opportunity to come visit a statue or have public knowledge to the internet to read the stories that we have, and so I think it’s important that we start in our education system, and really teach children about who Martin Luther King Jr. was and not a whitewashed interpretation, but rather what the statue is trying to encapsulate,” Hilton said.

Students of popular majors disappointed with career fair

The Spring Career and Internship Fair took place Thursday, Jan. 26 in de Witt Hall. The Career Center signed in 95 students representing the five schools that were given the opportunity to speak with representatives from over 30 companies.

According to U.S. News, Lasell’s top four majors include Communication, Sport and Fitness Administration, Criminology, and Fashion Merchandising.

Director of the Center for Career Readiness and Internship Programs Donnell Turner said that several faculty members encouraged students to attend the fair.

“...Dean [Lori] Rosenthal played a significant role in encouraging students from [Humanities, Education, Justice, and Social Sciences] to attend the event. Also, Professor Dina Tanvuia brought her entire class to

the fair,” Turner said.

Students said the fair had shortages of recruiters in some popular majors on campus, including the School of Fashion.

Junior fashion media and marketing major, Amelia Capron attended the career fair and was disappointed with the outcome.

“Since the fashion world can be cliquey it might have been hard to have someone come down, or a few people come down, but I know that as a fashion major we get emails about internship opportunities or job opportunities. So they could have gotten any of those brands or companies or businesses to come down to promote that,” Capron said.

Sophomore graphic design major Erin Tilley attended the fair with high hopes that there would be something there for her. The

department she is in wasn’t specifically lacking, but many of the tables did not line up with what she expected. “I think I had higher expectations than what actually happened. For me. I printed out about 10 resumes. Just to be safe. I updated it and everything. And I think I didn’t even give one in so it didn’t go very well,” Tilley said. The event did offer options for graphic design majors, but Tilley stated she felt overwhelmed and couldn’t approach many tables.

Turner said the goal of the event was to work with the deans and internship coordinators of each program to create an “invitation-only employer registration list.”

“Nevertheless, our post-event evaluation will inevitably still reveal dissatisfaction with our carefully cultivated employer guest list,” Turner said.

One way Turner said the student experience could be improved in the future is by partnering with the SGA Senate.

“I believe incorporating our constituents’ voice into how the employer invite list is developed will reflect what students want and, ultimately, increase student attendance,” Turner said.

Turner said hosting more events like this could offer more opportunities to students, and that he will use feedback from the community to better the experience in the years to come.

“I take our students’ and employer partners’ feedback seriously and will use the observations provided by [students] to direct our next in-person event,” Turner said.

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

PHOTO BY PAYTON HEBERT

HARLEY LACARDO

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

REBECCA OSOWSKI & PAYTON HEBERT

The new monument, “The Embrace,” is located in the Boston Common and has been open for the public to view since Jan. 13.

Various companies host tables at the Spring Career and Internship Fair where they speak with students seeking interest in job opportunities.

Senior Eric Robinson speaks with a recruiter hosting a table at the Spring Career and Internship Fair.

Student journalists: See it from our angle

& Editorial

Are DIII sports worth playing?

KAIT BEDELL

Yes: Division III is the runt of the litter. We pay for most of our own gear. We aren’t offered as many resources as other divisions. We don’t go on any fancy trips, we fundraise all of our money ourselves, and we share our locker rooms with other teams. It’s exhausting, it’s time-consuming, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Playing lacrosse and field hockey at a Division III school has allowed me to meet some of my favorite people in the world while also pursuing both of the sports I love. For me, athletics is an outlet. Having the space to get out all of your stress and competitive nature is so important. If I have a bad day, I get to take it out on the field. Even when I’m not in the mood to go to practice, I always walk away feeling better after.

College athletics teaches you the discipline and work ethic that you will need for the rest of your life. Not every day is going to be perfect, but the act of showing up and being responsible every day is an important life skill that everybody should come out of college with. Athletics teaches you how to manage your time, hold yourself accountable,

and collaborate well with others. In addition to the life skills Division III athletics sets you up with, it also enables athletes to make many lifelong connections. The bond that you form with teammates and coaches is long-lasting and helps to grow your network for future opportunities. Being on a team is having a support group twenty-four-seven, and always having a table to sit at in the dining hall. Having twenty built-in best friends is the kind of support I hope everybody can find in their lifetime.

Aside from all the clear benefits of playing Division III sports, the most special part about the division is the raw passion. All of the athletes in Division III are there out of pure love for the game. There are no scholarships on the line. Nobody is depending on the sports to pay for college, and nothing is forcing you to be there. Although there can be pressure with any athletics team, Division III allows individuals to showcase their talent without it being a full-time job, which is something the other divisions don’t offer.

ADVISOR’S ADAGE Join The 1851 Chronicle!

DAN ATKINSON faculty advisor

Investigations into campus safety. Explanations of decreases in student aid. Celebrations of the latest Laser victory.

This is what the staff of the 1851 Chronicle works on every month -- and you can be a part of it.

Whatever your talents and interests, there’s a role for you at the Chronicle. Writers, editors, photographers and artists come together to cover every aspect of life at Lasell, and do it on their own terms.

As advisor to the Chronicle, I give tips and guidance to the staff. But the paper is entirely student-run, from story selection to the final copyedit. There’s no better way to learn the ropes of journalism -- and to get real experience and clips or portfolio pieces that can help you get a job -- than to do it day in and day out, and to work with and learn from your peers.

We’re always looking for new voices and perspectives to let us fully showcase all the news Lasell has to offer. So if you’re interested, reach out online at the1851chronicle@gmail.com or come by the Chronicle office on the second floor of the Arnow Center -- the staff meets at 2 p.m. every Tuesday. We hope to see you there!

As you flip through the pages of this newspaper, it only takes a few minutes of your time. You pick up the paper off the stand, give it a glance to see if you know anybody in the pictures, and maybe read a story or two if it captures your attention. But for us, the hope of that story or two capturing your attention means everything. For us, it’s more than just a story. Being a student journalist is about connecting our community and highlighting the things that are important. You see a couple photos and some headlines, but what you don’t see is everything behind those stories.

What you don’t see is the countless hours we spend trying to come up with new topics that will interest people around campus. We spend weeks talking to people we’ve never met before and writing the perfect stories. We cram interviews in between classes and stay up all night laying out the newspaper instead of hanging out with friends. We give ourselves extra homework every single week. We edit countless stories for grammar and fluidity, and we spend days coming up with a headline that is catchy. Every photo perfectly placed and textbox nitpicked apart. We have 20 different sets of eyes laid on every single page until there couldn’t possibly be a mistake. Inevitably, there always is one, though, and it is always pointed out to us by somebody who reads the paper. Being a student journalist is not easy. It’s a lot of grunt work and very little recognition. There are a lot of late nights, it’s a lot of stress, and it is a lot of extra work added on to our busy schedules. But the people in our community are what make it worth our while.

