The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 96, Issue 19

Connecticut's nursing shortage leaves universities with less faculty

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

As a result of burnout, workplace violence and issues with culture or environment, states nationwide are experiencing a nursing shortage, leaving fewer educators to train the new generation of nurses at universities, such as Quinnipiac.

Nursing shortages are not new. Larry Slater, dean of the School of Nursing, notes that they come in waves, however the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic make this one more significant.

“Since COVID I feel like we’ve seen an exacerbation of nurses leaving the profession,” Slater said. “They may have retired… And COVID was a lot for the nursing profession to deal with, and so they just decided it was time to retire.”

Not only did the pandemic cause some nurses to leave, but it “might have impacted how people perceive nursing as a profession,” Slater said.

In Connecticut alone, “there are almost 90,000 registered nurses and about half are practicing nursing,” Dr. Laura Andrews, an associate professor of nursing at Yale University and chair of the Graduate Entry Prespecialty in Nursing, told The Hartford Courant. And the most recent report from The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce shows that from 2023 to 2024, registered nurse (RN) pre-licensure program graduates decreased by 3%. This drop comes after a consistent and steady increase each year from 2017 to 2023.

In addition to nurses leaving after years in

Quinnipiac students petition for an Office of Victim Advocacy, despite administrative push-back

By

Junior behavioral neuroscience major Victor Constanza started a petition Feb. 24 to bring an Office of Victim Advocacy to Quinnipiac University.

The Office of Victim Advocacy would be “a centralized space to discuss, plan, and feel intimately connected with their experiences of sexual violence, racial discrimination, disability discrimination, harassment, or professional misconduct,” per the original proposal Constanza provided to the Office of Inclusive Excellence, including Claude Mayo, director of inclusive excellence and John Armendariz, vice president for inclusive excellence, via email.

“The Office of Victim Advocacy is a more victim-oriented approach to address sexual assault,

racial discrimination and other things that would fall into the jurisdiction of Title IX,” said Scarlett Fulton, a first-year law in society and political science major and petitioner.

For a petition to be accepted, a petitioner must go through Quinnipiac’s Student Government Association.

“We encourage students who wish to file a petition to work directly with the Student Government Association, the official representative body of our undergraduate student population,” said a university spokesperson.

The spokesperson encouraged students to work with SGA.

“The Student Government Association exists to ensure student voices are heard in a constructive, organized and effective manner. By collaborating with SGA, students can receive guidance

on university processes, ensure their concerns are clearly articulated and presented appropriately and engage in meaningful dialogue with university leadership. This established pathway helps move ideas forward thoughtfully and productively.”

Following their own experience with Title IX, Constanza — a state-certified sexual assault crisis counselor since last year — began working on this initiative. During the training to do so, they were reminded that other schools, such as Central Connecticut State University, have an Office of Victim Advocacy, which they believed would benefit Quinnipiac students.

Once certified as a sexual assault crisis counselor, Constanza began their initiative in October. The original proposal, written by Constanza, started with the claim that “survivors are forced to navigate complex systems of report-

ing, accommodation, and emotional recovery on their own or through fragmented, non-specialized campus services.”

Constanza said in the same section that the lack of support further puts students at risk, especially given federal rollbacks on Title IX. The federal rollbacks are the U.S. Department of Education’s 2025 enforcement of the 2020 Title IX framework, which defines protections based on biological sex and outlines procedures for handling Title IX complaints in educational settings.

They also pointed out in the proposal that Quinnipiac is one of the few institutions in Connecticut without an OVA.

“People feel lost and alone when trying to get the accountability they are looking for. Some folks

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

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Elisabeth McMahon

ASSOCIATE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Taylor Huchro

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Quinn O’Neill

ASSOCIATE MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION EDITOR

Harper Ferraro

ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS

Ryley Lee

Lily Zahka

COPY EDITORS

Anthony Angelillo

Amanda Dronzek

Chloe Grant

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

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Quinnipiac cuts the ribbon on the new bookstore building

Staff Meetings

By GINA LORUSSO Managing Editor

Quinnipiac University celebrated the ribbon cutting for its new bookstore March 3. The event featured a DJ, student fashion show and discounted Champion apparel for attendees.

“It just was a great experience, and I love seeing so many people coming out to celebrate our new building and our new location,” Campus Store Manager Brittany Calabro said.

The fashion show showed off the bookstore’s new apparel as students circled the top floor, making their way through the crowd and showing off their own personality.

“I thought it was a really cool way to display the items that we have and the sale that’s going on today, and just celebrate our students and the new bookstore,” Jessie Auerbach, sophomore behavioral neuroscience major, said.

NURSING from cover

the profession, some are also leaving early on.

“We’re seeing some studies showing that up to maybe 30-40% of new nurses are leaving after their first two years,” Slater said. “And they’re not just changing jobs, they’re leaving the profession altogether. So that’s made it really difficult to maintain a robust and stable nursing workforce.”

With many nurses leaving, the shortage takes a large toll on the nurses who continue to stay in the profession.

“It is the idea that we have a shortage (that) makes work that much harder,” Slater said. “So if, when we’re fully staffed, a nurse may have, say, six patients on a unit, because they’re short staffed, they may be having eight or nine or 10, so their regular work day is much more demanding.”

A number of factors go into causing a shortage, with a chain of different effects.

Slater notes that people are often apprehensive about the profession entirely for a number of reasons.

The cost of tuition combined with the struggle of balancing schooling and clinicals cause hesitancy. Slater highlights that these factors are not just affecting young adults just beginning their higher educa -

University administrators echoed the enthu siasm shared by students reflecting on the store’s redesign and relocation.

“This is the kind of space students at Quinni piac deserve for getting their books, their acces sories and their swag,” Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett said.

According to Sandip Patel, associate vice president for budgeting and financial planning, the new bookstore had a 50% increase in sales in February alone.

“It’s not just the wonderful layout of this store. You know what else it is? It’s the people who greet you,” President Marie Hardin said.

“It’s that Quinnipiac smile, that welcoming team that is going to be talking with you when you come in here, and helping you and wanting to know about your day.”

tion, but also affecting those considering nursing in a career shift as well.

Not all nurses enter the profession as their first career. For Slater and many others, they take an interest in it later down the road. Slater made a career shift into nursing during a previous shortage.

“(I) went to school for nursing after reading articles that said that there was a nursing shortage, and they needed nurses and it was something that interested me,” Slater said.

However, while many are interested in the profession, there are still barriers like the aforementioned tuition costs and time commitment issues.

“It’s hard for them to go full time to school, work full time because they’re full time in school,” Slater said. “It’s not just classes.”

In response to this, Quinnipiac launched a program with Hartford Healthcare called New Careers in Nursing.

The two-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program includes only one day of classes and one day of clinical — leaving the rest of the week for studying and working a full-time job.

“These are people we’re finding in this program that never would have come to Quinnipiac for nursing,” Slater said. “They never felt like they had the finan -

cial means and the opportunity to do it, because they’re also getting tuition and remission to support that.”

The shortage also affects universities themselves, with one of the biggest issues that schools like Quinnipiac are facing is having less educators.

“The struggle with that is it has to be somebody that really is interested in teaching and wants to get into academia,” Slater said.

With less faculty available, there could be less students who are able to be accepted as well.

Slater notes that Quinnipiac has maintained the number of applicants for the nursing programs, however universities could face the issue of having to decrease the amount of available spots for incoming students.

The shortage also leaves universities to face issues in running out of sites for students to have their required clinical placement. Nearby Connecticut schools are all trying to place their students in the same spots — including Yale New Haven Health, Hartford Healthcare, Gaylord Hospital and Griffin Hospital — however, there are only so many spots available.

“We work together with our clinical partners very well, but they just have that limited space to provide all of us with what we need,” Slater said.

Quinnipiac receives Carnegie Community Engagement certification

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

Quinnipiac University was recently awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Certification, recognizing it for excellence in community engagement.

The certification is awarded yearly to colleges and universities across the United States. This year, Quinnipiac joins 237 other higher education institutions in recognition of their commitments to up lift neighboring communities throughout their local population.

