The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 96, Issue 17

Quinnipiac launches AI for Business Innovation in Healthcare

By ADRIANA CERBONE Staff Writer

Quinnipiac University’s Department of Lifelong Learning received a $25,409 Connecticut Tech Talent Accelerator Pilot Grant to support the launch of Artificial Intelligence for Business Innovation in Healthcare on Feb. 6. This new program will begin in May 2026.

The program is designed for working professionals, with a focus on the practical application of AI in healthcare and business.

Director of Lifelong Learning Alison Witherspoon explained the reason behind the development.

“The AI for Business Innovation in Healthcare program was developed in direct response to needs expressed by regional employers seeking to accelerate their workforce’s readiness to effectively leverage artificial intelligence,” she said.

The program is specifically focusing on inclusivity for non-technical professionals.

First-year nursing major Leilene Garcia believes inclusivity will only benefit people.

“If the program wasn’t inclusive, I feel like it wouldn’t be good because how else are people supposed to learn?” Garcia said. “Focusing on inclusivity is so important to really help people grow and prepare for the real world.”

The Connecticut Tech Talent Accelerator Pilot Grant plans to strengthen Connecticut’s technology workforce. To be successful, they will support innovative, employer-aligned training

Quinnipiac University hosts First Selectman State of the Town Address in North Haven

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce held its annual First Selectman State of the Town Address on Quinnipiac University’s North Haven Campus Feb. 12.

Every year, the First Selectman of North Haven gives a presentation updating the town on developments, economic and budget information and other matters that may be considered important to North Haven residents.

The QCC is a local business organization that supports and connects companies in the greater Quinnipiac area. It organizes events and provides information and resources.

“(QCC) work(s) with the First Selectman or the mayor of the towns to find out, kind of, sort of, what’s happening within the community.” Executive Director of QCC Renee Miller said. “To be able to build a presentation to be able to give to

everyone, so that they know what’s happening.”

North Haven First Selectman Mike Freda was reelected to his position in November 2025, starting his ninth term. A First Selectman is the head elected official of a town that doesn’t have a mayor.

Miller believes this is a great opportunity for both the general and business community to connect with Freda.

“He’s really part of the fabric of this community,” Miller said. “Obviously, with a partnership with Quinnipiac University, looking at the student body, obviously, to retain students to stay within the community, to work within the business community that we have here, so that’s really a big core.”

He is one of the longest-serving selectmen, according to Quinnipiac President Marie Hardin.

This was Freda’s 17th time addressing the chamber and town.

“I always enjoy being able to profile for the town of North Haven, on behalf of the town of North Haven, to the business community and to the public that comes,” Freda said to The Chronicle.

The event began with members of different organizations and companies, such as QCC, Pat Munger Construction and others, sharing kind words about Freda.

Vice President of Sales and Relationship Management of both the QCC and the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Gary Ciarleglio, took the podium to thank sponsors and supporters.

Following Ciarleglio, Miller introduced Hardin.

She welcomed the audience to the campus, inviting them to explore on-campus locations such as the Netter School of Medicine and the mock trial courtroom in the School of Law.

“It’s inspiring. I feel smarter every time I walk

in there,” Hardin said to the audience.

Hardin emphasized that higher education wouldn’t be able to be achieved if it weren’t for the community.

“You have to have a friend willing to open doors for you to advocate and to connect,” she said.

That “friend” for Hardin was Freda.

“He was one of the very first ones to literally come to my office and extend his hand in friendship, and that meant a great deal to me,” she said. Freda and Hardin have already established a great friendship, according to both.

“(Hardin’s) been very kind and generous. She knows I support her and the University, and they have supported us,” Feda said.

The university has given the town voluntary payments that have helped North Haven improve

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.

THE CHRONICLE is distributed around all three university campuses every Wednesday. Single copies are free. Newspaper theft is a crime. Please report suspicious activity to university security (203-582-6200). For additional copies, contact the student media office for rates.

ADVERTISING inquiries can be sent to thequchronicle@ gmail.com. Inquiries must be made a week prior to publication.

SEND TIPS, including news tips, corrections or suggestions to Alexandra Martinakova at thequchronicle@gmail.com WITH CONCERNS, contact The Chronicle’s advisor Vincent Contrucci, at vincent.contrucci@quinnipiac.edu

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be between 150 and 300 words and must be approved by the editor-in-chief before going to print. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit all material, including advertising, based on content, grammar and space requirements. Send letters to thequchronicle@ gmail.com. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and not necessarily those of The Chronicle.

School of Communications hosts a discussion on Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance

Staff Meetings

By CHLOE GRANT Copy Editor

Quinnipiac University students gathered in the Communications, Computing and Engineering Building on Feb. 10 to discuss their thoughts on rapper Benito Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl LX halftime show.

The event was part of “Unfiltered Commversations” series which aim to foster a safe space for students to converse on a variety of topics. This particular discussion opened with some of Bad Bunny’s greatest musical hits playing in the background.

The conversation began on the topic of performance quality. Students and faculty were impressed by his stage presence, with some noting that they especially loved how the performance served as a tribute to his Puerto Rican roots.

Being of Spanish descent herself, Associate Professor of Journalism Margarita Diaz was especially touched by this performance, sharing that Bad Bunny brought tears to her eyes by the end of the show.

“I get goosebumps just thinking about it,” Diaz said. “He was celebrating, but he was also calling attention to things that are more critical… For me, it was very personal, very emotional.”

The discussion then veered onto the topic of popular singer-songwriter Lady Gaga’s unexpected appearance during the halftime show and continued with chatter about her relationship with Ocasio and her role in the performance.

With Gaga’s appearance in this year’s Super Bowl and some regard to the current political climate and immigration policies, Diaz then begged the question to students, who really gets to be American?

“For the greater part of the last couple

months, years, (it) hasn’t really mattered what you identify as. It only comes down to what you’re seen as, because people identifying as American haven’t exactly saved lives in the last couple months,” third-year Journalism and Spanish double major Anthony Salvato said. “So I think it’s important for this halftime show to get out there and just kind of like what he did.”

Diaz then chimed in, questioning what it really means to be considered an American in today’s society.

“We stumbled on that a little bit like Lady Gaga is American, but so is (Bad Bunny) to some extent, right, at least in terms of citizenship, but you know, who gets to claim American identity?” Diaz said. “What does it mean when you are Puerto Rican, but you’re also an American citizen, and people don’t necessarily see you as American, right? Gaga speaks English, and we immediately associate her with being American, but the Puerto Ricans who speak Spanish from the island… are not necessarily seen as Americans.”

On a similar topic, there was also debate about whether the NFL’s decision to have Bad Bunny headline the halftime show was a political move or just an agenda push.

Some students argued that it could have been a simple marketing decision by the NFL to expand its brand into a different region, however many other artists who sing in Spanish have global recognition.

Others pointed out that Ocasio has always been political. His music often contains political undertones, and he has also released songs that are essentially protest songs on the album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.”

Given his very vocal criticism of President Donald Trump, the NFL’s decision

to have him headline one of the biggest sporting events in the world was a “calculated risk,” according to Diaz. Interactive Media and Communications graduate student Erin Russel shared some of her thoughts on the NFL’s pick for the halftime show.

“It was a really good pick because it’s moving away from more English speaking halftime shows, but also showing that we have viewers that speak Spanish, we want to include them too,” Russel said. “Even if you don’t speak the language, you can still dance and you can still enjoy it. So I think he was a really good pick, because he is a great performer, and he did have (the) global relevancy that it needed.”

This year’s halftime show came to a memorable close when Bad Bunny emerged from a sugar cane field of performers proudly waving a Puerto Rican flag. Behind him, projected on a jumbotron was a message reading, “THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE.”

Some wished Bad Bunny had ended his performance with more of a “swing” at the current administration, similar to what punk rock band Green Day did during their opening performance at this year’s Super Bowl, with their setlist including some of the band’s most politically targeted releases.

“He’s not pushing this personal agenda. He just wants people that look like him to be able to live here and not be killed in the street. So it’s not, I don’t think it’s too crazy to take a big swing,” Salvato said.

The event closed with students and faculty throwing around ideas for next year’s halftime show and the musical performers they hope to see take the stage.

programs.

“Through a collaborative effort with faculty and academic leaders from the Schools of Business, Computing and Engineering, Health Sciences and Medicine, the Office of Lifelong Learning designed a flexible, high-impact program tailored to the upskilling needs of working professionals,” Witherspoon said.

This will help Quinnipiac’s Department of Lifelong Learning expand and help professionals understand how AI can be used responsibly and effectively in healthcare.

Those in this program will have the opportunity to explore how AI can improve efficiency, decision-making and drive.

“I think it’s amazing that Quinnipiac is

expanding and launching more programs,” Garcia said. “I also think it’s important to understand how AI can be effective if it is used appropriately.”

In addition to the grant awarded, BHEF and NEBHE will provide technical assistance, including collaborations with peers and employee partners.

The grant, supported by the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy, is a statewide initiative, according to Witherspoon. It is administered by the Business-Higher Education Forum, partnering with the New England Board of Higher Education.

Alongside Quinnipiac, top universities are establishing similar programs and research focused on AI, healthcare and business innovation. These universities include Harvard Medical School,

Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, University of Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University.

“As a nursing major and someone invested in healthcare, I love how other schools also have similar programs. I just feel like it can lead to so many opportunities,” Garcia said.

Harvard in particular has several similar programs to offer. This includes Leading AI Innovation in Healthcare, AI innovation in Healthcare and Implementing Healthcare AI into Clinical Practice.