You are the ones that remind us why we do it. We do it for the smile on your faces when we write about something that is important to you. We do it to watch you all be proud when you see your name printed in the paper. We live for knowing your attention was grabbed by that one story or two as you’re flipping through the paper. Not every single story is going to be a hit. Not every one of our issues are going to be the best one ever printed, but the ones that are make it all worth it. Your stories are what make Lasell so unique, and having the platform to be able to share them is what brings us joy. Without each of you, we would have nothing to write about. So thank you for teaching us what it means to be student journalists.

HARLEY LACARDO

1851 staff

No: As someone who grew up playing competitive sports, I can understand why others would keep it going into college no matter the level. But college is a time when students should be focusing on their future careers, and the skills needed to achieve that. As a DIII athlete, there is no chance you will be making it to the major leagues, so why put all your effort into something that isn’t going to benefit your future? Many athletes are unable to balance school, sports, internships, and jobs, and in many cases that leads to a lacking effort in one of these categories.

Although being a DIII athlete is nowhere near the amount of work it takes to be a DI athlete, it still consumes so much of your time. That makes it hard to balance the heavy workload that college brings, and to many coming to college is a big adjustment. This is the first time for many of us that we will be living almost independently. You have to learn to be your own boss and keep your priorities straight. I believe that athletes get lost in

their sport and as a result, their life becomes unbalanced. Grades may lack, or they might not get an internship when they are supposed to.

The best decision I ever made was quitting my sport. Attending a DIII school, I felt there was no reason to continue playing because I knew it wouldn’t carry into my future. I was able to focus more on my grades, jobs, clubs, and growing my social circle. I gained experience in jobs I wouldn’t have been able to do if I was still doing my sport, and with that experience, I can now add it to my resume to help me in my future endeavors.

Some may disagree with me and say it’s worth it because they are able to balance everything and make it work for them. But overall, even if you can balance it all, being a DIII athlete isn’t doing anything beneficial for you, other than giving you a group of friends for a couple of years until everyone continues on with their life, jobs, and families.

You think you know someone

MICHAEL CURRAN 1851 staff

Scrolling Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, or even watching movies and TV shows, you may be enamored by celebrities you see on your screen. Over the past couple of years, the phenomenon of parasocial relationships has become habitual for many social media users. To like a celebrity and follow them on social media is normal, but devoting all of your free time to following their every move is a bit overboard. Even though celebrities and influencers may be relatable to you, you don’t know them, and they are not your friends.

Psychology professor Sarabeth Golden describes parasocial relationships as “A one-sided relationship where one person perceives there to be some kind of relationship with another who’s typically a celebrity or a famous person.”

The relationships could be called a “one-way street” with one person following a celebrity’s every move through social media.

With the power and access of social media, you have access to celebrities’ everyday lives.

“People who have parasocial relationships just know a lot about what [celebrities] are doing, what they’re thinking, their attitudes, what they like to eat,” said Golden. “There’s just so much

more information out there, depending on the celebrity, I think because it’s become so normalized to put personal information out there into the universe through social media, we can identify with that.”

Parasocial relationships could be the first step into a very unhealthy obsession that could even turn into stalking. When influencers are vulnerable or relatable on social media it can be easy to connect with them, but it isn’t an invitation to get involved in their life.

People who have a parasocial relationship could be using this to cope with not finding connections with the people around them. Following this celebrity could make you feel like you are not alone. However, it’s important to remember that people on social media do not care for you, no matter how much you care for them. If your priorities and responsibilities like school, work, or your social life take a back seat to someone you haven’t even met, it may be time to take a break from social media. Connect with the people around you, spend time with your friends, and remember that there are people in real life that care about you more than the people on social media.

lasell university 1844 commonwealth avenue newton ma , 02466

co-editors-in-chief

Rebecca Osowski

Kaie Quigley

art director

Mike Maruk

copy editor

Pat Carbone

managing/news editor

Kait Bedell

opinion editor

Alexandra White

features editor

Samantha Vega-Torres

arts editor

Payton Hebert

print sports editor

LJ VP LaFiura

digital sports editors

Nico Manganiello

Karissa Gaughan

digital editors

Hanna Babek

Rayana Petrone

staff

Michael Curran

Harley LaCardo

Elliot Pototsky

illustrators

Caelan Watson

Pat Carbone

photographers

Joe Giacco

faculty advisor

Dan Atkinson

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAIT BEDELL

GRAPHIC BY CAELAN WATSON

Summer stipends offered for unpaid student interns

HANNA BABEK digital editor

The annual summer internship stipend is accepting applications from fulltime sophomores and juniors until Apr. 18. Students who apply for this stipend must meet a list of requirements, including having been accepted into an unpaid internship and enrolled in a summer internship course among other factors.

Terri Houston, Philanthropy and Engagement Officer, says the stipend “Levels the playing field for students who might have to work during the year and not have the opportunity to take on a semester-long internship.”

Past recipients agree that although applying can seem daunting, the outcome is worth the effort. 2022 recipient Ashley DiBattista, a senior sports management major, believes the stipend is worthwhile and encourages students to apply. She says, “I was kind of worried when I applied for it that I wouldn’t be considered for it. I figured a lot of people were applying for it, but honestly, it’s worth the risk.” She says, “You’re not gonna lose anything if you don’t apply for it.”

There are resources for students on campus to utilize while applying. DiBattista met with Jessica Orlando, Assistant Director of the Center for Career Readiness, for help. “She broke it down for me,” DiBattista said. “She helped me throughout the process and made it a lot easier.”

DiBattista used the stipend for an internship at Blue 57, a scouting and re -

cruiting agency for Division 1 football prospects. It was remote, so she used the stipend to pay the tuition of her summer internship course, with the remaining money going towards textbooks.

Another 2022 recipient, senior event management major Kaitlyn Gargas, had two unpaid internships at Entertainment

Advantages of asynchronous

KAIT BEDELL & ALEXANDRA WHITE managing / news editor & opinion editor

Online classes have become continuously accessible for students during registration. As Lasell adapted to COVID-19 with the use of online, asynchronous, and hybrid courses, some courses still continue to be offered for students in untraditional ways; even as we enter the endemic stage.

Hybrid classes typically occur twice a week with one class being in person, and the other being online through Zoom, or taught asynchronously. Provost Eric Turner said these classes have become increasingly popular for students.

“Overall, there is a student demand for online or remote alternatives,” said Turner. “That’s something that we’ve wanted to try to provide more of, to the extent that it is educationally appropriate to do it.”

Turner said the goal of continuing online learning is to provide accessible options for students and professors who may not be able to be in person on certain days. “I think we’ve got to continue to look at what’s the best way for us to deliver the best quality experience for students in terms of providing teaching,” Turner said.

