The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 96, Issue 20

New Irma pedestrian bridge project timeline increases student frustration

Town of Hamden and Quinnipiac University establish working relationship to strengthen collaboration

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

Town of Hamden and Quinnipiac University established a formal working relationship, as discussed during the Economic Development Commission 2025 Annual Report, presented during the Legislative Council’s 2nd Regular Monthly Meeting Monday evening.

Specifically, the university is working with the Economic Development Commission, coordinated with Commissioner Romeo Ibanez on behalf of the commission.

Mayor Adam Sendroff also expressed interest in creating a Joint Advisory Committee, according to Bethany Zemba, vice president of government and community relations and chief of staff, in a statement to The Chronicle.

“Quinnipiac is proud to be part of the Hamden community,” Zemba wrote. “Our relationship with the Town is rooted in col-

laboration, respect, and a shared commitment to creating positive outcomes for residents, businesses, and our students. We especially value our positive working relationship with Mayor Sendroff and the open, thoughtful dialogue that helps us move forward together in support of the entire community.”

The partnership focuses on several initiatives in strengthening town and university collaboration: economic impact analysis, community partnership, workforce alignment and student venture retention.

The collaboration also looks to “increase public communication about university town collaborations.”

Both commission representatives and Quinnipiac senior leadership — Dean Holly Raider, Dr. David Tomczyk, Dr. Mark Gius, Vice President for Facilities and Capital Planning Salvatore Filardi and Vice Presi -

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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Irma bridge replacement expected to be completed in October 2027

By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor

Due to required permits, construction on Quinnipiac University’s Mount Carmel Campus for the Irma pedestrian bridge’s replacement will not be completed until October 2027, causing continued frustration for students.

Since the first weeks of the school year, the bridge has been closed due to an observed shift and is pending construction. The closure of the commonly used pathway has caused inconvenience for students going to classes, the Recreation and Wellness Center and attending other oncampus activities.

“The pedestrian bridge by the Irma and Dana residence halls was closed last year after an inspection identified that the bridge needs to be replaced,” John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations, wrote in a statement to The Chronicle. “A new bridge will need to be designed and approved before construction can begin.”

The Office of Residential Life sent out

an official statement on Sept. 3, noting that “it is likely that the replacement will not occur soon.”

However, many students still speculated a quick fix for the bridge, but months later it is still closed. It is now known that the construction awaits several permits, per a newly posted “Wetlands Notice” sign hung on the bridge.

“The Irma pedestrian bridge replacement falls within a Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) Natural Diversity Database Area of Concern,” the sign reads.

The construction requires seven permits: Army Corps of Engineers, State Historic Preservation Office Mashantucket, Mohegan, Wampanoag and Narragansett Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Bat Presence Survey for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Officers, CTDEEP Fisheries Division, Hamden Inland Wetlands and Hamden Planning and Zoning.

In a search through Town of Hamden Planning and Zoning Department meeting minutes, no mention of the bridge has

been made yet. It is also not yet listed in the pending applications of the Inland Wetlands Commission at the time of publication.

The posting notes the estimated project timeline beginning with “design, survey and permitting” spanning from January 2026 to May 2027. This will be followed by construction from June to September 2027 and project completion in October 2027.

Students quickly shared the information on social media platforms including Yik Yak and Instagram.

“I’m gonna graduate before the Irma bridge is rebuilt,” one student wrote on Yik Yak.

Having caused inconvenience, students have taken to using other methods, like jumping over the creek and building their own rock path. Though, Quinnipiac officials advised using other options.

“In the meantime, pedestrians should use the other bridge by the Larson residence hall and the walkway by the library,” Morgan wrote. “We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation as we work to ensure the long-term safety and accessibility of the bridge.”

Recent ‘Comm-versation’ delves into the politics of film

By EMILY MARQUIS

Associate Sports Editor

Quinnipiac University's School of Communications’ Diversity Committee presented another installment of “Unfiltered Comm-versations” Tuesday, presenting an open forum to discuss the Academy Awards and the state of modern film and media.

The event, held in the Communications, Computing and Engineering Building, began as a discussion of the 2026 Oscars, held this past Sunday, before becoming an exploration of the reactions of movies.

The conversation began with a brief discussion of some of the Oscar-nominated films, filtered to avoid spoilers. Students and faculty mentioned best picture nominations “Sinners,” “Marty Supreme” and “One Battle After Another,” with silence lingering as the realization set in that the overlap in movies watched was limited.

The variety in films invited individuals to share personal anecdotes about their watching experiences, starting with Oscar films and branching out to other movies that left an impact.

The array of movies watched led to a common thread of political activism within the film industry, which was followed by students questioning the legitimacy of political advocacy in moments like award shows.

Some argued that using an Oscar speech as a place to call out injustice can come off as performative, particularly in cases where actors, directors and crew do not maintain that level of activism beyond the stage.

a political statement, then you know, why bother, right?”

A notable example in the discussion was American filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, whose film “One Battle After Another” won three Academy Awards, including a nod to Anderson for Best Director.

“I would love to tap into (Anderson) and the lack of using the platform, like through that film,” Assistant Professor of Film, Television and Media Arts Mary Schmitt said. “It’s about political activism, and it’s about the next generation doing better than what came before. So I am mad about that, that there was no response from him, really.”

Another comment on the politics that also tied back to Anderson was improper representation, particularly in his representation of black women in “One Battle After Another.”

Students cited Anderson’s relationship with long-term partner, actress and comedian Maya Rudolph. They questioned how there could be a “cognitive dissonance” between the art he creates and the views he shares and how those politics converge.

Furthermore, the conversation veered into

how politics are no longer centralized to just the product it’s connected to. As the impact of media grows, so does the political messaging present beyond the product, whether that be film or other forms of media.

“They call it paratexts,” Assistant Professor of Media Studies David Kocik said. “Where it’s like their interviews, movie trailers, right? All that extra stuff that you engage with when it comes to a film. Where does the responsibility of the artist lie?”

Even as talks wound down into the specifics of how the Oscars are presented as an award show, the politicalization remained a central point.

However, just because it is central to films and how they are consumed does not mean politics in art is something to be viewed negatively.

“I don’t want you to think of politics as a bad thing, right?” Kocik said. “There are some people online where it’s like, you’re making it political. That’s kind of like a phrase that’s said online a lot. It’s about how you see the world and how things should be organized and how things should be kind of constructed.”

Staff Meetings

“You haven’t said anything about this the entire time it’s happening, but once you know everyone is going to be watching, you say it,” first-year film, television and media arts major Cecilia LaSpina said.

Others argued that the art of the film and the inherent political messaging speak for themselves, and there is no obligation for creators to speak out against social injustices.

“Is this the moment to make a political statement?” Associate Professor of Journalism Margarita Diaz asked. “The political statement is the movie. I mean, if you see the movie and you don’t see it as

ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi provides his expertise on ‘What's Your Story?’

By CHLOE GRANT Copy Editor

In a new episode of “What’s Your Story?,” Assistant Professor of Journalism and Program Director of Sports Communications Nick Pietruszkiewicz hosted ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi to discuss how a hobby of predicting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament field transformed into a yearround business and made him one of the faces of college basketball across all platforms.

The event was held in the Center for Communications, Computing and Engineering building’s Open Air Studio on Thursday, March 5 and was open to all students and faculty.

It began with some light discussions on Lunardi’s close relationship with Pietruszkiewicz and the excitement he feels in sharing his bracketeering expertise with Quinnipiac students.

First-year sports communications major Josh August shared a bit about his interest in hearing about Lunardi’s experience as a professional bracketologist.

“I always can’t wait for Selection Sunday,” August said. “I print the bracket out Sunday night, usually start handwriting it.

ESPN is the best of the best, and he’s obviously the top bracket guy there, so I value his insight.”

The conversation delved into what the bracketeering process looks like, including the challenges that come along with the job and the potential for upset from fans as a result of his predictions.

Lunardi is not only well-versed in bracketology but also obtained a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications at Saint Joseph’s University. He later graduated from SJU in 1982 and went on to do freelance journalism for a period of time post-grad.

“Most of my PR colleagues in higher-ed and elsewhere, they’re not used to having to turn around content that quickly,” Lunardi said. “I’d be in meetings in my real job, and like, the president of the university would say, ‘We need a policy statement about this or that’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, (I'll) be back in an hour.' I’m not saying it’s like brain surgery, but there is a skill to assemble information in a coherent way. I think sports made me a much better public relations professional than many of my peers.”

In detailing the story of how he got his start in bracketology, Lunardi describes the day ESPN launched a webpage solely for his content (pictures and graphics), and he began to wonder if he should pursue bracketology professionally.

“It got three quarters of a million hits in 45 minutes…I said, ‘is that good?’ Because, I mean, apparently the answer is yes, it is,” Lunardi said. “But yeah, I thought maybe I should do this more formally.”

Getting into the nitty-gritty of things, Lunardi went on to provide students with insight into a bracketologist’s job, including how to go about creating spreadsheets and gathering information on data scraping. He emphasized the importance of staying updated with the latest results and changes in team standings.

He also touched on the significance of bracketology in the college basketball space and would go on to discuss various aspects of the two with the audience.

“I’ve always loved the sort of the word bracketology,” first-year sports communications major Sam Kaplan said. “I think it’s

cool that they’ve turned something that’s so they’ve turned it into a science. I think it’s really awesome how they can find all these stats and really get so close to 100% of all 68 of the teams.”

Lunardi then shared his experience working alongside other media outlets while preaching the importance of making accurate projections as a bracketologist. This later led to a discussion on overcoming the challenges he has faced as a bracketologist while also embracing the rewarding aspects his career has brought him.

As the conversation began to wind down, Pietruszkiewicz opened the floor to students to ask any remaining questions.

After sharing some of his more memorable moments as a college basketball bracketologist and providing insight into the process of selecting teams and the factors that influence his bracketeering decisions, he concluded his time in the spotlight with a sentiment about staying humble in his role and expressing gratitude for the opportunities given to him.

The partnership includes a focus on keeping Quinnipiac alumni local

opment strategy,” according to the report.

dent Bethany Zemba from the President’s Office — met for a kickoff meeting with a discussion focused on the aforementioned four major areas.