“Recieving the classification affirms that Quinnipiac has demonstrated a deep, evidence‑based, institution‑wide commit ment to meaningful, reciprocal partner ships that serve the public good,” Vice president for Academic Innovation and Excellence Annalisa Zinn wrote in an email to The Chronicle.

The classification recognizes universi ties that cement civic responsibility and public impact into the framework of their institution. For Quinnipiac, the recogni tion highlights service learning initiatives, community based research projects, health outreach efforts and civic engagement part nerships across the greater Hamden area.

feel like they do not think the office truly helps,” Constanza said.

This has been well received overall by stu dents, faculty and staff, even before the petition.

“This proposal has been endorsed by the Black Student Union, Organization of Latin American Students, International Student As sociation, Indigenous Student Union, Asian Stu dent Alliance, Women’s Empowered, Disability Student Union, Survivor Advocacy Alliance, Students for Social Justice, Gender Sexuality Al liance, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Ser vices Quinnipiac Chapter, QU Women’s Health Organization, Women in STEM and Alpha Delta Pi,” Constanza wrote in both the proposal and in email correspondence to the Office of In clusive Excellence.

Constanza began communicating with Tom Ellett, Quinnipiac’s chief experience officer, in November, who they say is “unhappy” about their pursuit of this matter.

Constanza met with Ellett multiple times throughout the last semester, advo cating for the OVA.

Ellett expressed that he did not see this as a problem on campus.

“While it may appear we are not supporting you by not agreeing to your proposal, we do not see the issue the same way you do,” Ellett stated in an email to Constanza.

He believed students were well aware of how to access the university’s resources.

“The number of reports generated in this past semester and not hearing concerns from others on this topic, would illustrate that this may be very isolated,” he wrote.

Ellett argued that since he didn’t hear about it from other students, he can’t say it’s systemic.

Patricio Jimenez was named the permanent Title IX coordinator in 2024, following the of fice seeing a turnover of four different coordina tors within 14 months.

He also raised concerns in November about the financial aspect of the OVA. He pointed out that there may be financial difficulties in execut ing the plan.

In response, Constanza provided a plan to combat these setbacks, which they said would require minimal financial investment. This included “train(ing) the CARE team in vic tim services so they are well versed in what to do… Clearly communicate to students that CARE is the first point of contact for these

“This distinction affirms the belief that higher education has both an academic and civic responsibility,” Zinn wrote.

Quinnipiac is one of several Con necitcut colleges earning recognition for community engagement this year. Central Connecticut State University and Fair field University were also awarded the distinction in the 2026 cycle.

Zinn emphasized that the achievement belongs not just to the university, but to the surrounding region as well.

“Both communities should feel proud because the classification celebrates shared work and mutual investment,” she wrote. “Quinnipiac earned this distinc tion not in isolation but through authentic collaboration with Hamden, North Haven and the region.”

While the classification is valid through 2032 the university is already fo cused on maintaining and strengthening their current efforts.

“Long‑term success in sustaining the classification means ensuring that com munity engagement remains deeply wo ven into the university’s mission, culture, academic programs, and student led ini

types of concerns... Develop a peer based victim services system.”

Ellett disagreed with the claims about CARE.

“The CARE staff are trained in these mat ters and are clear in the policy and protocols for referrals to Title IX and other offices as ap propriate. They involve those as needed in the process,” Ellett wrote.

While Ellett told Constanza that CARE was appropriately trained and did not need it, the CARE staff itself was supportive of it, according to Constanza.

“They very much believe the school needs it, especially as Title IX is not under OIE any more,” they said.

As previously mentioned, Ellett cited finan cial restrictions as a reason the OVA could not be formed. Constanza believed the response regarding financial concerns to be “ridiculous.”

“Tom in our conversations had asked me if I wanted to raise tuition due to this idea. This is a very common response for a lot of students' ideas to improve the school. I respectfully told him that I do not think this (will) do that,” Con stanza said in a statement to The Chronicle.

The OVA would have a staff of one person.

“Budget constraints is very common to not support a student’s ideas. However, I will not believe this until I see proof of these budget constraints. In addition, I can not take that seri ously has the school’s investment spending has increased from 50 million to 58 million. The school’s revenue has also increased,” they said, referencing the University’s 2023 24 fiscal year 990 tax documentation.

In January, Ellett informed Constanza that the university would not be adding an OVA.

“John and I held a meeting with all stake holders to share your proposal and concerns,” Ellett said in an email to Constanza. “While some thought we could review our communica tions and also look to meet semesterly as a group to discuss any potential issues that aren’t easily resolved, there was universal sentiment, that we do not need the office you are suggesting.”

Ellett was notified a month prior, in De cember, by Constanza that they were still pursuing this.

“I will be back in touch in early Spring once we have student feedback,” Constanza informed Ellett in an email.

Despite the “numerous conversations that have been had via email/in person regarding a victim advocacy position at QU,” according to

tiatives. It requires continuous assess ment, strong and reciprocal partnerships, and demonstrable impact in the commu nity,” Zinn wrote.

Quinnipiac provost Debra Liebowitz further explained what the certification means to the University.

“This recognition reflects the daily work of our faculty, staff and students work that strengthens learning, supports our region and advances the public good,” Liebowitz said in an interview with Con necticut By the Numbers. “This designa tion underscores that community engage ment isn’t an initiative at Quinnipiac, it’s embedded in who we are. Creating opportunities for our students to make a difference is, indeed, a vital part of their learning and one reason they are so well prepared for their careers.”

Furthermore, Zinn states the implica tions of maintaining the recognition past 2032 for Quinnipiac.

“Sustaining the classification long‑term reflects a university where community en gagement is not a set of programs but a de fining characteristic of institutional iden tity,” she wrote.

Ellett, he denied knowing about the petition.

Constanza, who formerly served as Identity Senator for the SGA, began this as their official initiative. Following their resignation, they’re continuing this project independently.

Constanza used social media to recruit volunteers to help collect signatures. They collected physical signatures as opposed to electronic ones, to show that students were talked to in person.

While they had more inside volunteers, they had five volunteers petitioning, Fulton being one.

“Title IX is mostly centered around the legal pursuits of the school and punishing wherever it can,” Fulton said. “However, it doesn’t follow through to support its students.”

Students have been concerned that Title IX hasn’t been as responsive as it should be and that the office has been facing a backlog of cases.

“It says a lot,” Fulton said, “I think it will fill the gaps that Title IX fails to repair… They lack in the department of actually help ing victims. They’re more about trying to keep things down under wraps so that the school can function as usual.”

The university disputed this assessment, say ing the Title IX process is structured to ensure fairness and thorough review.

“Some Title IX cases require additional time to adjudicate because of their complexity and the need to ensure a fair, thorough and impar tial process for all parties involved,” a university spokesperson said.

They also rejected suggestions that the of fice prioritizes the university’s interests over those of students.

“While this can be frustrating, it does not indicate a backlog of cases,” the spokesperson said. “Any suggestion that the Title IX Office prioritizes the university’s interests over the well being of students or members of our cam pus community is simply false. The office’s central focus is on adhering to federal regula tions and institutional policy while ensuring the safety, dignity, and equitable treatment of those involved in every case.”

At the time of publication, Constanza has ob tained 593 signatures, with the goal being 2,000.

“The continuously increasing amount of sig natures, the common opinion that Title IX does not really help or support our students, and sup port from staff should be enough evidence that an Office of Victim Services should be created,” they said.

Quinnipiac students share thoughts on the university's snow removal procedures

By NATHAN ROJAS Staff Writer

From Feb. 22 24, a severe blizzard hit the East Coast, with some states receiving as much as 41 inches of snow, according to the New York Times, impacting daily life for many schools, colleges and universities, in cluding students at Quinnipiac University.

In preparation for the expected snowstorm, Quinnipiac held virtual classes Monday Feb. 23. How the university handled the snow left students with mixed feelings.

Sofia Dowd, a first year entrepreneurship major said that facilities began removing snow around 1 p.m. Dowd felt this was late com pared to when facilities started removing snow during the blizzard that hit Quinnipiac only a couple weeks earlier.