Dean of Student Success Michelle Niestepski also said she thinks online learning can help students learn in a new environment. While Niestepski said online classes help to eliminate any “anxiety” that comes with being in a classroom, she also thinks it improves the courses themselves.

“I think it’s benefited students in addition to really being able to connect and hire instructors all across the United States…” Niestepski said. “So I

think it has been a benefit and I think faculty have done a great job of learning how to use Canvas.”

Niestepski said despite this style of learning, professors have been able to “flip the classroom” by getting students to lead online discussions.

Niestepski said the Deans of each school continue to assess how online learning may or may not improve the curriculum, and that it is something they will continue to discuss in the coming years.

Senior communications major Gianna Alviti believes hybrid classes can sometimes be inconvenient. “The hybrid classes are great, but depending on your professor and the course that you’re taking, the hybrid class times can be severely inconvenient,” Alviti said.

Alviti said while these classes can be difficult to plan around, they are still beneficial for students.

“For commuter students like me, or students who have to work while going to school, it offers them a range of flexibility in order to be financially stable, or essentially have more time to do schoolwork,” Alviti said.

Turner believes another benefit to hybrid classes is the flexibility it offers adjunct professors.

“[Students] can have access to a professor, particularly an adjunct professor, who you might not be able to be available for in-person classes,” said Turner. “The fact that you can give them a hybrid alternative, or an online alternative means we can get really high-quality folks.”

stipend, offers flexibility that students don’t have during the academic year. She said, “I would recommend applying because you just have more freedom in the summer. I feel like there’s more options.” She said, “I went into Boston and then went to Tennessee. I couldn’t do that if I was here during the year, just up and leave like that. So I just think there’s more opportunities in the summer.”

The stipend was introduced in 2013, when Donnell Turner, Director of the Center for Career Readiness and Internships met with a Lasell Village resident to discuss unpaid internships and their worth within career development. Turner said, “Because of the phenomenal work by Lasell’s Office of Advancement, an anonymous Lasell Village resident became the first donor of the Summer Internship Stipend program by supporting five students with $3000 stipends.”

Kaitlyn

used her stipend money for traveling to her internship at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Specialists and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The stipend paid for summer internship class, her commute to and from the Entertainment Specialists events, and the flights to and from the festival, which was held in Manchester, Tennessee.

Gargas said completing a summer internship, especially with the help of the

Since this first gift, two other donors have come forward and contributed money for the stipends; Sue Spadaccia ‘68, along with another anonymous donor. The Lasell University Board of Trustees matches these gifts, as well.

Students submit their applications by emailing it to the Center of Career and Internship Programs at dturner@lasell.edu, or hand it in to Donnell Turner on the top floor of the Edwards Student Center by 3:00 p.m. on Apr 18. The ten recipients will be contacted on May 8, 2023.

Pipe burst closes Boomer’s

Boomer’s Grill saw an eight-day closure following a flood which caused water damage in the dining area on Jan. 4.

The closure began after record cold temperatures caused a sprinkler line over the grill area to freeze. As the temperatures warmed up, the pipes thawed and burst open causing a disruption.

Boomer’s Grill is on the left side of the dining hall and is a location where students are able to get burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheeses, and various other fried foods. The site is open for late-night dining three nights a week, but was forced to close down as repairs took place.

Dining Hall Director Mike Quackenbush said the dining hall staff is “grateful to our team’s diligence during this time.”

As facilities worked to resolve the is -

sue, the dining hall staff worked to create other dining plans to relocate the grill until they were able to resume to Boomer’s.

“Our team was laser-focused on the health and safety of the Lasell community, quickly flexing for alternative dining and working hand-in-hand with university Facilities to make sure service could resume as quickly as possible,” Quackenbush said.

After cleaning up the flooded area and fixing the pipe that had burst, Boomer’s Grill was reopened on Feb. 13.

“We are happy that the cold snap was short-lived, and we look forward to warmer weather ahead,” Quackenbush said. “We thank the facilities team for all their hard work to get Boomer’s up and running.”

PHOTO BY KAIT BEDELL

Facilities work to fix the pipe that burst at Boomer’s Grill in Valentine Dining Hall.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAITLYN GARGAS

Gargas

KAIT BEDELL managing / news editor

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA WHITE

Senior event management major Sophia Oliveras attends a zoom class for Alan Ives’ News and Entertainment Marketing course.

PHOTO BY KAITLYN GARGAS

Gargas’s internship at Entertainment Specialists helped put on a free summer concert series at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Mobar: Hospitality’s unique offerings merit more hype

The university’s hospitality program is frustrated with the lack of advertising for their various program opportunities.

The marketing and admissions teams are what bring prospective students into the community, but the curriculum and opportunities are what make them stay.

When students are brought in to learn more about the school, the first thing they are given is a lot of generalized information regarding the different interests they have. Those who are looking to pursue specific majors will be given some background on that particular school, and will later be sent further information about the major.

This information consists of conversations between professors, deans, the marketing team, and admissions, according to Dean of Enrollment Chris Gray.

Gray said twice a year, the faculty in each program, as well as the dean and other associates, discuss any changes that have taken place within the school.

Gray said giving prospective students a lot of information right off the bat allows them to get ahead by knowing they are going into the right field.

“We want you to see what this major means for you and the connections that you can build in it,” Gray said. “And so we want to expose you right off the bat [and get] you in those courses…”

Assistant Hospitality and Event Management Professor Siddharth Mobar said the hospitality program has a lot to offer prospective students, which he would like to see advertised more.

“One of the things that our program, and I’ve mentioned this previously to admissions before, our program is the only program in the United States which offers a lot of certifications, professional industry certifications,” Mobar said. “Which are actually not being advertised or marketed [as] they’re supposed to.”

When it comes to advertising, analytics make it difficult for programs to receive equal attention, according to Christopher Lynett, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications.

“The marketing departments aren’t the ones that create demand. We’re the ones that fulfill it,” Lynett said. “So if people aren’t looking for it, we can’t jump up and down and say look over here.”

Since the pandemic, interest in hospitality nationwide has decreased, which is something Program Chair and Associate Professor Dina Tanvuia is aware of.

“There is definitely a decline in the number of students registering for the program. But this trend goes along with the national trend, you know, less and less students,” said Tanvuia.

Mobar said Lasell has a unique program compared to other schools nationwide which allows students to graduate with eight industry certifications.

“Graduates are well placed because they have these credentials which give them some specialized knowledge which their so-called competition means other students who are graduating even from [Boston University] or other places which offer hospitality programs do not have these credentials,” Mobar said.

Mobar believes in order for prospective students to know about the strength of Lasell’s program, they should be given more information upon their interest.

One way Mobar hopes to spread awareness about what the major has to offer is by including more of the certifications that are being offered in pamphlets and information packets, as well as showcasing student success stories more post-graduation.

