The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 96, Issue 16

Heroes Hat stays in Hamden

11

Quinnipiac's Office of Housing changes selection process in response to student frustration

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

In response to student feedback, Quinnipiac University changed the sophomore and junior housing selection processes for the 202627 academic year. Each roommate group will be assigned one lottery number as opposed to each student receiving a number in years past.

“We updated the room selection process based on student feedback to make it clearer, help friend groups stay together, and use group selection numbers instead of individual numbers,” Director of Housing Melissa Karipidis wrote in a statement to The Chronicle.

These changes come after a number of current sophomores faced several obstacles in housing selection last spring.

First-year and sophomore students received an email from the Office of Housing on Jan. 30 outlining the new process.

The housing contract and the housing reservation fee are due by March 6.

“Students who submit their contracts after the deadline of March 6 will not be eligible for the initial selection round and cannot be a part of the roommate group formation,” the Office of Housing wrote in the email to students. “They will be included in the second/ regrouping round of the selection process.” By March 20, current first-years and sophomores must have their roommate groups formed in order to receive their group’s number. Selection numbers will be posted on March 27 after noon.

“Groups will only receive their number IF there is a space available to accommodate their group,” the Office of Housing wrote. “This ensures that all groups receiving a selec-

See HOUSING Page 3

MEET THE EDITORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alexandra Martinakova

MANAGING EDITOR

Gina Lorusso

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Emily Adorno

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tyler Mignault

NEWS EDITOR

Ava Highland

OPINION EDITOR

Lillian Curtin

ASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR

Joanna Farrell

ASSOCIATE ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Sophie Murray

SPORTS EDITOR

Claire Frankland

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITORS

Emily Marquis

Cooper Woodward

DESIGN EDITOR

Katerina Parizkova

ASSOCIATE DESIGN EDITOR

Emily Katz

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Elisabeth McMahon

ASSOCIATE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Taylor Huchro

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Quinn O’Neill

ASSOCIATE MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Harper Ferraro

ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Ryley Lee

Lily Zahka

COPY EDITORS

Anthony Angelillo

Amanda Dronzek

Chloe Grant

The views expressed in The Chronicle’s opinion section are those of the respective authors. They do not reflect the views of The Chronicle as an organization.

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Water leak shuts down RecWell’s women’s locker room

By MADELYN DURKEE Staff Writer

On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Recreation and Wellness Center on the Mount Carmel Campus was shut down due to a water leak caused by a faulty sprinkler head.

“The University was alerted to a fire alarm going off in RWA,” Keith Woodward, associate vice president for facilities operations, wrote in an email to The Chronicle. “Water was coming into RWA213. Facilities and Public Safety acted quickly and our staff were able to shut off the water to the fire sprinkler head that had let loose and then we connected with our local contractor to put a new sprinkler head in place.”

The fire alarm went off at approximately 10 a.m. Students and staff inside the building at the time were evacuated, and the building was fully closed within the hour. An email was sent to students notifying them of the closure.

“Public Safety and Facilities acted quickly and within 2 hours on Saturday the RecWell was back open after the initial sprinkler fail,” David Hall, director of Recreation and Wellness, wrote in an email to The Chronicle.

An update email was sent to students

informing them that the RecWell facilities had been reopened but advised that the women’s locker room would be closed until further notice.

The water leak in RWA-213 — the women’s locker room — forced its closure for an extended period of time. Some students who entered the gym after the building reopened were inconvenienced because they were unable to use the locker room. Unable to use the lockers to store their belongings,

students left their things in the hallway outside the locker room instead.

“The women’s locker room was reopened within 24 hours, although patrons had access to bathroom stalls even prior to that,” Hall wrote.

No additional email was sent to notify students that the locker room had reopened. A new sprinkler head was installed and no further issues have been reported.

Norovirus outbreak plagues

Quinnipiac residence hall

By NATHAN ROJAS Staff Writer

Shortly after returning from winter break, Quinnipiac University students reported a Norovirus outbreak in The Ledges Residence Hall.

“After cases of the ‘stomach flu’ were reported last week among residents of Ledges Residence Hall, the university’s medical director wrote to the students living in The Ledges to offer guidance on symptoms, prevention and when to seek medical care,” John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations, wrote.

Norovirus, more commonly known as the “stomach flu,” is a highly contagious virus. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting or nausea, fever and chills, stomach cramps, fatigue, headache and muscle cramps.

Symptoms can take approximately 1-3 days to appear, health experts say. They also recommend staying hydrated if sick and to avoid greasy, spicy or sugary foods, in addition to alcohol.

Health experts say that the settings created by dorms, and other such small spaces, create the ideal environment for highly contagious diseases, like the norovirus, to spread. They recommend washing hands and wiping down surfaces to help prevent the spread of the disease.

While The Ledges’ residents were officially notified of the outbreak, much of the Quinnipiac community was unaware.

by word of mouth, social media posts and coverage from local news outlets.

“Quinnipiac should have done a better job of sending something out. We get alerts when bobcats are on campus, but not when there’s a pretty major illness breaking out,” Jack Ouligian, first-year sports communication major, said.

This lack of communication makes it difficult for students to properly protect themselves against the spread of the disease, resulting in a larger outbreak, as they are not made aware of the symptoms or necessary precautions against the illness.

Some students find the outbreak concerning, given the close-quarters nature of college living and the rate at which it spreads,

Angelica Tsihlis, sophomore biomedical marketing major, noted.

However, other students find that, given the time of year and that it is fluseason, that such outbreaks are common and not out of the ordinary.

“It’s a pretty normal thing that happens around college campuses. You can’t really avoid it,” Grace Pannuto, first-year applied business major, said.

Students have been taking a variety of precautions to remain healthy. Several students, such as The Ledges residents like Pannuto, have been cleaning spaces more frequently.

Others have been avoiding the residence hall altogether, to reduce the chance of getting sick.

Staff Meetings

Aside from a “Tips for Respiratory Season” email from Hartford Healthcare, sent prior to the outbreak, there was no further communication to the rest of the Quinnipiac community.

Many students and professors found out

Quinnipiac discusses next steps for 'Strategic Visioning' process

By NATHAN ROJAS Staff Writer

Quinnipiac University gathered students and faculty on Thursday afternoon to discuss the first part of its “Strategic Visioning” process.

New this year and led by President Marie Hardin, the strategic visioning discussions highlight the university’s mission, values, vision and the “strategic plan that will bring it all to life,” according to the university website.

Hardin began the discussion by stating her plans for the event.

“We’re going to be talking today about mission, about values and about vision,” Hardin said.

During the discussion, Hardin introduced Paul Friga, clinical professor of strategy at UNC Keenan Flagler School of Business. Friga discussed the key components of a strategic vision, highlighting how the mission statement, vision and values make a successful strategic vision.

“Those statements… will then feed into action. And the way it feeds into action is

tion number will be able to select a space that will accommodate the size of their group (e.g. 4, 5, 6, or 8).”

Groups who do not make it into the initial round of selection will be moved to the second round of selections and will have to adjust the size of their group.

For current first-years who are new to

the selection process entirely, some find the changes to seem like the better option.

“The process of having a group first kind of seems a bit more simple,” Araceli Naula, firstyear biomedical sciences major, said.

Also changing for the next academic year is the designated housing options for rising sophomores and juniors.

Due to last year’s housing crisis the Mountainview Residence Hall currently houses first-

to

will go into effect for the 2026-27 housing selection including The Hill being an option for junior housing.

through articulated priorities at the institution level,” Friga said.

Hardin then proceeded to discuss Quinnipiac’s values, mission statement and vision.

“(The university’s values) is a reflection of your input. This is a reflection of hundreds of survey responses from the community,” Hardin said.

Hardin defines Quinnipiac’s values in three words: Fierce, passionate and bold.

“We’re fierce about our commitment to our students… I’m passionate about this community… and what I’m bold about, well for me, just about our future,” Hardin said.

Hardin summed up the mission statement: “We prepare graduates as enlightened global citizens equipped for the challenges and opportunities of current and future careers.”

Hardin also said, “We are in the business of higher education,” regarding the university’s mission.

