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Articles by Catherine Santangelo
COVID-19 Numbers Look Up for Spring
With the return of students to Fairfield University’s campus for the Spring 2021 semester, the University’s COVID-19 regulations have been altered in order to better control the spread of the virus on campus. One of the most significant changes made was switching from only testing a random sample of the campus community for surveillance testing to now requiring weekly surveillance testing of all Fairfield students, faculty and staff on campus.
Editor-in-Chief Switches Over: Santangelo Says Goodbye
Catherine Santangelo was the Editor-in-Chief of The Fairfield Mirror from 2020 to 2021. Upon her last issue she wished to share some thoughts with The Mirror’s readers and her staff: “Let’s just say that my time as Editor-in-Chief of The Mirror has been anything but conventional. After officially taking over the position about a year ago, me and my new staff were able to put out our first print issue together.
Food Trucks? Yes!
Fairfield University campus operations were brought into question at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of how things would be run so that students could safely return to campus for the Fall 2020 semester. Among the many different changes that Fairfield’s campus experienced, the addition of food trucks as a dining option was one of the best decisions Fairfield has made since I’ve been a student here.
The Fairfield Mirror
Catherine Santangelo, Julia Lanzillotta, Molly Lamendola and Sheila McCombs 1. What was your experience like starting the semester from home? Julia: It was not as easy as starting off in-person and ending online. It feels strange not being able to make a personal connection with a professor, and I certainly feel less engaged than in previous semesters, but we’re making it work! Catherine: I moved in during Phase I, so I was actually able to start the semester at school.
The 4 x 5 | The Fairfield Mirror
Catherine Santangelo, Julia Lanzillotta, Molly Lamendola and Sheila McCombs I. Do you prefer to take finals remotely, or in person? Julia: Neither. Both are absolutely dreadful! Catherine: I agree with Lanz! I would rather not have to take finals at all. Sheila: I wish we got to take them in person, it’s so hard to focus at home! Molly: I only enjoy elaborate dioramas with lots of glitter. II. When do you think the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines will come out in the United States?
Tis the Season | The Fairfield Mirror
Nat King Cole’s rendition of “The Christmas Song” plays on my Spotify, my 30 pairs of Christmas socks unearth from the depths of my drawer and my Christmas countdown app receives multiple visits from me every day since Nov. 1. I know there are many of you out there who are still relishing in the wonders of the fall season, ordering your pumpkin spice lattes and basking in the beauty of the colorful foliage.
A Lesson in Flying a Flag
In honor of Veteran’s Day, I have been reflecting on ways of showing my pride for this country as well as respecting and showing my gratitude for those who have fought for our freedom. At my elementary and middle school, there was a large flagpole outside where the American flag was hoisted and flown with pride each and every day. It was part of the seventh graders’ responsibilities to put up the flag at the beginning of the school day and take it down when the school day was over.
Deceased Man Found on Fairfield's Campus
The Fairfield community received upsetting news on Thursday morning, Nov. 5, that an 83 year old man with dementia was found dead in the parking lot of Fairfield College Preparatory School located on Fairfield University’s campus. According to an article from the ctpost, a construction worker from the University found the man’s body Thursday morning. Police were called and the man was declared dead at the scene.
Spirits, Ghouls and Ghosts, Oh My
When I was in middle school, my school’s library had copies of books called “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and “More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” which were full of spooky short stories that made you wonder about, and fear, what actually happens in the dark. During the Halloween season, these books were very popular amongst us students, as we loved reading these stories and freaking each other out.
Fairfield's Job Shadow Program Goes Virtual
As students move into their junior and senior years of college, it is especially important that they start focusing on their futures and thinking about what type of career they might want to pursue after graduation. Luckily for them, Fairfield University offers a job shadow program through the Career Center, which has been quite popular among students.
"A Writer's Journey" Event Celebrates Female Alumni Writers
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of women’s admission at Fairfield University, as well as the National Day of Writing, the Dimenna-Nyselius Library, The Office of Alumni Relations and The Office of Community and Lifetime Education hosted a virtual event on Zoom called “Alumnae Author Panel: A Writer’s Journey to Page and Stage” on Oct. 20.
A History of Campaign Ads!
In case you haven’t heard, 2020 is a presidential election year! It’s not hard to miss, but Election Day is less than a month away, and we will soon find out which candidate will take their place in the Oval Office for the next four years. Will current President Donald Trump serve another term or will former Vice President Joe Biden take his place? The time leading up to an actual election can sometimes be even more important than the actual election day.
Technology Sucks Guys...There's Just Nothing We Can Do
Sophocles once said, “Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse.” This quote is flashed across the screen at the very beginning of a new documentary on Netflix, called “The Social Dilemma.” In this documentary, multiple past employees of some of the largest and most popular internet and social media companies are interviewed about how developments in technology have changed our world.
FUSA Poses New Parking Petition
“I’m currently unemployed and my work study documents are delaying me from working on campus. I commute everyday and only have enough money for gas and food at school since I don’t have a meal swipe. It’s been hard to get a job, and it’s not getting easier with my school schedule being busy and the pandemic. Also, all of my classes, except for one, required a book of some sort, and I have yet to buy all of them.
National Recovery Month Comes to a Close
September is National Recovery Month, and during this month, a variety of prevention and recovery programs from all over the country share success stories and information in order to raise awareness for recovery programs, as well as those who are in recovery or have recovered from substance abuse. Substance abuse is a serious and real issue that affects millions of people every year, and often goes hand in hand with mental illness.
"Get Out and Vote!"
I am not very interested in politics. Of course I have my views on certain topics, as everyone usually does, and I do get passionate about my views from time to time. However, I really do not like talking about politics, and to be honest, a lot of the things that surround politics really confuse me. Despite my opinions about politics in general, the 2020 presidential election is quickly approaching, and one thing I do know is how important it is to register to vote in this year’s election.