“I was thinking that they would do it in the morning, but they just weren’t quick to it at all,” Dowd said.

However, not all students agree with Dowd’s statement. Some felt that, considering the amount of snow, facilities did a good job.

“I thought they did a pretty good job clearing out the main roads,” Zakaria Merzou, a senior computer science major, said, referring to the paths on the Mount Carmel Campus.

Sierra Ross, a first year advertising major, agreed with Merzou’s statement.

“I’m grateful for all those shovelers out there, because I know it’s not an easy job,” Ross said.

Despite her sentiments, Ross felt that facilities could have done a better job of shoveling.

Many students also felt that facilities should have done a better job at salting the paths, consid ering the excessive amounts of ice.

“I live in Eastview, so there was some ice out side the building and… I almost fell a multitude of times,” Jodie Terry, senior biomedical sciences major, said.

Ross and Dowd agreed with this statement, mentioning that it was “icy” after the storm.

In addition to having virtual classes on Feb. 23, the university also issued multiple parking ad visories during the days leading up to the storm.

“In anticipation of the upcoming snowfall expected on Sunday, February 22, and Monday, February 23, parking rules and regulations will be temporarily revised,” One Stop wrote on Feb. 22. “Beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, student vehicles may only be parked in one of the following locations: York Hill Garage, North Lot –east side by tennis courts, Whitney Lot, Westwoods Lot, Whitney Village Lot and Eastview Lot.”

An update for the first advisory was sent on Feb. 23 telling students to leave their vehicles parked in their current locations and listed approved areas for students to park. This list included the original set of locations from the first advisory.

Later that same day, another advisory was sent out to students.

“All student vehicles parked in the North Lot must be relocated to the Hilltop Lot to accommo date snow removal operations,” Quinnipiac One Stop wrote. It was then later corrected stating that all vehicles may be moved beginning at 8 a.m. and that no vehicles were to be moved before then.

This advisory also mentioned that normal parking rules and regulations would go back into effect starting 10 a.m., Feb. 24.

One last advisory was sent out Feb. 24, de tailing where students should park on the York Hill Campus.

However, students found the time for reloca tion to be an inconvenience.

Terry mentioned that while students were able to park in the North Lot, facilities were actively plowing in that area, making it dangerous and chaotic for students to do so.

With winter winding down, students should expect to see a few more snow falls during the semester.

Opinion

Ticketmaster's monopoly will be the end of live music

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

In the music industry, the first two months of the year means the beginning of ticket-buying season. Fans all across the planet log on to ticket-buying sites in hopes of securing seats for shows of performers playing everywhere.

On Feb. 18, I was in that spot, trying to secure tickets to one of my new favorite artist, Tame Impala. I was fresh out of class, ready to see where my spot in the queue would fall. Noon hit, and I got my number. 62,000.

Was I shocked that my spot was three times the arena capacity? No. Was I angry? Absolutely. It’s the latest edition of a problem that seemingly has no solution.

If you’ve bought tickets to any concert or live event within the last five years, you’ve interacted with Ticketmaster. Even if you bought them off a secondary market like SeatGeek or StubHub, you’ve interacted with Ticketmaster. And odds are, if you’ve interacted with Ticketmaster, you know its reputation for failing to do its job.

But if the site proves to be bad at its only job, why do people keep coming back? I have a sad but simple answer: they don’t have a choice.

If you decide against Ticketmaster, you’re sent to secondary markets. While their pric-

es are much lower, the validity of the listing is more often a question than a certainty. Platforms such as StubHub have reportedly sold customers fake tickets, locking them out of the show as they arrive at the venue. So most end up sticking with the platform that has fewer questions of reliability.

Ticketmaster serves as the primary ticketing market for around 80% of all major venues across the U.S. It’s practically unavoidable in the current age of live music. No matter where you go or who you want to see, Ticketmaster will rear its ugly head almost every single time.

Ticketmaster uses a variety of different ways to price out the casual fan. The most famous being the egregiously large service fees that are added to the total. They advertise a $50 ticket and make the consumer pay $70.

I myself fell victim to this when I bought tickets to my favorite band of all time, Coldplay. When I finally found the seats that I wanted on the site, I saw the price was over $350 per ticket. Extreme? Sure, but it was the only time I could see the band before their sabbatical, so I had to take the chance.

As I was about to check out, I saw that the service fees had raised the price to $823. I was lucky enough to have that within my spending. But so many other people

aren’t as lucky as I was.

Then, there’s the worst tactic of them all, which is dynamic pricing. Introduced in 2022, dynamic pricing allows the platform to raise ticket prices based on demand. This tactic allows the prices of wildly popular artists such as Bruno Mars or Sabrina Carpenter to hit four digits before fees, effectively pricing out dedicated fans who are willing to sign up for artists’ respective pre-sales.

Despite some artists, such as Olivia Dean and RAYE, fighting the site to make their shows more accessible, it isn’t enough. I understand that Ticketmaster and its parent company, LiveNation, need to make money to survive. It’s the simple rules of business. But in their greed, they have made us, the fans, a casualty.

Live music is one of the most special things this world has to offer. Every attendee gathers in the theater, arena or stadium for the same purpose of enjoying the music together. How often does that happen?

Ticketmaster’s sickening greed and predatory tactics are killing the average music fan. Nobody should have to pay the same price as an iPhone to see their favorite artists perform. It’s an unreasonable ask that is unfortunately becoming reality. I am tired. Fans across the planet are tired. Something needs to be done.

Social media is fire if you have whimsy

By AMANDA DRONZEK Copy Editor

The first thing I do when I wake up is turn to my right, reposition my blue weighted triceratops named Mabel and grab my phone from the charger.

The second thing I do is go on TikTok. I make my rounds on the “For You” page, let out some giggles and then move on to X to find 30 GIFs of actor Hudson Williams’s ass dimples that I know won’t get taken down because this app is PornHub Jr. (not complaining by the way).

Social media is a tough sub ject. It’s absolutely detri mental to society. It’s toxic, disturbing and we are all unhealthily desensitized. But God, it is so funny. You know when teach ers would have cyber-bul lying seminars in middle school and say something to the effect of, “People hide behind a screen because they can’t say the things they say on line in person?” They’re right.

Because how would I ever be able to insert a diabolical, nonsensical ship edit of San Jose Sharks for wards Will Smith Hockey — the “Hock ey” is part of his surname — and Macklin Celebrini into a conversation?

I couldn’t. And that’s beautiful. And deeply parasocial even for me. Hope the cupcake baking went well.

At my big age, there aren’t many social media apps that appeal to me. Snapchat makes me want to throw myself off a cliff.

I don’t even know why I still have that stu -

Threads? Exactly, nobody knows.

But my X son and TikTok daughter, you are worthy of my attention. I do not condone your makers, but I will adopt you into my phone until the end of time.

The ooey-gooey feeling of climbing into bed and knowing I get an hour of doomscrolling time as soon as my head hits the pillow is religious to say the least.

I remember when TikTok got banned. My dear roommate was distraught. There were tears. And honestly, she was so valid for that reaction. It was that serious.

TikTok is literally a Leo’s playground. Like, yes, let me rewatch everything I’ve ever reposted over and over because I am literally God.

I mean, the edits, are we joking? This is proof that the communications industry is alive and well. Every time I finish watching some form of media, without fail, I type the title into my TikTok search bar and am welcomed by a sea of horny, devastating (mutually exclusive by the way) little videos for me to dive into.

Did God make the edit of actor Timothee Chalamet in “Call Me by Your Name” to

“Playdate?” No, that was man-made. Just like the Pyramids.

One might even call them the ancient texts. X is definitely more crude. I absolutely adore being interrupted by conservative propaganda while I’m trying to live, laugh and love. But I just can’t bring myself to find a replacement to Elon Musk’s little monster because there isn’t one.

You can’t outdo the do-er. Yes, people are chronically online and need to be put down because some of their takes are so egregious I have to get up and take a lap.

Then I see actor Shawn Hatosy, Dr. Jack Abbott from “The Pitt” on my feed, posing in a sexy selfie captioned: “unc peepaw people’s princess oomf average everyday icon returns. stay mad. stay mystified.” Immediately, I know I am a girl who is going to be OK.