Referring to the university’s vision, Hardin asked attendees three questions: “What are the things we have that can’t be replicated? What is our unique place in the marketplace? And then how can we amplify that?”

Following this, Hardin allowed the audience 15 minutes to answer these questions and provide feedback through an online survey.

Some of the feedback that was received included, “location next to Sleeping Giant State Park,” “a great growth mindset of all stakeholders” and a “willingness to change, to take risks,” Hardin mentioned.

While Hardin discussed the values and mission of Quinnipiac, she did not mention

the crowd what prides them about the last five years of strategic planning.

any concrete plans for the university’s vision. Hardin’s focus is on creating a vision based on community feedback.

Hardin mentioned that this feedback will be used in the next steps of the strategic visioning process, with plans for more survey opportunities.

This is only the first part of the university’s strategic visioning process, with another discussion being held on Feb. 19.

years, sophomores and juniors. Mountainview was previously home to only first-years.

Mountainview is now officially an option for rising sophomores along with the usual options: The Hill, The Village, Sahlin, Bakke, Larson, Perlroth and Troup.

This is not the only change in options.

Currently only sophomores are housed in The Hill and Founders on the Mount Carmel Campus. However, they are both now an op-

tion for rising juniors.

Crescent, Westview, Townhouses and Whitney Village remain as junior housing options.

“We believe these changes will have a positive impact, and while no housing process can guarantee that every student gets their first choice, our goal is to make the experience as fair and transparent as possible,” Karipidis wrote.

Opinion

Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining baseball

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

I used to love the offseason in Major League Baseball. The rumors, the waiting and the feeling that every team has at least a chance to flip its future with one big move.

Then the Los Angeles Dodgers show up and there goes another top free agent getting paid a ridiculous amount of money.

This is not just about jealousy. I am a huge fan of MLB, with the big moments and stars it creates. What gets under my skin is how predictable the ending has become. When the Dodgers want someone, 99.9% of the time, they get them.

Look at the last few seasons. The Dodgers landed starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani on a 10-year, $700 million deal with massive deferrals. They grabbed starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a 12-year, $325 million contract, plus the posting fee. Then, Los Angeles added starting pitcher Blake Snell on a five-year deal reportedly worth $182 million.

It kept piling on with more star power, including international ace Roki Sasaki. This offseason, the Dodgers did it again, signing Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal and closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal.

This is about more than just assembling a team; it's about creating a monopoly that can’t be stopped.

Then, we have the way their money gets moved around. Ohtani defers $68 million of his $70 million average annual salary. Tucker’s contract de-

tails also include deferrals, because the Dodgers have basically turned deferring money into a team habit rather than a rare exception.

I get it. Deferrals are legal. Teams can use them, and players agree to them. However, when the Dodgers repeatedly rely on deferrals, it no longer seems like a strategic decision but a loophole that MLB consistently ignores.

This is where the lack of a salary cap matters. MLB does not op erate like the NFL, NBA or NHL, where a cap forces real trade-offs.

MLB's competitive bal ance tax (CBT) for 2025 is set at $241 million. The CBT allows MLB to see how far over the luxury tax line a team went, based on a player's average annual value (AAV) and additional benefits.

The Dodgers' CBT was $417.3 million, exceeding the threshold. As re peat offenders, they paid a record $169.4 million in the luxury tax and spent $347 million on player contracts, totaling about $515 million.

Combine the six MLB teams with the lowest payrolls and the Dodgers still outspent them by $5 million, with their luxury tax payment exceeding 12 teams' payrolls. It’s absolutely ridiculous and makes MLB feel like anything but a fair fight.

argument ignores the reality for many teams.

Not every franchise has the same local revenue. Not every revenue prints money. Fans get told to be patient, trust the farm system and support the team. Then the Dodgers show up with another superstar like it's nothing and patience starts to feel

BY REBECCA COLLINS

Fans will argue that MLB owners should spend more. I hear that, and sometimes it is true, but this

‘But why’ is

By ADRIHANNA COLLINS Contributing Writer

“But why?”

This is the question acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog and the rest of the internet seem to be asking after the “ nihilist penguin” went viral recently.

The nihilist penguin is based on the 2007 Herzog documentary “Encounters at the End of the World.” The documentary is a study of the animals and the people who study them at an American research center on the southern tip of Antarctica’s Ross Island, McMurdo Station.

The section of the documentary that went viral pertained to an Adelie penguin colony where a penguin became disoriented and headed for the mountains, abandoning the colony.

“One of them caught our eye, the one in the center,” Herzog says as he narrates the documentary.

“He would neither go toward the feeding grounds at the edge of the ice, nor return to the colony. Shortly afterward, we saw him heading straight for the mountains, some 70 kilometers away. Doctor Ainslie explained even if he caught him and brought him back to the colony, he would immediately head right back for the

money for revenue-sharing purposes. Then came the massive Time Warner Cable deal that created SportsNet LA, an $8.35 billion contract that escalates over time through 2038.

It also drags the entire sport toward

The MLB labor agreement expires on Dec. 1, 2026, and a 2027 lockout seems likely as the sport heads toward another spending fight neither side

Owners will blame the Dodgers and argue for a salary cap, appearing hypocritical given their own lack of spending. Players will oppose a cap, fearing it will limit their earnings and

Through all the fighting, the fans will get the short end of the stick, watching a bunch of rich

The Dodgers didn’t ruin baseball overnight, but the biggest factor no one talks about is their 2011 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

This led to terms and settlements tied to how the league would treat the Dodgers’ local TV

Under the typical revenue-sharing formula, local TV income is pooled and shared among teams. However, due to prior settlements, the Dodgers’ deal caps their shareable amount, allowing them to keep more net TV revenue than other clubs.

The Dodgers earn over $300 million annually from SportsNet LA, while the Milwaukee Brewers would make around $35 million.

So when people tell me the Dodgers' success is just good leadership, I don’t fully buy it.

Yes, the front office and farm system are strong, but they've had a long financial head start. Add deferrals and star hunting, and the playing field isn't even fair anymore.

I don't blame players for taking the money. If someone offers you security, you take it. I also do not blame Dodgers fans for enjoying it. Every fan wants their team to act like it wants to win.

The problem is MLB is letting one team turn winning into an assembly line, then acting surprised when everyone starts calling the league unfair.

Baseball shouldn't punish ambition but must protect belief. It works best when April feels wide open and fanbases see their teams win in October.

If this continues, the biggest disappointment won't be the Dodgers' dominance but rather the rest of MLB losing its passion and no longer caring.

the ‘Nihilist Penguin’ ridiculous?

mountains. But, why?”

This penguin blew up with many finding the penguin to be a symbol of hope and adventure, or, according to others, on a suicide mission.

Clips went viral of people recreating the meme or turning it into various edits.

The White House even posted a photo of the nihilist penguin carrying an American flag walking hand in hand with President Donald Trump into the mountains with a flag of Greenland. Homeland Security also reposted a video implying that Americans know the answer to this, but why?

But why do I hate it?

Simply because it’s not that deep. off, I take offense to the nihilist penguin.” The nihilist penguin is not even a nihilist. The term, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means “a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded, and that existence is senseless and useless.”

So, with that definition in mind, wouldn 't the penguin reject society by laying down in the snow waiting for the cold hands of death? But no, instead the penguin runs towards the mountain in search of something.

If anything, the nihilist penguin is a Faustian, aka someone who “makes or does something for present gain without regard for future cost or consequences.” He runs towards the mountain, abandoning the ocean and his colony that provides him with survival, for the sake of some fleeting whim.

Even attaching some sort of philosophical ideology to this penguin is incredibly unnecessary, considering the video is about a penguin that lost its mind and is heading towards inevitable death.

Instead, people project their own feelings of desperation onto the penguin. As one X user says, “If this penguin doesn’t penetrate your psyche so deeply that you are compelled to finally drop everything & chase your dreams, then you’re doomed forever bro.”

Well bro, I’m not affected by this penguin because I have a sense of responsibility and an understanding of the natural world.