In updated economic impact figures, Quinnipiac noted more than $1.4 billion in total economic activity. This includes $187 million in employee spending, $100 million in student spending and $64 million in direct university purchasing.

“Both parties agreed to deepen collaboration with Dr. Gaius and the Economics Department to produce more regular demographic surveys and economic analyses that can better inform Town planning and devel -

Quinnipiac leaders highlighted ongoing but “under-recognized” contributions to the town in discussing community partnership and visibility. Those contributions included funding support for the new Police Activity League, participation in the annual spring cleanup and gardening initiative, and involvement in the Noble Gas project through a land-swap arrangement.

The discussion noted that the university is “heavily engaged” in Hamden’s economic development, but the contributions have “lacked visibility and coordination with the town.”

Over 25,000 Quinnipiac alumni currently live in Connecticut as highlighted in discussing talent retention and workforce alignment was addressed. The number liv -

ing specifically in Hamden is still under analysis however.

Quinnipiac is examining how to increase the number of graduates living and working locally.

This delved into a discussion on another “underutilized” program: “Their existing for-credit internship pipelines across the Business, Engineering, Communications and Medical Schools, which allow Hamden businesses to host students for projectbased work.”

In business development collaboration, the discussion included faculty support for “Concorp’s small-business accelerator and opportunities to integrate university expertise into Town-led programs.”

The final topic of the meeting surrounded student venture retention — focused on bar-

riers preventing young entrepreneurs from remaining in Hamden post graduation. They noted that those barriers include housing affordability and availability which has been identified “as an impedi

ment to retaining local talent.” The com

mittee notes a clear roadmap is necessary for achievement in the objective.

Moving forward, the committee will meet on a regular basis to “maintain momentum, address barriers collaboratively and ensure the partnership delivers measurable benefits for residents and the business community.” It is also a future initiative for the partnership to expand to other nearby schools including Yale University, Albertus Magnus College and Southern Connecticut State University.

By

Kristi Noem out, Markwayne Mullin in

It's not going to be much better

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

some grace of God, President Donald Trump has fired Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem after barely over a year on the job. This will go into effect on March 31.

To be fair, it’s a great improvement from his first administration. His “A team” had 92% of total turnover in his first term, 35% of that was in the first year of his first term.

I think we all knew this day was coming, and it was certainly the right call, but it doesn’t make the news any less exciting to hear. But it may be too soon to jump for joy. Her replacement may be even worse.

Since her appointment at the Department of Homeland Security, Noem has continuously made the administration look more like a joke than it already is. A hard task, but it seems to be the only task she does well.

Before her appointment, you may recall the numerous stories about how crazy she is. I mean, she shot her puppy for being “untrainable.” A truly unhinged woman.

Under her leadership, ICE has run rampant in the streets. Though it said it would only deport the “worst of the worst,” people like U.S. Army Veteran and Purple Heart recipient Sae Joon Park don’t fall into that category. He had a green card, but his legal status was jeopardized due to past criminal charges: drug possession and failure to appear. Both were 15 years ago. He was also charged with misdemeanor assault in 1999. I get it, he broke the law. But is he the violent criminal that DHS says he is? No. He’s a veteran. They’re also deporting and killing American citizens. 170 U.S. citizens were held by ICE as of October, and in January, multiple citizens were murdered by ICE, including Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Noem denied, under oath, that any of these were true, despite it being public information. Even after Park was presented in front of her, she still denied it.

“Either you are utterly incompetent or violating our rights with impunity, you should step down, or be removed by this president and if not, Congress should impeach you.” U.S. Senator Cory Booker said to her.

Well, after today, it’s clear someone listened to him.

Don’t get too excited, there’s always a catch. The catch being that she’s not out of the Trump administration. Because, God forbid, Trump actually admitted he was wrong. Spoiler alert: he didn’t.

Noem was instead placed as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.

First off, I think I speak for everyone when I say, “What the hell is the ‘Shield’ of the Americas?”

Unless it’s S.H.I.E.L.D. and Director Nick

that this is purely for public perception. She’s been causing havoc for over a year, and yet, no punishment for her travesties has happened until she was placed behind a mic and called out by lawmakers and representatives across the aisle.

If there was actually any accountability, Noem would’ve been fired altogether, not moved to another operation. Not to mention, she would’ve been fired a lot sooner. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were just switching her out with someone who can lie through the rapid-fire question smoother than she could.

Fury is about to come and give me his spiel, I have little faith in this “new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere,” that is meant to help countries on the Western Hemisphere collaborate to combat transnational criminal organizations, such as drug cartels.

So who’s going to replace her? Apparently, it's U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma.

Given the fact that there have been countless mistakes, including deaths under Noem, it feels

Mullin is practically the exact same as Noem when it comes to his stances. He’s yet another brown-nosed pick.

He’s close friends with the president and promotes the false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Mullin’s name didn’t really resonate with me at first, but it quickly started to sound familiar. Well, turns out that Mullin, a former MMA fighter, was the senator who challenged Teamster President

Sean O’Brien to a brawl on the Senate floor. That’s right. He tried to physically fight someone on the floor due to hate comments made on social media.

DHS has obviously gotten out of control. Removing Noem would be the right decision if it meant Trump was going to replace someone whose first instinct isn’t chaos. Yet, he’s replacing her with someone whose first response to hate was to physically fight. At his place of work, in front of cameras, mind you. Imagine how he is behind the scenes.

One main problem with ICE agents is that a lot of them aren’t trained as law enforcement, so when they can’t regulate their emotions in the field, they could shoot and kill someone. Should these people seriously be led by someone who clearly jumps the same metaphorical gun and goes straight to violence?

That doesn’t make good law enforcement agents; that makes an uncountable loyalist militia. If Trump’s goal was to actually calm down the chaos in this country, he picked the wrong guy. And given the fact that he’s “friends” with him, I’d say he knows him well enough to know that this appointment isn’t going to settle anything. In fact, it may make it worse.

Professionalism clearly isn’t his strong suit because he defended then-Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s drunkenness at work, calling those who didn’t support him because of this behaviour, hypocrites.

Sorry if I don’t want someone in charge of the military drunk on the job.

It’s fascinating to me how the same people who defend that are the same ones who would claim a woman can’t do the job because she’d start a war on her period, yet believe a drunk man is more capable.

Yes, Trump was “unhappy” with Noem; it wasn’t about the job, but the way she was hated by the public and by other republicans. Her replacement has nothing to do with the atrocities committed, but with how she was making Trump look.

Mullin is basically the male version of her: a Trump loyalist with the same beliefs. Time will only tell if he’s even worse. Hopefully, no one else will have to be killed or kidnapped to find out.

It's OK to be rude to ‘fans’

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

I’m sure it’s hard being a well-known celebrity who doesn’t get any privacy. I can’t imagine what it’s like, with paparazzi following your every move, ridiculous headlines about you or crazy, obsessive fans piling on rumor after rumor.

Why is it such a crime for them to complain about that? I would. Yet, people see a woman who isn’t a people pleaser and will automatically call them a bitch.

Singer-songwriter Chappell Roan is a prime example of this.

Roan was walking to dinner the other night when paparazzi wouldn’t stop following her. She was wearing a scarf over her head and a simple black outfit. If you’ve seen her perform, you know that if she wanted the at-

tention, she’d be in her usual drag, because that’s when she’s most recognizable.

But she wasn’t, she was simply just trying to get to dinner. Social media blew up, criticizing her for being rude to a fan.

The problem is that, if you watch the video, you’d see that she asked the person to kindly leave her alone. That wasn’t a fan that had politely stopped her one afternoon; that person went into a situation where it was clear Roan was overwhelmed, and still pressed for an autograph. They also didn’t stop when Roan declined.

I get it, you want a famous person’s autograph, or you may want a picture. But you aren’t entitled to it.

Her attitude isn’t the most optimistic when it comes to being famous. But who cares? Are you going to sit here and tell me

you don’t complain about your job? I know that the fans are the ones who gave her this job and life, but these “fans” can also be crazy and psychotic.

You can’t just tell celebrities not to complain because they should be grateful for what their fans gave them; meanwhile, they’re facing mental abuse from the fans that you want them to thank. That honestly sounds like an abusive relationship.

She loves her craft, and the fame just happened to come along with it. The only reason she’s so controversial is that she’s not just letting people walk all over her. Whoopty doo.

I have had my fair share of hate comments from my job as Opinion Editor, so I know a thing or two about just brushing them off and getting back to work. The

thing is, I’ve conditioned myself that way from a very young age. Chances are, you have too.

We aren’t just born with thick skin. If you have it, you know from experience that you’ve probably earned it.

I’m not saying Roan’s skin isn’t thick, or that she’s sensitive. I am saying that maybe she rejects the notion to just suck it up and take it, and that’s why she bites back. And honestly, that’s probably the way it should be. People, like toxic fans, look at her lashing out like it’s something bad, but that’s what most of us have been taught: that the right thing to do is to just sit there and shut up. So, is she really a rude celebrity, or is she just assertively setting boundaries for herself?

Opinion

Planes, pains and automobiles Travel for the journey, not the destination

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

Spring break is a time where college students everywhere are on the move. A week-long break from campus responsibilities equals millions of college students displaced from their dorms and left alone to their own, often irresponsible devices.

That means fun. For most, that fun is fueled by traveling. Whether across the state, country or world, students are on the move. The two primary modes of transportation mirror the traveler’s experience. Cars represent a journey of a lifetime, where planes seem to be a quick jump to the destination.

In honor of my 4,230 mile travel spring break being over, let’s talk about driving and flying, the two primary modes of serious vacation travel in the modern day.

For me, driving is at the top of my personal list. Even with the im mense underlying costs, even if the vehicle is already in your pos session, the ability to drive yourself anywhere and everywhere is as top-tier as transportation gets.

Driving is a breeze and the privacy of a personal vehicle means a five-hour car ride to Lake Placid, N.Y. can be a solo karaoke trip, or a scenic, serene stroll through the Adirondack Mountains. Stops can be as plentiful,

or as few, as the driver would like, and the itinerary has no bounds besides the driver’s patience and the price of gas.

Long distances remain a challenge, but the journey that long drives present teaches an important lesson often overlooked in a society that prioritizes the quickest possible production; “sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination.”