Tanvuia also has some ambitious goals for the future of the program, including reaching out to high school hospitality programs and trying to bring in students internationally.

“So it is normal to have less students in the colleges. So my strategic point of view was that if we cannot have students here, nationally, we can bring them from abroad,” said Tanvuia.

Tanvuia has made connections with local high schools in the past that have led to applications and set up programs to establish relations with institutions abroad. Both are initiatives she plans to expand on in order to market the program and restore enrollment numbers.

Gray said the admissions team always encourages members within the community to reach out with any ideas they’d like to bring forward for prospective students.

“[I would] welcome any conversation, not just from professors but from any member of the community,” Gray said. “We want to be able to not only communicate what goes on here at Lasell, but also sort of tell everything that you’re not going to see in a book or even read just by looking at our website.”

BSA hosts book drive for homeless shelter Rosie’s Place

KARISSA GAUGHAN digital sports editor

The Black Student Association (BSA) hosted a drive from Jan. 23 to 31 to provide books to Rosie’s Place, a women’s shelter located in Boston. The shelter provides emergency food and shelter for more than 12,000 women every year.

Senior Anthony Berry, Program Chair for BSA, said the drive was the perfect way to kick-start the semester.

“Especially for the African American community… Women are the foundation for really, our community,” Berry said. “And Rosie’s Place is one of the biggest nonprofits in that realm that serves women the most.”

The Association placed boxes around campus including the Science and Technology Center, Dining Hall, Arnow Campus Center, and the Winslow Library, looking for whatever extra books people had to donate. Rosie’s Place organizes educational programs for the women seeking shelter there, and they will be able to utilize and take advantage of the books donated from Lasell’s campus.

“When we formed our e-board,

throughout the fall semester our focus was to give back to our community. We thought it best to start volunteer work, or to create awareness to organizations that could really benefit if we worked together. BSA is open to volunteer work and hope we’ll have the support from everyone in the Lasell community and greater Boston area,” said BSA President Jalynn Hilton.

Although the students haven’t been able to go there and meet the women face to face, they plan on going to see the impact they’ve made at the end of February, after the BSA Gala event. The association on campus says its goal is to eventually start a dialogue with them.

“That is the goal, to actually go there and see them face to face...have that, effective dialogue and say, ‘Hey, there’s somebody out here that actually cares about you don’t want anybody to really feel forgotten, especially within our organization,” said Berry.

One of the books that was donated was Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan

Hyde. It’s about a 12-year-old boy named Trevor McKinney in California who takes on his social studies teacher’s challenge of changing the world for the better. Trevor comes up with a plan to help three people in benefitting their lives, with the intention that those exact people will go out and do the same for someone else.

In the end, his idea of paying it forward hopes to bring out the best aspects of humanity.

“That’s literally what we’re trying to establish,” Berry said in regards to the book’s donation. “It was a great book [to have donated]... giving back to others is a part of growing as a young adult. Like we want to set good habits and set examples for future generations that are coming here. You know, just giving examples that shine a light to what a positive, young adult looks like,” said Berry.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIDDHARTH MOBAR

Students from the hospitality program take a trip as they learn in a hands-on environment.

PHOTO BY KARISSA GAUGHAN Rosie’s Place, the first women’s shelter in the country, aims to provide women a place to seek opportunity to better their lives.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATALIA PROFENNO

Hospitality students gather for a group photo with Professor Dina Tanvuia (center right) on a networking trip to Las Vegas last spring.

Change to late payment policy stuns students

KAIE QUIGLEY co - editor

chief

Before this semester commenced, hundreds of students were notified that if payment plans were not set up for their due balances, they would be unenrolled from all classes, and effectively kicked out of school.

Panic ensued for many upon hearing this declaration, whether over phone, email, or letter. Junior biochemistry major Connor Parker was one student of over five hundred that received this news. Parker was informed by his track and field coach earlier in the semester that there was a stop on his account that needed to be removed eventually.

“I don’t need to worry about any of that,” said Parker on his reaction to the news. “And then, like, two days later, I got another email from him being like, you need to get this done, or you’re getting kicked off campus and being unenrolled, and I was like, well, that’s news to me.”

The same message was given to all students in Parker’s situation. Pay the balance due on your account, or face the consequences. However, according to Dr. Chrystal Porter, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing, only those with due balances of $5,000 dollars or more were faced with this potential outcome, and students were made aware of the situation months in advance.

According to Parker, he had not been privy to these consequences prior to his coach telling him. Therefore, he was pressed to make moves on deadline day. “I remember getting some emails, like in October and November maybe, but like, that has no bearing on December in January, you know what I mean? Like, I’m not gonna remember an email I got two months prior about setting up a payment plan,” said Parker.

Parker said he called his father, and they worked together to contact the school, eventually clearing the stop.

“They actually had gotten back to my father before they even got back to me,” said Parker. “I was finding out kind of through the grapevine that I was fine, but it was kind of a scary day.”

Paying tuition is an inevitable part of attending an institution for most students. However, according to Porter, a problem that has plagued university finances in past years has been a comfortability and accepted culture of late payments in the student community. When it came down to the final day to pay, Porter said on average there were around five hundred students per semester that had not paid a portion of their bill or even discussed plans of payment with the school.

Therefore, the goal this semester was to expedite payments and make sure students had payment plans in place before starting back up. “I know, on the surface, it feels very aggressive,” said Porter, “but it was more to have the conversation with the institution, what’s your plan, and then that way we could, if people were having financial situations, be able to work that out and hear what the different circumstances were, again, not bumping into when the academic year starts.”

“Because what we experience on our side,” said Porter, “we’re not finding out until the bitter end… and then sometimes we’re limited on funds that we can give and what we’re able to do to help families.”

According to Porter, prior to this switch some students were being charged, or entering payment plans that were not beneficial. Due to lack of communication by some students, accounts were charged on that day regardless of the number on the statement.

“The institution is actually not against the student, we are actually for you,” said Porter. “Because if some of

these students cannot make those payments, and they’re registered in the courses, and the semester begins, now you are getting charged. So if there was any kind of circumstance that you, for whatever reason, actually may need to unenroll, because there is a very severe situation or something, you now are incurring even more debt, and something that you can’t pay.”

The change made was aimed to combat that issue by contacting students directly and establishing payment plans that ended in the school getting bills fulfilled while saving students money.

According to Porter, that is exactly what it accomplished. “Students started

responding. So that’s the good thing. Of course, I know I probably annoyed a lot of people in the beginning. But people could see that, okay, maybe I do need to answer. And then they were able to get a lot of things worked out.”

In the end, Porter said out of the approximate 500 students, only one student was unenrolled for this semester.

“And again, I didn’t get into this work to harm students. I got into this to make sure people get to the finish line. And the only way they’re gonna get there is if they have the information they need to make decisions, including the financial decisions,” said Porter.