“We are excited to extend the expertise of QU faculty to industry partners, alumni and professionals who are ready to take the next step in harnessing AI to enhance innovation and ultimately improve patient outcomes,” Witherspoon said.

Business Innovation in Healthcare.

some town buildings.

Over the years, Freda has established many relationships, including with other mayors and First Selectmen, and the past presidents of the university.

A fan of sports and fitness, he used sports analogies throughout the presentation.

“You have to have a great team, and I have a great team, and I’m very appreciative of each and every one,” he said, comparing collaborations to baseball.

The job of selectman means having the ability to be “working internally with the government, but also externally, and be a cheerleader for the town,” according to Freda.

Freda split the presentation into four different parts: the economic and fiscal health of the town, the infrastructure, housing trends and economic development of North Haven.

He started the presentation with an overview of the town’s finances. North Haven retains a strong bond rating.

A bond rating indicates a government or organization’s ability to repay borrowed money.

It’s a result of North Haven’s relationship with rating agencies, according to Freda.

This year, North Haven reported a 2.7% in grand list growth, the increase of total value of taxable property, such as real estate. While “many municipalities are experiencing zero or a point 5% groundless growth,” according to Freda, North Haven’s grand list growth yields $3.33 million in incremental revenue for the town.

When it comes to infrastructure, Quinnipiac’s history of providing funding has allowed for improvements to North Haven playscapes and schools.

Recently, the town has seen an increase in costs.

“Everything in government is going up,” Freda said. Paving per mile has increased by $100,000.

Through bonds, grants and the Quinnipiac contribution program North Haven has been able to pursue construction projects such as the DeMeo field, Kings Highway, Pool Road and Center Block district. These projects aim to prepare for the future, stop flooding and make the area more visibly appealing.

“A (town’s) reputation is only as good as the way it looks. For the people that live there, and for the people that travel through there,” Freda said.

He covered housing trends.

Demand for housing is high. “We are apparently a very desirable community. I think that’s

Quinnipiac approved for expansion to old bookstore

By NATHAN ROJAS Staff Writer

The Hamden Planning and Zoning Committee approved Quinnipiac University’s 1,600-square-foot expansion to the old bookstore space that is set to become an extension of the dining space in the Carl Hansen Student Center.

These renovations are part of the university’s Planned Development District. But it needs PZC approval before any work can be done.

Quinnipiac relocated the bookstore to the North Lot before the start of the spring 2026 semester.

This is simply approval for the expansion and no other confirmed plans have been released.

Salvatore Filardi, vice president of capital planning, said the request for expansion comes from the university’s desire to expand dining options for students.

According to Filardi, Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellet and Provost Debra Liebowitz, there are rumors of a new “all-you-care-to-eat” buffet and a new swipe system — something that has been requested by students for quite some time.

However, Ellet stresses that these plans are purely speculation, as both he and Filardi have stated that there is no official plan in place at this time.

important,” Freda said.

There are 36 houses on the market in North Haven, with a median sale price now up to $530,000. Tenants of apartments on average pay about $1,800 a month for one bedroom.

One of the biggest issues that is seen throughout the state is affordability, Freda said.

However, there is a project already underway: 225 apartments at 20% affordable rate, which is attractive to firefighters or recent college graduates who may be in debt. It’s all based on the area’s median income. The rents would be subsix Freda addressed challenges and explained why some buildings haven’t been renovated or developed.

In one situation, a car dealership bought a building and refused to sell it. So, the building sits unused.

While many expressed the desire for a Trader Joe’s in North Haven, Freda explained that it wasn’t possible.

“Economic development reminds me of a song by ‘The Rolling Stones.’ You can’t always get what you want. Just might find you get something you need,” Freda joked.

Freda then went on to describe the upcoming opportunities.

North Haven is expecting multiple restaurants, activities and other entertainment. This includes a new vintage-style restaurant called Gas Burgers, a 7-ELEVEN and potentially, a new coffee chain.

Freda concluded his presentation by sharing personal anecdotes.

“I’ve always tried to stay focused, stay consistent, stay positive and keep moving forward in a positive, upbeat fashion,” he said.

He believes that intention is only good if you can work with other people to execute it.

During the questions, some took a moment to thank Freda. Members of the Board of Directors of the North Haven Land Trust, inquired about the lack of information about open space in Freda’s presentation.

North Haven has bought open space for years, using the town’s open space committee to purchase space for purposes such as farming. At the moment, there is no one willing to sell their free space.

President of QCC Garrett Sheehan concluded the event with a few words of gratitude.

Information shared at a PZC meeting in January strongly indicates the addition of a new dining facility, buffet or not.

The expansion “will accommodate seating for 222 students and include a larger kitchen to support expanded food service,” according to an article by Patch.

Additionally, approval from the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority for two new grease traps is still pending, further supporting the idea of a new dining facility.

Any and all changes to the old bookstore space have yet to be confirmed, something which Filardi hopes will change in the near future.

Howard Pfrommer, an engineer of Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, said that the campus’s current infrastructure will be able to support the expansion.

This would also allow for the remodel of the loading dock located behind the old bookstore space, as the expansion is designated for the back of the space.

This is part of a long list of other expansions and campus improvements that Quinnipiac is looking to make over the summer, according to Liebowitz.

Opinion

I

miss the early 2000s Walt Disney World

Walt Disney Company continues to change in its theme parks, but at what cost?

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

The Disney theme parks are constantly evolving, meeting modern-day standards and utilizing their intellectual property (IP), such as films, characters and brands, to appeal to audiences around the globe.

Let’s just say The Walt Disney Company has a deep cabinet of IP, releasing some of the most classic, timeless films to date, that people can’t avoid if they tried. Think “Frozen,” “Indiana Jones” or even “Cars.” These franchises have become integral parts of society, as I can still sing “Let it Go” word for word 13 years after its release.

However, when Disney Experiences looks to incorporate its new IP into its theme parks, specifically Walt Disney World, it's at the expense of fundamental aspects of each theme park's identity.

For instance, Disney Experiences finalized the extinction of Dinoland U.S.A. on Feb. 2, an opening-day land in the resort’s youngest park. The company had been slowly letting go of the dinosaur-focused area of the park, as early as 2020, with the permanent closure of Primeval Whirl.

While nothing was officially announced about the land’s closure, Disney’s D23 Expo in August 2024 would spark rumors of a Tropical America extension, including IP from “Indiana Jones” and “Encanto.” Right where Dinoland U.S.A. sat.

Don’t get me wrong, while I love everything Disney does and always have full faith in them, I miss when Disney’s theme parks

held their own lands and attractions with original stories. Not stories from their films that, yes, did well in the box office.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom serves as a prime example of the company replacing its original theme park ideas with basic IP from its films, dating back before the removal of Dinoland U.S.A.

From its creation, Animal Kingdom was meant to represent three different categories of animals: the past, present and mythical. The park’s logo even represents it, featuring a dragon, dinosaur and lion, along with other animals.

Yet, when budget restraints forced Imagi neers to push the mythical portion of the park, Beastly Kingdom, to a second phase of the theme park’s construction, it simply disappeared. Today, it’s occupied by none other than Pandora — The World of Avatar.

Technically, yes, The World of Avatar counts as having mythical creatures, yet once again, it’s a direct representation of Disney taking a successful IP and franchise and slapping it onto their theme parks.

And I can’t even blame them, be cause it’s working. Avatar Flight of Passage has consistently held one of the longest wait times in Disney World daily for the last nine years.

It even worked over at EP COT, despite the original imag ineers of the park not wanting any Disney IP, as it was meant to showcase international culture in World Showcase and

human achievement in Future World.

In 2014, Imagineers closed the Norway Pavilion’s Maelstrom, which educated guests about Norwegian mythology and culture, replacing it with Frozen Ever After.

EPCOT even had a nighttime show, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, that ran for 20 years, featuring original music celebrating cultures around the globe and in-

opening day park attractions, Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to replace it with none other than the Cars franchise.

All of these attractions have one thing in common: they were the core foundations of their respective theme park's identities

The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island were a nod to Liberty Square and American culture. Dinosaur was the only existing area of Animal Kingdom that featured animals of the past.

It really is that deep

Malestrom celebrated the culture of its pavilion where it sat, which was the whole idea behind EPCOT from the beginning.

It’s honestly sad to see Disney ripping out core parts of their theme parks just to replace them with IP, but I can’t even deny that it’s a good strategy to keep people coming to its theme parks.

Maybe I’m just a girl whose childhood was filled with Walt Disney World in the early 2000s, but I wish they could just expand elsewhere and stop destroying my childhood memories. I mean, Walt Disney didn’t just buy 25,000 acres of land for nothing.

Yet, I sit here and watch, as it’s only a matter of time before Disney does it again, this time at Hollywood Studios, replacing Rock‘n’Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith with Rock‘n’Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.

In the meantime, I’ll reminisce on what was, despite still being a little excited for what’s to come.

It's OK to analyze and read into everything

By GABRIELLA COZZI Contributing Writer

I’ve noticed a recent trend in how we interact with each other and it’s concerning. Social media is flooded with “TL DR” and “it’s not that deep” responses to relatively short paragraphs of information. “Maybe the curtains were just blue,” is doing damage to a generation.

Responding with “it’s not that deep” to any attempt to intensely read into a situation isn’t good.

Books and literature are banned for a reason. They are that deep. Books contain ideas that should inspire you and imbue you with new knowledge or opinions. An author chooses things intentionally. As someone who writes fiction as a side hobby, I know.

Claiming that things “aren’t that deep” is how they get you to ignore pressing issues.