Herzog's documentaries often tackle the idea that the natural world often doesn’t fit in the structures that our society likes to adopt. Sometimes things just happen. They may be bizarre and unfortunate, but the world is odd and unexplainable. Yet we watch the nihilist penguin through a human lens that projects meaning onto something that has none.

According to the Sustainability Directory, avian disorientation is “the impairment of a bird’s natural ability to navigate or determine its correct flight direction… the consequence is often deviation from established migration routes.” It's a natural part of the world, but it's sad, so it makes

people uncomfortable. Uncomfortable things make people search for reasons when there aren't any.

The penguin getting disoriented and running into the mountains is odd and unexplainable, but the world is odd and explainable. We don't know why the penguin ran to the mountains, and probably, neither did the penguin.

Overall, people are projecting their own anxieties about the state of their lives, and this desire to escape their responsibilities onto this penguin. The penguin isn't headed towards some further destiny by abandoning everything it knew, and neither are you if you do “side quests” instead of your work.

Confusion is unsatisfying, and people project answers on the penguin to feel adequate. When the penguin is framed to be plotting rather than confused, it becomes inspiring because intention is powerful in contrast to randomness. The added captions, music and commentary work well because it stabilizes the clip into having meaning. The penguin is no longer wandering or disoriented; it’s leaving for bigger and better things. The nihilist penguin doesn’t capture indifference; it allows people's complicated feelings to look like a choice

You are not the nihilist penguin, and you will never be the nihilist penguin. You are just stressed out from mounting assignments and putting your sad little feelings onto this little creature.

Go out and learn to cope instead of putting it all on this poor penguin.

You're a fan, not a friend Parasocial relationships are getting out of hand

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

I would consider myself “chronically online. ” If you ask anyone about my current fascination with the Beckham family drama, they’d agree. I could tell you a few facts of the situation, but you’ll never catch me protectively jumping at any of their defenses or attacking any of them. That goes for any celebrity or any person I don’t know.

I don’t know these people and their lives really don’t affect me.

If you ask me, that’s the beauty of it: being able to watch people go at each other’s throats like an episode of “Baddies” without having to actually be involved. I love watching people be messy from the comfort of my bed, but that’s where it stops.

Too many times I've seen people get in the nastiest TikTok feuds over defending or attacking people they don’t know.

Yes Swifties, pop-star Taylor Swift counts too. She’s actually one of the worst examples of people creating parasocial relationships and becoming involved in beef they just simply don’t need to be in.

The other day on TikTok, I watched fans go absolutely feral over, and I quote, the “FIRST TAY GLIMPSE OF 2026.”

Why are we talking like we’ve been locked in a basement and are seeing the sun for the first time?

As if I wasn’t already aggravated enough, I made the mistake of looking in the comments. One fan was fawning over her drinking from a straw, talking about how cute she was… for drinking out of a straw.

Another user actually corrected the TikTok, and apparently, she was on a date with fiance, Kansas City tight end, Travis Kelce in Beverly Hills on Jan. 12. Hey, “amiah (taylor’s version)” that’s a bit strange, first, to know that, and second, to care enough to correct it.

It’s now at the point where I can’t tell if everyone is just way too easily impressed or paid promoters. I’m convinced it has to be one of the two.

Before anyone comes for me and my whole bloodline, pull your friendship bracelets back out from where you stuck them, because I’m not saying it’s her fault. So relax.

I’m actually saying the opposite. If you’re an obsessive Swifty that thinks she can do no wrong just because she makes great music, or because you like her vibe, please know

I’m not attacking her. I’m attacking you. The halo effect is real. She’s a prime example of it.

Listen, I think her music is great, and I can relate to a lot of the heartbreak in it. But, instead of attacking her exes for decades, can we maybe stop and think about how we were not involved in their lives in any way, shape or form? So there is a possibility that, and hear me out here, we don’t actually know what happened.

For all we know, she could’ve been some crazy psycho in the relationship. But because she’s gifted lyrically, we get one side of the story, and that’s gospel for a lot of her fans. She even had to tell them not to harass John Mayer when “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” came out.

Imagine going to attack someone on be-

half of a popstar you don’t know. I have no problem with her, but she’s not some helpless teenage girl. She’s a grown billionaire in her late 30s. She doesn’t need people she doesn’t even know exist sending death threats on her behalf.

The reverse happens too. Sometimes, strangers hate a celebrity so much that anything the celebrity does is put on blast.

Actress Blake Lively and actor Justin Baldoni are currently in a legal battle. Lively claims that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Baldoni countersued for defamation.

None of us know these people, yet everyone has their opinions on this case. Lively isn’t very well-liked. I get it. She’s had some rough moments in interviews and in public. But at the end of the day, this is a serious case, and no one should be making judgments when they’re not a legal professional, a psychologist or know these people personally.

You claim a woman is lying about sexual harassment and your justification is merely that you don’t like her. Yet, your way of “knowing” her is your curated algorithm of her most unlikable moments. I’m not a fan of hers, admittedly because of those moments, but I’m not going to pretend I know anything about her personally.

There’s a difference between glazing a celebrity for no reason and then denying someone’s experience of sexual harassment or sending death threats. That’s the difference between just being “chronically online” and just being a weirdo. Get a grip.

The bridge vs the bookstore

Money spent on campus in the wrong places

By CAITLIN MUSSA Contributing Writer

After being at Quinnipiac for only a semester, I noticed that the Mount Carmel Campus is constantly evolving. It seems like every time I turn around, there’s a new addition or project being worked on.

For current and future students, these projects are and will continue to be valued, as they improve our college experience. However, I often wonder if the school is spending money and time in the wrong places.

As students settle back into campus after winter break, most of us have had to get acquainted with the new bookstore. I remember first seeing it and being wowed.

It’s a modern and functional building that

is definitely an upgrade from the old one. The new building, being more roomy, undoubtedly makes it an excellent addition to our campus.

However, after seeing how quickly it was constructed and put into operation, I have a bone to pick. Yes, the new bookstore is nice, but I ask myself, 'Did we really need a new bookstore? Why did the university see it as a necessity?'

According to Town of Hamden records, the estimated cost of the new bookstore was around $2.1 million.

Personally, a few other projects on campus could have seriously benefited from that money, including the bridge behind the library.

Yes, I am referring to the bridge that sits behind Dana and Irma Residence Halls, which has been broken since early in the fall semester.

We can all agree that this particular bridge being “out of order” has been an inconvenience

in one way or another.

It’s annoying to walk out of my way to get around the bridge, and I’ve even resorted to the rocks in the creek as a path. While this method may have worked in the fall, the snow and ice make it more slippery and unsafe than before.

I think I can speak for all Quinnipiac students living on the main campus when I say we were disappointed when we saw the bridge still boarded up, yet there was a brand new bookstore up and running.

I am grateful to have such a new and improved bookstore at our university, but it can be seen by some as more of a luxury rather than a necessity.

I hope Quinnipiac will prioritize improvements that have a greater impact on students' day-to-day lives.

Arts & Life

OISS hosts Winter Olympics watch party for Jade Barbirati

By SOPHIE MURRAY Associate Arts & Life Editor

Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey first-year forward Jade Barbirati is representing Team France at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

To celebrate and support her journey, Quinnipiac’s Office of International Students & Scholars hosted a campus watch party as Barbirati competed.

Many of her Quinnipiac teammates filled the room, cheering her on and celebrating the milestone together.

“This is a really cool opportunity for our team,” senior goaltender Calli Hogarth said. “One of our

best friends is playing and (the watch party) is a good opportunity to show support.”

Originally from Savoie, France, Barbirati’s watch party was also meant to highlight French culture as she represented her home country.

Sarah Driscoll, director of International Students & Scholars, organized the event to ensure Barbirati’s roots were recognized and celebrated.

“This allows our community to come together and celebrate our students and where they come from, where they call home,” Driscoll said. “Even just featuring foods from Jade’s home country, it’s just a nice way to come together as a community.”

French-inspired snacks, such as croissants

and French meats and cheeses were set out for spectators to enjoy, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the morning. The room was decorated with French flags alongside flags from other countries, reflecting both Barbirati’s roots and the diverse international community on campus.

