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Sports • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2026
VOL. 53, ISSUE 15
INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
NATIONALLY RANKED Stags Earn Spot in Top 25 Ahead of MAAC Championships This Weekend
Grace Slater Embraces New Role on Sidelines Page 15
Levee May Close as Soon as Friday, Decision Not Final BY SOPHIA HABER BROCK Digital Editor
Julian Nazario/The Mirror
The Fairfield women’s basketball team closed their regular season with a win against Sacred Heart University in a close game on Saturday.
By DANNY MCELROY Executive Editor
The regular season has come to a close. The MAAC Championships in Atlantic City await. And in the meantime, Fairfield women’s basketball has another historic accolade to add to its long list of achievements. For the second time in three years, the Stags have earned a national ranking in the AP Poll, slotting in at No. 25 in this week’s edition released on Monday morning. That placement matches the one they earned in the penultimate rankings of the 2023-24 regular season, when the program made its AP Poll debut en route to a 200 MAAC season and a 31-2 overall record. But as has been the case for many of their accomplishments over the last few seasons, the Stags are trying to simply take the nod in stride. “It was a very quick reaction, honestly,” said junior road runner Meghan Andersen. “We talked about it for a second and then we were straight into film
for watching our Sacred Heart game. Because yeah, it’s great to be recognized in that way, but our goals are a lot bigger than that. And we don’t want to focus too much on it because there’s still so much that we want to work for.” The first goal on that list is capturing a third consecutive conference tournament title and booking a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. In many respects, the Stags will arrive in Atlantic City this week
The Stags received votes in the AP Poll during the first four weeks of the season. During the last four weeks of the regular season, the women’s team garnered additional attention from voters.
Comedy Reclaims the Spotlight at Mahoney Arena FUSA promotes the comedy show as a new spring tradition By JULIAN NAZARIO Managing Editor The Fairfield University Student Association revealed on Monday that Impractical Jokers star James “Murr” Murray will headline a comedy show at the end of the month at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. FUSA initially announced “The Spring Comedian” event on Feb. 27, but postponed the announcement of Murray for the show until the day before tickets went on sale. In an email sent to students on Saturday, the event was described as “an interactive stand-up show featuring a celebrity.” In a new communication this week, FUSA emphasized that Murr will tell “funny stories, show off his own personal never-before-seen
as similarly heavy favorites to the previous two seasons. Between their new national ranking, a NET ranking just outside the top 50 and being considered the presumptive automatic qualifier out of the MAAC by outlets like ESPN, the defending champs are considered by most to be the team to beat once again. Continued on page 16
videos from Impractical Jokers, and play Impractical Jokers LIVE with the audience!” The event is the first comedy show in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena since Dec. 2023, when Staten Island native Joe Gatto performed on campus as part of Winter Fest, a nine-day-long series of events that prepared students for the end of the semester and the holiday season. That year, the Impractical Jokers alumn performed for over an hour, with some jokes tailored to Fairfield-specific topics, including then-Fizz-Famous Lucas Steele, to whom Gatto threw a Snicker’s bar as a punchline. As it was when Gatto visited campus in 2023, Murray is adding Fairfield as part of his nationwide tour, The Errors Tour. Student tickets for the event went on
sale yesterday for seniors and juniors, while all other undergraduate students can buy tickets as of this morning. Tickets cost $10 for students and $15 for guests.
Impractical Jokers star James “Murr” Murray will headline a comedy show at the end of the month at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena.
The Levee could temporarily close as early as March 5 and remain closed through the rest of the Spring semester, as Aramark, the university’s dining provider, relocates its catering operations from the Conference Center amid ongoing construction. Jay DeGioia ’80, District Manager at Aramark, said renovations to the Conference Center, which is attached to the Media Center, would require the catering team to vacate its current kitchen. During that period, The Levee would be used as a temporary hub for the catering operations. “The Levee makes sense for its location and the equipment needed to operate catering,” DeGioia told The Mirror. The closure of the only late-night food option for students will lead to The Tully expanding its hours until 10 p.m., with Levee employees using the deli and pizza stations in addition to a grill in the dessert area. “The Levee employees will transfer to the Tully,” DeGioia assured. DeGioia specified that those stations would be used during the extended hours, indicating the operation may differ from the Tully’s typical full-service format. It is also unclear whether students will be permitted to take food to-go during the extended hours or if dining will follow Tully’s traditional dine-in policy. Closure Timeline Still Under Review While the plan has not been finalized, DeGioia said Aramark anticipates closing The Levee prior to Spring Break. “We are anticipating closing The Levee prior to Spring Break and will reopen as soon as the catering kitchen is complete,” he said. “March 5 gives us the best opportunity to open The Levee earlier in the fall.” His reference to reopening “earlier in the fall” suggests The Levee would not reopen again this spring. An official announcement will be made to students once the plan is finalized and approved. Student Reactions Students with whom The Mirror spoke to in The Levee expressed surprise when told about the potential closure. Marcello Graffeo ’29, who said he visits The Levee multiple times a week, reacted immediately. “This might be the worst news I’ve heard today,” Graffeo said. “I go to The Levee like three or four times a week. I love the pizza. I love the burger. It’s gonna be sad to not have this for the rest of the semester, but I am happy that The Tully will be closing a lot later. It’s gonna be very nice.” While some students described The Levee as part of their weekly routine, others said convenience matters more than location. Patrick Russo, a junior who said he does not frequent The Levee often, emphasized the importance of late-night dining options. “I mean, as long as something stays open late, I don’t think it really matters,” Russo continued on page 2