For example, I’ve seen TikTok meme images underneath videos discussing genuine horrors in society. When you see these things in response to atrocities it subconsciously urges you to consider that situation as less severe. Viewing complex ideas in a book through a shallow lens makes you see them as shallow in real life. Reading a book helps you look more deeply into real-world issues. There is

a widespread perception at the moment that reading the classics must be performative as if you couldn’t possibly enjoy a text you have to read deeply into.

I do acknowledge that good education is systemically withheld from certain communities due to intentionally zoned school districts and underfunded schools in areas where predominantly minorities live.

However, what I am commenting on is the greater shift in society towards devaluing intellectualism. I do not mean go out and make fun of someone for not having a quality education. What I am saying is if you’re lucky enough to have the privilege of a good education, don’t devalue it. When I bring politics into the

conversation with my sisters, they all groan. They believe that I make situations worse than they are and I shouldn’t be concerned because it doesn’t affect me. In other words, they believe it’s “not that deep.” But it is. Everything is that deep. Even if it doesn’t affect me, it affects someone, and

someone who often has extreme levels of anxiety, I tend to read into things more than the average person. This is a trait that causes me distress, but also makes me good at accurately assessing a situation. Reading into things is something this generation needs more of, a whole lot more.

On social media, I often see people mocking the “worst person ever at a

bookstore,” pointing out books they’ve read or looking down on literature that is more modern. I am guilty of that sin, but I look down on certain literature for a reason. Modern authors, I’ve noticed, tend to overexplain. Almost as if they think their audience won’t understand the plot if it’s not given to them in plain, simple words. This is something I’ve also noticed in TV shows. Instead of letting the audience figure out a mystery along with the characters, they spell out the answer. This makes it easier to view while partially paying attention. Playing games or doing other things while reading or viewing a TV show is all too common. This is training our brains to half pay attention to everything, and I mean everything. Not reading too deeply into things on TV or in literature translates into real life. Your brain can’t develop the skill of full attention if you don’t train it to.

In a world of rising anti-intellectualism, I think it’s OK to hold the material that you read in high esteem. Look into the deeper meaning behind an author's words. Read too deeply into things. It’s better, I think, to be pretentious about the books you read than not to read at all.

Opinion

My social media following does not represent my beliefs

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

By now, if someone questions my beliefs, morals or political stance, they’d just have to go read the 50 plus pieces that I’ve published on The Chronicle. Half of which are political pieces.

Yes. I follow multiple members of the Trump administration on social media.

No. I do not support them.

The two do not correlate as much as people think.

Time and time again, I see people post on TikTok about how “disappointed” they are that their favorite celebrity is following someone they don’t like.

Or they go on to boast about how they unfollowed and unfriended people because their follower list says they followed President Donald Trump.

Following a certain candidate on social media does not mean that you support them. I see absolutely nothing wrong with following people from all over the political spectrum. In fact, I highly encourage it.

Following the president and his administration allows me to get the stupidity straight from the source. Especially as a student

journalist who runs this Opinion section, it’s material in the palm of my hand.

If someone comes up to me and says, “Did you see what the president just said on Instagram?” I will often believe it, because, well, this man doesn’t exactly have much of a filter. Of course, I fact-check anyway. So, if I’m following him, it’s going to come up on my feed, and I’ll be able to see the latest horrendous updates for myself quicker.

It’s not about support, it’s about staying up to date with politics. It sounds ridiculous. But with so much on social media, it’s realistic that some people get their information this way.

Yes, I watch the news and can get the information that way too. I don’t support social media being the main source.

I’m specifically referring to posts made by Trump, most of which don’t even get discussed, no matter how ridiculous they are. If I have the opportunity to witness firsthand, why wouldn’t I?

Also, my focus in politics is literally political communications. That means analyzing how candidates and politicians use media. Do you think I want to be following any of them? No, absolutely not. I would love

it if my feed were memes and hopecore. However, I decided to go to school for politics in 2023. So, I signed away any flicker of joy on my social media the minute I decided to dedicate my life to politics — specifically political communications.

I understand if you don’t know the person who is following Trump, you may just assume the worst. But I swear to all things holy if I hear that someone unfollowed me because they saw that I followed someone like Trump, I might lose what’s left of my sanity. Because if you know me, you know that’s not the case.

How are you going to base your whole judgment on someone based on the following list? If it were me being unfollowed, they’d just have to Google my name, and they’d see where I stand politically.

I understand liking posts being a bit more problematic. But at the same time, I don’t want a judgment being made about my morality because I double-clicked out of habit. Following politicians that you don’t agree with or hate is actually better if you want to debate or critique them. So let’s stop judging morality and political stances based on the following list.

Whitney Leavitt doesn't deserve her fame

By ADRIANA CERBONE AND WILLOW SEIBOLD

On Feb. 2, reality TV star Whitney Leavitt, known for MomTok and “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” (“SLOMW”), made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago.” A few months prior, she was a contestant on season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars (“DWTS”).” But her fame does not end there.

Leavitt's rise to fame came from starring in three seasons of “SLOMW” with a fourth coming soon, where she was a part of MomTok. MomTok is a TikTok community of Mormon mothers living in Utah. The question is, does she deserve all the fame and love she has received?

“Dancing With the Stars” announced that it would select one member of MomTok to appear on the show on July 1 of last year. All the moms were very excited about this opportunity, but Leavitt ruined it for them. She admitted to only going on season three of “SLOMW” to win her spot.

It’s disgusting to use the show that made you famous for more clout. She used her fame to take opportunities away from her friends, even though she had years of dance experience.

Leavitt studied dance and was seen at many different ballroom competitions.

Not only did she have dance experience, but she was partnered with Mark Ballas, a three-time Mirrorball champion. On top of all this, she laughed and covered her mouth when her MomTok co-star Jen Affleck was

eliminated from the show.

For dedication night on “DWTS,” she decided to dedicate the dance to her husband, Connor Leavitt, as the couple had

bringing her MomTok group down to push herself up. We aren't completely sure how much of her true character is shown online or if it is all just an act.

friends are together.

She would often get angry when the conversation shifted away from her, showing major attention-seeking behavior.

After many low moments in season one of “SLOMW,” Leavitt aimed to redeem herself in recent seasons. She was able to return to the group, but several relationships were strained due to past tensions.

Leaving group chats and refusing to attend events that her castmates/friends were putting on is not something that a true friend would do. By intentionally excluding herself from events, she shifted the focus from those in the spotlight to herself.

She used her self-isolation to play the victim in the situation and hopefully win over the hearts of her audience. Some fell for it.

Many of the moments of Leavitt portraying herself as a villain in the show could be seen as “protecting her peace,” but there is so much more to that.

These behaviors cannot be entirely fabricated. It's a conscious decision not to attend an important milestone for a friend in hopes of making others reach out to her.

Her ability to find success outside of “SLOMW” stemmed from these points of exclusion and from being made an outsider, which allowed her to be remembered in more significant ways. Maybe this is all a power play? Maybe it's just pettiness. Regardless, she has prospered, whether she deserved it or not.

Leavitt got to the top, but at what cost?

Arts & Life

The Docs are in

Season two of ‘The Artful Dodger’ was full of yearning and angst

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell) and Jack “Artful Dodger” Dawkins (Thomas BrodieSangster) have blessed our screens once again in season two of “The Artful Dodger.”

I already love a good period piece. But to whoever thought of putting two of my favorite icons of the 2010s in one: I hope you got laid.

You may know Mitchell from “The Fosters” or the absolute masterpiece that is the “Teen Beach Movie” franchise. And you may know actor Brodie-Sangster from “Nanny McPhee,” “The Maze Runner” and the voice of Ferb from “Phineas and Ferb.”

The first season of “The Artful Dodger” came out in late 2023, and it knocked it out of the park for me right away. It immediately reminded me of “Enola Holmes.” In fact, in my mind, they’re somewhat sister stories.

Like “Enola Holmes,” “The Artful Dodger” is a unique take on a classic novel. In this case, it’s Charles Dicken’s “Oliver Twist.”

In the novel, a side character, Jack, better known as Artful Dodger, is a cunning child pickpocket during the 1830s. The show is his own adaptation, along with Norbort Fagin (David Thewlis), another character from the book. The show takes place 15 years after the book, now in Australia.

In the first season, Jack meets Belle, the

governor’s daughter, who wants to be a doctor, like Jack. Reminder, we’re in the 19th century here. A few problems: Belle’s a woman and Jack is a criminal. Under these circumstances, you can probably gather that it’s a bit difficult for either of them to seriously practice medicine.

You can also probably guess that it doesn’t stop either of them.

It’s an enemies-to-lovers plotline, with angst. I love shows where I can tell the characters want to jump each other's bones. We ended season one with Jack being arrested after saving Belle from her aortic aneurysm with experimental heart surgery. Well, while probably not the way he wanted, he ended up inside her one way or another. To get to her heart, of course.

It’s the classic trope of a stubborn, independent woman and a man who basically worships her. So, in other words, it’s perfection, and I will not be hearing any arguments on the matter.

In season two, we start with Jack being taken to the hanging block. Here’s the thing about having two years between seasons of a show: when you start the second season with the main character about to get hanged, viewers probably have to go back because you can’t remember how the hell we got here.

Long story short, no, he didn’t die. I think I

Lick the bowl

would’ve lost it if I had to see Brodie-Sangster die on my screen, again, but I digress.

Norbort set up a decoy. While this is great and all and “Yay, he saved his life,” Norbort has to be one of the stupidest, irrationalthinking characters ever.

One, Norbort tries constantly to sabotage Jack and Belle’s relationship, and I will have none of it. Leave my babies alone.