America lowkey sucks right now. Social media is a massive issue that inflates our country’s problems because we’re just playing ping pong with everyone’s most extremist political views when we could be finding something called nuance.

But if the Democrats’ TikTok admin is posting Hobama edits in the great 2026, what’s the harm in finding these apps hilarious? That used to be their purpose. It might really be that damn phone, but I’ll drink that Kool-Aid until my teeth are stained red.

‘Andor’ holds a mirror to the U.S.

By REX NAYLOR Staff Writer

Since “Star Wars: A New Hope” first premiered in 1977, it was apparent that the movies were closely related to the U.S. and its actions. Creator and direc tor George Lucas has indicat ed for decades that the Ga lactic Empire resembles the U.S. and the Rebel Alliance represents the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

“Star Wars” is one of, if not the most recognizable, franchises in all of media. Fast forward to the present day, the Disney+ show “An dor” holds a mirror to our world and our country, show ing the unraveling of democ racy into fascism.

“Andor” creator, Tony Gilroy, recently did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter revealing what he couldn’t talk about during the release of the show.

“We were pretty much doing a story about authoritarianism and fascism, and the Empire is very clearly a great example of that,” Gilroy said.

The Ghorman arc is what stands out the most when recalling the events of season two in relation to Gilroy’s comment. In it, the residents of Ghorman gather in the cap ital to peacefully protest the occupation of the Empire on their planet.

my enemy to defeat them…I burn my decency for someone else’s future…I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see.”

The most powerful scene of the show, the scene many consider won Gilroy an Emmy for Outstanding Writing of a Drama Series, was Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) speech to the Galactic Senate speaking out against the Ghorman genocide. Genevieve O’Reilly’s delivery and portrayal carry each word with a desperate plea for another senator, a civilian, anyone else to open their eyes to what’s in front of them and wake up.

One line speaks volumes about our world, “The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest.”

Everyone deserves the truth, yet those who grasp at absolute power wish to do away with any. Only their truth is the “truth.” Once they control the truth, no one can stand up against it, only wishing it was stopped sooner.

The saying “history repeats” itself is a saying for a reason. In the world we live in today, with phones, videos and easy internet access, the flaws in our systems have never been easier

If those flaws aren’t exposed, leaders and citizens become afraid to step up against a tyrannical state and any freedom once had

It turns out the galaxy from far, far away is closer than we all think, and we all have

Bobcat Buzz

By JOANNA FARRELL Associate Opinion Editor

Since the start of the se mester, our campus has been hit by snow again and again, which has disproportionately affected Monday classes. You would think that after multiple snow storms and brief flurries, Quinnipiac would have snow removal ironed out.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t.

After a lovely day away from campus, tak ing pictures in the snowstorm, I headed back to campus Monday night. My boyfriend drove me down since the roads were still rough.

We were both stunned when we got to

Quinnipiac's snow response sucks Snowed in and snowed out

Besides the fact that I was wearing sneakers and thin pants, completely unequipped to trudge through a mountain of snow, the door to my dorm opens outward. Meaning even if I somehow made it through the snow with all of my stuff, I couldn’t open the door even if I wanted to.

So, I did what I was supposed to do. I called the Department of Public Safety.

I let the officer who answered know about the situation and she said that she made facilities aware and that they would send someone over. Great!

My boyfriend and I went to the gas station, got gas, drinks and drove back, which took us about 25 minutes. Plenty of time for facilities to get to my dorm to start shoveling out the door for a student who wouldn’t have a place to sleep that night.

when they could.

After an hour of waiting, and it now being nearly 9:30 p.m., I was done waiting and my boyfriend needed to get to sleep for work the next morning. So, we left.

Facilities only came to shovel us out when my roommate’s mom called. They then offered me temporary housing in Crescent for the night, but what was I to do? Sleep in an empty dorm, just me, my backpack, a bag of laundry and a cold blanketless prison mattress? I think not.

For a campus that loves to say students complain about the lack of snow days due to unpreparedness… the call is coming from inside the house.

pected slippery conditions.

Unbeknownst to us, that wouldn’t even be the start.

The only door to get into my dorm was covered in about 18 inches of snow.

Newsflash, no one was there.

So, my roommate called Public Safety after I told her that she was now trapped in our dorm. She was told someone called 30 minutes ago (A.K.A. me) and that facilities would be there

Imagine if my boyfriend had just dropped me off and I was stuck outside in 20-degree weather waiting an hour for facilities to show up. Or if there was a medical emergency inside my dorm and first responders couldn’t even open the door.

At the risk of sounding like a 35-year-old Facebook mom – do better, Quinnipiac. Our mommies shouldn’t have to call before you care.

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her lasting impact on fashion

By SOPHIE MURRAY Associate Arts & Life Editor

Ever since the release of director Ryan Murphy's “Love Story,” a TV series about the relationship and tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, the couple has resurfaced on social media platforms.

And rightfully so.

Together they projected a distinct aesthetic: high-end yet restrained, minimalistic yet unmistakably elite, long associated with oldmoney culture.

The Kennedy family is iconic. They blend this aesthetic of East Coast prep, coastal leisure and a political legacy. Carolyn, however, did not come from that world. Her family didn’t have a political background, nor was she born into public life.

section, styling celebrities for major events.

Designer Calvin Klein himself admired her perspective. Coming out of the 1980s, where everything was over the top, she leaned more into restraint. She never wore bright colors; everything was tailored to fit her body type perfectly and her outfits always looked relaxed, but never careless. Eventually, she was put in charge of show production.

She rose rapidly through the ranks at Calvin Klein, which is especially remarkable given that she entered the company without a public notary.

Carolyn wore dark colors and sunglasses not just as a stylistic choice but as protection from paparazzi. Many images circulating today that people are using as inspiration were taken in moments, trying to shield herself from the cameras. She gravitated towards designers like Yohji Yamamoto for this very reason. His pieces were not loud in a conventional way. They did not rely on logos or overt displays of wealth. They emphasized structure, cut and the way the fabric drapes and moves.

black coat, paired

knee high boots and her now iconic tortoise shell headband. One of her most memorable formal looks came in October 1998 at the Municipal Art Society’s celebration. She wore a long, strapless black gown, black opera gloves and black heels. No statement jewelry. No embellishment. The only contrast came from her red lipstick and slicked back updo.

It’s clear to say that Carolyn shaped her own identity through fashion. While marrying into one of the most famous families in the world brought her attention, her influence goes far beyond her last name.

Carolyn attended Boston University, studying elementary education with the hopes of becoming a teacher. After graduating, she worked at a Calvin Klein retail store, where a company executive quickly noticed her. He was struck by her appearance — long, lean frame, bright blue eyes, naturally worn hair — and by the way she worked with customers as well.

When her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. became serious and her private life became a public spectacle, her wardrobe sharpened. Earlier photographs show a softer, slightly bohemian influence. But once under the public eye, her style evolved into something more controlled. The palette darkened and the silhouettes grew cleaner. She understood the legacy she had married into and the image that would inevitably be projected onto her.

Carolyn’s outfits were never meant to be iconic. Yet their timelessness is exactly why people continue to recreate them. The neutral palette and absence of excess became her signature.

In October 1996, she wore a black scoop midi dress and a pearl necklace. She was rarely ever seen wearing jewelry; this outfit has to be one of the few she did. It’s been said she didn’t wear any to avoid drawing attention to her hands, neck or ears.

She was recruited to work in the New York City main headquarters in the VIP

Her mother-in-law, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, remains one of the most influential style icons of the 20th century. To marry into that lineage meant inevitable comparison. Yet, Carolyn didn’t mimic Jackie’s pastel suits or pillbox hats. Instead, she modernized the idea of Kennedy elegance.

In June 1997, she was photographed in New York City wearing a black sweater, dark blue jeans, sunglasses and flip flops. The outfit was so laid back and casual, yet she made it seem so chic by the way she wore it. Outfits like this are easily the most replicated because of clean fits and no visual branding. It was simple.