My trip to Lake Placid was as much about that journey as it was the final destination. Getting to experience the natural wildlife and beauty of the Adirondack Mountains made the final destination, the historic Herb Brooks

that much more interesting. Was the drive back a little daunting at first? Sure. But the long stretches of pristine forest, paired with hours of chatting on the

phone and enjoying my own company made the journey much more peaceful than tedious. Detractors of cars will call their range limited. A valid criticism — but hardly an argument for planes. Those who fly aren’t always taking to the skies out of necessity. It’s primarily a matter of convenience. Speaking of planes, what do they often represent? Well, when car travel is possible, they represent the optimized obsession of perceived efficiency. The modern belief is that the destination supersedes the journey. When cost isn’t a factor, this is the method of transportation that allures most college students on the short, seven-day break. Flying over mass expanses of land in a quarter of the time as a long-haul road trip is exciting when the primary goal is to tan on the beach.

In my case, that destination driven travel took me to Madison, Wis.

Any thoughts about the city aside, no part of the journey piqued my interest. My only goal was to make it to the University of Wisconsin’s LaBahn Arena to watch the Bobcats.

I was successful in that goal and it was one of the top experiences of my life. But one thing that was missing from that incredible trip? Time to appreciate how I got there.

I gave very little thought of the journey from my hometown in Massachusetts to the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Madison. Time that could’ve been spent appreciating the journey — the history of the area as I glanced at faded placards in rest stops or the beauty of landscapes unique to my eye — was replaced with meticulous studying of Franklin Pierce University senior goaltender Jill Hertl’s stats and counting the number of Olympians on the Wisconsin women’s hockey roster.

Important tasks, but ones that maximized the efficiency of my reporting, rather than enjoying the journey to see the nation on the way to the arena.

Airplanes brought me from Logan International Airport to Dane County Regional Airport in a third of the time it would’ve taken to drive there and that was with a layover in Charlotte, N.C. But the airplane robbed me of exploring the thousands of interesting specks 30,000 feet below the cargo hold that I may never have the opportunity to experience again.

As I move forward toward a career defined by timeliness — both the speed awarded by airplane travel and the ability to churn out content as fast as possible — my message remains to appreciate the journey. Even when that destination is at the forefront, or the mode of travel hardly facilitates it, appreciating the journey is what travel is all about.

Stop worshiping celebrities

By CAITLIN MUSSA Contributing Writer

In the past few weeks, our social media feeds have been flooded with celebrities. From the Grammys to the Super Bowl to discussions surrounding the release of the Epstein files, many of us have found ourselves tuned into celebrity culture.

But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? Why do we have nights dedicated to celebrities, and why do we think so highly of them?

If you really look into it, you may find that celebrities are not as admirable as we think.

With the recent release of the Epstein files, speculation about certain celebrities and what they were involved in has been flooding our feeds. Time and time again, stories surface revealing that some celebrities are selfish and have dark secrets, criminal tendencies or major character flaws.

This brings me to music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Many of us, especially those born in the early 2000s, are familiar with Diddy’s music, and some of us may have even been fans of him. But with the recent legal allegations surrounding him, it’s hard to believe that he was once someone people admired and even looked up to.

And Diddy isn’t the only example.

In 2013, media personality and socialite

Kim Kardashian was called out for not being truthful about how much money she was donating to charity. She held an eBay Giving Works auction that was supposed to raise money for the victims of the Philippines typhoon disaster. However, it was later revealed that only about 10% of the profits actually went toward the cause.

When you think about it, we are rarely told stories about celebrities doing extraordinary things for others. It’s uncommon to hear about celebrities performing selfless acts, despite them being some of the most influential and admired figures of our time

With the rise of social media, it is now easier than ever to keep up with celebrities. We no longer need shows like “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” as a simple Instagram search can show you everything you’d want to know about someone.

While for many of us, looking into celebrity lives is a purely form of entertainment, it can become an obsession, especially when their opinions or actions spark online debates.

A recent example would be the situation with actor Timothee Chalamet and his nega-

tive comments about ballet.

During a Variety and CNN town hall event conversation with Matthew McConaughey, Chalamet said, “no one cares about this anymore,” when referring to art forms ballet and opera.

His opinion sent a wave of anger and debate across certain online communities, but why should we care what he thinks?

At the end of the day, Chalamet is a person with opinions just like the rest of us. Just because he is a talented actor doesn't mean his views count more than those of others.

Celebrities are just people like you and me who happen to have talent, money or good luck. But if you think about it, there are likely many talented people in your own life.

Maybe we should spend less time admiring celebrities and more time appreciating the people we know, like our friends, family and even ourselves.

With the wealth and praise most celebrities already have, they don’t need our attention. So in 2026, maybe it’s time we spend less of our energy worshiping celebrities online and more time recognizing each other for our talents and accomplishments.

Arts & Life

‘The Waiting Game’ pays off with Harry Styles' new album

By EMILY ADORN0 Marketing Director

If I had to count the amount of times I’ve been scammed by a fandom to believe that an artist was dropping an album at midnight, well, I’d be embarrassed.

Actually, I am embarrassed anyway. Thinking that singer-songwriter Harry Styles would emerge after completing what I believe to be the greatest tour of all time to casually release a surprise album would be unrealistic. But on Jan. 15, he took to social media to show the album cover for “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.”

Despite my only driving ticket being for using my cell phone while driving, I am normally very disciplined about leaving it alone behind the wheel. Unfortunately, that was the exact moment Styles decided to announce the album. I did not see it until I checked my phone while pumping gas.

Crying tears of joy while holding my breath to the smell of gasoline, I realized that Styles might singlehandedly make 2026 the greatest year yet.

The anticipation surrounding Styles’ fourth album is fueled by patience. It has been nearly four years since his last album, “Harry’s House,” and more than two years since the end of his “Love on Tour” concert series.

That tour itself seemed endless in the best possible way. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Styles released two albums while still technically touring the same era. Fans held onto tickets for years before actually being able to see him live. I was one of them, patiently waiting until the day arrived.

And when it did, Styles proved what I, and many other fans already knew: he is an exceptional performer.

With many show dates for his upcoming tour already announced, I have no doubt it will be another celebration filled with “Satellite Stompers” and boa feathers. Unfortunately, I already lost

the Ticketmaster war, so I will stay listening to “American Girls” from my car at full blast.

The track offers a reflective side of Styles. In it, he watches his friends settle down and marry American women while he remains single.

Despite exploring themes of loneliness, the song does not feel heavy. Its catchy chorus, “I’ve seen it in stages all over the world/ My friends are in love with American girls/ I’ve known you for ages/ American girls,” makes it impossible not to sing along.

The track also carries a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of his earlier days in the pop boy band, One Direction. With its bright pop sound and ugly, scream-singing chorus, the song would not feel out of place on the band’s fourth album, “Four.”

And as an American girl myself, it’s hard not to feel slightly seen.

Even through my bias as a Styles’ lover, there were some tracks that I did not connect with totally on first listen.

“Carla’s Song” is one I can easily see growing on me over time. It feels like the kind of track that reveals more with each listen, even if it did not immediately click for me. “Taste Back” is already starting to do just that. The more I replay it, the more I find myself appreciating its rhythm and can picture it being a favorite.

“Dance No More,” meanwhile, carries a groovy beat that feels made for getting ready for a night out with friends. It is upbeat, easy to listen to and fits comfortably into the album’s overall disco-

leaning essence.

Other tracks, however, resonated with me immediately on a personal level.

“The Waiting Game” and “Season 2 Weight Loss” both struck a deeper chord. “The Waiting Game” reflects on the pause in situationships, the avoidance of responsibility in relationships and the romanticization of toxic cycles.

This song made me reflect on my own suspension to change, waiting for others to clarify something for me or just waiting for something to move forward. The track highlights the emptiness of that waiting and the realization that change rarely comes without action.

While those songs felt deeply relatable, two tracks in particular on the album nearly had me tearing up.

“Coming Up Roses” is an emotional ballad written by Styles that reflects on cherishing the beauty of a relationship, even if it does not last forever. It feels vulnerable, as it guides an idea that meaningful relationships leave behind positive growth, even when they end.

“Paint by Numbers” takes a more introspective approach. The track is a metaphor for living within the public image and having a predetermined status. Styles has been navigating this for his entire career, coming into the spotlight very young alongside his One Direction bandmates.

In an interview with radio DJ Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Styles reflected on the loss of a close friend and the way that grief shaped his perspective. Many

fans have speculated that this track is tied to the loss of One Direction bandmate Liam Payne who died in October 2025.

“It’s so difficult to lose a friend who is so like you in so many ways,” Styles said. “I saw someone with the kindest heart who just wanted to be great.”

He continued by explaining that the best way to honor someone you have lost is by living your life to the fullest.

That sentiment feels embedded throughout the album. There is a need to escape and seek freedom woven through many of the songs, and I believe it reflects Styles’ literal need to find a sense of normalcy after concluding his extensive “Love on Tour.”

After the emotional weight of those tracks, the album finds its way back to playful energy.

“Pop” has already been compared by fans online to the cool older sister of “Cinema” from “Harry's House,” and the comparison feels fitting. “Are You Listening Yet?” reminded me of something I would hear in the car with my dad, with its almost spoken, monotone rock style of singing.

Then there is “Ready, Steady, Go!,” a track that genuinely made me want to jump on a plane and see Styles perform live in London.

Released on Jan. 22, the album’s lead single, “Aperture,” set the tone early, hinting that something special was on the way. Thankfully, the rest of “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally” proves that expectation right.

The album moves easily between vulnerability and disco-infused fun, reminding listeners why Styles has remained one of pop music’s most compelling performers.

So while I may not be attending this tour thanks to Ticketmaster, at least I will have the soundtrack ready when I inevitably pretend I am front row in my car.

‘School (Spirits)’ is back in session

A review of ‘School Spirits’ season three

By LILLIAN CURTIN Opinion Editor

I have to admit, it’s often the case that a show with such a niche plot dies out after the first or second season because the writers can’t come up with anything new. That’s definitely not the case with Paramount+’s “School Spirits.”