Two, the whole second season is Jack and Belle struggling to stay away from each other. Why do they have to stay away from each other? Oh, because this imbecile ruined Jack’s chance at a pardon.

Lady Jane Fox (Susie Porter), Belle’s mother and a bitch who seemingly hates her daughter and refuses to see her happy, requested that Jack have two years’ probation. This includes Jack and Belle not being able to be together for two years, in exchange for Belle’s chance at a medical career.

Meaning, Belle has to choose between Jack and her career.

She decides to do the two years, but of course, Jack apparently can’t stay away. If they’re caught, he’s executed immediately.

Who would carry this warrant out? Oh, I’m so glad you asked, because it’s Inspector Henry Boxer (Luke Bracey). Let me

A reminder to live your life ILLUSTRATIONBYEMILY ADORNO

By EMILY ADORNO Marketing Director

Have you ever stopped and tasted something without guilt?

Like licking the mixing spoon from the bowl when baking with your mom? Loading up your plate with spaghetti and fresh Italian bread? Or even enjoying ice cream right out of the carton, not because you earned it, but because you wanted it.

For me these moments became a time to put on an act. I’d rehearse the lines ahead of time: “I’m still full from dinner.” “I’ll have some later.” “I don’t really like that anyways.”

I knew exactly how to decline another slice of bread without raising concern, how to smile while saying “no” so it sounded effortless. There was always a pause around food, a split second where I reminded myself to choose control. That pause followed me everywhere. It became proof, in my mind, that I was doing something right.

The voice in my head didn’t sound cruel. It sounded disciplined. It told me that living well meant living carefully, that restraint was maturity, that pleasure should always be justified. I learned to measure my worth through control, through how little I needed, how composed I appeared and how “healthy” I seemed. Discipline was praised. My ability to say no was admired. And slowly, without realizing it, joy became conditional.

I stopped tasting my life and I started

managing it.

Licking the bowl changed that. Besides the food, it represented a moment where I did not negotiate with my brain some made up rules.

I remember standing at the counter hesitating longer than anyone noticed. No one was watching. Hours of therapy taught me that these rules I was following only existed in my head.

At that moment, putting my finger in the bowl and bringing it to my mouth, I was saying yes without justification. Yes to a moment without explanation. Yes to connection instead of control. Yes to being present in my own body and trusting that nothing bad would happen if I let myself enjoy something fully.

It was a quiet moment, almost insignificant, but it cracked something open.

It reminded me that living is not something you earn once you are perfect enough. It is something you are allowed to do now.

That moment didn’t fix everything. It was just the beginning. But it surely made room for more.

tell you that man could cuff me any day. I’m an apologist for the Inspector. At the beginning of the season, he was genuinely trying to help Jack. But then Jack got sassy and was being rude. Hell, you want to be ungrateful while I’m trying to save your life? Yeah, I’d have the same attitude as the Inspector. It was an amazing season overall. I’m incredibly grateful because I didn’t even know if this show would have a second season.

As a firm believer in bringing back yearning, Mitchell and Brodie-Sangster did not disappoint.

I get to choose overpriced Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in the dining hall because it sounds good, not because it fits into a plan. I recognize I am safe to enjoy a meal made by someone else cooking with butter or oil. Ordering fries at a restaurant without apologizing or explaining myself. These

suffering looks like self-discipline, it rarely raises alarms.

That is why NEDA Week matters. NEDA Week is about more than awareness. It is about recognition. In sharing my story, I want to name what many people quietly live with but rarely

say out loud. If you see yourself in any part of this and feel unsure of what to do next, know this: you do not need a diagnosis, a label or a crisis to deserve support.

Support can look like talking to a trusted friend, seeking campus counseling services or exploring resources through the NEDA and other recovery-focused organizations. There is no failure in seeking help. Recovery, for me, has meant choosing life in small, repeatable ways. It has meant moving my body because it feels powerful, not because it needs to be controlled. I’ve had the privilege to teach fitness classes and speak in a way that honors effort, presence and self-respect rather than punishment. It has helped me remind others, and myself, that showing up is enough.

We live in a culture that rewards perfection and calls it virtue. But perfection has never made anyone whole. Joy has. Connection has. Presence has. Licking the bowl is not a failure of discipline. It is a declaration of values. Honoring your desires does not need permission, and our worth is not earned by holding back. Nor does control equal a

NEDA Week asks us to pay attention to the moments we dismiss as insignificant. To question the rules we follow without asking who they serve. It also asks what we feel the eating disorder is protecting us from and what it might be taking away. Sometimes, choosing recovery looks like something as simple as tasting what is right in front of you and deciding that you deserve to be here for it.

‘Blade Angels’

The death of the ‘ice princess’ in figure skating

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

“Powerpuff Girls.” “Babes of Glory.” “Blade Angels.”

Whatever you call the trio of figure skaters representing the U.S. in the women’s singles category at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, it is undeniable that the trio of Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isbeau Levito is redefining the image of women’s figure skating in a way the sport has desperately needed.

Figure skating, like any sport, has a complicated, scandalous history. Whether it be within the institution itself, corrupt judges and backroom deals, or through the atypical, sometimes harmful training of young girls, women’s figure skating often has faced a perception problem.

Yet that perfect picture of the elite “ice princess” winning gold might be in question this Olympic cycle.

It begins with the eldest of the three skaters, the three-time reigning U.S. figure skating champion Amber Glenn.

Glenn is an atypical skater from first glance. At 26-years-old, she’s considered a veteran in the skating world, still maintaining quality components and a consistently clean triple axel in her program.

For figure skaters, particularly in the women’s discipline, maintaining high-level jumps into your 20s is unheard of. For viewers who may have watched the 2022 Beijing Olympics, whispers of the 3As — Alena Kostornaia, Anna Shcerbakova and Alexandra Trusova — and the “Eteri expiration date” of 18-year-olds highlights Glenn’s longevity well.

In the figure skating world, making your

senior debut over a decade before making your first Olympics is uncommon. The last gold medalist, Shcerbakova, has not skated in national or international competition since winning the medal.

As the first openly queer woman to represent the U.S. in singles figure skating, Glenn’s openness about her sexuality and beliefs has put her on notice beyond her ice skating and age. Unafraid to speak out, the skater understands that her position as a top athlete comes with a platform, and she’s unafraid to use it.

Despite receiving hate for speaking out against the Trump Administration and its treatment of LGBTQ+ athletes, Glenn remains outspoken and unabashed in her beliefs.

In the caption of a TikTok Glenn posted Feb. 10 after helping lead the U.S. to Olympic gold in the team event, the Texan skater was clear about how she felt about those criticizing her comments.

“They hate to see two woke bitches winning.”

The other “woke bitch” in question?

Twenty-year-old skater Alysa Liu.

Liu, like Glenn, draws eyes with her skating and distinct aesthetic. Her style, which media outlets and Liu herself have called “alternative,” is apparent at first glance. Liu’s smiley piercing and striped hair separate her from the rest of the skaters upon first glance.

In a sport where a single rhinestone falling on the ice can result in a point deduction, that difference is more than a defiance: it’s a risk.

Furthermore, Liu is redefining what skating can be. Remember the “Eteri expiration date?” Within it, 18-year-old ice skaters under infamous Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze are unable to continue skating after turning 18 because their bodies and minds simply won’t allow it, forcing retirements

from international competition.

But Liu retired even earlier.

At 16-years-old, Liu competed in the Beijing Olympics and 2022 World Championships before retiring, ending a moderately successful figure skating career. She fit the bill of a typical skater, blending into judges’ expectations.

At 19, she returned.

However this wasn’t the same Liu who fit the standard of a perfect “ice princess” prototype. Liu’s skating reflected herself. Part of the reason the skater retired in 2022 was to live a normal life, and that new view of figure skating — as a choice and an artistic expression — is reflected in her public persona.

In every interaction with the media, there is a palpable excitement from Liu because she’s making her own career decisions. In an interview with “60 Minutes” on Jan. 4, she highlighted how this return is on her own terms.

“If I feel I’m skating too much, I’ll back down. If I feel like I’m not skating enough I’ll ramp it up. No one’s going to starve me or tell me what I can or can’t eat,” Liu said.

It’s an individuality that hasn’t always been synonymous with success at the top of judge sports, particularly women’s single figure skating.

Even for Levito, whose exterior exudes the typical “ice princess” persona that has traditionally dominated the sport, her support of the other “Blade Angels” has been unwavering and frankly unique amongst competitors in the field.

Longtime figure skating fans may remember the controversy between 1994 U.S. Olympic skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. Although the attack on Kerrigan weeks prior to the Olympics stole the spotlight from the rivalry, a major divide between fans of the two skaters was their skating styles and presentation. Harding was known for her jumps, similar to both Glenn and Liu, while Kerrigan’s artistry, technique and “ice princess” appearance captured judges’ attention.

It would be easy for Levito to use that division between artistry and athleticism to advance her own case for a medal, or at least foster rivalry between her competitors. But judging from the reported “Blade Angels” group chats and the countless TikToks lauding the competitors’ support for one another, Levito isn’t keen on pushing any such narrative.

It’s all love from the U.S. women’s single skaters. Glenn and Liu have already secured gold medals in the team event. As for the individual discipline, in which the entire trio of “Blade Angels” will compete together for the first time, the opening short program performance is set for Feb. 17 at 12:45 p.m. Medals will be awarded after the free program on Feb. 19.

The effect of the Washington Post pulling the plug on its sports department

By

On Feb. 4, The Washington Post laid off roughly a third of its newsroom and dismantled its sports department in its current form. The purge also eliminated the books desk, cut staff photographers and narrowed both Metro and the paper’s internal footprint, underscoring that this is bigger than sports.