In October 1997, she was seen alongside JFK Jr. wearing a grey dress under a long

When you look closely at her iconic outfits, a clear pattern of precision appears throughout each. The black scoop dress and pearls worked because of its clean neckline and simplicity. The jeans and sweater combination felt so elevated because she always got her proportions exact — nothing too tight or overly loose. Even the strapless gown and gloves succeeded so well because it relied entirely on line and balance rather than embellishment. Carolyn really understood that the absence of excess could draw the eye in more effectively than over the top decorated pieces could.

So why does everyone want to dress like her now? Because her style is stable. We live in an era where trends and styles change overnight. Carolyn’s style really brings light to the fact that clothes that signal taste over trendiness and favor simplicity over embellishment will never go out of style.

Carolyn’s legacy endures because she never tried to manufacture one. She dressed to feel composed, protected and herself.

Season four of ‘Bridgerton’ is a Cinderella story

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Dearest gentle reader, Shonda Rhimes and the other writers of “Bridgerton” have done it again.

Season four of the show aired in two parts, nearly a month apart — a growing theme with Netflix. Not one I particularly enjoy, I will say.

Oftentimes, when a book is adapted into a show, it’s easy to know what’s coming next. However, “Bridgerton” does so in a way that still allows viewers to be surprised.

Dare I say this was also the most emotional of the four seasons? Everyone’s acting was in its A game.

It was highly anticipated that Francesca’s (Hannah Dodd) husband, Lord Kilmartin aka John Stirling (Victor Alli), would die within the next couple of seasons. Because we don’t know which “Bridgerton” story will come next, whether or not John would die this season was still up in the air. Well, spoiler, he’s dead dead.

The parallels between Francesca and her mother, Lady Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), now two widows, are heartwrenching. As we saw in season two, Edmund (Rupert Evans), Violet’s husband and Francesca’s father, was killed by a

bee sting. So, when John died of “just a headache,” it heartbreakingly parallels what Kate (Simone Ashley) says to Anthony (Jonathon Bailey), “It was just a bee.”

Dodd acted her heart out in episode seven, where she finally broke down while mourning. Violet, having lost her husband herself, tried to comfort her. The difference is that Francesca and John didn’t have children, while Violet and Edmund had eight, something Francesca wanted so badly.

John’s death was just one of the many, but important, side-plots. Violet Birdgerton, mommy is in all sense of the word, was getting it on with Lady Danbury’s (Adjoa Andoh) younger brother Lord Anderson (Daniel Francis). And you know what? Society may not have accepted it, but my eyes did because that was one of the hottest couples I’ve ever seen in my life.

I really saw myself in Violet when Lord Anderson told her he would be happy to actually have a relationship with her, besides just hooking up. I, too, get scared when my situationships tell me they want more. She deserves the world. I was so happy when I thought they were getting married, so when she was left heartbroken at the end of the season, I was ready to riot.

The actual main point of this season was

to tell the story of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha). It was a Cinderella story. The season started with a masquerade ball, and certified man-whore Benedict was being pushed to find a wife by his mother. After three prior seasons of him seemingly “finding himself” (and finding himself on other people), he found love that night.

He danced with a “lady in silver,” and spent the rest of the season trying to find her. Funny enough, she was right in front of him the whole time.

Sophie was a maid for her stepmother and stepsisters following the death of her nobleman father, Lord Penwood (Arthur Lee). She was a result of the Lord having an affair with a maid, his mistress.

She worked for her abusive stepmother until she went to the countryside, where Benedict found her. He didn’t recognize her, and yet, they still fell in love anyway despite the class difference.

Not only did he love her as a Lady, but also as a maid. Everyone was so messy this season. I, with the rest of the ton, loved every second of it.

This was not the Benedict we had grown to know over the years. Thompson did an amazing job at portraying his character development. I

have never seen anything like it. I was shocked to find out that the new Lady Penwood was none other than the mean girl from the past three seasons, Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen). This season was also full of goodbyes. Lady Danbury said goodbye to the Queen, and Penelope said goodbye to being Lady Whistledown. None of which I was expecting.

I also was not expecting a post-credit scene, thank goodness Marvel trained me well. I was so happy that I had waited. While every show nowadays seems to either have bad writing or bad actors, this season was perfect all-around.

Mikayla Nogueira's out of touch divorce announcement leads to intense backlash

By GINA LORUSSO Managing Editor

“Take a minute, take it in.”

It sounds like something a parent would say to their child after something lifealtering happened. Moving to a new house, a horrible diagnosis or a death in the family. In this case, the quote came from an influencer who announced her divorce to the internet.

Mikayla Nogueira is a social media influencer most recognized for her wildly exaggerated Boston accent and makeup reviews. She has a reputation for being controversial, especially when it comes to bringing private matters to the internet. The most recent instance is the video where she aired out her divorce, which she thought we all needed to pause and reflect because of. In this day and age, we’ve seen it all on social media. Pregnancy announcements, engagements, weddings and now, divorce. The issue is not the announcement itself, but how it’s presented. I can’t blame her for thinking she’s important enough to warrant an emotional reaction from viewers — plenty of other influencers do it too. They plan and prepare their content, and Mikayla’s video follows suit.

It’s the calm and controlled dialogue, the fact that you can tell she sat down, wrote a script and did a full beat.

There was no rawness to the video. Everything about it felt completely

divorce…Me everyday when the cameras not rolling.” However, the camera’s were rolling — there are nine separate clips of her crying in the video.

This is not to say that Mikayla isn’t allowed to grieve, or that her divorce isn’t painful. I’m sure it is — she is losing the love of her life. But when your brand is built on spectacle, you can’t suddenly demand authenticity from an audience that has only known you to be controversial and ignorant. Her followers are used to the dramatics, the perfect lighting, the heightened accent and over the top expressions, which are all curated for entertainment. When those same followers are asked to witness a raw, emotional moment, it comes across strictly as a performance.

Influencers who use the internet as a platform to speak out about personal pain have to remember that an audience isn’t obligated to care. If most of the internet is making fun of your divorce, it’s not that they’re failing to be empathetic, it’s your failure to deliver an important message. Online audiences don’t feel moved when everything is staged, and they are surely not compelled to validate your emotions.

Punch the monkey stole my heart

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

Once again, social media has me feeling maternal over an animal that I will never meet or see.

Punch-kun, aka Punch, is a Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, who was born last July. He was abandoned and shunned by his mother and was given the now-famous stuffed orange orangutan from IKEA.

As someone who still brings my baby blanket everywhere, I understand.

While I know I preached a few weeks ago that parasocial relationships are weird and inappropriate, there are always exceptions. So, not to sound hypocritical, but I do have a personal beef with Punch’s biological mother, and if I ever see her, I’m not below fighting a monkey. Let’s find out why I’m more evolved, bitch.

The videos of Punch being attacked, dragged and abused had me emotionally distraught for weeks. He ran to his stuffed animal for comfort after being beaten by the other monkeys. Are you kidding me? I’m done for.

I don’t know who taught TikTok editors and media teams to be sadists or something, but why are some of y’all killing me even more with putting the most depressing songs behind these videos? If you’re the sicko that put Sienna Spiro’s “The Visitor” behind a video of Punch being shoved, with the caption “The plushie gave (him) the hug that her mother didn’t,” you’re going

to see me behind you at some point, and I suggest you run faster.

Though to Daily Mail Australia, I may hate you, but you did well with putting a video of Punch being accepted to Bruno Mars’s “Count on Me.” You’re safe, for now.

Now, after weeks of being in the spotlight, Punch has been somewhat accepted by a few others in his habitat. All I have to say is, the opps really switch up when you get famous. Bet they just want a taste of Punch’s clout. Fake.

Many have compared Punch to Moo Deng. Well, Moo Deng is canceled and has clearly been replaced. While Moo Deng was admittedly adorable, Punch’s story is just better, and he’s been through so much. He deserves his fame more than that obese shiny rat.

Then, because my social media is conjured from the bottom of hell, I keep coming across Harambe and Punch edits. I came across someone saying that “Punch is the rebirth that will heal the consequences of Harambe.” You know what? Yeah, I believe it.