The first season follows Maddie Nears (Peyton List), who appears to be missing to her classmates and family. Her spirit was actually trapped in her high school, and her body was stolen and possessed by a ghost named Janet (Jess Gabor), who was killed in a fire in the 50s. With the other ghosts she encounters in the school (who also died there) they spend the season trying to find out what happened to Maddie.

She falls in love with ghost Wally Clark (Milo Manheim). Yes, Emma from “Jessie” and Zedd from “Zombies” are in love in another life — or afterlife.

If I had a nickel every time Manheim played an undead football player, I’d have two nickels. Talk about a niche typecast.

In the second season, after finding out that Maddie isn’t actually dead, the characters continue searching for answers. They realize Janet is in Maddie’s body and have to find a way to get everyone back to where they’re supposed to be, whether that be on Earth or in the school to continue spending their afterlife.

While the first two seasons were mostly mystery, this third season was definitely

the creepiest.

In the second episode of the latest season, Simon (Kristian Ventura) goes into one of the ghosts’ “scars.” These “scars” are basically just the memory of how they died in the worst possible way, and considering basically every character died a horrific death, it can get pretty dark.

The “scar” that he went to in particular was a 2004 bus crash that killed members of the high school’s marching band. The scene is pretty graphic and insanely creepy, with students sprawled out in insane positions due to their broken bones and injuries.

The creative minds of the producers are impressive, with little things such as ominous marching band music playing in the background. One student was creepily playing his drums while he was impaled with a stop sign.

It gets creepier. In the second half of the third season, we spend a lot of time in a buried Finnish church, with ghost children and a decomposing old man. It honestly reminded me of “The Nun.”

It wouldn't be that surprising if it were intentional. Maddie and Simon are horror movie fanatics, but with the horror movie references sprinkled throughout the show, you can tell the creators are too.

I’d be amiss not to mention that Superintendent Deborah Hunter-Price (Jennifer Tilly) was one of the main antagonists this season. If you’re a horror movie fan, Tilly’s name may sound familiar to you. She’s most famous for playing

Tiffany in the “Chucky” franchise.

Superintendent Price is set on destroying the school (where all of the student ghosts are) and reconstructing a new school. What’s found out throughout the season is that if a haunted place is destroyed, the ghosts get trapped.

The Finnish church that I mentioned? Yeah, those children are trapped under the school that was built over it. The cycle would just continue.

Tilly wasn’t the only famous star to appear in this season. A random, but oh so welcome guest star was singer Lizzy McAlpine. She appeared in a flashback of one of the ghosts, singing “House of the Rising Sun.” If you haven’t given it a listen,

please do. It’s heavenly, per usual with her music. I’m sure there will be another season. They did a pretty good job with leaving just enough questions unanswered that it’d make sense, but not enough that you’re still confused.

In the second-to-last episode, Wally goes through his door, which is what you’d assume would be their ticket to heaven. When we get to the last episode, we see that’s not the case. Maddie, who is still alive, manages to make it to the forest where the rest of the ghosts that have “crossed over” are. We see Dawn (RaeAnne Boon), who “crossed over” in season one, and Janet, who did at the beginning of this season.

Wally went through his door to try to find Simon, who is alive, just stuck in the ghost world. Every living person made it out. But where is my precious baby boy, Wally? I will riot if he’s not in the next season, and even worse, if Maddie ends up back with her cheating season one boyfriend (yes I’m ignoring the great character development right now), Xavier (Spencer MacPherson). Xavier has been great, but I’m worried by how much it felt like the writers were trying to make us ship them again, as if they’re planning on bringing them back together.

I don’t care if he’s dead; Maddie belongs with Wally. End of story.

The writers are doing a great job at keeping the stories and excitement alive, even if most of the characters aren’t.

John Kiriakou blew the whistle on the CIA and changed American history forever

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

In the years following 2001, the U.S. found themselves reeling from the fresh, painful wound of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The vast majority of the country was focused on rebuilding and very few people cared about what was happening behind closed doors. Most people didn’t want to know. One person decided that they needed to.

That man was John Kiriakou.

A 14-year veteran of the CIA, Kiriakou wasn’t some low-level desk officer. He was part of the team that captured Abu Zubaydah, a highranking al-Qaeda operative and associate of Osama bin Laden, in 2002.

But his journey to fame begins long before Zubaydah’s arrest.

Kirakou joined the CIA out of graduate school at George Washington University, where he was recruited by psychiatrist Jerrold Post. Post, posing as a professor, gave Kiriakou an assignment to write a physiological profile on his boss.

Kiriakou aced the assignment and Post officially brought him into the CIA.

In the early part of Kiriakou’s CIA career, he was sent all over the place. He began his time as an agent as a Middle East analyst specializing on Iraq. From there, he moved to Bahrain to serve as an economic officer with the U.S. embassy. He would eventually return home to work in the Directorate of Operations.

After his final stint abroad as a counter-terrorism operations officer in Greece, tragedy struck his homeland as the 9/11 attacks rocked the foundation of the U.S. to its core. In that chaos, Kiriakou was promoted to Chief of Counterterrorism Operations in Pakistan.

The role put him on the front lines of the War on Terror, leading capture after capture of al-Qaeda fighters, including Zubaydah.

While his 2004 departure into the private sector ended his time in public service, his work as an agent would be felt for years to come. That impact began in 2007.

On Dec. 10 of that year, Kiriakou sat down with ABC News and dropped the news heard around the world. He would reveal that while Zubaydah was in custody he would be waterboarded, a technique considered torture under international law.

It was the first breadcrumb in a long trail of questionable ethical behavior of prisoners at the hands of the U.S. Government.

Two years later, the full picture came out and it was worse than anyone could’ve imagined. Zubaydah wasn’t just waterboarded once, or twice or even a handful of times. He was waterboarded 83 times over the course of a month.

Zubaydah wasn’t the only one who was tortured. Prisoners in facilities such as Guantanamo Bay were subject to beatings, binding in contouring positions, sleep deprivation, sexual assault, abuse and confinement in coffin-like boxes. All for results that Kiriakou believed didn’t work.

The program Kiriakou helped expose was darker than even he had known.

Instead of investigating the CIA’s tactics, the Senate Intelligence Committee turned its attention to Kiriakou. Prosecutors called him “a reckless leaker,” while former intelligence colleagues described his actions as “reprehensible” and “a betrayal of the trust

the U.S. Government put in him.”

In 2012, the government indicted him on one count of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, three counts under the Espionage Act and one count of making false statements. An indictment that carries a 45-year sentence.

Instead, he pled guilty and was slapped with a 30-month sentence in a low security facility in Loretto, PA. He followed his conscience and paid the price.

Kiriakou was released in 2015 and has refused to be quiet since. He has taken every microphone handed to him through podcasts, interviews, opeds, panels and everything in between.

Since that fateful day in 2007 to now, his argument has not changed; a democracy cannot function when its government hides what it does in the name of its people. Torture wasn’t just morally wrong, it didn’t even work.

“I love this country more than anything else in the world, and I want it to do the right thing,” Kiriakou said in an interview with The Diary of A CEO. “We’re a country of laws and we have to obey our laws.”

Now in his 60s, Kiriakou is still making the rounds to anyone that will listen. He’s still saying the same stuff he did in 2007 and still insisting the American public has the right to know.

Ranking 2025 Best Picture Nominations

By ZACHARY REAGAN Staff Writer

At the end of an awards season that has felt like its own marathon came the finishing line of the Oscars’ Best Picture. This year has seen some of the stiffest competition for this award in a long time, with many comparing to the likes of some legendary lineups, like 2020 (“Parasite,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “The Irishman,” “Little Women”) or 2008 (“There Will Be Blood,” “No Country for Old Men.”)

Don’t get me wrong, I liked every nominee for Best Picture this year, but some way more than others. There were also some pretty bad snubs for this award, in my opinion, and I think they deserve honorable mentions. “Sirāt” (Dir. Oliver Laxe), “It Was Just An Accident” (Dir. Jafar Panahi) and “No Other Choice” (Dir. Park Chan-wook) are all foreign films that landed in my personal top 10 of the year. Honestly, all of the foreign pictures in awards contention this year were phenomenal, and made up so much of the substance of such a strong year for movies. All are worth checking out. But without any more fluff, here’s my ranking of the nominees from worst to best.

5. ‘SINNERS’ (4.5 STARS)

We’re getting into the true heavy hitters here. It’s tough to say much that hasn’t already been said about “Sinners.” Despite what might be considered a low placing, I’ve seen it more than any other film on this list, and to be honest, the rewatchability might be its strongest attribute. Creator Ryan Coogler excellently nails down the time period of the antebellum South, with awesome costumes, characters and music that could’ve only come through that era. This film just oozes charm and definitely has that X-factor too. I doubt anyone will forget the musical vision in the middle of the movie. As the now most-nominated film in Oscar’s history, it’s clear that it’s captured the hearts of its contemporaries just as much as the general public. I would’ve been elated seeing this cast rush the stage for Best Picture. Unfortunately for Coogler, the Academy decided it was Anderson’s night.

4. ‘THE SECRET AGENT’ (4.5 STARS)

Even as a complete rookie to Brazilian cinema, I can tell that director Kleber Mendoça Filho’s most recent film is one of those ones. As the tagline suggests, 1977 Brazil was a place of great mischief under its military dictatorship. It was a bit of a lawless land, and Filho used a lot of his own memory growing up in Brazil during this time to inform decisions about the film.

His political thriller utilizes actor Wagner Moura to his fullest potential. Not to be outdone by all of the twin performances of 2025, Moura plays three distinct characters, but mainly portrays academic researcher Armando Solimões, who tries to disappear under a fake name, Marcelo Alves. The film treats these two as sort of separate characters, but we know they have the same being, chasing the same goal. Moura also plays Armando’s son Fernando in the final scene of the movie, showing how political trauma continues to torment later generations if it’s not addressed.

This film is a true love letter to Brazil, from the casting, the performances, the music and atmosphere. My main gripe is that, as an outsider, this was tough to follow on first viewing. It was, of course, my own problem, and a repeat viewing was incredibly rewarding. If you feel you can’t spare the time, I recommend reading up on the time period before or after to get a better sense of what the time was like. This one was snubbed pretty badly in my opinion, seeing no wins from its four nominations, but the next one got it even worse.