“It’s super cool she’s been able to make such an impact on our team this season and now she gets the opportunity to do it for her country,” junior defender Brynne West said.

The strength and support from the Quinnipiac community was evident throughout the event, creating an atmosphere of togetherness and pride.

While the Olympics are an athletic competition, they are also a moment for communities to rally behind the ones they care about, even from across the world.

“I hope she feels proud and recognized,” senior goaltender Tatum Blacker said. “This is such a cool opportunity and it’s so rare for someone, especially her age, to be making it to the Olympics. I hope she knows we have her back and are supporting her from Hamden, Connecticut.”

Barbirati’s achievements on the Olympic ice highlight the pride and support the Quinnipiac family has for one another — a sense of Bobcat spirit that echoes even from across the world.

Bad Bunny's Halftime Show was a subtle revolution

By ZACHARY REAGAN Staff Writer

In 2026, it’s getting increasingly difficult to decide who you can trust. Between the scores of artificial intelligence (AI) deepfakes running down social media timelines, animosity of modern partisan politics and horrifying celebrity scandals, there’s a lot of doom in the world to sulk over.

However, the only thing more powerful than hate is love. Rapper and singer Benito Ocasio (Bad Bunny) has stuck by this core message, both for his Super Bowl LX Halftime Show and his most recent work and 2025 Grammys Album of the Year, “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”

While it wouldn’t have been my personal pick, there’s no denying his influence and the rawness of his musicality. His sound is an international bridge, branching far out of the tiny island he calls home. Bad Bunny doesn’t just call Puerto Rico home, he sings its praises relentlessly. This was the main overarching theme of “DTMF,” to showcase the beauty and share the memories of a homeland in distress.

Ocasio’s ascension to streaming domination and Super Bowl fame hardly came easy, though. Puerto Rico’s environment can be unforgiving, and in some years is subject to multiple natural disasters. Colonizing powers siphon the island’s natural resources and leave Puerto Ricans little. Many never get off the island at all. To say Puerto Ricans are a resilient people would be a gross understatement.

inclusive message on the day of.

“I know I told them they had four months to learn Spanish,” Bad Bunny said. “They don’t even have to learn Spanish. They (can) learn to dance.”

It’s an admirable move considering all the exclusivity he’s had to endure. It would be so easy for him to continue to talk only in Spanish and make most Americans feel like they’re on the outside looking in. And while many still did, considering Turning Point USA’s substitute with Kid Rock, Bad Bunny’s Halftime show was the most-watched in history.

The show itself was a 13-minute whirlwind of

selling cold drinks or jewelry and uncles on the street playing dominos. It’s an easy way to show off the goings on of your average Puerto Rican residential street.

Then, the feed cuts to a crowded house lined in the front with dancers for “Yo Perreo Sola.” The energy stayed high, but close lookers could make out some faces in the crowd. The biggest names included rapper Cardi B, actress Jessica Alba, singer-songwriter Karol G and actor Pedro Pascal. While promoting the Puerto Rican community, Benito made sure to uplift a ton of other Latin voices and personalities.

Bad Bunny’s goal is to restore their hope and share in their joy. Not just the people of Puerto Rico, or even the wider Latino community. After joking on SNL that English-speaking Americans had four months to catch up, he made a more

as one of his biggest trap hits.

In the opening shots, Bad Bunny cruises through a hallway of sugar cane, a nod to the bloody history of the island’s agricultural roots. He makes his way up to street vendors

After another incredibly bouncy number in “EoO,” Bad Bunny found himself surrounded by two rows of violinists as the intro to “MONACO” began. I have to take a moment to appreciate the camera work here. The dolly shot was such a fun way to do the intro, plus the editing of the whole show matched the energy really well, with flashy, quick cuts to match the rhythm.

The camera then moved up toward a wedding, where two Bad Bunny fans were married right there, on the spot. They made way for singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, who did a fantastic “Die With A Smile” remix with a Puerto Rican brass band supporting her. The couple was ushered off camera, likely having one of the quickest first dances of all time before the wedding band launched into megahit “Baile Inolvidable.”

This sequence was where that core message of love was most felt. Aside from the less subtle interpretation of the Halftime show becoming a live wedding reception, Benito made some more popular references to the culture. The most prominent was when he lifted a child off a

makeshift chair-bed as he made his way across the dance floor. The shots of grandfathers dancing with their grandchildren and the newlyweds’ first official dance made my heart swell with pride at what he had accomplished so far.

Then, came a seamless transition into “Nuevayol,” my personal favorite off the album. Needless to say, I was practically bouncing off the walls as the horns shook the walls of my shoebox dorm room. It also contained one of my favorite cultural references, Toñita, the old woman who hands him a shot is the owner of the Caribbean Social Club in New York.

This has become one of my favorite Halftime Shows ever, in large part due to how dense it was. After he gifted his Grammy to a younger version of himself and a string of political statements, followed by a stellar singer-songwriter and actor Rickey Martin cameo. Once forced to sing in English to chart well in the United States, Ricky Martin sang an all-Spanish song about anticolonialism with the biggest pop star in the world.

“Lo Que Paso en Hawaii” opened this sequence, a song that speaks to how the United States colonized Hawaii, and to not forget what happened there before it happens to Puerto Rico. The next track, “El Apagón,” called out the ongoing power crises in Puerto Rico. The third finished with the closer of the show, “DtMF,” as he shouted, “God bless America.” Bad Bunny listed every country on the American continent, making a beautiful statement on unity and how you can’t beat the power of love.

While rapper Kendrick Lamar decided to call his most public enemy a pedophile in front of nearly 200 million people to make his point, Bad Bunny decided to be a bit more subtle. His messages blended with the party so seamlessly that I thought about it later and danced along.

Inside the ‘Michael’ Trailer

Where power meets family and success comes at a cost

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

The official trailer for “Michael” debuted on Feb. 2 and it did not slide into the conversation quietly.

Every single Michael Jackson fan “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” that includes dancing in the streets, putting on a “Thriller” for the whole world to see.

The casting feels perfect, and the trailer makes it hard to “Beat It” from the conversation.

Michael’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, plays the king of pop, and let me just say he is Michael Jackson. I mean, whoever the makeup artists are for this movie should get a standing ovation because they have no business making anyone look that close to the man himself.

Like it couldn’t get any better, they cast Colman Domingo as Michael’s father, Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson.

The trailer leans into the family tension, especially the relationship between Michael and Joe.

A line that really gave me “Butterflies” was when Joe answered a moment of independence with, “I told you what to think.”

That one sentence left me in a “State of Shock” because I really hope we get more of his family life addressed in this movie. Jackson’s story has been corrupted by his father’s influence, making his fame feel “Dangerous.” I want the portrayal to read more like a genuine biography than a

The ‘Devil

polished tribute.

I also love that the trailer hints at the machinery behind the scenes. Miles Teller plays Jackson’s lawyer, John Branca and Laura Harrier plays Suzanne de Passe, who, at the time, was the President of Motown Productions and played a major role in getting the Jackson 5 started.

“Can You Feel It?”

The movie hits you with even more history from Jackson’s Motown days. Diana Ross shows up in the cast, played by Kat Graham and Berry Gordy shows up too, played by Larenz Tate.

Quincy Jones also sits in the lineup, played by Kendrick Sampson, and that kind of casting can turn a biopic from cool to credible. Quincy is the bridge to the era where Jackson went “Bad” then built the kind of dominance that made “Thriller” feel less like an album and more like a cultural event.

When the film places those relationships as a “Man in the Mirror,” the story stops being “Michael vs. the world” and becomes “Michael’s system that made him bigger, faster and lonelier.”

The best part is that the scenes look so real and show that “Workin’ All Day and Night” can produce this masterpiece in the making.

That is why the movie feels like “Human Nature.” It wants the audience to understand why those moments hit so hard in the first place, and as a fan, I want those moments to feel “Off the Wall”

Wears

electric, like a “Smooth Criminal” sliding across the floor.

Jackson did not build greatness by accident, and the trailer illustrates the creative obsession that even someone as detail-oriented as Jackson would approve of.