For a paper that helped shape sports as a daily essential, the move reads less like a tweak and more like a redefinition of what the Post believes core journalism is and what it’s willing to leave behind.

The Post has been under severe financial pressure as it tries to survive a subscriptiondriven digital model in an era of short attention spans.

Leadership wants to call these cuts a strategic rest, but the bullshit is all over the walls, showing where the Post's priorities lie in journalism.

Combine that with the tension of having to accept major losses, including $77 million in 2023, and the decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in 2024 led to more than 200,000 digital subscription cancellations.

Owner Jeff Bezos publicly defended the move, but the backlash

exposed something bigger, with how money, public trust and national identity can collide.

When a legacy newsroom prioritizes one man’s wealth and greed, journalistic independence diminishes, while the person controlling the money sets the principles rather than the public it serves.

Still, losing a sports department feels like the scapegoat that overlooks the problems ahead.

Sports coverage is often the most reliable way a paper shows up for readers, and it is one of the clearest places where journalism can wield power in everyday life.

This causes multiple intersections in real time. Money sets the constraints, identity shapes who stays and readers will stop seeing

the paper choices as serving the public, leaving in the process.

So Bezos’s defense of the move as a principled way to counter perceptions of media bias looks even worse, given that the number of people leaving has led to revenue shrinking. When revenue shrinks, the newsroom gets smaller.

Bezos has to look in the mirror knowing his move just cost his own newspaper millions, but don’t worry, he can just wipe his tears away with all of his Amazon money.

The Post’s Executive Editor Matt Murray said sports coverage would end “in its current form,” with some reporters shifting toward features that treat sports as a cultural and social event.

However, a features-first model narrows the daily report, which comes from consistent reporting, and risks turning coverage of big moments into something that just happens, without the context that explains why these moments matter.

The timing makes the decision feel even colder. Super Bowl week was already in full swing, while the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics was just two days after the layoffs. This made it feel less like a

judgment on sports and more like a boardroom decision that ignored the moments unfolding. Even at the Olympics, the Post still had reporters on site because travel plans and costs were already in motion.

This all culminated in Post Publisher and CEO Will Lewis stepping down, adding another leadership change to a moment when staff already described the newsroom as shaken. That kind of churn does not rebuild trust inside a workplace, and it does not help readers believe the next plan will last.

For young journalists like me, the lesson is not to panic, but to focus on what journalists can do.

I do not view this as the end of sports journalism, far from it. It is a narrowing of where major legacy outlets think sports belong.

More coverage will move to sites like ESPN, FOX and NBC. Creator platforms and teamcontrolled media will also be in the mix, and will produce plenty of content, but it will not always produce the kind of reporting that tells the “truth” when it gets uncomfortable.

Journalism is supposed to help people make sense of a country, but cutting the witnesses changes the country people can see. If a newsroom wants to stay essential, it cannot treat a third of its staff like spare change even when Bezos’s billion-dollar ass says otherwise.

More than soap: How Dove is redifining beauty through advertisements

By SOPHIE MURRAY Associate Arts & Life Editor

The products we use and the brands we stay loyal to are chosen for a reason. We love the price, how the products feel and the experience. But how often do we actually take the time to learn the background behind the brands we support?

Many companies are more than just the items they sell. They represent values, messages and impacts that reach far beyond the shelf.

The brand that sticks out to me? Dove. Yes, I am writing an article about a soap brand, but what they’re really about goes far beyond the body care aisle.

The company has built a reputation that consistently promotes selfconfidence, body positivity and the idea of real beauty across all of its campaigns.

I have been a Dove lover for a while. I use its products every day: bar soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant. Even my loofa is Dove.

Like many of us who fall into the same product routine, there is really no thought behind the brand’s messaging. Why even find out if the products are working for us?

One day in my storytelling class, a Dove advertisement was shown as an example of what a good ad looks like: great storytelling, emotional impact and a valuable message. That advertisement got me thinking. I had always loved Dove because of the quality of its products, but now I was realizing they stood for something bigger. The positive messaging convinced me this

is a brand everyone should stand behind, not just buy from.

Yes, there are other brands out there with positive messaging and uplifting campaigns, but body care companies that truly support women of every shape, size and color are still surprisingly hard to find in the beauty industry.

The beauty standard that many brands

ILLUSTRATIONBYSOPHIEMURRAY

were asked to describe themselves to an FBI forensics artist who drew a portrait of them based solely on their words.

Later, a stranger was asked to describe the same woman and the artist created a second portrait.

The difference between the two drawings was drastic. The womens self-descriptions were often far more critical, while the strangers’ descriptions revealed softer, kinder and more accurate representations

differently in the first place.

The advertisement my class watched that day was Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” campaign. In the advertisement, real women

The campaign delivered a powerful message: women tend to see themselves through the lens of insecurity, while others see their beauty more clearly.

“It proved exactly what we suspected: that you’re more beautiful than you think,” Dove stated on its website. “So to help inspire millions of women around the world who don’t see their own beauty, we created a film showing the women’s reactions to their portraits, and the impact of their refreshed

What is most striking about the advertisement is that you would never know Dove created it until the end of the video.

And that’s what sets them apart. Dove’s ads are not just meant to showcase its products but to shine light on what it means to be a woman in a world filled with

Just as impactful, a lot of its ads target young girls as well.

In the Super Bowl LX, they created an advertisement titled “The Game is Ours.” It opens with a girl looking in the mirror

alongside the message: “One in two girls who quit sports are criticized for their body type.”

From there, the ad shifts into a montage of girls joyfully playing sports — basketball, swimming, football — with the declaration “But our joy is louder.” The campaign isn’t just about sports; it’s about encouraging girls to focus on what their bodies can do rather than how they look.

What makes campaigns like this so powerful is that Dove is reaching girls in times when insecurity can easily take over. So much of the beauty industry teaches women at a young age to criticize their bodies, compare themselves and believe that confidence is something they have to earn by looking a certain way.

Dove flips that message around. Instead of telling girls they need to change, Dove reminds them that they deserve to feel comfortable in their skin just the way they are. That kind of advertising doesn’t just sell soap; it challenges the way society talks about beauty and gives young women permission to see themselves with more kindness.

So yes, this article is about Dove, a brand known for selling soaps and body care products. But it is not about what they’re selling, it’s about the messaging they’ve built over the years. The way they encourage girls and women to see themselves with more kindness and confidence.

Dove is setting the benchmark for other brands too, pushing the message that companies can be profitable while also being socially conscious, inclusive and empowering, making its impact go far beyond the body care aisle.

I watched the Turning Point USA half-time show, so

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Well, apparently, I’m a glutton for punishment. I decided to watch Turning Point USA’s “AllAmerican Halftime Show,” just out of curiosity. Now I know why curiosity killed the cat, because this show killed my soul.

I love country music, so I will say that if I were judging it on vocals or stage presence alone, it would’ve been fine. But it had so much hatred embedded in it that it made it impossible to enjoy the show.

It was a jumpscare when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth popped up with a message from “The Department of War,” looking performative as hell, tossing around a football.

When the show started, you could hear the “audience.” Yet, a few seconds in, the audience’s cheer abruptly cuts out. Now, I’m not saying they for sure added it themselves, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did, especially after singer and headliner Kid Rock later admitted that the show was pre-recorded.

Singer Brantley Gilbert started off the show with a guitar solo of the National Anthem. It sounded great, but it didn’t blow me away and give me the chills that Apple Music’s Halftime Show national anthem did.

As I said, I love country music, and that does admittedly include the very cringey “rah beer, rah

you don't have

my horses.” As a Catholic, I even find that I love the country gospel music. Sorry not sorry.

However, this was just too much. It felt like I was in a South Park episode. It was just so cringey and gave such a pretentious “I’m better than you because I drink beer and crap stars and stripes ‘Merica!” vibe.

There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your country. I love feeling patriotic. But this was shoving it down your throat as a form of competition. I love my country every day and don’t need to compete with others to show it.

Gilbert then performed one of my favorite country songs “Dirt Road Anthem,” a song originally sung by Jason Aldean. It was a great performance vocally.

Next to perform was singer Gabby Barrett, who is super talented. “I Hope,” was a staple for me as a teenager in high school. Funny enough, both Barrett and singer Charlie Puth, who sang the “Star Spangled Banner” before the Super Bowl collaborated on the song together.

She went on to perform “One of the Good Ones,” another one of my favorites. I know a lot of people were sure that the show was lip-synced, but I honestly don’t think that Barrett, at least, lipsynced. I do wish she had sung “Footprints on the Moon,” as that’s what I consider her best song. As much as I liked her performance in general, it just felt bland. She was just standing and singing,

to

not really performing.

Country singer Lee Brice had a bit more stage presence, but he did in fact seem like he was lipsyncing at least the first song, “Drinking Class.”

When he was done glorifying alcoholism, he name-dropped the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk and then started performing a new song called “Country Nowadays,” which started with the lines, “I just want to catch my fish, drive my truck, drink my beer/ And not wake up to all this stuff I don’t want to hear.”

The irony of saying that, when you are in the most privileged group in this country, is absolutely mind-boggling. It seemed very out of touch. Most people can’t escape what they “don’t want to hear.” Because while he’s hearing it, other people are living it.

He then proceeds to sing, “It ain’t easy being country/ In this country nowadays/ The direction the finger’s pointing/ When everything goes up in flames/ Saying I’m some right-wing devil.”

The victim complex and lack of selfawareness and accountability have to be genuinely so crazy for you to think that the reason you’re being hated on is because of your accent or region.