Todd Graf starts anew as Assistant Registrar

career so I could focus on my education.”

Graf soon accepted a position as Office Manager and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration Management after previously completing his associates degree from Newbury College.

During his time in the Admissions Office, he interacted with current and prospective students on a daily basis. “I was the face of Hamel for nine years,” said Graf. “I sat in the reception area and handled the incoming traffic and all the campus visitors and potential students.”

Junior communications major, Maeve Willerup, works in admissions as a member of the Blue Key Society. Willerup has known Graf since she started working in the office last year. “He’s always been like the face of Admissions right when you walk in the door,” said Willerup. “He’s the first person you see, and the reason why is because he has such a beaming smile.”

Even though she no longer works with Graf in Admissions, Willerup still sees Graf at her job at the Registrar’s Office. “When he announced that he was going to be working in the Registrar’s Office, everyone was super bummed, but I was like, ‘Oh, I still get to see Todd almost every day,’” said Willerup.

desk saying that I made a difference.”

In the Admissions Office, Graf has been missed by students since he left. Junior exercise science major Katrina Abouzeid, member of the Blue Key Society, says Graf’s absence has been felt in the office. “It has been definitely sad for all of us to see him go, but we’re so happy for him to get such a great position in the Registrar’s Office,” said Abouzeid. “Now we’re having an Admissions Counselor sit at his desk, and we’re kind of just seeing where we can go from here and saying, ‘This is everything Todd did, who’s going to do it now?’”

After nine years, Graf left the Admissions Office for a change of pace. “I just wanted to learn something different and expand a little bit,” said Graf. This new role is different from his previous jobs and Graf enjoys the change in pace. “I’ve gone from being on the frontlines and dealing with a lot of logistics and running around to now managing a lot of data,” said Graf. “It’s very different and a nice change.”

Todd Graf left his position as Office Manager at the Admissions Office last month for his new job as Assistant Registrar in the Registrar’s Office. Graf worked in Admissions for over nine years as the Office Manager, where he provided administrative support and served as the Co-Supervisor of the Blue Key Society.

Prior to his position in Admissions, Graf

worked as an Office Manager Executive Assistant at Maguire Associates for ten years doing research consulting. Lasell was a client of Maguire Associates, where Graf met Vice President of Enrollment Management Kathleen O’Connor. “I discussed with her about completing my degree and it worked out at the perfect time,” said Graf. “I needed a little bit of change in my

Graf enjoyed working with students in the Admissions Office and watching them grow even after they left campus. “To see them grow professionally is just very rewarding…It’s hard after working with them for three years to see them go,” said Graf. “To have them come back is just amazing. The whole back of my desk was just covered in sticky notes from students. It just brought me joy to come to work every day, and to see a student leaving a kind note on my

Admissions Counselor and ‘20 Alumni Rosa Del Carmen Gomez has known Graf since she joined the Blue Key Society in 2017. “This is an incredibly important role and Todd made it look easy,” said Del Carmen Gomez. “We are going to miss him and his sunshine personality in the office. We are so proud of him and excited to see all he does with the Registrar’s Office.”

When Graf isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with friends and doing outdoor activities such as gardening, skiing, going to the beach, and traveling.

GRAPHIC BY PAT CARBONE

Todd Graf, who worked as Office Manager in the Admissions Office for nine years, now works as the Assistant Registrar in Potter House.

K.I.S.S

Keep it simple stupid. This mantra is applicable to several aspects of life, one of which being fashion.

Building a respectable wardrobe seems required at this institution. Whether internal or external, the pressure to understand and apply trends could not be more real at a fashion school. But with so much inspiration walking about, it’s hard to know what to fill your closet with.

Say you just found a patterned jacket at the thrift, and want to make a statement by wearing it out in Boston or around campus that week. What can help make that jacket the focal point of your fit, without leaving you looking flashy and tacky?

An aid towards that, in my view, is stocking up on plain, staple pieces. Not every piece of clothing you own has to pop. We all see pictures of celebs, influencers, and artists flashing their extravagant garments, but those pieces make up a small percentage of what you should wear day to day.

Focusing on rudimentary colors, textures, and designs will help round out your outfits. Invest in one-tone hoodies, t-shirts, pants, and more that can match with various other items. There are some clothing items every person should own. Don’t be one of the ones who doesn’t.

Hoodies:

Buy a plain black, beige, and/or white hoodie. These three colors will go with just about any other color you’ll find in your wardrobe. Throw one on under a jacket to create some sensible, aesthetic layering, or wear it with some jeans or joggers to rock a casual minimalistic look. Either way, this will never go wrong, and will never go away.

Shirts:

Own several plain white t-shirts. You may have to rotate every few months, but these are a must. Under the hoodie, under the jacket, or stand-alone, white tees are timeless and versatile. Not to mention, a low-effort item that can be thrown on in a rush without fear of accidental clash.

Pants:

Denim, chinos, and joggers/leggings are all you need. Find a pair of Levi’s in a wash you like, and buy them. Blue jeans have, and will remain an acceptable piece of casual-wear in just about any location on Earth. Double down while you’re at it, and snag a black pair— perfect for when you want to dress down a date-night look, or go out with friends. A pair of khakis will also never hurt to own. Whether it’s work, an interview, or a wedding, khakis will be a good fit. Joggers and leggings speak for themselves. Get a black pair and enjoy having a versatile, comfortable option to fall back on.

Shoes:

Last but not least, don’t forget the sneaks. Shoes are subjective, but there are rules of thumb to guide your decision-making. My tip— be realistic. Keep in mind how often you would wear them, and how they would fit into your wardrobe. You could cop a cool pair, but watch them collect dust because you haven’t had the outfit to break them out yet. Don’t be that person. You don’t need a shoe for every day, you just need dependable ones.

Don’t get caught feeling stupid for stressing over the simple things.

Arts & Entertainment

Pat’s present day playlist

PAT CARBONE

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It’s time for another edition of Pat’s Playlist. Try to contain your excitement as you take a ride through the wonderful pieces of music that have been blessing my ears for the past who knows how long. A quick warning that a few of these artists have been on my reviews before. If, for some reason, that bothers you, get up and write your own music review. It’s called Pat’s Playlist for a reason.

Cigarette Daydreams - Cage The Elephant

We’ll start off with some trusty Cage The Elephant. Arguably the best song in the Kentucky rock group’s discography, this piece paints a picture of someone who is lost in their life and closes themselves off from those around them. Though it’s easy to pick up on the melancholy theme in the lyrics, it can be hard to slip into that state because of the song’s relaxing feel.

The (Shipped) Gold Standard - Fall Out Boy

This track comes off my favorite Fall Out Boy album, “Folie à Deux.” In my opinion, there isn’t a bad song on this entire album, which made it hard to choose which one I wanted to write about. Ultimately, “The (Shipped) Gold Standard” became my favorite. However, I’m not quite sure what makes it my favorite. It could be the chorus or the part where Patrick Stump hits

that really high note, but I’ve enjoyed this song for many years and will continue doing so.