When the movie comes out on April 24, you’ve “Got to Be There.” A story this famous carries real weight, and the film has already drawn attention for the amount of material it has and for how carefully the studio has shaped it.

small, and the movie shouldn’t either. I keep coming back to how, “The Way You Make Me Feel” about this movie is already set for such a high standard that any less may be super disappointing.

If you want me and millions of Jackson fans to “Remember the Time” we saw this biopic, it should make us “Scream” in excitement, so we “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough.”

The trailer hints at a story about talent, control, ambition and the cost of being the center of attention.

If the final film strikes the right balance, it would feel like an invitation to “Enjoy Yourself,” knowing the best performers make it seem effortless, while secretly bearing the weight of expectations that

By the time “Michael” reaches theaters on April 24, I expect the online noise to get loud, fast. I just want the movie to keep its own rhythm, tell the story with enough honesty to hold up after the first

The trailer already promises that “I’ll Be There” in a front-row seat.

The only question now is, “Will You Be There?”

Prada 2’

trailer promises a lot, but can the movie live up to the hype?

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief

Forget the Super Bowl, forget Punxsutawney Phil, forget the Grammys; the most important thing in February already happened on Feb. 2; the trailer for “Devil Wears Prada 2” dropped.

And boy is it promising a lot. It’s been 20 years since the first movie released and the sequel has more than enough to live up to.

All of the main cast is making their return in the beloved characters of Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway), Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci), but this time the dynamics of the group seem to be a little more interesting.

It was also insane seeing them all presented as either Academy Award-winners or Academy Award-nominees; when the first movie came out only Streep held that title.

To be frank, as an avid “Devil Wears Prada” fan, I was skeptical when they originally announced the sequel. It’s been two decades — and even though the cast

are all clearly vampires because they look like they barely aged five days since then — there are a lot of expectations that come with trying to follow up a classic.

The one thing that kept my hopes up was the return of Streep, who infamously avoids sequels, so clearly she saw something in

dropped at the Grammys.

And oh my God, was it everything. I was worried they were going to go down a cliche road, but from what I’ve seen so far, the plot seems pretty realistic. I audibly laughed when Miranda did not recognize Andrea (whether she was faking it or not is still up for debate) and it was interesting to see Andrea come back to her roots, so to say, becoming an editor at Runway.

the script that made her want to return as the Editor-in-Chief of Runway.

But then I saw the trailer — or more like ran to YouTube as soon as the announcement

It will be cool to see whether any real life events will be reflected in the plot. Miranda was ultimately based on Anna Wintour, the previous editor of Vogue, who no longer holds that position, while Miranda seems to be thriving even though they tried getting rid of her in the first movie.

Aside from the core four, Tracie Thoms (Andrea’s friend, Lily) and Tibor Feldman (Irv Ravitz) seem to be the only ones returning from the first movie, but the rest of the new cast is nothing to frown upon.

From the list that was already made public, Australian actor Patrick Brammall is set to play Andrea’s new love interest — and thank God cause I couldn’t be the only one who did not like

her college boyfriend — and I was pleased to see actress Simone Ashley’s name, even though we don’t know who she will play just yet. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if they somehow brought Kate Bridgeton to the modern era is all I’m saying.

Actress Sydney Sweeney is definitely someone I did not expect to see on the list, especially after the backlash the actress received after her ad with American Eagle, but I also see it. No matter the role, Sweeney fits into the world that “Devil Wears Prada” paints, but I am still wondering how big of a role she will end up having.

The real nice surprises were in the form of fashion designer Donatella Versace and singer Lady Gaga. While both of them will most likely only have small appearances as themselves, I still like that this movie is coming for the same wow factor that the first one had.

There are exactly 80 days til this movie hits the theaters, which also means 80 days til I will be sitting in the front row for what will be my first watch of probably the next thousand of this movie, and there’s still a lot unknown. While the trailer gave us some insight into the characters, we don’t know what the main plot and problem will be, and it’s kind of fun to try guessing.

And because I saw all of the leaked clips on TikTok from people in New York City (really it had to be so nice to live in a day and age where social media didn’t spoil everything) I know there is another great iconic fashion montage coming. And that’s enough to keep me going for the next two and a half months.

‘High School Musical’ celebrates 20 years

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

This year I’m turning 20 years old. And so does the movie that carried me through my childhood.

For a while now we’ve been experiencing nostalgic anniversaries: childhood songs turning 15, shows turning 10. Yet there’s something about seeing headlines reading something along the lines of “‘High School Musical’ turns 20” that’s just different.

In case you haven’t seen the movie, first, why? But in short, it follows a group of high schoolers at East High in Albuquerque, N.M. In true Disney Channel fashion, the characters fall into several cliques: jocks, nerds, drama students. Each clique breaks the “Status Quo,” finding a love for being on stage and making friends outside of their groups. So of course, they consistently break out in song too.

But the Wildcats’ story didn’t end after they finally decided they were “All in This Together” in the closing number. Disney Channel gave us two more movies that kept us hooked. We followed the Wildcats through summer vacation and then back to East High for their senior year.

So what kept us invested for three movies? And for some of us, what’s kept us hooked even now?

Maybe most notably, was actor Zac Efron gracing our screens as heartthrob and star basketball player Troy Bolton. Just like Glee’s Finn Hudson (Corey Monteith), Troy showed us that the star athletes could

also sing show tunes. And didn’t that just make us fall in love even more?

But seriously, the movie showed our younger selves that people could move outside those cliques. Of course the movies and messages are cheesy, but that’s exactly what I loved to see.

And it wouldn’t be a Disney Channel original without a no-skips soundtrack and choreography from director Kenny Ortega. I know I’m not the only one that still remembers the choreography to “We’re All in This Together.”

All these things combined, I did think that once I got to high school, we too would break out into song at any given moment. Unfortunately that didn't happen, but a girl can dream.

Jan. 20 marked the official 20 year mark since we met the Wildcats, and several of the main cast members reminisced on their days at East High in a recent article by PEOPLE Magazine.

“We were having fun, learning as we went, and honestly just enjoying every moment together. I never could’ve imagined it would still mean so much to people 20 years later, or that a whole new generation would connect with it, and I’m grateful for that,” Efron told PEOPLE.

The cast reflected on how much they loved their days on set, not knowing how big the movie franchise would soon be.

“What I remember most is how unburdened it felt,” actor Lucas Grabeel, who played Ryan Evans said. “There

wasn’t a machine yet — no mythology, no expectations, no sense of legacy. We were present: singing around the piano between takes, laughing at our silliness and mistakes, figuring it out together.

Since we last saw the Wildcats when they graduated from East High, rumors and fake trailers have circulated about a fourth movie in the series. Some were so realistic I thought the rumors were true.

Instead the iconic Sharpay Evans (Ashley French) took on New York City in her spin-off “Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.” And later, Disney+ released “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” in 2019.” As great as they both were, nothing will ever be as good as the OG Wildcats. So for now we can keep rewatching the series and have hopeful delusions that one day we’ll see the Wildcats again.

Let's all go to the lobby

Why Drive-ins are still relevant

By JOANNA FARRELL Associate Opinion Editor

In the 1950’s, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, our country was just coming back from World War II and we were enthralled in two new wars.

Even though everything seemed bad, and it was, there was no shortage of entertainment in the ’50s. The movies were all the rage and television was starting to make its way into the average American home.

There is nostalgia that surrounds the 1950s that imparts itself on everyone. Besides the fact that it wasn’t the best time for women… or people of color… or poverty-stricken communities, there is still this feeling that life was simpler.

The lack of technology and the promise of the future all make the ’50s more appealing to an over automized society like ours.

Few experiences today that truly allow us to

the Drive-in movie theater.

The Drive-in provides a unique experience for lovers, movie goers and people who yearn for the nostalgia of days gone by. It’s simple, it doesn’t try too hard and there’s a reason that the drive-ins that exist today have been around for close to 80 years.

For those who have never been, the Drive-in can be a hard thing to explain the appeal of. In all its simplicity, it’s a dirt lot with little mounds and a couple of large projection screens. Often, there’s a little shack in the center with a variety of snacks and drinks to choose from. You connect your car to the radio station on the screen, the ads play and the movie starts just like a movie theater would.