Of course, the show was closed out by none other than washed-up singer Kid Rock. You know, the one who sang, “Young ladies,

young ladies/ I like ’em underage, see/ Some say that’s statutory/ But I say it’s mandatory.”

They could’ve found another headliner, perhaps one less pedophilic. It would’ve really helped their case. But instead, because Kid Rock has been such a huge name on the MAGA front, they chose him.

The show closed out with Kid Rock singing Cody Johnson’s “Til you can’t,” with an ending dedication to Kirk.

After the performance, there was a tribute to Kirk in a montage. The montage included Kirk preaching about loving God and saying that after your relationship with God, getting married and having children should be priorities in life.

While I could see enjoying the performance for the music, it was just way too much

‘Wuthering Heights’: All freak, no substance

By ADRIHANNA COLLINS Staff Writer

We are in a fake, freaky epidemic. In an era where content can be so easily consumed, many movies try to draw audiences to the box office with quirky, overly sexual stunts. These ploys are rarely plot-relevant and oftentimes so extremely surface-level that it falls flat.

“Saltburn” Director Emerald Fennell is the queen of the fake freaky genre, and ““Wuthering Heights,”” based on the Emily Bronte novel, is no different.

““Wuthering Heights”” is the story of a young girl named Cathy (Charlotte Mellington) growing up in a rotting estate with an alcoholic father who squanders their wealth. Her father adopts a boy named Heathcliff (Owen Cooper) and the two fall in love from their childhood into adolescence.

When adolescent Cathy (Margot Robbie) gets the opportunity to marry their rich neighbor Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif), she decides to accept his proposal, though she instantly regrets it. By the time she goes to break off the engagement, Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) has already run off. Cathy ultimately ends up marrying Edgar, but is unhappy despite her wealth. A few years later, Heathcliff returns with a fortune and Cathy and Heathcliff start an affair. Edgar finds out and refuses to let Cathy see him again.

Heathcliff elopes with Edgar’s sister Isabella (Alison Oliver) and becomes increasingly obsessive towards Cathy. He writes letters to Cathy that her housekeeper,

Nellie (Hong Chau), burns. The movie ends with Cathy dying of septicemia from a miscarriage (Edgar’s baby) and Heathcliff crying over her dead body.

I went into Fennell’s third film with low expectations. I have never read ““Wuthering Heights,”” but I enjoy a good period piece. However, good is not how I would describe the initial reactions I had seen on social media.

When casting came out, many were upset by the lineup, particularly Robbie as Cathy and Elordi as Heathcliff.

Thirty five-year-old Robbie plays a 12–

Robbie plays a teen girl the whole movie. She stomps her feet, whines and showcases a certain naivete that is a little degrading. This, rather than coming off faithful to the text, feels like age regressing.

Fennell often orchestrates scenes for young Cathy that are highly sexual. Rather, it’s masturbating on top of the Moors or watching two servants have sex with horse bridles on. This is typical of Fennell’s work, but it feels creepy when the character is a minor.

up in personality. This is not the case with this interpretation.

The trouble with Heathcliff is that he is canonically not white but is being played by the very white Elordi. Though the book never makes it abundantly clear what Heathcliff’s ethnicity is, he is mixed race. He is often bullied and abused by his peers; the Lintons don’t like him and Cathy questions whether she can marry him because of his race.

I believe Fennell took out this crucial piece of context because she wanted to make a film about obsession rather than tackling the controversial themes inherent within the text, including racism, domestic violence and generational trauma. Fennell cuts out the entire second half of the book, which focuses on Heathcliff being abusive to Cathy’s son and her daughter mimicking the abuse he went through from Cathy’s father. Instead, she focuses on the scandalous and salacious affairs of the first half while leaving out some very integral details.

Heathcliff is incredibly abusive to

Isabella throughout the entire book. He beats her and almost kills her dog. The movie instead gives Isabella a submission kink. When Nellie comes to check in on Isabella, we find her chained up like a dog and barking. When they attempt to rescue her, she refuses and says she likes it. Typically, as time passes, the less controversial a piece of art seems to get. The things our grandparents used to clutch their pearls at barely make us blink now. The same cannot be said for the themes in ““Wuthering Heights.”” Our society still does not like to confront themes of racism and violence. And seemingly neither does Fennell.

Rather than making a movie that forces people to confront the typical idea of a period piece and talk about how violent behaviors are passed down through generations, Fennell gives us an adaptation that’s focused on obsessive love. This trope is explored in every one of her movies.

Fennell made ““Wuthering Heights”” not for bookworms but for cinephiles. The movie is stunningly shot. The mise en scene is just gorgeous in that it’s such an filthily excessive style that is common in Fennell movies. It’s a study of true filmmaking, but it’s not a true study of adaptation.

Director Guillermo Del Toro had a famous saying during the “Frankenstein” press tour that “Adapting a book is like marrying a widow. You have to respect the late husband, but on Saturdays, you are allowed to get it on.”

Fennell instead chose to spit on the husband’s grave and get it on every day instead.

What was up with the Super Bowl ads this year?

By ANTHONY CIUFFO Contributing Writer

Did you notice the use of AI-generated video in this year’s Super Bowl ads?

Sixty six ads aired during Super Bowl LX — 15 of them included some form of AI generated media, according to the New York Times. There were some incredibly bizarre AI generated ads, like the Svedka Vodka commercial with dancing robots, as well as more subtle ads that were not as easy to spot AI.

The Super Bowl is THE premier event in the U.S. for advertisements. With over 130 million concurrent viewers, a single ad could completely change the trajectory of a company. It drives in new customers, employees and investors. In short, these are no billboard ads you would see on I-95. However, over a 100 million impressions doesn’t come without a cost.

A 30-second ad spot sold for around $8 million this year — nearly double the cost a decade ago. While viewership has steadily increased in the past decade, it certainly hasn’t doubled, not even close. An increasing cost every year makes it harder for companies to pay for ads; therefore, in order to save money, companies have to cut costs on production. Generative AI is cheap — dirt cheap.

Anyone could prompt an AI software

to create virtually anything for free or for a small fee. It seems like a no-brainer for companies; however, AI videos are new and look cheap. More importantly, it takes away jobs from actors, directors, cameramen and editors. AI generation also consumes a massive amount of electricity and resources. Additionally, AI-generated video could be misleading and falsely represent reality. Many of these ads have been facing backlash from younger viewers. Teens and young adults are more likely to recognize that a video is AI generated, however, elderly viewers may have a much harder time spotting AI in videos. This is dangerous for a number of reasons. For one, they may be more susceptible to AI-scam videos on social media, whether it would be fake products or celebrity endorsements. Super Bowl advertisers leverage this to their advantage — not to scam customers — but to save money. Older viewers are less likely to notice that an ad includes AI, but they also may not realize the negative impacts it has. In 2025, 60% of adults ages 18-34 in the U.S. have heard a lot about AI, compared to 38% of adults ages 50+, according to Pew Research.

Advertisers evaluate the risks involved with using AI. It could leave a permanent stain on their company’s reputation, but

does the money saved outweigh that risk?

There's a chance older viewers would not notice any use of AI at all; therefore, their perception of the company or product would not be negatively altered. This will only increase in the future. AI is still brand new, but exponentially improving. In a few years, AI video could be indistinguishable from real life, causing even the most educated young adults to be susceptible.

As generative AI improves each year, so will the amount of AI generated ads. Besides all of the negative impacts previously mentioned, it also takes the fun out of advertisements. Think back to your favorite Super Bowl ad. Was it a time-traveling Doritos ad from Super Bowl XLVIII? Or what about the infamous Tubi commercial that had viewers scrambling to find their remotes during Super Bowl LVII? These ads were creative and fun… AI takes that away. It takes the human aspect out of ads.

Next Super Bowl, who knows how many AI ads there will be. There could be 30, there could be three. It all depends

on how consumers react. While some companies are using AI to save money, other companies like OpenAI are pushing these ads to increase publicity for AI tools so more people will use them. As long as people continue to use AI software like ChatGPT, the company will have the funds to invest in improved technology.

What can the consumer do to combat the use of AI?

The most simple and effective way to protest the use of AI is to stop purchasing products from companies that use it. If a company’s stock or income decreases, they’ll realize AI ads are not working out. Consumers also have the power to spread awareness online and inform older

What you missed in Quinnipiac Athletics this weekend

By EMILY MARQUIS and COOPER WOODWARD

Busy this Valentine’s Day weekend? Here’s what you missed in Quinnipiac Athletics.

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY CLINCHES NO. 3 SEED IN ECAC TOURNAMENT

The Quinnipiac women’s hockey regular season finale against the Yale Bulldogs proved to be one of the most impactful of the season, as its 4-3 overtime victory clinched the No. 3 seed in the ECAC Tournament.

After falling behind in the Battle of Whitney Ave. 3-1 in the final period, the Bobcats were able to score two goals in 37 seconds with the extra attacker to tie the game in regulation.

The Bobcats would take two points with the victory when leading goal-scorer, junior forward Kahlen Lamarche, scored on a one-on-one with Yale freshman goaltender Samson Frey.

Although a win in regulation could’ve put the Bobcats in contention for the top-seed with a Princeton Tigers loss, Quinnipiac can take solace in a bye to the conference quarterfinals for the first time since the 2022-23 season.

The Bobcats will open up the tournament Friday, Feb. 27. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. in Hamden, with the opponent to be announced at the end of the first round of single-elimination games.

MEN'S ICE HOCKEY SECURES BYE IN ECAC PLAYOFFS

Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey secured a first-round bye in the 2026 ECAC Tournament with its win Sunday, defeating the Princeton Tigers 4-1.

sits13 points below that threshold.