After Last Night - Silk Sonic (with Thundercat & Bootsy Collins)

Similar to my last song, there were many tracks from “An Evening with Silk Sonic” that I easily could’ve chosen to write about. The one that stood out the most to me in recent memory is “After Last Night.” An amazing vocal performance by both Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak that is topped off with a great intro from Bootsy Collins. This will surely get you reminiscing about that one special night you had with that person you never ended up texting back.

naked freestyle - Baby Keem

I do have to shout out my roommate Riley Antonellis for putting me on to this song. A bass-filled track that features Keem’s trademark sound that can be heard across the entire album “The Melodic Blue,” which features his Grammy-winning single “family ties.” Though “family ties” is the award-winner on the album, “naked freestyle” is just another track on an album that cements Keem as a part of the next generation of rap and hip-hop.

My Type - Saint Motel

Saint Motel is a group that I honestly don’t listen to that much. The only two songs from them I’ve taken a liking to are “Sweet Talk” and

the upbeat, trumpet filled “My Type.” This track is a great way to start your day and boost your mood. The chorus is fantastic, and it’s just a surefire way to get the blood pumping.

“Cool” winter activities in Boston

1851 staff

When the cold weather kicks in, it can be hard to want to get out and do anything. Here are some things that you can do to shake the seasonal depression and have some fun this winter.

Quincy Market:

One way to entertain yourself on a slow day is by visiting the Quincy Market. The market holds many little shops with knick-knacks, popular clothing stores, and plenty of food options that make it a worthwhile trip. Plus, there are beautiful gardens and seaside views nearby so you can really take in the beautiful Boston scenery.

The Freedom Trail:

Looking for a history lesson with a little fun? Drag your friends out and take the pub crawl tour along the Freedom Trail. Pricing is affordable, and if you don’t know much about the Boston area it gives you a chance to learn more about the city while having a good time with friends.

The Frog Pond:

The Frog pond is set right in the Boston Common, with many things to offer including college nights, birthday parties,

and rink rentals. The rink kicks off each season with a skating spectacular that might include special guests. However, the rink is only open until March, so hurry up before it’s too late and get on the ice.

The Prudential Center:

If you are looking to spend the day in Boston, but don’t want it to be too hectic, head to the Prudential Center and do some

therapy shopping. On the coldest days in Boston, this can be a great place to stay warm. The center consists of 75 stores and restaurants, so you will be sure to spend the majority of your day there.

Saint Patrick’s Day Parade:

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, surely you want to spend it in the city. The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held in South Boston, and if you plan on going, prepare to be there all day. St Patrick’s Day in Boston is not taken lightly.

Restaurant Week:

The month of March also comes with restaurant week, which means that there will be some great deals at some of Boston’s best restaurants. Since it is still cold this is the perfect activity to stay warm, it also helps if you are interested in trying more foods, and getting great deals.

Hopefully, this list provides you with some inspiration so you don’t have to spend your winter cooped up indoors, especially with a great city like Boston right in your peripheral.

Rootin’ Tootin’: “On Stranger Tides”

I felt it best to start this with the song that sparked this topic. I saw New Rules earlier this winter in a small venue. After doing a couple of numbers, one of the band members commented, “Alright, that’s enough with the country music,” leaving me to wonder what they were talking about. Country influence in Britain shows a stronger resemblance to soft pop in the states such as Train.

Great Britain: Wish I Could - The Wandering Hearts

The Wandering Hearts are the best example of the United Kingdom’s offerings, topping the Americana charts with both albums they have released. “Wish I Could” tells the internal narrative of someone who is still in love with their ex-lover. Like most Americana, it gets its country influence from modern pop country like Dan and Shay.

Japan: Furuki Hanazono - Tomi Fujiyama

GRAPHIC BY LJ LAFIURA

Country music is one of the most popular genres in the United States with roots dating back to the 19th century. With that influence, it should not be a surprise that country music has permeated into other countries and cultures, creating breeds that many have never experienced. Here are some offerings from around the world.

Great Britain: Drunk Texts - New Rules

Tomi is a pioneer in Japanese country music, signing her first recording contract in 1953 at age 13. Throughout the ‘60s and Vietnam War, she was very popular performing on United States military bases, eventually leading her to a performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Her work clearly has American bluegrass roots and resembles The Carter Family.

Sweden: Jailbird - Willy Clay Band

What in the Garth Brooks? The Willy Clay Band is a great listen and a fun time all around with an immense influence from ‘90s country artists like

Brooks, George Strait, and even a little Randy Travis. This song, along with many of the Willy Clay Band’s works, also feels highly transferable. I would love to hear Garth Brooks sing this song and look forward to hearing more Willy Clay Band in the future.

Sweden: Jag älskar livet - Hasse Andersson

I didn’t intend to do two songs from Sweden until I heard this one. Jag älskar livet translates to I love life and this song embodies that notion. The song brings very positive vibes with a rhythm that, while not overt, drives throughout the song. Reminiscent of Faith Hill, this song is precisely what I’d expect from dansbandsmusik, Sweden’s term for country translating directly to dance band music.

México: Cómo Le Haré - Emilio Navaira

Although he technically was born in Texas, Navaira was a staple of the Tejano genre, a style that combined American styles like country with Mexican influences and even European styles such as polka. “Cómo Le Haré” is about a man who wants to be something more with a woman who only wants to be friends and embodies much of what can be found in the genre. It is no wonder Navaira held the genre for so long.

Enjoy these pieces of American influence from across the globe. Remember, there’s more to your world than you know, so go out and explore.

GRAPHIC BY PAT CARBONE

GRAPHIC BY PAT CARBONE

GRAPHIC BY HARLEY LACARDO

HARLEY LACARDO

From Lasers to lights: Allie Clancy

college.”

Ben Biello, head coach of cross country and track and field, was still running on the team while Clancy served as captain. “She helped build a team that was accepting and open to any and all people who wanted to join the team - no matter their talent,” Biello said. “She showed me what it really meant to be a captain and a leader.” Clancy described Biello as “passionate” and felt he would be a good coach.

Eventually, the time came for Clancy to take off the spikes and head to the workforce. Once the COVID-19 pandemic started to slow down, Clancy took her lessons from track and headed to the concrete jungle of New York City. For her first on-set job, Clancy worked for HBO as a COVID-19 Production Assistant on shows like “The Gilded Age” and the “Sex and the City” reboot. In this role, Clancy monitored and enforced COVID-19 protocols for the cast and crew.

For season two of “The Gilded Age,” Clancy became the Office Production Assistant. Here she learned the ins and outs of working in a production office while also working with some of HBO’s directors, producers, and executives.