Harambe was a Western lowland silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo, who was shot and killed in 2016 after a three-year-old boy climbed into his enclosure. Remember, parents, watch your kids, or else a gorilla will be killed, and it will trigger a spiraling of unfortunate events.

Punch even now has a favorite human, a zookeeper. It brings me so much joy

watching him make friends. He even helped with feeding time, and while he stood above everyone else, I hope he felt powerful and that they felt they were nothing compared to him.

I know I’m not a zoologist or anything, but I can’t seem to understand why the zoo

just hope the zoo isn’t keeping him in a dangerous place in order to rake in ticket sales or online popularity.

Punch is what we needed going into 2026 and I can’t wait to watch him single-handedly save the world.

‘The Romantic’ makes us wanna ‘Risk It All’

By COOPER WOODWARD

Associate Sports Editor

It has been 3,419 days since singersongwriter Bruno Mars released “24k Magic,” his last solo album. On Feb. 27 after a decade away from solo performing, Mars is back in the spotlight , releasing his fifth studio album “The Romantic.”

The album consists of nine tracks and a total run time of 31 minutes, the second shortest runtime of his career, trailing only “An Evening with Silk Sonic” by 15 seconds. That short duration is by design.

“If I can’t get you in nine songs, I’m not gonna get you in 19,” Mars said in an interview with 95.5 PLJ.

Behind the scenes, Mars has welcomed back Dernst “D’Mile” Emile, who produced “An Evening with Silk Sonic” and Mars’ 2024 single “Die with A Smile,” as a co-producer on the project in tandem with Mars. D’Mile is also credited as a songwriter on four of the nine tracks.

One of those songs is the lead single “I Just Might.”

On Jan. 5, Mars posted on X, “My album is done,” which effectively broke the internet. Two days later, on Jan. 7, “The Romantic” was officially announced. Two days after that, on Jan. 9, “I Just Might” hit platforms everywhere.

In his triumphant return to music, Mars stuck to his guns and delivered a song that

took us back in time to the Mars of the early 2010s. Sonically, Mars relies on horns and congas to carry the melody, with addictive guitar hooks keeping the sound fresh but not overwhelming.

Looking at the lyrics, Mars keeps it simple but not boring, telling a story eerily similar to the themes of his 2010 project “Doo-Wops and Hooligans.” Not only was the song addictive and considered “Pop Perfection,” but it also helped build hype for the ensuing project.

Not only did it build hype, but it delivered.

For the first time in a while, it feels like we’ve gotten a new sound from a Mars project.

The opener “Risk It All” gave us our first hints at this, as the song tells the story of him preparing to lay it all on the line for a woman over a mariachi beat. On paper, it seems like a confusing combination, but Mars makes it work and work well.

That theme stays consistent in the ensuing track “Cha Cha Cha,” as we once again hear the horns and congas while he talks about the intoxicating feeling of dancing with the woman he wants to be with.

The highlight of the album for me comes four songs later with “On My Soul.” In the first few seconds, you’re met with an instrumental that sweeps you off your feet and an addictive guitar hook that keeps you entertained for the full three minute runtime. That, combined with clever vocal layering

and lyrics that feel fresh and new make for a classic Bruno Mars banger.

The final two songs, “Nothing Left” and “Dance With Me” prove that Mars can slow it down just as well as he can speed it up. The former shows shades of the classic hopeless romantic that we’ve come to know and love from Mars, and the penultimate track sees him at his best, wanting one more chance with his woman, whoever that may be.

While the decadelong wait in between solo projects is something that hopefully won’t happen again, Mars made the most of every single second he was away. He dared to try new things sonically while also

Photo: SPB hosts free book fair

The hidden cost of the college grind

When being busy starts to define your personality

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

The first thing I do most mornings is reach for my phone and look at the many notifications left over from the night.

The screen tells me what kind of day I am allowed to have. Classes, writing, prep, meetings, writing and oh, did I mention writing?

At some point this year, busy stopped describing my week and started describing me. I did not announce it or mean for it to happen. I just kept saying yes, piling on responsibilities, until my schedule became proof that I belonged here.

College rewards that kind of dedication. You hear it in small talk, as you casually mention what your week is like.

That idea is not just a feeling. A 2017 Journal of Consumer Research study has found that people often treat busyness as a status symbol, as earlier generations did with leisure. In other words, packed schedules can communicate value, importance and demand.

On this campus, I live inside that message. I write, edit, commentate, prepare for games, show up for club meetings and deadlines, work in QU athletics communications and host a sports podcast.

Some weeks, I bounce between roles so fast that I talk to people while thinking about the next thing, not the one right in front of me.

None of that is a complaint. I like the work as it makes me feel capable. It also makes

‘Toy

me feel safe, in a strange way, as if the work itself can block out doubt.

Busy can become a coping skill when your

successfully managed.

College sits in a gray space because it mixes school, work and identity. You are building a resume while building a life. When being busy becomes your personality, you can start treating rest like a reward you have to

have to do over the weekend.

I do not think the answer is doing less just to do less. I also do not buy the idea that working hard automatically equals self-destruction. What I keep coming back to is intention.

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

The official trailer for “Toy Story 5” does not waste time trying to convince anyone that the toys still matter. It opens with the familiar faces that helped raise a generation, as the fear of playtime vanishes and a screen becomes a child's new best friend.

Disney and Pixar dropped the new trailer on Feb. 19, with the film set for a June 19 release. Andrew Stanton will direct, with Randy Newman returning for the score, keeping one of the most recognizable sounds in animation tied to the next chapter.

The trailer frames the story as toy meets tech. Bonnie, now 8 years old, gets a tablet device called Lilypad that arrives with her own ideas about what play should look like. The toys do not feel ignored, but can be replaced by a device with built-in apps, games and attention.

After leaving at the end of “Toy Story 4,” Woody reunites with Buzz and the rest of the toys, working together to try to stop Lily. We hear from Woody when he talks with Jessie that more toys are being abandoned each day.

On paper, the movie plot sounds perfect for 2026. Kids grow up, interests change, toys adapt, or they fade. A tablet just accelerates the process.

However, I still believe the story should have ended with “Toy Story 3.” In my mind, it was a perfect send-off and there wasn’t a need for a fourth movie.

But 2019 came around and “Toy Story 4” earned more than $3 billion worldwide.

clothes on, as all you wanted to do was lie down and “rest.”

Sometimes people call it burnout, which the World Health Organization defines as an occupational phenomenon tied to chronic workplace stress that has not been

That is where the mental health part really kicks in. The Healthy Minds Study, one of the largest ongoing studies of student mental health in the U.S., reports that 33% of students screened positive for moderate or severe anxiety symptoms and 37% screened positive for moderate or severe depressive symptoms in its 2024 to 2025 national data

The story these studies tell is

that many people can’t escape this life. For me, my mental health is always a top priority, and now I don’t know if I am truly giving it as much thought as I should, because my brain has already moved on to the work I

When I choose to be busy because I care about the work, the day has a point. When I choose to be busy because I feel guilty when I stop, the day turns into hell. The difference is “small,” but it changes everything. I have started noticing that being busy is not always ambition, it’s avoidance. If I keep moving, I do not have to sit with the pressure that consumes me daily. If I keep working, I do not have to admit I feel behind. If I keep producing, I do not have to deal with the fear that I am only valuable when I deliver something.

That mindset also shrinks your world. You can still have friends and still have a social life, but you start fitting people into gaps instead of making space on purpose. I am learning that a future built on constant motion is not the future I actually want. I want a life where I can work hard and still feel like a person when the work ends. We do not need to quit everything to do that; we need to stop, breathe and reflect on what we want our lives to be. Sometimes the answer isn’t clear, but once you recognize yourself again, the path is yours to pave.

Story 5’ trailer brings the gang back, but is it justified?

That kind of success makes any ending no longer a given.

That is why it was announced that a fifth movie would be coming, because Pixar would be stupid not to cash in on the gravy train that put them on the map all the way back in 1995.

Still, the familiar voices are a big reason why fans, including myself, stay invested.