3. ‘MARTY SUPREME’

I thought Timothee Chalamet deserved the Best Actor this year for his performance. While Michael B. Jordan undoubtedly deserved the award as well, it felt like the industry’s punishment of Timothée Chalamet for being a little too loud. I

felt this was vindicated, seeing Sean Penn win his category after doing pretty much no campaigning, and he didn’t even bother showing up for the ceremony. The whole thing rubs me the wrong way, since it feels like a power move. I mean, most of the input about the award I’ve been seeing has been hating on Chalamet instead of giving Jordan his flowers.

Outside of the awards drama, “Marty Supreme” still needs its flowers, too. It’s the pivotal Safdie romp. Director Josh Safdie takes everything he and his brother did on “Uncut Gems” (2019) and pushes the envelope. He infuses the movie with more New York influence, making the main character even more unlikable, but somehow, you root for Mauser more. The cast of characters is more zany, and the meta pop culture references are more niche and rewarding to chronically

The music builds on this trend. Daniel Lopatin, who makes solo music as Oneohtrix Point Never, adds more instruments to his score suited for more complex motifs. To miss a score nomination from the academy is a failure on all accounts. Plus, the synths just absolutely rip.

The film itself is an all-gas-nobrakes story about the American dream, and what it takes from you, in terms of both in terms of the effort and the toll on your psyche. All aspects of the movie aid in its tension, and unlike “One Battle After Another,” I feel that it really opens up the members of its ensemble, bearing their flaws while more explicitly

2. ‘BUGONIA’ (4.5 STARS)

ector Yorgos Lanthimos is a filmmaker who has mystified and amazed me every time I’ve decided to watch one of his movies, and luckily, I got to this one in the theaters on the very last day of its run. Every time I made a claim about the plot in the moment, it was almost immediately refuted. The twists and turns this film took were unpredictable and, at times, jaw-dropping.

Actors Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and newcomer Aidan Delbis all deliver careerdefining performances, in my opinion. Plemons is one of the bigger Academy nomination snubs, missing out on best lead actor, but getting replaced by Moura is begrudgingly acceptable. And although Ethan Hawke carried “Blue Moon” (2025), my heart aches that Plemons isn’t on that shortlist instead.

This score manages to be even more wonky and genre-bending than “One Battle,” which sort of robbed some of my enjoyment of its strongest aspect. The dark and eerie tone of the score helps elevate the tense scenes in the basement, and when we finally move out, it’s like an eruption. All in all, “Bugonia” has earned Lanthimos a lifelong fan out of me.

1. ‘SENTIMENTAL VALUE’ (5 STARS)

I could say the same for Joachim Trier. After watching this and his 2021 piece, “The Worst Person in the World” in back-to-back days, Trier’s talent of capturing the beauty in the mundane is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

The decision to forge the Borg family home into a character at the beginning of the film was a genius one. The way it personifies the relationship between all of the characters who occupy it is a beautiful display.

The acting in this movie is on another level. Actors Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Stellan Skarsgard would all have won their respective acting Oscars if I were given a say. Not to say the seasoned Elle Fanning doesn’t deserve her praise, nominated alongside Lilleaas. The way they all encapsulate the tenuous father-daughter relationship, each in their own way, felt incredibly raw and real.

Both times I’ve seen this, when Labi Siffre’s “Cannock Chase” appeared in the end credits, I was floored by the chills. I realized I was always bound to love this film. Trier and Reinsve have also earned the permanent yes from me, and if given the choice, their “Sentimental Value” would be my Best Picture winner.

An extended version of this story can be found on quchronicle.com.

This Women's History Month, pay attention to the women making moves

By SOPHIE MURRAY Associate Arts & Life Editor

Happy International Women’s Month. A whole month dedicated to celebrating all the incredible, strong and beautiful women in the world. Their achievements, ambition and talent. And I have a good list of women worth celebrating.

If you're a man reading this, calm down, you’re going to be OK.

And let me address the comment I already know someone is thinking. No, men don’t need a month to celebrate their achievements. Yes, every day is International Men’s Day. Why? Because we’re still living in a man’s world. Women are constantly breaking barriers, but the system was built to give men the spotlight first. Disappointing? Yes. Shocking? No.

There are so many women out there doing incredible things and making a real impact, pushing boundaries and showing other women what’s possible. While the world fawns over men’s accomplishments, these women deserve all the recognition.

Stars,” showing a strong and athletic woman can also dance, be graceful and put on a performance. She’s rewriting the rules on what women’s bodies are capable of, and yes, it’s making a few people uncomfortable.

In 2025, Maher won the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly award for Best Breakthrough Athlete, and in her acceptance speech, she preached that being strong is whatever you want it to be: beautiful, powerful, sexy.

And in a world where female athletes are expected to fit into a narrow definition of femininity and success, Maher represents a future in which women in sports are free to be themselves.

Then there’s actress Emma Watson. Most know her for her roles in films like the “Harry Potter” series, “Little Women” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” but Watson’s real magic happens off the big screen.

is often misunderstood as “man hating,” when in reality it simply means that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Since then, Watson has continued her advocacy work through speaking engagements, activism and initiatives promoting gender equality. She founded a feminist book club called “Our Shared Shelf,” supported organizations fighting workplace harassment and helped launch initiatives, such as Time’s Up UK.

Watson’s advocacy has helped bring conversations about feminism to a global audience. Her willingness to speak openly about inequality and challenge misconceptions about feminism has inspired many people to join the fight for equal rights.

engineer Margret Hamilton. During the Apollo 11 moon landing, a potentially mission-ending problem occurred just minutes before the lunar module touched the Earth’s surface. The spacecraft’s computer suddenly triggered multiple alarms indicating it was overloaded with tasks.

The mission was saved because of the onboard software that had been designed to handle those types of situations. The flight software, led by Hamilton, prioritized the most important operations needed for landing and temporarily ignored less critical tasks.

I feel like it’s only right to start with Quinnipiac alumna and American rugby player Ilona Maher. Maher is a powerhouse on and off the rugby pitch. She competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo and then led the U.S. Women’s Rugby seven team to its first-ever medal at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

Beyond the sport, she advocated for body positivity and challenged stereotypes women face about being muscular. Maher’s message? Women can be strong, bold and muscular. Even though the world believes women need to be “fragile,” she advocates that women can take up space and be proud of it. She even appeared on season 33 of “Dancing with the

She does so much more than act. Watson actively promotes girls’ education and gender equality worldwide.

In 2014, Watson was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, where she launched the HeForShe campaign to get men involved in gender equality. She delivered a now famous speech at the UN Headquarters for the launch of the campaign. During the speech, Watson reflected on how she first questioned gender stereotypes at eight years old when she was labeled and ridiculed for being “bossy” while the boys got free passes for the same behavior. She also spoke about being sexualized by certain elements of the media at 14. Watson emphasized that feminism

The 44th First Lady of the U. S. Michelle Obama, is a prominent advocate for women and girls globally, education, health and equality. She has been doing this through initiatives like Let Girls Learn, Reach Higher and Let’s Move, basically telling us to get educated, dream big and eat our vegetables. Remember when school lunches suddenly seemed healthier? That was thanks to her.

Beyond policy initiatives, Obama has been a powerful cultural and motivational figure. Through her best-selling memoir “Becoming,” public speaking and mentorship efforts, she has inspired millions of people to believe in their potential and use their voices. Her authenticity, advocacy for equality and commitment to empowering the next generation make her one of the most influential women of modern times.

Thanks to Hamilton’s innovative software design and built-in recovery systems, the computer was able to recognize the overload, sound alarms and continue operating with only the essential functions. This completed the first successful human landing on the moon.

And then there’s the one woman you probably didn’t learn about in your history classes, software

Of course, when we think about the Apollo 11 moon landing, the names that people remember are astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. But without Hamilton, the moon landing wouldn’t have been possible. But, of course, why let a woman steal the spotlight? It’s a reminder that behind every celebrated hero, there’s often a brilliant woman who deserves recognition too.

This Women’s History Month, take a minute to actually notice all the amazing things women are accomplishing every single day. From breaking barriers in sports, science and politics, to fighting for equality, starting movements or simply showing up and taking space in the world that often underestimates them, women are constantly shaping the world around us. It’s a reminder to celebrate not only the famous names but also the women in our own lives who inspire, support and push us each day.

The fear behind overthinking

The mental cost of a brain that never stops running

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

My brain does not have a quiet setting. There is no off switch, no pause button and no moment where the noise just stops.

I overthink everything. Not in a casual way either, where I wonder if I locked the door, but in a way that turns the smallest moment into a full breakdown. A sentence I said three hours ago can follow me around all day, replaying on a loop until I have convinced myself that I didn’t ruin something.

For people living with mental health disorders, this is not just a bad habit. Overthinking becomes part of how the brain operates.

A 2024 study published in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy found that adults with ADHD show a strong indirect link between their symptoms and increased levels of anxiety and depression, driven by excessive mind wandering and rumination. That study illustrates something I already know. My brain does not just think, it spirals. One thought leads to another, and before I realize what happened, I am three scenarios deep into a problem that does not exist yet. Fear is what separates overthinking from just thinking too much. When you convince yourself that one mistake can define you, every decision carries weight that does not belong there. A missed assignment becomes proof that you are not

reliable, while a wrong answer in class becomes a sign that you do not belong there.

University of Michigan psychology professor Susan Nolen-Hoeksema found that 73% of adults ages 25 to 35 identified as overthinkers in a study of more than 1,300 people. Her research also showed that overthinking leads to increased depression, poor problem-solving and difficulty taking action.

Those numbers don’t shock me. I see the reality in myself and in the people around me every week, especially in college, where the pressure is already high.

The 2024-25 Healthy Minds Study reports that 37% of college students screened positive for moderate to severe depressive symptoms and 32% screened positive for moderate to severe anxiety.

The hardest part is not the overthinking itself, but the fear that comes with knowing you can’t control when the wave starts. You begin to worry about the worrying, overthink the overthinking. The loop tightens until even the smallest task feels heavy and you can’t tell the difference between a real problem and one your brain invented.