If Quinnipiac is able to secure six points in its next four matchups, it will clinch the top seed in the ECAC Tournament for the fifth straight season.

These contests include a home matchup against the No. 2 team in the conference, the Cornell Big Red on Friday, Feb. 20.

The first opportunity Quinnipiac has to clinch the top-seed in the tournament is against the Colgate Raiders Saturday, Feb. 21, given the squad wins in regulation against the Big Red.

LAMARCHE MAKES HISTORY

Women’s ice hockey standout Lamarche set the Bobcats’ single season Divison I goal record, finishing with 35 goals on the regular season.

The previous record of 30, set by forward Kelly Babstock ‘13 in the 2010-11 season, has stood for 15 seasons.

The Bobcats’ 12th straight conference victory earned the squad its 42nd point of the season with four conference games remaining. The Tigers

Lamarche broke the record on Feb. 7, scoring her 31st and 32nd goals on the season in the Bobcats’ 4-0 win against Dartmouth. Lamarche would score three more goals in the Bobcats final two regular season contests of the year, including the game-winner against rival Yale. The Sudbury, Ontario native would finish second in the nation in goals, and leads the ECAC in scoring.

BASKETBALL IS ATLANTIC CITY BOUND

With its 73-58 win over the Canisius Golden Griffins on Feb. 5, the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team officially punched its ticket to the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City, N.J. The Bobcats will be searching for their fifth conference championship, with their latest

game for the Bobcats, nailing a three pointer as time expired.

With a spot in the postseason officially secured, the team looks to make history and capture its first MAAC Championship.

“Everybody knows what we’re trying to go for, and thats the MAAC Championship and get to March Madness,” sophomore guard Jaden Zimmerman said in an interview with Quinnipiac Athletics.

STAGS DOWN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Quinnipiac women’s basketball dropped its Saturday afternoon contest to the Fairfield Stags 75-63, its first loss in MAAC play this season. The Bobcats are still knotted with the Stags atop the MAAC standings, with each squad boasting an impressive record of 16-1

‘We want

Quinnipiac will now travel down I-91 to face the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Feb. 21, before wrapping up conference play at home with the Canisius Golden Griffins on Feb. 26 and the Niagara Purple Eagles on Feb. 28.

MONROE HITS 1,500

Men’s basketball forward Amarri Monroe crossed the 1,500 career point threshold in the Bobcats 7462 win over the Siena Saints on Feb. 12. He is the first to achieve that milestone since former guard Matt Balanc ‘24 and the 17th Bobcat all time to do so.

The 2025 MAAC Player of The Year is in the midst of his final season in Hamden, averaging 15.5 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and shooting 27% from beyond the arc.

to prove people wrong’

Quinnipiac softball is ready to make noise

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

For softball programs across the country, losing 27 games in a season and exiting the postseason in the first round is a season to forget. But for Quinnipiac, it’s remember ing every one of those defeats as motivation to do what prior teams haven’t: take home championship gold.

“My vision has always been about put ting Quinnipiac on the map,” Quinnipiac head coach Hillary Smith said. “Last year was just the first steps in doing that.”

Her attitude is reflected in the Bobcats’ No. 7 placement in the MAAC Preseason Poll, an increase of two spots from their 2025 campaign.

“They want it really bad,” Smith said. “They’re going to do whatever it takes to get there.”

Let’s break down what this season will look like for the Bobcats.

SCHEDULE

Kicking off the season, the Bobcats open with two invitational tournaments. With the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Tournament in the rear view mirror, Quinnipiac travels across the country to Hampton, VA., to take part in the Norfolk State/Hampton Tournament.

From there, the Bobcats continue their road trip to Jersey City, N.J. and New Ro chelle, N.Y., beginning MAAC play against the St. Peter’s Peacocks and the Iona Gaels, respectively, returning home March 18 to face the University of New Haven Chargers, a new opponent for the Bobcats.

The 2026 season sees conference and nonconference opponents sprinkled throughout

their 30 game schedule. For the Bobcats, they’re staying ready for anything that

FACES

The 2026 campaign will welcome five

“He is very passionate about what he does,” Smith said. “He’s so confident in himself as a hitting coach and he cares about them so much. He has a hitting plan for ev -

Smith isn’t the only one who has given

“Having that male here has definitely brought something else that our team needed,” Demott said. “He pushes us harder than we may have in the

Penny’s experience at the fessional level, as well as Davis’s young, fresh and relatable voice, will be instrumental in the Bobcats’ quest to capture champion -

As the 2026 campaign begins, Smith and her squad are approaching each game with a simple motto: RIB. Be relentless, be intense

“We always stick to that idea,” Vega said.

In order to achieve their championship aspirations, the Bobcats will need just that. They will need to be relentless in how they prepare off the field, intense in how they approach challenges and matchups on the diamond and be a badass 100% of the time.

Quinnipiac will continue its 2026 campaign against the Saint Francis University Friars in the Norfolk State/Hampton Tournament on Friday, Feb. 20. First pitch is

Efficiency and defense leading men's basketball toward MAAC Tournament

By CAYDEN STEWART Staff Writer

Every year, the goal for all college basketball programs across the country remains the same: punch your ticket to the madness.

March Madness is one of the few stages Quinnipiac men’s basketball has yet to play on.

This maddening lack of madness has been on the brink of ending in recent years, though, as just last season the Bobcats were two conference tournament wins away from a spot in the national tournament. Once again in 2026, Quinnipiac is looking to make a push towards March.

A MAAC Championship is the lone path to a national tournament berth for Quinnipiac, and following a weekend split against Merrimack and Siena, the Bobcats find themselves third in the conference, just 3.5 games back of the firstplace Warriors.

Quinnipiac’s overall record of 18-10 is among the best in the conference and includes impressive wins over Pittsburgh and Siena.

Its keys to victory have remained consistent all year: outshoot and be more effective than the opponent. The Bobcats’ nearly 63 shots per game rank No. 33 nationally and lead the MAAC with 76.6 points per game.

Quinnipiac also boasts excellent scoring diversity, with five players averaging double figures this season. Among these five is freshman forward Keith McK night, one of three freshmen to be in the top seven for the Bobcats in scoring.

In addition to his scoring abili ty, McKnight has shown great skill in keeping possession and limiting mistakes, areas Quinnipiac head coach Tom Pecora has emphasized repeatedly throughout the season.

“He doesn’t turn the ball over and there’s not many freshmen who do that,” Pecora said. “He’s never not responded to the call. I know he’s going to go in and compete.”

Freshman guard Tai Turnage has also received high praise for his veteran-like mindset. Senior forward Amarri Monroe com mended Turnage following a win against Niagara on Feb. 7.

“I think Tai is the reason we won this game today,” Monroe said. “The last couple of minutes he made us dig on defense. He makes sure we’re guarding. If we’re not guarding hard enough he’ll let us know.”

On the defensive end of the floor, the Bobcats hold opponents to just a 42.3% field-goal percent age ranking in the top quarter of the nation and fourth in the conference.

Part of the reasoning for this lack of opponent efficiency stems from Quinnipiac’s second place ranking in both blocks and steals per game among MAAC teams. Further, the Bobcats rank in the top 50 nationally in steals per game.

the team in total points, rebounds and steals, while ranking second in assists and blocks.

Monroe’s pure leadership has also been on full display, as he earned major kudos for kicking a pass out to sophomore forward Grant Randall, resulting in a game-winning three-pointer against Niagara.

“There’s not many guys who were Preseason Player of the Year who are so unselfish that they would kick it out,” Pecora said.

Sophomore guard Jaden Zim merman is also hardly one to forget. Zimmerman’s 16.3 points per game this season lead the team, and he has found a new level of confidence in a bigger role this year.

“I feel like nobody can stop me getting downhill,” Zimmerman said following a win against Rider.

“When I get the ball in transition, my eyes are just on the basket.”

Other veterans, such as se nior guard Asim Jones, have also been great promoters of good locker room vibes and teamwork this season.

“(Jones) had trust in me,” Turnage said after the Niagara win in which he was subbed in for Jones. “He told me after the game ‘we needed you out there.’ That was really cool.”

How Quinnipiac women's basketball can win the MAAC Eyes on Atlantic City

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

With its win over the Canisius Golden Griffins on Feb. 5, Quinnipiac women’s basketball clinched its 12th straight berth in the MAAC Tournament, aiming to take home the championship for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

While the team has been a perennial contender in conference tournament play since joining the MAAC in 2013, the atmosphere around this group feels different.

The hunger to take home gold has always stuck with the program, but the 2025-26 team is extra hungry, especially after how their previous campaign ended.

“On the horizon, there’s a more important banner, the MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament,” junior forward Anna Foley said on Feb. 12. Here’s what to know as they head into this year’s postseason run.

I can be confident that I’ll make it as well,” Ella Ryan said on Nov. 21. “If (Ella O’Donnell) is throwing it to me, then she must believe in me, so I can believe in me too.”

The three point shot hasn’t been the only area of success for the Bobcats. They’ve also dominated inside due to the forward tandem of senior Ella O’Donnell and Foley. O’Donnell is currently fifth in the MAAC in field goal percentage at 49%, with Foley just behind at 47%.

In order to take home the coveted MAAC Championship, the Bobcats will need to spread the scoring across the court and across the box score. Making their offense hard to stop will be crucial to postseason success.

