THE MIRROR Independent student newspaper
Week of September 28, 2022
Vol. 49 Iss. 2
Fairfield Community Remembers Matt Tullis
Photos Contributed by Alyssa Tullis
Matthew Tullis, 46, professor of English, advisor of The Mirror and co-director of Digital Journalism died on Friday, Sept. 24 surrounded by his family. Tullis is survived by his wife Alyssa, son Emery and daughter Lily, his parents, Elly and Rick (Lisa), his brothers, John Tullis and Jim Gianoglio, sister-in-law Pam, seven nieces and nephews (Tori, Ian, Chloe, Parker, Sophia, Will and Isabel) and all those whose lives he touched within the Fairfield University community. By Molly Lamendola Editor-in-Chief Emerita
INSIDE
Matthew R. Tullis, assistant professor of English, co-director of Digital Journalism and long-time mentor of The Mirror, passed away suddenly on Sept. 23, 2022. Tullis leaves behind his wife Alyssa and two children, Emery and Lily. He was 46 years old. When Tullis joined the Fairfield University community in August of 2016 after previously working at Ashland University in Ohio, he came ready, jumping in to help journalism at the university grow. This, in turn, meant taking the helm of a 45-year-old student publication, The Fairfield Mirror. In true Jesuit University form, The Mirror was always run by students with a variety of different academic backgrounds. The Editor-in-Chief would sometimes have an English major, sometimes Communication and oftentimes, many of the staff members would have no formal journalism experience. Tullis took this in stride, embracing the paper’s educational diversity. In his mentorship of The Mirror, he made an effort not just to critique each issue, but to make each critique a lesson. Before becoming an academic, Tullis worked as a journalist
for The Columbus Dispatch and contributed to the Daily Beast and other publications. He understood the tradition of a newsroom, but always had a forward-thinking approach to media. He knew digital journalism was the future and constantly pushed The Mirror to expand into new forms. Tullis tr uly b elie ved in journalism and that student journalists were the future. Though first-year students may have stumbled across the Mirror’s office by happenstance, it took just one class or Mirror critique with Tullis to feel the rush. Tullis believed it was the duty of journalists to be the true voice for their community. That was a task he made students feel honored to take on.
T h e I m p a c t M a t t Tu l l i s Had on The Mirror “The Mirror staff must have many fond memories of him, including his ‘whatever-it-takes’ attitude,” Professor Tommy Xie, associate professor of English and co-advisor of The Mirror said in a letter to the Mirror staff announcing Tullis’ passing. He continued, “Once he half-jokingly said to me that he made the staff sit through an hour-long
Zoom workshop on layout taught by a renowned newspaper designer.” He recounts that Tullis said, "I know it's not as fun as doing Instagram, but the layout of the next issue was so much better!" Catherine Santangelo ‘21, Editor-in-Chief Emerita, said that even though her EIC tenure was during Tullis’ off-year from advising, he was always there to support her and her staff members. “He was a good man who was extremely dedicated to his work, his colleagues and his students.” Santangelo adds, “He will be missed.” Sabina Dirienzo '19, Chief Copy Editor Emerita, said Tullis pushed The Mirror to be better first and foremost. “It wasn't enough to be mediocre,” Dirienzo said. “He wanted us to be good.” She continued, “Every critique, he gave us actionable advice that we used to become better, and he loved the Mirror just as much as the students who poured so much time into it.” Dirienzo adds that while some professors would have complained about the amount of work that went into advising for The Mirror, Tullis would never. “We always knew that
Every critique, he gave us actionable advice that we used to become better, and he loved The Mirror just as much as the students who poured so much time into it.”
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- Sabina Dirienzo ‘19, Chief Copy Editor Emerita Matt had our backs, even and especially when it felt like Fairfield itself didn't, or like the newspaper itself was an overwhelming thing,” she said. “I know that his advocacy and coaching made me a better writer and a better reader-of-news, and I use the skills he taught us at The Mirror every day.” Alexandra Thimble ‘20, Editor-in-Chief Emerita, agreed with Dirienzo on Tullis’ advocacy for The Mirror. “What I remember most about him…was the fierceness of his allyship,” she said. “He wasn't there to make a weekly appearance at critique on Thursdays and then disappear.” She continues that Tullis advocated for the paper in meetings with administrators and helped The Mirror strategize the
best way to get stories written. “His loyalty was with us,” she shares. “And he made it profoundly clear 100% of the time.” She adds, “It's such a loss for future generations of Mirror staff to not have that, and for future students to lose out on the kind of advocacy he demonstrated.” Former student Ali Phaneuf ‘19, who was the first Editor-in-Chief Tullis advised, recounts the constant support she received from him. “Whether it was a phone call at 10 p.m. when the staff office computers crashed, or 10 a.m. when I called him sobbing that I was getting backlash on my recent article, he never let me go to voicemail,” she said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
News
Opinion
Vine
Sports
Members of the Fairfield community remember Matt Tullis.
Ed Board reflects on their memories with Matt Tullis.
Matt Tullis inspired and guided the Sports section of The Mirror.
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This week’s Vine cover is dedicated to Matt Tullis and all the different facets of his life. Page 7
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