After heading to star-studded Los Angeles for her first college tour, Allie Clancy (‘20) realized her heart still belonged to the east coast. Her passion for the glitz and glamor of show business that LA provided, however, was still there. Once she stepped off the track for the last time as a Laser, it was time to head to The Big Apple to pursue her dreams of working in the entertainment industry.

Growing up in Beverly, Massachusetts, Clancy discovered her passion for working behind the scenes during a high school elective. In her senior year, she was recruited by the track and field team after competing in the school’s powderpuff football game. She then decided to take these two new passions and continue her

education and athletic career as a Laser.

“I remember looking around at the environment, and I felt like I just really fit in there,” Clancy said, reminiscing on her first campus tour. “It kinda hit on what I wanted to study, the kind of people I wanted to meet, and the kinds of things I wanted to do.”

Competing on the track and field team all four years, serving as captain her senior year, some of Clancy’s best memories come from her time with the squad. “The memories that stick out to me the most are being awake at six in the morning and doing really hard workouts,” Clancy said. “I remember those the most because I think they made me grow the most and made me more capable to do harder things after

Q&A with Shirle

co - editor - in - chief KAIE QUIGLEY

“The HBO executive level of people, they’re all really really supportive of helping the younger assistants learn, and they all really care. So it’s a good company to get in with,” Clancy said.

Now that her time with HBO has ended, Clancy is ready to make her next move in show business. “The next step I wanna take is to become either a producer’s assistant or executive assistant,” said Clancy. With these steps in place, she hopes to one day see herself as an executive producer or a showrunner of a production. With her experience on set, in the production office, and her background in track and field, it is safe to say that one day Allie Clancy will quite literally be running the show.

Overwatch team competes in collegiate cup

With the esports lab up and running, the esports club has taken further strides, forming an “Overwatch” team. The squad will compete in tournaments regionally and beyond.

“Overwatch” is a team-based first-person shooter featuring player characters with unique battle skills and abilities. Created by Blizzard, the original game accumulated 50 million players within three years of its launch in 2016. Overwatch 2, was released on Oct. 4, 2022. As of February 2023, the sequel brings in over 24 million users every 30 days.

According to Esports Club president Domenic DeSantis, the team currently has seven regular participants with more having shown interest. This led them to formalize the team these past few months.

“We just had a really good influx of people

who are interested in Overwatch,” DeSantis said.

The Lasers’ first foray into “Overwatch” came last semester, entering a team into the Boston Collegiate Cup, hosted by the local professional team, the Boston Uprising. Despite limited experience and practice time, the team reached the semi-finals in their debut.

“It was very unexpected, and we were very excited. Playing that day, I was very happy and very proud of the people I was playing with. They were really swinging out of their league,” DeSantis said. “I don’t think any of us were upset with ending up only in the semi-finals. I think we’re all very happy with it.”

The Overwatch team is helmed by Assistant Professor of Communications Kurt Wirth. A fan of the video game, Overwatch was the

first first-person shooter game he played, advancing his skills over time. This got Wirth recruited to a semi-professional team and this position as the Lasers’ first head coach.

“I was chatting with Christina Alejandre, and it came up that they wanted competitive teams and they might start with Overwatch. I was like, ‘Hey if you need someone to coach, that sounds super fun,’” Wirth said. “I’ve done a lot of research because I’m not competitive, I’m not being paid, I’m not professional or anything. I’m just doing my best to help the students.”

Thus far, Wirth is pleased with the players in the squad but would like the numbers to increase. “There seems to be a lot of initial interest, but then in terms of getting people to practice and then committing to a tournament, I think that we really need a couple more people that are like really wanting to play competitively,” he said.

According to Wirth, the team practices every Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the esports lab. Practices under Wirth typically start with an informational topic and discussion such as communication or the importance of the high ground. Then the team plays a match which is followed by watching film, known in the field as video-on-demand reviews. The rest of the practice focuses on player development.

“We make sure we’re working on things that we recognize in gameplay that might not be going as well, addressing those concerns, asking questions, those sorts of things,” firstyear Kiefer Harding said.

As the program matures, the next step forward will be finding more competition. “My goal would be that we get on the stage enough and place enough that we sort of build a reputation,” Wirth said.

A new women’s basketball star has emerged under second-year head coach Kelley Sundberg. First-year guard Shirle Major scored over 30 points twice this year, including a 34 point performance against Johnson & Wales in January— the highest scoring total from a first-year in school history. Major’s teammate and roommate Glo Lubunga said this serial scoring isn’t foreign. “It’s not a surprise to me because I know she has that in her,” said Lubunga.

Lubunga said watching Major break the record “was one of the best things as a friend and teammate. Makes me feel like a proud big sister. No doubt in the upcoming season she’ll be able to do it again.”

Q: How was your experience playing this season? Did you expect to play this well in just your first year as a college player?

A: My experience playing basketball this season was great and filled with a lot of learning moments and growth. I knew that college would be difficult because it is a completely different level from high school. The game is completely faster and you just have to adapt. I knew that it would take some time and repetition to adapt to college but once I started understanding I knew I would start scoring well. I came into college with a list of goals that I really wanted to accomplish and I knew if I stayed focused I would get there.

Q: Describe what happens when you start to get hot. You go on unstoppable scoring runs often, do you blackout and just start making everything? Do you lock in and focus on every detail? How do you manage to take over a game like that?

A: When I start getting hot I stop thinking and blackout in a way. Normally when I’m in the game I sometimes overthink about plays or certain moves to do, but when I go on runs of scoring I never think about the move I’m going to do next, I just stay calm, stop thinking and let the ball do its thing. When I go on scoring runs I usually forget what I did the play before because I’m so focused on the next play. I take over the game when we’re down and need a bucket. I take a deep breath and stay calm because when I rush, my shots don’t fall so I have to stay locked in.

Q: How does it feel to hold the record of most ever points by a first-year?

A: I’m blessed and honored to hold a record like that. I couldn’t have done it without my support systems and days in the gym with my teammates and coaches who push me to become everyday. The record makes me feel more motivated and shows me that I can do more than I think I could.

Q: What are your future goals in basketball at Lasell? How do you want your career to go, and how do you want to be remembered?

A: I want to become player of the year and win championships at Lasell. I want to be an all around player for my team and help make it to the NCAA tournament at least once in my career… I want to be remembered as a player that everyone can count on to finish games and get the job done while being able to be there for others on and off the court.

“She has such a fun, holistic approach about everything that she does,” said Sundberg. “And she has been coachable throughout the entire experience… I think she’s really excited to continue to work in the offseason and get better. And I think there’s some really unique ways that her game can expand because she has that raw ability… I’m excited for her and everybody else and what the offseason can bring and do for them.”

PHOTO BY LJ VP LAFIURA

Coach Kurt Wirth speaking at the Overwatch team’s first practice in the esports lab.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLIE CLANCY

Communications major Allie Clancy ‘20 spent four years as a Laser before going into film and television.