A Psychology Today analysis describes overthinking as a protective strategy rooted in the brain’s attempt to reduce uncertainty. Rumination, the clinical term for

repetitive negative thinking, is strongly tied to anxiety, depression and emotional exhaustion, according to research from psychologists NolenHoeksema and Edward Watkins.

I still catch myself replaying conversations and scanning every interaction for something I may have done wrong. When I make a mistake, the fear isn’t about the mistake alone, but that I may never stop thinking about it.

That mindset shrinks your world. You hold back from saying what you mean because you’re afraid of how people will take the words. You second-guess your work before you even finish because you have already decided the result is not good enough. You avoid risks that could help you grow because the thought of getting something wrong feels unbearable.

I do not have a clean answer for how to fix this, and I think that honesty matters more than pretending I have cracked the code. What I do know is that awareness helps, and sometimes I can slow the momentum before the day slips away.

Building a life around constant mental noise is exhausting, but ignoring the noise doesn’t make the volume drop. The goal isn’t to stop thinking, but to stop letting the fear of thinking wrong run every part of the day. That fight is not over for me, and I am willing to bet I am not the only one still in it.

Season two of ‘Ted’ might be the most unhinged show on streaming

By ANTHONY ANGELILLO Copy Editor

There is a moment in “Ted” season two when a stuffed teddy bear walks into a bedroom wearing a purple strap-on and asks, “It does go on the front, right?”

That should be the point where a show completely loses me. Instead, it became the moment I realized this season was about to get even more unhinged than the first and somehow way funnier.

Peacock released all eight episodes on March 5. The show follows John Bennett (Max Burkholder) as he tries to survive his 1994 senior year, with Ted as a loud, dumb influence. Actor and animator Seth MacFarlane voices Ted, and the series stars actor and singer Scott Grimes (Matty), actress Alanna Ubach (Susan) and actress Giorgia Whigham (Blaire).

After watching the latest season, I genuinely don’t know where to start because it is all over the place in the best way possible. Ted and John go to help Matty install a fence at a rich woman’s house and Ted starts an affair with her, but that description does not prepare you for how insane the whole situation gets.

She hands Ted a strap-on so the bear can perform. When her husband comes home early and Ted cannot get the thing off, he tries to hide under the bed, but the attachment gets stuck. Ted then falls down the stairs with the purple accessory bouncing the entire way and runs out of the house like a bat out of hell. Peak television.

That is what makes season two work for me: it never stays in one lane for too long. One minute, John and Ted are using a school basement phone to rack up a giant phone-

sex bill and inventing a fake student to avoid fallout. The next minute, John eats shroom-laced brownies before the school play, proceeds to hallucinate on stage and piss himself in a suit of armor in front of the whole school.

John might be the funniest sad case on TV right now. His entire senior year was a lesson in how not to behave around women, adults or anyone with a functioning brain. However, it oddly makes John relatable. He’s not cool or smooth, and he’s not just one smart choice for fixing his life. He’s a teenager, overwhelmed by life and Ted’s bad influence.

“Dungeons & Dealers” is possibly the funniest episode, turning a weed shortage into a family Dungeons & Dragons quest. John, Ted and Blaire try to get pot, while Matty and Susan unknowingly join the game to spend more time with John. The premise is already silly, but the episode shines as the family collaborates, showcasing when “Ted” is at its best.

The season’s turning point is the episode “Roe v. Weed,” in which Blaire gets pregnant after a one-night stand, causing family chaos. Matty pushes for marriage and Susan opposes the abortion on religious grounds. John and Ted steal money, pretend to be “abortion machine repairmen” at the clinic and fight protesters so Blaire can enter, with them getting their asses kicked. This episode had genuine emotional stakes around reproductive rights, and the fact that they were

able to squeeze the same filthy humor without losing its identity is something that most shows cannot even do.

That balance is probably why season two has landed better with audiences than season one. Rotten Tomatoes listed it at 100% from nine reviews as of March 12 and even mixed-positive reviews said the show is more interested in character and story this time around.

Seeing better character development and more in-depth plot points that, yes, get overlooked because a talking teddy bear is smoking weed, truly hits the mark better than I would have thought.

traffic stop, resulting in her arrest. Initially, it seems like a pointless twist, but it highlights that Susan is the family’s essential glue. It’s amusing because the show finally acknowledges Susan as the mature, emotional center of the household and without her, everything goes to shit. And because “Ted” can’t go five minutes without doing something insane, season two still includes Matty and Susan working at Dunkin’, with MacFarlane using Artificial Intelligence to portray former president Bill Clinton. By the finale, the family hides the verdict of former football player O.J. Simpson’s trial from Matty with a fake newspaper to prevent another heart attack, possibly being fatal. It may seem over the top, but it fits the theme that the family always chooses the most ridiculous plan before showing care.

No other show on streaming right now has the balls to be this crude, this personal and this emotionally honest all at the same time.

Season two of “Ted” proves that MacFarlane knows exactly what he’s doing when he lets this family be the worst versions of themselves and then makes you give a shit about them anyway. The writing is filthy, the characters are disasters and every episode finds a new way to make you question what the hell you just watched. That is not a flaw. That is the entire point, and it’s why this season works better than anything else MacFarlane has made in years.

Hockey cultures coexist on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ despite fan reaction

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

Once again, ice hockey is in the public eye. If you haven’t been exposed to the sport through the popularity of the hockey romance show “Heated Rivalry,” the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics followed soon after, with the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams winning gold medals — both in dramatic fashion against rival Canada — reinvigorating a national passion for the sport.

However, each of these groups invite their own subsection of hockey “fandom.”

Subsections that frankly, are at odds most of the time. There’s a stark difference in how the “old heads” of the men’s hockey fandom treat those whose first taste of the sport was a show primarily about two men swapping spit.

So, the best solution to capitalize on this insane intersection? Throw figureheads from each section, for one night only, on “Saturday Night Live.”

Unsurprisingly, the decision to pair U.S. Olympians and brothers Quinn and Jack Hughes, whose impact on and off

the ice (both positively and negatively) cannot be denied, with U.S. Olympians Megan Keller and Hilary Knight was controversial enough.

For those unaware, both Jack and Quinn were involved in an incident where, after the U.S. men’s national team won gold in Milan, President Donald Trump made misogynistic comments towards the U.S. women’s team. Jack and Quinn, along with the rest of the team, were spotted laughing.

Some fans had predictable outrage, while others were predictably not fazed.

That enough on “SNL” could be enough fuel to the fire inside viewers, but add “Heated Rivalry” stars Connor Storrie and

Fans on X were divided as the

“This heated rivalry shit has to stop.

Just below them, another user had a “Nooo why would you post this! Jack Hughes is a racist sexist

scumbag. Why would you give him this platform. Be better!”

Other users pointed to the fact that these teams weren’t at odds at all, despite the backlash on the internet.

“I love how everyone is trying to get the men’s and women’s team to talk trash about the other but they’re not having any of that!”

Personally, I found the exchanges, both on the show and on the internet, hilarious.

Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of hatred for how the U.S. men’s national team reacted to Trump calling the locker room.

However, did it lead to the best joke of the entire night? Absolutely.

“It was just going to be us, but we thought we’d invite the guys too,” Knight said on the show.

Absolute all-time joke.

In general, the show did a great job poking fun at its very premise. The jokes in Storrie’s monologue were designed to compare the raunchiness of “Heated Rivalry” to the obliviousness of the actual men involved within the sport.

“I got my teeth knocked out in the finals, does that happen in your show?,” Jack says, answered by Storrie’s “metaphorically” as he licks his lips was exactly what fans wanted.

Elevated by the brothers’ complete inability to act, even in comparison to Keller and Knight, the entire sequence felt even more designed to poke fun at a team and sport that, at best, has been a bit too comfortable with casual misogyny.

The implication in one of the jokes, that neither

player has seen the show “Heated Rivalry,” is made even funnier after Rachel Reid, author of the “Game Changers” series — adapted to become “Heated Rivalry” by show creator Jacob Tierney — claims Quinn and her exchanged positive words after she introduced herself.

“I approached Quinn Hughes,” Reid said on the Loon Call podcast. “He like, lit up…he said ‘the show is incredible.’”

According to Reid, Quinn also asked questions about the books and that he “would like to read them.”

Do I necessarily believe Reid? It’s tough to tell without confirmation from Quinn himself, but the possibility might be even funnier than the truth.

Regardless, the Olympic athletes’ appearance definitely brought eyes to screens. Suddenly, after not even a month has passed since the Olympics, people are once again talking about the sport and how funny the entire premise of this “hockey mashup” was.

Did “SNL” break new ground? Not really. Capitalizing on hockey’s popularity is nothing new. Even the president did it. No one’s opinions were changed, and nothing inherently controversial occurred. However, a five-minute segment on a late-night comedy show isn’t going to change anyone’s opinions about how they see any of the parties involved.

But if you’re willing to take a joke and poke fun at the inherent silliness in a community so vastly disconnected, I can almost guarantee you will enjoy Storrie’s “SNL” monologue.

A frustratingly familiar end to the season for women's basketball

By JAMES NOLAN Staff Writer

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Over the summer, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will rebrand and operate under a different name. They might as well rip the band-aid off and call it the Connecticut Conference, because it feels as though no matter the sport, the championship matchup perennially features the Fairfield Stags and the Quinnipiac Bobcats.

Women’s basketball’s matchup March 9 marks the sixth time in the past three academic years that a MAAC Championship comes down to the rivals. The Bobcats faltered yet again and watched the Stags celebrate on the floor of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. for the third consecutive year.

If not for a first minute goal in the 2023 MAAC women’s soccer championship game, Quinnipiac wouldn’t be in the win column. This loss now puts them at 1-5 over that span.

“That rivalry, it keeps the fans going, it keeps us going,” Meghan Andersen, Fairfield’s junior road runner, said. She’s won the championship every season she’s been with the Stags, putting up nine points, two steals and two blocks to help secure this seasons’ game against the Bobcats.

While Quinnipiac came up short again, it’s hard to classify this season as anything but “successful,” in the words of Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri.

“One of the best in the program’s history,” Fabbri said. “But, we still wanted to cut those nets down and I wanted to bring these young ladies out for a little dance with March Madness.”