Tom Hanks will return as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Joan Cusack returns as Jessie.

One detail in the cast that carries weight for longtime viewers is that Mr. Potato

Head and Mrs. Potato Head will sound a little different this time.

Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head from the start, died in 2017, and Estelle Harris, the voice of Mrs. Potato Head, died in 2022.

Legendary “Looney Tunes” voice actor Jeff Bergman is voicing Mr. Potato Head and actor, comedian and home cook Anna Vocino is voicing Mrs. Potato Head. Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee, positions herself as helpful and modern. The trailer suggests something sinister under the friendly surface, with the device pushing the room toward screens and away from imagination.

If the film is successful, which early indication says it will be, Pixar will likely create another “Toy Story” film, and more and more sequels to the most beloved Pixar franchises like “The Incredibles” and “Coco,” which were already announced for a 2028 release.

Disney has made it clear that their approach relies on sequels and remakes because familiar brands feel safer than new ideas. Pixar has felt that pressure too, with recent original releases struggling.

That reality does not automatically make a sequel stale or unnecessary. The trailer shows a perfect plot designed for this day and age. A kid not only outgrows toys but also skips past them entirely.

My excitement comes from that same place. We do not need another “Toy Story” movie, but I still want to see it and relive my childhood with the toys that mattered to so many of us.

Softball opens up 2026 season with two non-conference tournaments

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

Quinnipiac softball opened up its season Feb. 13, competing in nine non-conference games as a part of two tournaments before hopping into conference play.

The Bobcats struggled in some matchups and found success in others, closing out their non-conference start with a 4-5 record.

UNLV TOURNAMENT

The Bobcats opened up their season in the UNLV Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. Quinnipiac faced off against Seattle University in the opening game, falling 13-1 in five innings of play.

The Bobcats’ struggled to generate any offense, with senior infielder Natalia Apatiga driving in the only run on a single to right center, giving senior outfielder Ally Hochstadter the chance to score from second base.

Seattle started out of the gate running, earning one run in the first inning off an RBI to left center, followed by scoring four runs in the third inning and eight in the fifth inning to silence the Bobcats.

Pitchers freshman Jasmine Kline and sophomore Shannon Kendall would split the game on the mound for the Bobcats, allowing eight and five runs, respectively, and allowing 10 hits combined.

Later in the afternoon, the Bobcats would face off against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, falling in a similar fashion, 10-1 in five innings.

Quinnipiac would earn its only run on a single to shallow center field by junior catcher Riley Potter, allowing senior outfielder Mary Fogg to score. The Bobcats continued to struggle at the plate, only get-

ting five hits, yet the top three in their hitting lineup proved to generate.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Laney Adie would take the mound for the first time as a Bobcat, allowing six hits and two walks. Kendall would take the mound again, allowing three hits and one walk in the matchup.

The Bobcats would flip the script against the University of California, Davis, capturing

Hochstadter scored the only run for the Bobcats on an RBI by senior catcher Kennedy Demott, the two combining for half of Quinnipiac’s hits that game.

In a short matchup, Kendall and Kline both allowed four combined walks, while Kendall struck three batters out.

In the final game of the tournament, Apatiga would send a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Reid for the Bobcats’ only run of the matchup.

Quinnipiac opened the tournament with a dominant performance against Saint Francis University, resulting in a 14-6 victory.

At the plate, the Bobcats totaled 17 hits, with 12 RBIs and two walks in the contest. They capitalized on the Friar’s errors, scoring off of two fielding errors by the opposition. Additionally, sophomore outfielder and first baseman Aryn Bombery and Demott came up big for the Bobcats, recording three combined doubles to help secure the lead.

ances at the mound, combining for three walks

nipiac proved it had some loose ends to tie up, both offensively and defensively. Yet, the beauty of non-conference matchups is the flexibility it provides athletes and coaches to make changes

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

With its wins over the Niagara Purple Eagles and Canisius Golden Griffins this past weekend,

Adie recorded a career high of six strikeouts and allowed only two hits for the firstyear pitcher in Hamden.

The Bobcats would claim two more victories in the tournament, taking down Hampton University 6-2 and Stony Brook University 7-2.

Kendall put on a dominant performance on the mound once again for the Bobcats in both matchups, recording four strikeouts and only allowing four runs on 54 batters faced.

Similar to their matchup against UC Davis, the Bobcats closed out the game strong against Stony Brook, tallying five runs in the sixth inning, while strong defensive fielding kept the Seawolves from scoring.

ment of the season, the Bobcats found their rhythm, capitalizing on their strong play to finish with a winning record of

With Quinnipiac’s second matchup against Stony Brook being canceled, the Bobcats closed out the tournament with a 6-1 loss to Norfolk State University.

Senior catcher Sofia Vega recorded the only RBI of the contest, driving in senior outfielder Mac Davis.

With the Bobcats closing out their non-conference matchups, they look to make noise in the MAAC this season.

Quinnipiac will open up conference play March 7, facing off against the St. Peter’s Peacocks. First pitch is set for noon from Jersey City, N.J.

Previewing the first round of the MAAC Tournament for Quinnipiac women's basketball

son, making the finals in seven of the 12 seasons in the conference.

However, in the 2020s, the Bobcats have struggled to find suc cess. From 2021-2024, failed to make it the championship snapping that

ever, the Bobcats have little to no scoring troubles.

KEYS TO VICTORY: MARIST

pearance in the finals last March

Recent history has told an all too common story within Quinnipiac Athletics: great regular season play, followed by poor postseason performances. The 2025-26 team is poised to break that trend, but

Like all but one team in the MAAC, Quinnipiac took care of business against both of its possible opponents. Outscoring the Jaspers by a combined 152-95 across the two contests. On the other hand, Marist has caused the Bobcats more trouble, with

How did Marist do it? By capitalizing on the Bobcats’ inconsistencies and forcing them into poor shot selection. In their first matchup Dec. 21, the Bobcats shot 8-18 from range. It was an uncharacteristically In the second game, the Bobcats

In their first contest Dec. 19, the Bobcats dominated at home, recording at least 15 points in all four quarters. Junior forward Anna Foley also had a great day, netting 18 points and a pair of three pointers in Quinnipiac’s 39 point win.

While the second matchup was closer than the first, Foley’s success against Manhattan would extend in their second matchup as she scored 21 points and eight rebounds across 32 minutes of action.

KEYS TO VICTORY: MANHATTAN

In both contests against the Jaspers, the Bobcats dominated all over the court. In particular, it was their dominance inside the paint that shone.

On offense, Quinnipiac’s forward core of Foley and seniors Ella O’Donnell and Sydney Ryan combined for over a third of the Bobcats’ 152 points and 34 of the team’s 69 rebounds. Their presence on the boards will be crucial to Quinnipiac’s success on offense.

On defense, Quinnipiac will need to stop the two-headed monster of senior guard Brianna Davis and graduate student forward Colette Mulderig. In her final season as a Jasper, Davis is averaging 15.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41% from the field.

On the other side of the coin, Mulderig has been a consistent and steady force for the Jaspers in the post. Appearing in all 29 games, she has recorded 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45% from the field.

Mulderig and Davis both showed up in a big way against the Bobcats, as they recorded the highest and second highest point totals in both contests. The key to surviving a matchup with Manhattan will be to limit their impact on the offensive end.

Unlike the Jaspers, Marist has put up a much harder fight across their two matchups this season. Despite the fact that Quinnipiac won twice, their first meeting was Quinnipiac’s smallest margin of victory in conference play.

How did Marist do it? By staying close to Quinnipiac throughout the entire contest. Despite dropping the first quarter by 14 points, the Red Foxes kept up their pace and outscored Quinnipiac in the second half, trimming the lead to nine by the end of the game.

Their second meeting was more of the same. Both teams came out to a slow start on offense, but a second-half surge from the Bobcats put them over the hump and gave them the win.

On offense, the Bobcats need to stay consistent and play a full four quarters of basketball. They cannot let their opponent breathe for a single second of the game. Quinnipiac will also need to rely on the three point shot to get its offense into gear, as the squad went 13 for 31 from beyond the arc.