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

First-year guard Shirle Major scored 15 points against Dean College on Senior Day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLIE CLANCY Sprinter Allie Clancy spent four years on the track and field team, three as a captain.

Men’s volleyball using GNAC, national ranking as motivation

The men’s volleyball team shined last season, defeating nationally ranked programs and competing in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Finals. They entered this season ranked #14 in the country and #2 in the GNAC, tallying three first-place votes.

Head Coach Jeff Vautrin believes this year’s rankings came from their strong performances last season. “The win over #1 Springfield will be a match to remember for years to come but also our wins over Endicott, Wentworth and Elmira were also very formidable wins to help us gain some national recognition,” Vautrin said.

Despite their strong performance Vautrin and senior Jesus Garcia say the ranking is an honor. “After the season we had in 2022, the national ranking

ELLIOT POTOTSKY

and the GNAC ranking was expected. However, to be considered as one of the premier programs in the GNAC and in the country is definitely an honor,” Vautrin said. Garcia echoed, “We believed that we deserved to be ranked and be in the conversation as one of the best teams in the country. It was a huge relief to know that much of our hard work had been paying off. It was a huge honor to be recognized as such by other coaches from around the country.”

Currently sitting at 6-5 this season, Vautrin says the team started a little slow, however, Garcia says it was to be expected. “We knew that every team would be giving us their absolute best every single time. Being ranked, while an incredible honor, puts a huge target on our back because everyone wants

to beat us and prove themselves,” Garcia said.

While not the start they hoped for, senior Riley Grenier says the schedule has its benefits, especially with the team’s goals to continue their dominant play in the GNAC and make it back to the playoffs and hopefully, the NCAA tournament.

“Playing a tougher schedule definitely helps for playoffs. Playing at the highest levels day in and day out only makes us tougher and when we get to conference playoffs, we will be fully prepared for every team we will face,” Grenier said.

Despite the early struggles, Garcia says the end goal has not changed. “The expectation is to not only go back to the GNAC championship game but to win it and make some noise in the NCAA tournament,” the senior said. “We believe that at

our best, we can compete and beat any top team in the country. That is the expectation we put on ourselves right after last season ended.”

With their eyes on a deep playoff run, Garcia stated the importance of using this stretch of adversity to take lessons and improve as a team. “Our biggest improvement needs to be our focus and mentality. I think we have faced the pressure of being a top team and it has got to us in certain situations,” Garcia said. “I think we need to really focus on changing our mentality of always doing our job, making sure that we do our system, and limiting our own self-inflicted errors.”

As the Lasers strive for a GNAC championship, their focus and mentality will drive them in the heat of conference play.

Lasers make early return for winter training and competition

1851 staff

During the winter recess, student-athletes and coaches return to campus early, embracing a familiar routine of practice, training, and competing.

“We like to give the athletes at least a week to prepare,” Athletic Director Kristy Walter said. “We don’t like to give them too much time off because then they’re just completely deconditioned.”

Men’s basketball forward Quinton Partee Jr. proved just why Walter’s comments hold such value, saying the team was out of shape when they returned to campus, and adding that it took them “four days to get back in shape.”

Similarly, track and field Head Coach Ben Biello says it is necessary for his players to come back early because the team needs to prepare for their indoor season, while also getting in enough compe-

titions before the conference championship meet.

“We need to have them come back to get a good solid week of training and prepare for that meet,” Biello said.

Outside of getting back to top-tier physical form and gearing up for intense competition, athletes must get conditioned to their inevitable return to their hectic routine once the next semester starts.

“We practiced in the morning, late at night, and had a team lift in between,” said men’s volleyball libero Alex Weinhaus.

As for the basketball team, Partee Jr. said, “it was a lot at first,” noting their daily schedule involved getting up early, going straight to morning practice, eating and relaxing, and then going back to practice later on in the day.

On the other hand, Biello said the team did not do double sessions of practice during the break, noting that after their morning session, most of the athletes’ time went into team bonding and having fun.

“It’s pretty free range and very low key,” Biello said.

Moving away from workouts and practices and towards the few games held at Lasell University, Walter touched on how much effort goes into making sure a sporting event runs smoothly.

“We finagle our way around the staff,” Walter said. “It doesn’t cost any more than other games. Some people do two jobs.”

Further, Walter explained that many different people will help fill the gameday staff, including

EJ Day wins Laser’s second GNAC POTY

Men’s basketball star EJ Day capped a historic season by being named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year.— the first Laser to receive this honor since Jose Guitian (‘09).

Day, a graduate student from Norwalk, Connecticut, led the nation in points per game for division three with 25.8 points per game. No other player in the NCAA came within a point of Day, while the next closest player in the GNAC scored 19.7 points per game.

“It’s something that I spoke about last summer as one of my goals. I told some of my closest people I was going to do it because my whole life I was told I couldn’t do this or that at my height but I wanted to prove everyone wrong,” Day said. “Every

game I go out and give my all and that’s where it got me.” The 5’10” guard had several memorable performances with the Lasers, including four 40-point games. Day also set the university’s two top records for single game assists, recording 18 and 14 assists in back-to-back games during his final season. Day’s 322 career assists rank third in school history.

Day was an offensive juggernaut, landing in the top five all-time scorers for the Lasers with 1,610 points through his first four seasons, he also displayed his natural defensive instincts, racking up the second-most steals in program history with 150.

current students, local alumni, and even members from the opposing team.

“We adjust and prioritize what has to be done,” Walter said. “We have to film the game. We need to do pre-game announcements and run the [National] Anthem. We don’t need two floor people—sometimes just one. We make it work.”

Despite the time and effort that goes into being a part of athletics, many of the participants, especially the athletes, are enjoying the grind one must put into their craft.

“I wouldn’t trade [volleyball] for anything. I love the sport,” said Weinhaus. “I love improving my game and getting better as a team.”

All-GNAC picks

Women’s Basketball

Third Team

All-Rookie

Juju Nealy

Shirle Major All-Sportsmanship

Brooke Damboise

Men’s Basketball First Team

All-Rookie

EJ Day

Quinton Partee Jr. All-Sportsmanship

Demerrick Warren

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

Senior Riley Grenier winds up for the ball during a match against Dean College.

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

(L-R) First-year Jasper Schultz, sophomore Dexter Thomas, and senior Jesus Garcia jump for a block against Dean College.

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

Sophomore Gabe Qua dunks in pre-game warmups before a game against Norwich University.

PHOTO BY MIKE BROGLIO Ariel Foster competing at the New Balance track during a winter break meet.

REBECCA OSOWSKI & NICO MANGANIELLO co

PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN BIELLO Junior Sinclair Samuels practicing shotput during a winter break practice.

PHOTO BY JOE GIACCO

Graduate guard EJ Day drives to the basket against Norwich on Feb. 11.