As it always is with collegiate sports, the nature of the beast is that a few of those young ladies will not return to play basketball in

Hamden next season.

There’s senior guard Sydney Ryan, who joined the Bobcats for her final season after three years at Furman University. Her sister, first year guard Ella Ryan, became one of the most pivotal players for

ward Ella O’Donnell and graduate student guard Jackie Grisdale.

Fabbri made it more than evident that she will miss the duo. She called O’Donnell “one of the hardest working players I’ve ever coached,” bub

brings unfamiliar territory for the Bobcats: the post-Grisdale era.

In a lot of ways, the former walk-on perfectly embodies what Quinnipiac basketball has become. Hard-working and selfless.

“I am so thankful for every moment that I’ve spent here,” Grisdale said. “I didn’t know where I was going to end up after high school, but I couldn’t have asked for a better path than this.” She played every minute of both of Quinnipiac’s final two games. She never gave up on the team, firing a desperation three-pointer with eight seconds left that would’ve only impacted the mar-

Grisdale and Fabbri both sported misty eyes and shaky voices after the game. Perhaps no moment better encapsulates their raw emotion than when Fabbri was asked how her seniors have

Deafening silence. Fabbri took 10 seconds to

“It’s the reason you still coach, right?” she finally said. “They make me feel alive, they give me great purpose and… they make me want to be better because of what they’re sacrificing and doing every day for this program and university.” It’s another disheartening, yet frustratingly familiar, end to the season for Fabbri’s Bobcats. As Grisdale and O’Donnell depart, one thing is surely staying put. The foundation of what Quinnipiac basketball has become, that they, alongside

“I couldn’t be prouder of (the team) and I know that they are going to continue to do amazing things,” Grisdale finished, before walking off the stage, wearing the Bobcat uniform for

Far from a fairytale ECAC ending

Men's hockey falls before the gates of Lake Placid for

By ALEXANDRA MARTINAKOVA Editor-in-Chief

“I assumed we were playing tomorrow.”

Those were the final words from head coach Rand Pecknold following Quinnipiac’s ECAC Quarterfinals sweep loss to Clarkson — two games that the entire team and fans would probably like to forget as soon as possible.

Historically, the ECAC Tournament has not been kind to the Bobcats. Despite the fact that they now etched their name into the Cleary Cup 10 times — six times consecutively as the only team to do it in one conference — the Bobcats were only crowned ECAC Champions once in 2016.

Twenty-one seasons in the ECAC, 10 regular season titles and yet only one ECAC Championship. It’s almost impossible odds, yet that is exactly the fate of the Bobcats.

Especially since Quinnipiac has been basically dominating the conference, at least since the 2012-13 season.

Since their first season in the conference (2005-06), the Bobcats have made and traveled for the ECAC Semifinals 11 times (counting the 2021 season, where the games were hosted in Hamden due to COVID-19 restrictions). They made the championship game six times.

And even with the proverbial curse of Lake Placid, when the ECAC Tournament moved back to the Herb Brooks Arena in 2014, the Bobcats only missed out on their chance to play on the miracle ice in 2018, 2019, 2020 — even with the

the first time since 2019

championship weekend cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, Quinnipiac fell to Princeton in the quarterfinals — and this past weekend.

But looking on paper, it really shouldn’t have.

Clarkson was the No. 8 seed, the lowest surviving team from the opening round. Quinnipiac beat the Golden Knights at home in the regular season in a decisive 4-1 victory in late November and tied on the road in January, losing after a shootout.

Not to say that it would’ve been an easy matchup for the Bobcats either way. The Golden Knights came into the contest determined to punch their ticket to Lake Placid, and their fight and passion showed.

Quinnipiac was 26-7-3 on the season heading into the series this past weekend. Its players have been on a roll, with four forwards notching double digits in goals and eight players having over 20 points.

That team was nowhere to be found on Friday or Saturday.

“We stunk,” Pecknold said following the first game of the series. There really is no other way to put it.

There is no question that Quinnipiac got absolutely dominated across all boards. Letting in two shorthanded goals on the same power play is not something that one sees often.

It would be easy to place the blame on junior goaltender Dylan Silverstein. The Los Angeles,

California native started both games in his first weekend this season with back-to-back games and let in three goals on three shots in the latter end of the third period in game two.

But it is also important to note that despite the 3-0 loss, game one of the quarterfinal series was his best performance of the entire season, with a season high 32 saves and a .970 save percentage.

“Silvi was great, kept us in the game,” Pecknold said following said game. “Probably the best game he’s had all year.”

It would also be easy to blame junior winger Mason Marcellus, who accidentally left the puck behind on the blue line on the power play, which led to the first breakaway and shorthanded opportunity that completely shifted the momentum of the game.While, it would be easy to place the blame on one player or mishap, the truth is, this one is on the entire team.

“We just had a lot of guys who were in panic mode from the get-go, just pouty on the bench,” Pecknold said Fri -

day night. “I think some guys didn’t wanna play hockey tonight, they thought it was gonna be easy and it wasn’t. It just perplexes me that we have this really good team, high character kids and that in a home playoff game, we can be that bad.”

Before this weekend, Quinnipiac only truly lost one home game the entire season (or in over a year), falling to Cornell Feb. 20 — excluding the unofficial shootout loss to Alaska Fairbanks that counts as a tie.

“Our buy-in has been sporadic, we had a really good run until the Cornell game and then we went off the rails a bit, the buy-in has not been good,” Pecknold said.

Maybe it was the two-week pause after securing a bye-round in the ECAC Tournament, maybe it was that dreaded 6-1 Cornell loss.

Whatever it was, the Bobcats need to work it out before the first round of the NCAA Tournament if they hope to make it back to the Frozen Four for the first time since their national championship title in 2023.

Despite falling to No. 10 in the NPI after the sweep, their appearance in the tournament is confirmed. What awaits now is which regional they will appear in and whether or not they showcase the heart and identity that Pecknold keeps preaching and fight for their chance to show they deserve their place amongst the best teams in the nation.

The Selection Sunday show is scheduled for March 22 at 3 p.m.

Bobcats fall to Badgers 6-0 in NCAA Regional Final

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

MADISON, Wis. — If fans’ lasting memory of the 2025-26 Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team is a 6-0 loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament Regional Round Final, then they were never Bobcat fans at all.

Because as difficult as a shutout loss is to swallow, this Bobcat team was something special.

Losing to one of the best teams in the nation in their packed home barn doesn’t change that.

Coming into the contest, there was no doubt the Bobcats understood the stakes. A non-conference opponent hasn’t won a game in LaBahn Arena in multiple seasons. Four Olympic gold medal winners decorate the Wisconsin roster, and 1980 men’s ice hockey gold medal winner and legendary head coach Mark Johnson stands sternly behind the bench.

It’s daunting.

The stands at LaBahn Arena were a sea of Badger red and white, with a single three-row section of Bobcat blue and gold. Eight national championship banners are a shadow over the ice. The fan energy in the arena rivals that of a professional team.

It would be so easy for the Bobcats to roll over.

But they didn’t. Far from it.

Starting from the Bobcats’ biggest strength, throughout both the regular season and their playoff run: the goaltending.

“(Sophomore goaltender Felicia Frank has been) leading us to some of our biggest wins this year,” sophomore forward Taylor Brueske said. “She put her best effort forward today, played an unreal game and kept us as close as it was.”

Frank recorded a career-high in saves against the Badgers, with 45, continu -

ing to add to her resume as one of the top goalies in the NCAA. The Falkoping, Sweden native was getting peppered from all sides, with nine Badgers recording five or more shots on goal in the contest.

“We were fortunate enough to get enough by her,” Johnson said. “You never know who’s going to win on any given night.”

Her double digit saves in each period of the contest help to add to the new Quinnipiac single-season saves record. Frank finishes the season with 1,035 saves.

With the final score as lopsided as it was, it would be easy to dismiss the Bobcats’ defense as putting in a subpar performance. That was far from the case.

Quinnipiac’s 15 blocks and countless stick checks in the defensive zone were drowned out by the final score.

“I thought we did what we wanted to do at times, in terms of making some of their really skilled, patient players uncomfortable,” Quinnipiac head coach Cass Turner said. “But when you have four lines of that, you know at some point, it just got a little bit tough for us.”

Even with the good defensive effort, the pure volume of shots spread amongst the scorers made it next to impossible for the Bobcats to even clear the zone. Wisconsin was quick to every puck and seemed to know where the Bobcats were passing the puck before it even left their stick.

That puck possession made all the difference for Wisconsin. The Bobcats chased the Badgers and the puck at every turn, and that started in the face-off dot. Quinnipiac only managed to win 39.2% of its faceoffs, with the majority of the draws occurring in the defensive zone.

“It was really good, it was probably our best face-off percentage of the season,” Johnson said. “Instead of having to chase the puck, now you can make some plays…and let some of these kids do what

they’re capable of doing.”

That’s exactly what Wisconsin did from nearly the opening puck drop. Each of its top six forwards recorded at least a point in the contest, with alternate captain junior forward Kelly Gorbatenko leading the way with a hat trick. Five Badger defenders also recorded a point on the afternoon.

When the No. 2 team in the country is on and finding the back of the net, there’s only so much any defense, including the Bobcats, can do.

“I think they put a great game on the ice, and unfortunately, we just couldn’t bounce back today,” Turner said.

But for the Bobcats, this season was far from a failure, and the future is bright. After winning the first ECAC Championship for the squad in a decade, Turner has high hopes for the future of the program.

“When I think back to the recruiting class that we were able to recruit when we won the last ECAC Championship, it was our strongest in program history,” Turner said. “I think, you know, coming off of this, it’s really going to put us in a position to be where we want to be, which is in the top two of the ECAC every year.”

As for the seniors, it’s a bitter goodbye for a leadership group that has meant so much for the program.

“This group of seniors and leaders that we had, especially this year, was unmatched and definitely will go down as one of the greatest leadership groups I’ve ever played under,” sophomore defenseman Makayla Watson said.

This team was a special one, and this final game to end the season doesn’t change that.

“This is the most fun I’ve had coaching in my entire career,” Turner said. “This was just a really fun year, and a really special group.”