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

Last year’s squad achieved the best finish in the tournament since 2019, falling to the Fairfield Stags 76-53 in the championship. Quinnipiac did so by using the three guard rotation of former

While offense wins games, a good defense is needed to hang a banner. This Bobcat defense isn’t just good, it’s statistically great. Not only do they lead the MAAC in opponent field goal percentage at 36.5%, and they are No. 3 nationally in total scoring defense, holding their opponents to an average of 52.5 points per game. The only two teams ahead of them are the McNeese State Cowgirls, who sit atop the Southland Conference, and the UConn

Monroe leads the charge in the steals category, with his 2.4 steals per game not only ranked No. 15 nationally, but also helping push him to the top of Quinnipiac’s all time leaderboard.

The Preseason MAAC Player of The Year has been back to his dominant self this season, leading

This has the makeup of ranked in the top half of the na tion in pacing, with 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson just grazing the top 100.

Randall also emphasized the importance of having the right mindset going into each game.

“We just have to keep that 1-0 mindset,” Randall said following a win against Canisius.

Quinnipiac’s pace of play being noticeably faster than each of those two Cinderellas begs the question: What if?

With three games against conference opponents left on the 2025 schedule, the team has its eyes firmly set on Atlantic City, N.J. and finishing a job they started over a year ago, taking home the program’s first championship in over half a decade.

“Every time I shoot it, my teammates have the expectation that it’s going to go in, therefore

“I believe with everything we have, we have the talent to bring a MAAC Championship and bring one home,” Martin said on Jan. 29.

@QUCHRONSPORTS

The unexpected surprise Ethan Wyttenbach stuns the nation in his freshman campaign Sports

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

As of Feb. 18, the No. 1 point scorer in NCAA men’s ice hockey plays in no other than the Eastern College Athletic Conference. Not the Big 10 or National Colleigate Hockey Conference or Hockey East.

Quinnipiac freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach, the 144th pick by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round of the 2025 NHL Draft has taken college hockey by storm, making him one of the most unexpected stars of the 2025-26 season.

“I think I’m surprising people in some aspects,” Wyttenbach said.

NCAA men’s hockey players are often older than typical college freshmen, with many opting to play junior hockey first, which serves as a pre-pro development league for players typically ranging from ages 16-20.

Wyttenbach is a true freshman, turning 19 on Feb. 10, which is more of an exception in college hockey than the majority.

“Coming in, a lot of the guys are a lot older than me, so it’s definitely new faces,” he said. “You don’t cross paths with a lot of those guys, especially playing youth hockey and just things like that, because of the age gap.”

For Wyttenbach, there’s one main ingredient for his success this season: confidence. A feeling that has stemmed from his youth, through juniors and now to collegiate hockey.

“It’s just a confidence thing… I think you can come in and you could be scared, and you can kind of have that mindset where maybe you might not be as good as you could be,” Wyttenbach said. “I felt just kind of being myself, being confident, playing my game and just kind of coming in as quick as possible and being someone that could be leaned on in different situations was awesome.”

Hockey has always been deeply rooted in the Wyttenbach family. His father, Andrew, and two uncles played Division I ice hockey at Cornell University.

“Obviously, I saw my dad doing it, and as a kid, you always want to do what your dad does. And I think I kind of just fell in love with the game on my own and as I grew up, he was my coach,” Ethan said.

Andrew, who worked in the marketing industry in New York City, left his job and bought Long Island Sports Hub, which he still owns to date, furthering Ethan’s hockey development.

“I mean, it means the world to me,” Ethan said. “You don’t have to go rent ice. Don’t have to find ice an hour away, just like little things like that that you might take for granted. But, when you think about it, put it kind of into perspective, it’s super cool.”

Long Island is not typically known for hockey, let alone NHL prospects. Of course, like any other place, it has its fair share of professional players like Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri.

“I was obviously fortunate enough to where the hockey on Long Island maybe wasn’t the biggest thing. But I think kind of as I was growing up, it started getting bigger and just big names coming out of the Island,” Ethan said. “It’s kind of bringing hockey back to Long Island, in a sense.”

The Roslyn, N.Y. native played 10 seasons with the Long Island Gulls, a youth program out of Syosset, N.Y.

The Gulls have a small but known history of athletes who have competed for their organization, including McAvoy and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox. Ethan’s current teammate senior forward Jeremy Wilmer and Quinnipiac commits center Jack Genovese and forward Nicolas Sykora also played for the organization.

“Some of the best years of my life playing hockey, and definitely what contributed to where I am right now, couldn’t be more happy that I’m kind of the next wave of players,” Ethan said.

During his time with the Gulls, Ethan’s team won the 2024 Chipotle-USA Hockey Youth Tier I 16U National Championship in Las Vegas, shutting out their opponent 2-0.

Ethan would contribute to his team’s success in the tournament, tallying four goals and one assist, including the overtime winner in the semifinals to send his squad to the championship game.

“We won the national championship in Vegas, actually. So the plan this year is obviously to get to Vegas, and I think winning a national championship in Vegas again would be pretty cool,” Ethan said.

If Quinnipiac reaches the NCAA Tournament and punches a ticket to the Frozen Four, Wyttenbach would have his second opportunity in Vegas to hoist a national championship trophy, in what could be a full-circle moment for the kid from Long Island.

Ethan would attend Portledge School from eighth to 11th grade, where he would ultimately commit to Quinnipiac at 15 years old.

“He finishes plays. I talk about him a lot,” head coach Rand Pecknold said. “There’s a lot of players at our level that create a lot of offense and a lot of scoring chances. And then he’s got that next gear, and he has that ability to finish those chances. He’s just next level, with not just the goal scoring but also the passes, the timing and he just finishes plays.”

When it came time for his senior year of high school, hockey would take him in a different direction. Ethan took his final year of high school

online and played junior hockey in the USHL for the Sioux Falls Stampede. Consequently, the same organization where his teammate, sophomore forward Chris Pelosi, played the season prior.

“Playing the USHL, which is kind of this next stepping stone for every young kid who plays hockey in the States, that was obviously super cool last year,” Ethan said. “Meeting new people and getting to play in that league, which was obviously awesome and super special.”

During his lone season with the Stampede, he recorded 24 goals, leading the squad, and 27 assists in 44 games played.

In April, Ethan was awarded The Gaudreau Award — etsbalished in 2025 to honor the legacy of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau — making him the inaugural winner.

Ethan would trade in South Dakota for Connecticut to kick-start his first season of collegiate hockey. And just like everything else, his confidence shone.

“You play something to be the best at it. And I think that’s kind of been my mindset as I was growing up,” Ethan said. “Committing to Quinnipiac when I was 15, like, just little things throughout my life to where, like, I obviously have the internal confidence, to where I can make this realistic.”

Since setting foot in Hamden, he has hit the ground running, proving to be one of, if not the Bobcats’ most vital asset. As of publication, he leads the nation with 51 points, while leading Quinnipiac in goals, with 21, and assists, with 30.

Ethan is just three points shy of breaking Quinnipiac’s Division 1 program record for points by a freshman and eight points away from cracking the program record in points per season, which is currently held by San Jose Sharks forward Collin Graf ‘24 at 59.

He’s also a frontrunner for the Hobey Baker Award, which has never been presented to a Quinnipiac player. Its most recent finalist was Graf, who was nominated consecutively in 2023 and 2024.

National accolades aside, Ethan has earned multiple ECAC titles, including Rookie of the Week three times, Rookie of the Month twice, Forward of the Week and Forward of the Month.

On Feb. 7, he recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in the Bobcats 8-0 win over the Yale Bulldogs in the annual Battle of Whitney Ave.

“I think now coming down the stretch, where obviously I’ve kind of cemented myself in the lineup and just kind of showed everyone what I could do,” Ethan said. “I think now it’s kind of more of getting to the team game and just definitely building on little things as a team.”

The Bobcats have focused heavily on that team aspect all season, making sure every athlete has the buy-in to succeed, especially for a program that introduced 10 freshmen this year.

“They brought me in right away,” he said. “They treated me super well. We went out to eat, just little things like that, to where you can kind of build relationships and build chemistry off and on the ice.”

The Bobcats have fostered a culture based on a foundation of buying-in, largely influenced by the leadership of Pecknold.

“He’s obviously been huge for me, just learning from him, and kind of gaining as much knowledge as I can from him,” Ethan said. “I think we kind of have a dialogue of maybe what I could have done, what I see here, just different things like that…he’s just been awesome with showing me video and just trying to do the little things on a day-to-day basis to where that part of my game definitely rounds out.”

Ethan’s relationship with Pecknold allows him to improve his current game, while taking in constructive cirticsm to build upon his weakpoints.

“He scores, he’s a playmaker, he’s working hard, you know, working on cleaning up the other aspects of his game,” Pecknold said.

Through all the success this season, Ethan continues to find confidence and support through family, an integral part of his journey.

Roslyn is only 90 minutes from Hamden, a luxury many college athletes don’t have.

“I think (Andrew) being able to come to all my games now, I mean, he’s pretty much at every game, so that is definitely something that a lot of people don’t get to say,” Ethan said. “My grandparents come to a ton of games, my siblings come to a ton of games. So just having that support behind me is definitely something I don’t take for granted.”

Quinnipiac is approaching postseason territorty, and has managed to sit No. 1 in the ECAC and No. 6 in NPI rankings with an injury-riddled roster.

Wilmer, an assistant captain who was on target for his most productive season yet suffered a season ending injury in November. Sophomore forwards Chris Pelosi, Quinnipiac’s second Hobey Baker nominee, Tyler Borgula and senior assistsant captain and defenseman Charlie Leddy are more recent additions to the injured list and have undisclosed recovery timelines.

Ethan has spent the last few months learning what it means to be a Bobcat in every facet of the game. With several key veterans off the line sheet, it’s not far-fetched to view the kid from Long Island as a skater with an invisible letter.