However, the things that make the Drive-in special are not what I can describe to you in words.

The Drive-in is an experience, it’s a feeling.

I’ve been going to the Drive-in since I was a little kid with my parents. I still remember the feeling of loading up our Minivan with blankets

and pillows and laying in the trunk of the van with my parents while the movies played.

Now that I’m older I go with my boyfriend. He also didn’t understand the appeal of sitting in the car, parked in a dirt lot and watching a movie until I forced him to go with me. He loved it so much that now we make it a point to go at least once a year even if the movie selection sucks.

Do I remember the movies we watched? No.

But do I remember the way it felt turning to him and laughing, or chatting about parts of the movie without the fear of other movie goers side eyeing me for talking? Yes.

Something about a Drive-in in the summer is an experience everyone should have at least once.

Walking from the car, the cool nighttime breeze providing relief from the heat of the day, the gentle glow emitting from the snack shack and the lively atmosphere of lovers and family spending quality time together.

and an experience that I can’t describe to you. The old timey ads that have been running since the opening day, the snack bar that hasn’t been renovated… ever and being able to share an experience with someone you love is priceless. Even if the drive in doesn’t appeal to you, find ways to slow down, ways to separate yourself from modernized society. The Drive-in is a great way to do that. You can also go to a local arcade or vintage themed diner and get the same feeling from a different environment.

For people looking to beat out technology for a night, Shady Glen is a great 1940s themed restaurant and the Mansfield Drive-In is, in my humble opinion, the best drive-in in the state.

Please understand that I am not romanticizing the 50’s, but rather, romanticizing an experience that allows us to step away from streaming services and the overstimulating experiences of the traditional movie theater.

By RYLEY LEE Associate Photography Editor

Noah Kahan read my mind

Folk singer Noah Kahan released his new single “The Great Divide” on Jan. 30, with the full album is dropping on April 24, and it’s safe to say he never misses.

Not to be dramatic, but I’ve probably listened to the song 100 times already. Every time I put my headphones on, I queue it up, and if it doesn’t hit the way I want, I’ll replay it until it does.

Kahan’s music got me through my junior year of high school. He was there for me when I thought no one else was. So naturally, his music has a special place in my heart. His lyrics have a way of connecting with me like no other. Kahan writes about his anxiety in his songs, which is something I have always struggled with and have never really known how to deal with.

Kahan almost always writes his music from personal experience and “The Great Divide” is no different. A lot of people think he’s talking to an old friend or partner who he hopes ends up living an “ordinary” life. And while this might be true, I see my younger self in the song.

When he sings, “I hope that you’re not losing sleep about what’s next/ Or about your soul,” I see me. Growing up with

anxiety, I’ve always been stuck in my mind. I’m always thinking about something. If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing, it would be to stop worrying so much. Of course, it’s not that simple; that’s not how anxiety works. But I lost so much of my childhood and teenage years worrying about things I had no control over.

Kahan also sings, “And I’m finally aware of how shitty and unfair it was to stare ahead like everything was fine.” I resonate with that because I do the same thing. Whether it’s with other people or myself, I pretend everything is fine when it isn’t. I push my emotions down until they come flooding back up as anger at the people who love me.

Even the album cover, a picture of kids running in a backyard, reminds me of my childhood. I think Kahan did this on purpose. Yes, he might be talking to an old friend, but I don’t think that’s what the song is actually about. It’s about growing up with anxiety, not having a “normal” childhood.

Kahan truly wants the best for himself. Maybe not even the best, he wants normalcy. He wants to see things the way people whose minds aren’t plagued by anxiety see things. He wants to be able to

go about his day without worrying what might happen next.

Kahan’s lyrics might not mean so much to someone who doesn’t relate to them. But for me, they’re a way of being seen. Having someone, even if it’s someone who doesn’t know I exist, that I can relate to is so important. Music has the power to connect people and make them feel things that they didn’t think they could feel.

Every time Kahan announces a new song, I know it’s going to be great, and

that I’m going to be able to relate to it. From “Busybead” to “No Complaints,” and now “The Great Divide,” I see myself in Kahan’s lyrics.

Whenever I’m going through a big change or am struggling mentally, I know I can turn to Kahan’s music to make me feel not only better, but understood. Now, in my second semester of college, one of the biggest changes of my life to date, Kahan is coming out with a new album I know I’ll be able to relate to.

The unexpected Wonderman and Barnaby

A review of Marvel's ‘Wonderman’

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

To this day, “Iron Man 3” has one of the funniest plot twists ever to happen. That was until the newest plot twist: Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) in 2026.

He makes his comeback in Marvel’s newest TV show, “Wonderman.”

Let me take you back about 13 years ago, when the face of “the Mandarin,” a terrorist, was actually just an alcoholic and struggling actor named Trevor Slattery.

In the third Iron Man movie, Slattery was hired to be the “Mandarin” by Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce).

Trevor was desperate for a role, and was taking the fall for Killian. Taking the fall for evil.

Over a decade later, we’ve come full circle and Slattery is taking the blame for good.

The show “Wonderman,” starts with Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) as a child, with his father in the theatre watching the original “Wonderman” movie — a movie about a superhero and his best friend Barnaby.

In the Marvel universe, obviously, superheroes are the norm in reality. But in the show, Wonderman is a fictional superhero.

The story follows Simon’s struggling as an actor. It’s revealed that he has powers, but he keeps it a secret from nearly everyone he knows to continue acting.

Honestly, I was worried I was going to be a little bored when it first started. I should’ve kept my mouth shut because this show was the definition of basically all of my worlds colliding, with pull after pull.

In episode three, Simon comments on his fear of becoming DeMarr “Doorman” Davis (Byron Bowers).

Then, in the fourth episode, we get a flashback to what he was talking about. We find out exactly why Simon can’t reveal his powers.

I wasn’t expecting much of it, but then Josh Gad shows up, and I think “oh, who’s he playing?’ Nope. He’s playing

mutant, he saves Gad and others from a club fire. How? Gad passes through David’s body, and so does everyone else.

Gad offers David a job, and David becomes a celebrity after going viral for his catchphrase.

Then, one day, during a job, Gad passes through David’s stomach and never comes back out. And that’s the end of him. Um what?

overcome his issues and anxieties.

Well, like I said, Trevor is technically an exterrorist. He was broken out of Seagate Prison, and now, he’s been snatched by Damage Control. They give him a deal: help spy on Simon, and he won’t go back to prison.

However, along the way, we see Simon and Trevor become close friends. Trevor may have been acting the role of Simon’s friend at the beginning, but it becomes real.

I was already shocked less than 10 minutes in when not only was there an “American Horror Story” mention, but Ashley Greene, aka Alice Cullen from the “Twilight” Saga, was there. I audibly went “What the hell?”

I thought Greene’s appearance was just a fun little cameo. I had no clue what I was in for.

and perform a mix of “In Summer” from “Frozen.”

I had to rewind to make sure I was seeing this correctly.

Shortly after Davis gets his powers by touching a toxic substance and becoming a

be friggin Olaf going missing in a guy’s stomach.

Come to find out, that incident was why superheroes can’t act. It’s apparently an insurance liability.

Throughout the show, Trevor helps Simon

I mentioned before that the beginning of the show opened with Simon seeing “Wonderman” with his father. In that version, Barnaby would never betray Wonderman.

Fast forward, when Simon has grown up, he and Trevor are given the opportunity to audition for the remake.

In this version, though, Barnaby, Wonderman’s only friend betrays him. The story is extremely parallel to the betrayal of Trevor to Simon.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t cry throughout multiple parts of this show. One of the parts being Simon’s mother, Martha (Shola Adewusi) telling Trevor and Simon they never had any friends. We can see his struggle to fit in throughout the show, but when he finally has a friend, he betrays him. It’s heartbreaking. What was unique about this show is that it put Simon as a person before a hero. Most of “Wonderman” was simply about his struggles, and it felt like the powers aspect was a side plot. Phenomenal story telling all around.