Tricia Fabbri announces retirement after 31 years

By CLAIRE FRANKLAND Sports Editor

Quinnipiac women’s basketball head coach

Tricia Fabbri announced her retirement following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, per Quinnipiac Athletics’ X account Monday morning.

Fabbri has served as head coach for the Bobcats for 31 years, leading the Bobcats to five conference championships and five NCAA Tournament appearances in her three-decade run.

“Thirty-one years ago, I accepted an offer from Burt Kahn to become the first full-time coach of the women’s basketball program at Quinnipiac. Simply put, it has been the best decision of my life,” Fabbri said to Quinnipiac Athletics. “The people, my coaching staff and, most importantly, the young women that I’ve been fortunate enough to coach have made my life fulfilling beyond my wildest expectations.”

Fabbri will retire as the winningest coach in program history, with 570 wins as of publication, also making her the second winningest coach in Quinnipiac Athletics history, behind men’s ice hockey head coach Rand Pecknold, with 692.

Fabbri is set to retire after leading the program to five conference championships and five NCAA Tournament bids.

Inconsistency killed the Cats

How cold offensive streaks ended Quinnipiac men's basketball's season

By COOPER WOODWARD Associate Sports Editor

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Losing is never easy. Losing in the final seconds of your conference tournament is an even harder pill to swallow.

That was the story of the 2025-26 Quinnipiac men’s basketball team.

As its season ended in a 77-75 shootout with the Marist Red Foxes in the MAAC Quarterfinals.

The loss now marks the third straight season the Bobcats have been bounced from the postseason without an appearance in the championship game. In their 2024 loss to St. Peter’s, it was the poor defense that allowed a buzzer beater to fall and send them home.

In 2025 against Iona, it was the lack of physicality that caused an end to their Cinderella season.

In 2026 against Marist, it was their inconsistencies on both sides of the ball that sent the Bobcats back to Hamden empty handed.

“We never really learned how to smell blood,” head coach Tom Pecora said.

Failing to put its opponent out of the game has been the story of the season for Quinnipiac. In each of the Bobcats’ nine losses since Jan. 2, Quinnipiac has been forced to either play on the back foot or play catch-up.

Against Sacred Heart on Jan. 30, the Bobcats held a three point lead after the first half. In the

second half, the Pioneers were able to climb back into the game and outscore the Bobcats by 10 in route to a nine point win.

Do you need another example?

Against Merrimack on Jan. 17, the Bob cats found themselves in trouble, find ing themselves in a 19 point deficit by the end of the first 20 minutes. While Quinni piac fought back, its efforts still weren’t enough, falling 81-73. Even when they won, the Bobcats still had to fight tooth and nail. In their first matchup vs the Niagara Purple Eagles, the Bob cats were firmly in control of the game head ing into the break. But as the game went on, Niagara came closer and

closer to erasing their lead, doing so in the final minutes of the half. But when they needed him most, sophomore forward Grant Randall drilled a three pointer with seconds on the clock, sealing their win.

Having a player like Randall who can hit a game winning dagger on any given night is great. Any coach or player in their right mind would want to have a guy like that on their side. But what separates the good teams from the great teams is the ability to bury their opponent when they have the chance.

This Bobcat squad did not have that, which is exactly why they faced their earliest exit from the MAAC Tournament

In their matchup against the Red Foxes, Quinnipiac got off to a hot start, holding an eight point lead by the halfway point of the half. But as they have all

season, the Bobcats let Marist climb back into the game, leading to a ten point lead by the Red Foxes at the end of 20 minutes. Quinnipiac, once again, was forced to play catch-up to stay in contention, and for the most part, they did.

Randall put the team on his back, netting 14 field goals, including nine threes, en route to a career high 28 points. But the game came down to the final seconds, as freshman guard Tai Turnage was blocked by senior forward Jaden Daughtry on the final shot of the game.

“We played a great 25 minutes, dug ourselves a hole and just couldn’t dig ourselves out of it,” Pecora said. “It’s been an issue for us all year.”

Once again, the Bobcats were forced to play catch-up. But this time around, the Red Foxes made them pay and sent them packing in the process.

While the 2025-26 season is over, lessons from this season will resonate with this program for the remainder of the Pecora era. To take home that coveted first MAAC Championship in program history, you need to play a full and complete 40 minutes of basketball.

Yet, due to their inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, Quinnipiac will have to wait another year to achieve its dreams of becoming MAAC Champions.

Sports

@QUCHRONSPORTS

‘Believe

in the Bobcats’

Women's ice hockey battles for first ECAC Championship on Miracle ice

By EMILY MARQUIS Associate Sports Editor

Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey is no stranger to history this season. Junior forward Kahlen Lamarche broke Quinnipiac’s Division I points and goal records, setting the new standard for offensive excellence within the program. The squad was one of four teams selected to an ECAC Championship Weekend held on neutral ice instead of at the top-seed’s home rink.

There was plenty of history left to be made in the ECAC Championship game.

What better place to do it than in one of the most historic arenas in hockey?

The ghosts of the 1980 U.S. Olympics team seemed to be with the 2026 Bobcats beyond just their shared arena. The parallels are clear. The underdog taking on a bitter rival in a championship game

The analogy falters a bit when you realize the Bobcats were underdogs in seed only. The No. 3 ranked Bobcats went undefeated against the No. 1 Yale Bulldogs this season, taking the crown of the undisputed champions of Whitney Avenue and the ECAC.

The first time the rivals faced off, Quinnipiac handled business with a 3-1 victory in Ingalls Arena on Oct. 24. The contest opened up conference play for both squads. Quinnipiac continued its early season dominance while Yale struggled.

Sophomore goaltender Felicia Frank stopped all but one of the Bulldog’s chances, and Quinni-

Championship game in Lake Placid, N.Y. The 5-1 final score took every aspect from Quinnipiac’s first game against Yale and dialed it to the max.

Despite four opportunities on the man-advantage for Yale, Quinnipiac’s penalty kill remained perfect, with Frank stopping each of the Bulldog’s eight shots on goal during the contest. The secret to Quinnipiac’s .884 percent penalty-killing success remains its calm, cool and collected assistant coach Amanda Alessi.

“She’s just so calm and logical about what she wants to do with the PK and is so smart in her scout,” Quinnipiac head coach Cass Turner said.

Every title-winning coach in Lake Placid needs a killer assistant. Luckily for Turner, she has two. Besides Alessi, assistant coach Brent Hill has plenty of experience winning in big games. Less than a month ago, Hill helped coach the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey team to a gold medal in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Now, at the site of the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, he helped another team secure a coveted piece of hardware: the ECAC Championship Title.

Quinnipiac’s defense played another sharp game against Yale, jumping into the offense. Three different defenseman recorded points, making simple plays to put the game out of reach.

“Right back to the basics,” Turner said. “I think that really built to us playing some strong offensive hockey too.”

Senior defender Zoe Uens’ pow-

Uens at the right place at the right time to snipe a shot past freshman goaltender Samson Frey, putting the Bobcats up 3-0. For a power play that has slipped under the radar for most of the season, the Bobcats couldn’t have picked a better time to execute than on the ECAC’s biggest stage.

Just like in the Bobcats’ ECAC opener, Jarvis would put in the final empty net goal, stopping the Bulldogs in their tracks one final time.

The goal was a culmination of a hard working weekend for Jarvis, even though she was kept largely off the scoresheet.

That’s what has powered the Bobcats through the ECAC Tournament, and may be the key to continuing to play hockey in the NCAA Tournament. A complete team effort where everyone plays for each other.

“We have such a special group where we support each other, no matter what’s going on, and we’re gonna take all those lessons forward and attack the next weekend,” sophomore defender Makayla Watson said.

There is one part of this championship equation that has been left out, where the comparisons to the 1980 Miracle on Ice team returns. Both Team USA and Quinnipiac wouldn’t have stood a chance without the stellar play of its respective goaltenders.

ECAC Goaltender of the Year, All-ECAC First Team Goaltender, a top three finalist for the Women’s Hockey Goalie of the Year Award and Helios Hockey Most Outstanding Player at the ECAC Championship. What a resume for the sophomore from

ment to both her play on the ice, and her actions to help her team off it.

“Frankie has been the heart and soul of our team this year,” Watson said. “She’s just such a good teammate, has honestly been the star for us.”

That title of star Felicia stopped all but two of the 63 shots she faced.

If you ask the Bobcats if this win was shocking, look no further than the captain for the answer. Graduate student defender Mia Lopata knows better than most the kind of team it takes to win at Lake Placid, N.Y. Six years ago, she was a captain of another team that won in the historic Herb Brooks Arena, scoring the game-winning goal to take the New York State Championship.

But for the Clinton, N.Y. native, this experience at the ECAC Championships was something different.

“To be here with this team… it beats being here with my high school team for sure,” Lopata said after Friday’s win against Princeton.“This group is just so special.”

Like all good captains, Lopata did it all. Despite being in her final season, she has grown her offensive game to match the needs of her team, earning a crucial assist against Princeton to propel the Bobcats into the championship game.

“If you had told me when I was in high school that I was going to win an ECAC Championship here, I don’t know that I would have believed you,” Lopata said.

Coming into ECAC Championship weekend though, she didn’t have a doubt.

pic goaltender Jimmy

Each of her accolades are

“Before the game even started I was like, oh, we’re gonna win,” Lopata said. “Before we even came here, I got my nails done. I was so excited. I’m like my nails need to be done when I lift that trophy.”

But it wasn’t just the captain’s personal belief that drove the Bobcats to this historic victory. Like winning a championship, it takes the whole team.

“We’ve been saying since we went to Ireland, believe in the Bobcats, believe in the Bobcats, and I think every single one of our staff and our players believed in the Bobcats,” Lopata said. “We did it.”

Behind the Bobcats bench on Saturday was a sign. A neon yellow poster, with colored stars drawn in navy, gold and York Hill Sky Blue around four simple words.

“Believe in the Bobcats.”

The hundreds of Bobcat faithful that drove hours to watch Quinnipiac hoist the ECAC Championship trophy certainly did.

There was something special in the air in Lake Placid. For one day, the words that rang through Herb Brooks Arena weren’t, “Do you believe in miracles?” They were, “Do you believe in the Bobcats?”