Opinion • Bad Bunny Champions Puerto Rico Page 6
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A Musical Journey Beginning in Fairfield Page 8
Sports • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2026
VOL. 53, ISSUE 12
INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
REEF SHACK WEEKEND RAID
Owner Arrested On Reckless Endangerment Charge, Alcohol License Surrendered
Men’s Lacrosse Season Preview Pages 16
Campus Ministry Service Opportunities Available in February By BRENNA BELASCO Associate News Editor
Julian Nazario/The Mirror
Local police and State Liquor Enforcement arrived at Reef Shack on Nov. 21, 2025. In the photo above, officers check for patrons’ photo IDs.
By JULIAN NAZARIO Managing Editor Reef Shack, a local restaurant on Reef Road that opened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is facing growing attention from local and state law enforcement officers amid overcrowding and underage drinking concerns. The business, a frequented spot for university sophomores, saw its owner, Jason Lesizza, arrested last Saturday by the Fairfield Police Department on charges of reckless endangerment in the second degree after officers responded to a complaint of overcrowding. “Upon arrival, the Fairfield Fire Department counted at least 314 patrons inside the business as they left, despite the certificate of occupancy allowing for a maximum of 49 patrons,” Sergeant Jenna Wellington said in a statement to The Fairfield Mirror. Officials determined that the number of patrons created a “significant life safety hazard” for those
inside the establishment. Lesizza’s arrest was documented by a Fairfield student who attended Reef Shack over the weekend in a since-deleted post on Fizz. The 13-second clip, which The Mirror obtained, shows a police officer walking a handcuffed male to a patrol car. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear next Tuesday in the Bridgeport Superior Court. However, this is not the only active case against Lesizza. According to court records, the business owner was already facing a reckless endangerment charge in the second degree related to a similar event on Nov. 15 in which the police department responded to overcrowding complaints. At that time, the officers observed “severe overcrowding inside the business, obstructed exits, and congestion in the surrounding parking lot.” From this incident, he was released on a $2,500 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court this Friday for
a plea hearing. The Mirror made efforts to contact Lesizza via phone for a statement on the recent police activity. While the call was answered by Lesizza, he declined to provide a comment. A week after Lesizza’s arrest, Fairfield Police and State Liquor Enforcement officers appeared at a private event hosted by Fairfield students. The bust, documented by a Mirror reporter in attendance, occurred on Nov. 21 at around 10:30 p.m., when several police officers showed up at the establishment asking for identifications. The Mirror contacted the CT Liquor Control Division for information about the recent enforcement actions at Reef Shack, but have not received a response as of print. Still, the business is operating without an alcohol license but is encouraging patrons to “BYOB”, an abbreviation that stands for “bring your own beverage.” On Dec. 30, Reef ’s Instagram page declared “we are officially a BYOB restaurant- no college fees, just great vibes and ambiance.”
New Sprinkler Cages Added to Loyola Hall By OLIVIA MARCEDA Head News Editor
Loyola Hall has added protective cages around its sprinkler heads following f looding earlier this academic year caused by a sprinkler bursting after being struck by a football. The added safeguards aim to prevent similar incidents and limit future damage. Freshman resident Devlynn King-McDonough, who lives on the second f loor, recalled the impact of the f looding. “Our f loor actually cracked,” King-McDonough said. “Our rug even had to be thrown out. But nothing super important was destroyed.” While the incident caused stress for residents, repairs have since been
completed and many now view the situation with some perspective. Senior RA Michael Boudrot, who’s a senior RA, said water reached his room during the f looding. “There was water that came into my room and even went under my bed,” Boudrot said, noting that he was able to move some belongings before they were damaged. Boudrot said the new sprinkler cages are a step in the right direction. “I don’t think we’re completely safe, but I think the school’s definitely taking precautions in terms of making sure this building doesn’t have another football thrown and hit a sprinkler with the cages.”
The added protection marks Loyola’s latest effort to prevent another f looding incident and improve safety within the residence hall.
Those at Fairfield University are no strangers to service. “It’s baked into who we are, that I don’t have to explain what [it] is, people just get it, and they just jump [in],” says Campus Ministry Associate Director, Katie Byrnes. This passion is amplified during February when CampMin focuses on “...bringing the love from [Fairfield] to the outside.” Despite February being the shortest month, there is no shortage of service opportunities for students to participate in, such as making Valentine’s Day cards for homebound seniors or providing food pantry donations. Many of the service projects during this month focus on the elderly and the unhoused. The first of these projects is Cupid’s Crew, where thousands of valentines are made for those living in assisted living or seniors who are homebound. The Class of 2026 is invited to participate in this event for their Senior Service Project, which will involve making valentines in McGrath Commons from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on
“
We want to make sure senior citizens are still seen during Valentine’s Day... I always like to include funny jokes to try and bring a smile to the senior citizens’ faces when they get these!” -Mia Swenson ‘26,
Cupid’s Crew Coordinator
Monday, Feb. 9. Senior student Mia Swenson is organizing the event. “We want to make sure senior citizens are still seen during Valentine’s Day, [and so we put out supplies] for the senior students to come and write a letter or make a valentine. I always like to include funny jokes to try and bring a smile to the senior citizens’ faces when they get these!” Swenson said. She also shared that there isn’t a designated sign-up form or an attendance cap, but instead, the event is open to any senior who wants to participate. “Hopefully, the senior citizens will be able to feel that love and know that someone’s out there thinking of them, even if it’s not their families visiting, or if they’ve lost a spouse or a partner. They just know someone’s thinking of them on this holiday.” Reportedly, the efforts of Cupid’s Crew are greatly appreciated. Swenson mentioned that the nursing home directors have told volunteers that the recipients of the cards are always “really, really touched” and that they “really mean something to them.” “It’s awesome to put these things together and say, ‘I hope it does well,’ and it’s another thing to be able to hear that it’s really impacting our community,” she said. Another program, Glamour Gals, provides makeover services for women and men in assisted living. There is also a technology continued on page 2