I also love when I can see a show’s roots to the comics. From Simon’s eyes, to the costume, I believe it did.

The bar is high for Marvel shows, with precedents like “Wandavision,” “Loki” or even nicher ones like, my personal favorite, “Cloak and Dagger.”

Marvel has outdone itself yet again.

There’s no one a second season would ever top that picture. Impossible. But maybe it’s worth thinking about how they could do it.

‘Change the narrative’ Mason Marcellus hits 100-point threshold

By AMANDA DRONZEK Copy Editor

Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey junior winger Mason Marcellus notched his 100th career point on Feb. 6 in a 9-1 drubbing against Brown University.

“I actually didn’t know it was coming up,” Marcellus said. “Once I scored, (freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach) came back to the bench and was hugging me, and I was a little confused.”

Had Marcellus known how close he was to the milestone, he might have celebrated more — and maybe even dabbed for his mother.

“She always wants me to dab when I score,” he said. “That would’ve been the perfect one for me to dab for.”

The assistant captain has had two consecutive 35+ point seasons and is headed toward a third with 28, as of publication.

During his rookie campaign, Marcellus led all ECAC freshmen with 0.92 goals per game and was Quinnipiac’s most productive offensive player with a +34 rating, earning him 2024 ECAC All-Rookie honors.

Marcellus, undrafted, was invited to the Nashville Predators’ development camp ahead of a career-best sophomore season.

The Greely, Ontario, native started all 38 games with an equal number of points, and led the Bobcats with 28 assists for an ECAC Sec-

In a season where Quinnipiac has just five is ranked No. 5 in the countop tier

preseason, where it was No. 3 following a national title — Marcellus remains a core veteran in a highly anticipated seventh straight NCAA Tournament berth.

Quinnipiac women's lacrosse ready to finish what it started Quinnipiac men's lacrosse looks to rewrite the script in 2026

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

When looking at the 2025 Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse team in isolation, one sees a lot of ugly. Eight losses and a blowout defeat in round two of the MAAC tournament. But looking at last seasons record and ending, there is a significant season-to-season improvement.

After a two-win 2024 season, the team made great strides on offense and defense to the tune of a 10 win 2025. Now, in 2026, the squad is looking to build off their improvements beyond the quarterfinals of the MAAC tournament.

“We’re gonna do really well, if not better than last year,” senior attacker Cate Bendowski said.

Let’s take a look at how the Bobcats can do exactly that.

SCHEDULE

Kicking off the season, the Bobcats have eight non-conference opponents, six of them on the road, beginning with Hofstra University and ending with Furman University. They will also meet Yale University on Feb. 17 and Bryant University on March 4, both of whom are programs who have been perennially successful in their respective conferences.

The step up in competition for the Bobcats is by design, as head coach Jordan Christopher believes it will better prepare the squad for the season they want to have.

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

For any other team, winning just four games in a single season, and only three in conference play, would mean a year to forget.

However, when one of those wins is in the playoffs and pushes transition year Bobcats squad to the second round of the MAAC Tournament, perhaps the “down” season is an omen of things to come.

Eighth-year head coach Mason Poli seems to think so, and his team, which was ranked No. 4 in the MAAC Preseason Poll, is right behind him.

“After what we consider a down year last year, they definitely had some motivation to kind of rewrite our history,” Poli said.

That history has its share of ups and downs in recent memory. Two years ago, the Bobcats were making a name for themselves in the regular season. They capped off the season 9-5, ranked No. 20 nationally midway through the year. Yet, Quinnipiac’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion in the first round of the MAAC playoffs.

lar season was capped with an unlikely upset against the No. 3 team in the MAAC, the Canisius Golden Griffins.

putting the two per formances, 2024’s regu lar season and 2025’s postseason, together to build something the program hasn’t seen in a decade: a MAAC championship victory.

the Bobcats look to be in a good place to achieve that goal.

continuity. Of fensively, the

Bobcats were relatively young in 2025 but return 10 of the 11 top goalscorers from last year’s campaign. But these athletes are far from the group that often struggled to put balls in the back of the net.

“It’s a lot of the same names, but they’re different people from day one a season ago,” Poli said. “You see the composure they bring to the field now, and the relationships they have, the way they play off each other.”

That offensive firepower is also aided on the coaching side. The Bobcats brought in assistant coach Matt Rice from Ohio Wesleyan University, who’s already made a mark on the offense and team dynamic.

Poli credits Rice’s personality as a key factor in connecting with the team, focusing on “subtle

One thing that the Bobcats aren’t keen on changing is junior attacker Nate Watson. His team-leading 29 goals and 45 points as a sophomore propelled the Bobcats for much of the season, and Quinnipiac is counting on his offensive production again in his junior campaign.

Poli commended the New Brunswick native’s ability to direct the Bobcat offense last year, along with the finishing ability that kept him at the top of the Bobcat scoresheet. In Quinnipiac’s opening game against the UMass Lowell Riverhawks this season, that prowess around the net was evident. Watson’s eight points tied his career high from last season, with his five goals leading all Bobcat scorers.

For Watson, this new season provides the chance to just continue that maturation as a player and find a greater physicality with-

Another consistent star that will be critical for the Bobcats to return to the MAAC tournament is graduate student goaltender Mason Oak. Even with the laundry list of accolades Oak has collected in his time sporting the Bobcat blue and gold, his impact on the field goes

beyond his stellar netminding. That familiar presence in net extends to his on-field communication, and makes the job of Quinnipiac’s defenders that much easier. The defense knows what shots the 2024 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year likes to see, and can adjust accordingly.

“It allows us to play a certain style,” Poli said.

But the Bobcats’ strengths lie beyond the tried and true parts of last season. Problems that surfaced in 2025, such as injuries on the Quinnipiac backend, are becoming strengths. The transition season, although disappointing in result, facilitated new personal combinations that will drive a staunch defense core to continue improving.

One combination to look out for: sophomore defender Joe Konesco and junior long-stick midfielder Glenn Platania.

“We view (them) as the number one cover guys, so to not have to slide and support them, we’re really excited,” Poli said.

Continuing to settle into the defense schemes of second-year assistant coach Logan Tousaw will also benefit the Bobcats’ defensive numbers, and the changes he’s made will keep opposing offenses from figuring the squad out.

“He probably changed a little bit more in some of our defensive slide packages,” Poli said. “...even some of the variability we’re now able to bring on the defensive end.”

There is a lot to be excited about for the upcoming season of Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse, but one thing is for sure; the Bobcats don’t plan on backing themselves into a playoff spot the same way again. With a new postseason format that only includes the top five teams in the standings, Quinnipiac’s 2-6 conference performance last season likely won’t cut it again.

With the jumps Quinnipiac has made in the offseason, and the potential this young team has to take the next step, there’s no reason the top seed in the MAAC tournament is out of the question. The team’s 15-12 victory against UMass Lowell on Feb. 6, while not a conference bout, is a step in a positive direction for the Bobcats. The next step is winning its first game at home since 2024. Quinnipiac will have the chance to achieve that goal on Friday, Feb. 13, against the UMass Amherst Minutemen. Face-off is set for 2 p.m.

THE YOUTH

“It’s going to test us for battle,” Christopher said. “Hopefully we’ve learned a lot more of the lessons and we’re ready for what’s to come.”

Quinnipiac opens its conference schedule against the Niagara Purple Eagles, a game that is still on the minds of all 17 returning members of the Bobcat squad.

After going over two decades since their last win vs the Purple Eagles, the Bobcats finally snapped their losing streak last season in wild fashion, with sophomore goaltender Shannon Alden making a foot-save in the final minute of the contest to give Quinnipiac the win.

The Bobcats will also look to avenge past losses, with four of their final five games being against teams who got the better of them in 2025. One of those squads is their in-state rival from down I-95, the Sacred Heart Pioneers.

While the Pioneers took the first meeting, the two teams met again in the first round of the MAAC tournament. That time around the Bobcats came out on top, due in part to offensive explosions from Bendowski and fellow senior attacker Mia Delmond. The two combined for seven of the Bobcats 16 goals while assisting on three more.