On defense, the Bobcats need to stop senior guard Lexie Taurul, who has been the most consistent performer on both sides of the glass for Marist. Appearing in all 30 games, the Bronx, N.Y., native tallied a team high 371 points and 62 made three pointers. Stopping her impact will be key to Quinnipiac’s success.

No matter who Quinnipiac faces, it needs to stick to the weapons that got it to the number one seed in the tournament. If they do, a sixth MAAC Championship will be well within reach.

The Bobcats’ quarterfinal matchup will kick off Friday, March 6, from the Jim Whealen Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Women's ice hockey thrives in ECAC awards

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

With the ECAC regular season coming to a close, Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey standouts were recognized through multiple conference awards.

Sophomore goaltender Felicia Frank led the way for the Bobcats, winning the MAC Goaltending Goalie of the Year Award as well as being named to the All-ECAC First Team.

The Falkoping, Sweden native finished her strong showing this season with an ECAC-leading goals-against average at 1.31, save percentage at .949 and total saves at 545 in conference play. Frank, who started all but one contest for Quinnipiac, also led the ECAC in shutouts at five.

Frank backstopped the Bobcats throughout the first weekend of ECAC Tournament to the tune of a 2-1 record, making key stops in all three games to keep the Brown University Bears off the board.

“She’s been our backbone,” head coach Cass Turner said. “I’m glad she was back there to help us when we needed it.”

Quinnipiac’s other All-ECAC First Team selection, junior winger Kahlen Lamarche, was just as critical for the Bobcats’ success. Quinnipiac’s leading point scorer led the ECAC in conference goals with 20 and was second in the NCAA in overall scoring during the regular season.

Lamarche continued that scoring on slaught into the Bobcat’s ECAC Tournament run. The Sudbury, Ontario native scored sev en goals in Quinnipiac’s three game ECAC Quarterfinal series against the Bears.

“It’s nice because you’re in a big game like this, and all of sudden Kahen Lamarche goes in and scores the first goal,” Turner said on Feb. 27. “She makes the difference.”

In the series-clinching third game of the weekend, Lamarche would further leave her mark on the program’s his tory, scoring her fourth hat trick of the season and breaking the Quinnipiac single season DI points record, set by Kelly Babstock ‘14.

The record-breaking 60th point was the game winner in the Bobcats’ 5-4 victory over the Bears and powered the Bobcats to the ECAC Semifinals for the first time since 2023.

“It’s a privilege to be here,” Lamarche said. “I love being here and breaking records is fun.”

As of March 3, Lamarche was also announced as an ECAC Forward of the Year Finalist.

Sophomore defenseman Makayla Watson rounds out the Bobcat awards, securing AllECAC second team. Watson scored 20 points in conference play this season, including Quinnipiac’s first hat trick from a defenseman in 15 years. The Alberta, Canada native ended ECAC play with a +12 plus minus rating

blocked shots. Watson was announced as an ECAC Defender of the Year Finalist on March 3.

Watson has been absent from the Bobcat lineup since their 3-0 win against the Dartmouth Big Green Feb. 7. The Bobcats have looked to other defenders, like sophomore Aynsley D’Ottavio and senior Zoe Uens, to fill Watson’s offensive production.

“They’re just difference makers, all of them,” Turner said. “Some of the absolute best in our league.”

These players will continue to drive the Bobcats push for an ECAC Championship in Lake Placid, N.Y. Quinnipiac returns to the ice Friday against the Princeton Tigers for the ECAC Tournament Semifinals. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

Men's ice hockey brings historic sixth consecutive Cleary Cup back to Hamden

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey wrapped up its regular season play, taking its sixth straight Cleary Cup back to Hamden on Feb. 28.

This historic regular season title makes Quinnipiac the only team to ever claim six straight titles in the ECAC and the second longest consecutive winning streak in NCAA men’s Divison I history.

After falling the previous night 7-4 to No. 14 Dartmouth, the Bobcats went to Cambridge, Mass., with the regular-season title on the line.

Quinnipiac had 10 Bobcats get on the score sheet, with freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach continuing to add to his stellar first year in Hamden.

Freshman forwards Antonin Verrault and Markus Vidieck, sophomore forward Aaron Schwartz and junior forward Matthew McGorarty tallied goals in the Bobcats victory.

The Bobcats will enter the postseason with a bye in the opening round, facing off against the lowest remaining seed March 13 at home in a bestof-three series.

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What to watch out for in the ECAC Semifinal between Quinnipiac and Princeton Sports

Bobcats off to Lake Placid

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

After coming out victorious in its quarterfinal series versus the Brown Bears, the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team finds itself in an unfamiliar spot: one game away from the ECAC Championship.

But first, it has to face the opponent in front of them. That opponent is the co-regular season champion of the ECAC and No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, the Princeton Tigers, a team that has effectively been the Bobcat’s Kryptonite in the 2025-26 season.

REGULAR SEASON

In two regular season matchups, Quinnipiac fell to Princeton twice. One came at the hands of an overtime thriller and the other came with a 2-0 shutout at home. The former marked only their second loss in conference play all year, with the latter being one of two losses on home ice for Quinnipiac.

The X-factor for the Tigers in game one was sophomore forward Mackenzie Alexander. The Etobicoke, Ontario native recorded six shots and two goals, including the game-winner in overtime. The Tigers also had an effective defensive performance, forcing Quinnipiac to score dirty and gritty goals.

In game two, however, Princeton’s star of the show was junior goaltender Uma Corniea. After not seeing game action for the entirety of her sophomore campaign, she recorded a 1.73 goals against average and six shutouts. One of those

shutouts was on Nov. 22, as Corniea stopped a red-hot Quinnipiac offense, shutting them out for the first and only time this season.

While history spells doom for the Bobcats, the two teams haven’t seen each other since Nov. 22. Yet, the Quinnipiac of 2026 is much different than the Quinnipiac of 2025.

While a majority of focus will be on the high-powered offenses, the goaltending battle be tween Corniea and Quinnipiac’s sophomore Fe licia Frank will be another factor in either team moving on to the finals.

While Corniea has been solid in net for the Tigers, Frank has been lights out for the Bobcats.

The MAC Goaltender of the Year and First Team All-ECAC member started all but one contest for the Bobcats, recording a conference leading 1.54 goals against average and nine shutouts, which puts her third in the country behind senior Katie DeSa of Penn State and junior Eve Cascon of Minnesota Duluth.

Frank has faced a prestigious list of offensive talent in her sophomore season, but arguably her biggest challenge lies in front of her with this Princeton offensive group.

Leading the way for the Tigers in scoring is senior and All-ECAC First Team forward Izzy Wunder, who has recorded 27 goals in 32 games. Alexander is right behind her with 22 goals in 32 games, including the game winner in the two squads’ first meeting this season.

While the regular season was nothing short of historic for junior forward Kahlen Lamarche has been nothing short of phenomenal in the postseason.

In only three games, the Sudbury, Ontario native has recorded seven goals and eight points, including her fourth hat-trick of the season in the winner-take-all game three matchup. That final goal put her over the threshold and gave her the single-season record for points by a Bobcat with 60.

But against the Tigers, she only recorded 12 shots with no points tallied in the two contests. But even when she isn’t touching the puck, she’s able to draw defenders off her teammates and create chances for her fellow Bobcats to find the back of the net.

Lamarche’s success on both sides of the puck will be crucial to the

In her sophomore campaign, Watson has been one of the premier defenders in the ECAC, recording 32 blocked shots and 24 points in 32 games. Watson recorded the first hat trick by a Quinnipiac defenseman in 15 years in the team’s 5-1 win over Colgate Jan. 23.

To say her loss was damaging to the Bobcats’ defense is an understatement. But where a void opens, another Bobcat rises to fill it. In this case, it was the veteran leadership of senior defenseman Zoe Uens who stepped up in Watson’s place. In 37 games, she has recorded 47 blocked shots and 18 points.

It’s that kind of mentality that has carried the Bobcats to their highest win total since 2023 and can carry them to a berth in the ECAC Championship game.

The road to do so begins on Friday, March 6, from the historic Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid N.Y. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.