“We were playing with such a swag to us,” Delmond said.

Games and performances like that will be crucial in Quinnipiac’s hunt for its first conference championship in its history.

In their single largest recruiting class in program history, the Bobcats welcome 17 fresh faces to Hamden, including 12 freshmen. Five of those freshmen will join the midfield group, four will join the defense, two are goaltenders and one is an attacker.

While some of the responsibility of adjusting the new players to Quinnipiac’s culture falls on Christopher, the majority falls on fellow teammates and leaders on the field. This year’s group of captains are taking this challenge head on.

“Every practice I try to help build their confidence,” Bendowski said. “I give them little critiques on what they can do to get better because, as a player, I appreciate that a lot.”

As expected, there are a lot of nerves in joining a new team for the very first time. You’re in a new environment with people you don’t know which is bound to create nerves and anxiety. The solution, rely on the teammates who have been here before.

“The biggest thing about playing a team sport is trust and respect,” Delmond said. “If you’re able to trust the people that you’re with every single day at practice, the games are gonna be a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.”

Alden and sophomore defender Anna Givens are perfect examples of high level performances from the younger players. Givens finished her

freshman campaign fifth in total goals scored with 21, total points with 28 and shots with 39.

On the other end of the field, Alden became the primary goalie for the squad and a dominant one at that, recording 169 saves in 18 games between the pipes.

Staying loose and relaxed will be key to getting this year’s freshman class to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and contribute at a high level to the Bobcat squad.

MENTALITY

On paper this season looks destined to follow years past with steady and consistent improvement. The Bobcats are defining their desire to do just that in one word: “Belief”

“They just have a belief in themselves and a belief in our program that we’re destined to do something great,” Christopher said. “It’s gonna take every one of them to do it, but they’re ready” Whether on or off the field, the Bobcats are entering the season with belief in themselves, each other and the culture that they have built. One defined by three pillars: passion, grit and discipline.

“I hope those three things are on display every time they see us,” Christopher said. “We’re a team that is going to play to the final whistle, no matter if we’re up 10 or down 10.”

The Bobcats will kick off their season at home, taking on Hofstra University on Saturday, Feb. 14. Face-off is set for 12 p.m.

Whitney Avenue shines navy and gold

Bobcats dominate the Bulldogs 8-0

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

men’s ice hockey took care of business on Saturday Feb. 7, dismantling

Sports

‘I just had to believe in myself’

How Jackie Grisdale is making the most of her final season in Hamden

If you’ve watched Quinnipiac women’s basketball for any period of time within the last five years, you know the name of graduate student guard Jackie Grisdale. You know the points, the accolades and the player who has made a name for herself in this historic program

The Poland, Ohio native is currently in the midst of her final season as a Quinnipiac Bobcat. A career that she described as one of the biggest blessings of her life.

“I’m super grateful that every day, I get to wear Bobcats across my chest,” Grisdale said.

From a very young age, Grisdale was surrounded by the sport. Her father, Ken, was the head coach of the boy’s basketball team at Poland Seminary High School. Her mother, Kim, played on the Division III Kenyon College Owls, graduating as the school’s all time leading scorer.

As it turns out, the history-making gene is genetic within the Grisdale family.

When her time in a Bulldog uniform came to a close, Grisdale held the career scoring record in boys and girls basketball (1,530), at her high school, as well as the career, single season and single game record for made three point field goals with 221, 71 and 10 respectively.

It’s the kind of high school career that would attract several NCAA Division I teams. But in a shocking turn of events, Grisdale left Poland with zero scholarship offers. Knowing that her future in collegiate basketball was in question, she decided to take control of her own destiny.

How? By sending highlight reels to coach after coach, in hopes that one person would see it and give her a chance.

Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri gave Grisdale that chance.

From the second they interacted for the first time, the two hit it off and sparked a relationship of mutual trust and understanding. Fabbri gave Grisdale a shot on the roster as a non-scholarship player, giving her the opportunity that she’s always wanted.

Grisdale took it and never looked back.

“She took a chance on me and I try my best every day to make sure she’s happy with that chance,” Grisdale said. “The bond we have is something special and it’s going to way beyond these years at Quinnipiac.”

Year one as a Bobcat for Gris dale started out rough. For the first nine games, she scored a combined 13 points and recorded. She would have her first breakout game against the St. Peter’s Pea cocks on Jan. 17, 2022, re cording 14 points.

Two weeks later against the Niagara Purple Eagles, Grisdale would erupt once more. She would

knock down six three pointers, and nine total field goals, finishing the game with 26 points in Quinnipiac’s comeback victory over the Purple Eagles.

It was the kind of performance that proved herself both to Fabbri and the rest of the team that she was here to stay. So much so, she was given a scholarship after her first year, cementing her spot in the program for the years to come.

In her sophomore campaign, Grisdale would build off a solid first year in Bobcat gold. She would start all 30 games, shooting 40% from the field and 30% from beyond the arch to the tune of a near ten points per game average.

That steady climb of improvement continued into her junior season. In the first five games of her first season as a captain she averaged 15 points per game and drained 13 three pointers. It became clear that she was turning her first two years of growth and development into a career year.

But then, her momentum came to a screeching halt.

Grisdale came down with a lower body injury in a game against College of the Holy Cross that would sideline her for the rest of the 2023-24 season. Despite being off the court, the process still taught Grisdale more about herself.

“I saw so many different things from the bench that I completely missed while on the court,” she said. “It really opened my eyes up to a whole different world of basketball.”

Off the court, it reinforced the mentality that got her to this point.

“I just had to believe in myself,” she said. “I feel like I had to learn how to

When Grisdale finally got back to the court, she did exactly what she set out to do in her junior campaign; have

Her senior campaign saw her set career highs in made field goals (114), three pointers (75), assists (40), steals (37), rebounds (118), and points (358).

To say it was a historic season would be an understatement.

As a team, the Bobcats finished the year 28-5 and made it to the finals of the MAAC Championship. It was their best record and finish since the 2016-17 squad that made program history, reaching the Sweet-16

That championship loss ignited a fire inside of her to do what Bobcat greats of the past have done so many times; bring championship

“I want that MAAC Championship. It’s my number one thing,” Grisdale said. Now, in the final chapter of a career that can only be de -

scribed as extraordinary, Grisdale is in a perfect position to do just that.

Twenty two games into the year, Grisdale is leading the team in points (310), made three pointers (60) and points per game average (12.9). As of publication, the Bobcats are undefeated in conference play and hold the top spot atop the MAAC standings. Success like that comes from Grisdale and fellow captains junior forward Anna Foley and senior forward Ella O’Donnell leading by example and setting a standard that the rest of the squad can buy into.

“We all lead in different ways,” Grisdale said. “Ella’s one of the hardest workers out there every single day. Anna has so much basketball IQ … There’s just so much that each of us does to contribute to that overall lead

ership that makes this team special.”

One of the other core beliefs of the leadership group is fostering an open environment where everyone is comfortable speaking their mind.

“I don’t care if it’s (freshman guard) Ella Ryan coming in and saying something to the team, I want to hear that,” Grisdale said. “ (O’Donnell and Foley) both foster that belief and that trust in the whole team.”

In her sixth game of the season against the Boston College Eagles, Grisdale drilled the most impactful longballs of her life. One that etched her name into history as the 28th member of Quinnipiac’s 1,000 point club.

“Gratitude is the first word that comes to mind,” She said. “I’m really grateful to every single girl that I’ve played with and every coach that has ever coached me.”

In the end, Grisdale’s gratitude for Quinnipiac University and Quinnipiac athletics simply cannot be quantified.

“Whatever comes next, I’m ready because of the great people around me that have formed me into the person that I am today,” she said.

Grisdale arrived in Hamden as a wide-eyed kid searching for a chance. She leaves having built a legacy defined by resilience and a leadership style rooted in gratitude. Whether the season ends with Grisdale hoisting championship gold or not, her impact on the program will be felt for years to come.

When the No. 21 comes off her back for the final time, one thing is certain; Grisdale won’t walk away wondering what could’ve been. She took her chance and made the most of it.