Fairfield’s First Virtual Career Fair
The career fair is going to look very different this year compared to past years since it will be held online instead of in-person. The Career Center has worked hard to make sure that the event can still be held this year, despite COVID-19, to help students connect with potential employers, share their resumes and assist them in finding jobs after graduation. This year, there will be four separate industry-specific fairs held, as opposed to one large career fair.
50th Anniversary of Women at Fairfield Webinar Kicks Off Celebration
This year marks the 50th anniversary of women at Fairfield University as undergraduate students. Throughout the year, Fairfield University will be hosting a wide range of events to celebrate this momentous occasion. On Sept.
Fairfield Faces First Weekend During COVID
Catherine Santangelo, Colleen Vann and Danielle Sondgeroth Fairfield University reopened at the start of September and quickly encountered its first true trial – Labor Day weekend. At Fairfield, this weekend is traditionally accompanied by parties throughout the day and night, drunken ‘ragers’ and crowded, sweaty beaches and townhouses.
4 x 5- June 17, 2020
Catherine Santangelo, Colleen Vann, Julia Lanzillotta and Sheila McCombs I. The school has finally announced that we will be returning to campus in the fall! What are you most excited to do, upon your return to Fairfield?
A Letter to Future Students
Catherine Santangelo, Julia Lanzillotta and Sheila McCombs Dear Class of 2024, Welcome to Fairfield University! During your time here as a Stag you will meet remarkable professors, make lifelong friends and grow into the best version of yourself. I implore you to make the most of this unique opportunity and take advantage of all that Fairfield has to offer.
Online Orientation Changes How Fairfield Addresses First Years
As we are all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of changes to occur recently. One of these changes has been to turn the summer orientation for the incoming first-year class at Fairfield University into a virtual online experience as opposed to one on campus. Of course, this is not how the Class of 2024 was expecting their official welcome at Fairfield University to be like.
Student Spotlight: Ryan Assarian, '23
Analyzing, forecasting and broadcasting weather has been a favorite interest for Ryan Assarian ‘23 since 2014. Assarian has put in a lot of work over the years to educate himself on everything there is to know about the weather, from watching The Weather Channel to reading academic journals, and even getting his own weather station. “I’ve tried to absorb every drop of weather and broadcasting knowledge,” he said.
A Message from Racial Justice is Social Justice
Racial Justice is Social Justice (RJSJ) is an organization made up of Fairfield University students, alumni, faculty and staff. In response to heightened racial violence around the murder of George Floyd and others of the Black community, RJSJ composed a statement which they shared with The Mirror. They have also been collecting signatures from faculty and senior administration at Fairfield University.
Fairfield University’s Delayed Response to George Floyd’s Murder is Unacceptable
For as long as I can remember there has been police brutality against the black community. In the last few years, it has become quite common to hear news stories or see social media hashtags addressing this issue. The latest incident of this kind occurred on May 25, 2020 and the victim was George Floyd. Floyd was a black man who was arrested and murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minn.
4 x 5- April 29, 2020
Catherine Santangelo, Colleen Vann, Julia Lanzillotta and Sheila McCombs I. We made it to the last issue of the semester! What is a message you have for the staff who were faced with the challenges of adjusting to their position at The Mirror while also having to acclimate to remote schooling? Julia: I am so impressed with how this staff has seamlessly transitioned to working online.
Don't Forget To Stop and Appreciate Nature
Hey all you cool cats and kittens…it’s Catherine, your Editor-in-Chief here, reporting from my own backyard. Don’t worry, I’m no tiger king or anything, as all the animals here live in their natural habitats. Here’s a little report on some of the animals we’ve seen and how things are going! The other day we had 38 turtles sitting out on logs in the marsh behind our house, basking in the sunshine…and yes, we counted.
The Fairfield Mirror
Catherine Santangelo, Colleen Vann, Julia Lanzillotta and Sheila McCombs I. Do you think that the Office of Study Abroad should refund deposits even if the program continues as scheduled, to account for people who may no longer feel comfortable going abroad Julia: Absolutely. I am becoming increasingly anxious about my program in Italy for the spring of 2021.
The Fairfield Mirror
Catherine Santangelo, Colleen Vann, Julia Lanzillotta and Sheila McCombs I. Have you taken up new hobbies or rekindled any old ones with all this free time at home? Julia: I have been reading a lot more and recently renewed my subscription to The New York Times! It’s nice to get back into reading every single day rather than relying on live broadcasted news so much.
Opinion: Brady Breaks Away From Boston… And That’s Okay
New England Patriots fans, myself included, received some very sad yet surprisingly not shocking news on March 17; quarterback Tom Brady will not be returning to play for the Patriots next season. After playing for 20 years and winning six Super Bowls with the Patriots franchise, Brady announced the news on social media.
In the Wake of Social Distancing Instagram Helps People to Remain Connected
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused most of the world to self-quarantine and practice social distancing by remaining at home. After less than a week of being held up in our homes in order to protect ourselves and our families from the virus, boredom quickly took over the minds of many people. Even worse, many people began experiencing serious withdrawals from being able to hang out with friends or interact with anyone else outside of their homes.
Making Self-Care a Priority
One of the most important things that one can do for themselves is engage in self-care. I recently had an amazing self-care experience by having my hair elegantly styled and getting my makeup done for a gala event that I attended last weekend. I have never actually experienced getting my makeup professionally done by someone else before because, for the minimal amount of makeup I usually wear, I always do it myself. I have to say that it was a wonderful experience and I feel all the better for it.
Reading is Such an Enriching Experience, So We Should Do More of It
Over the past few years, especially since coming to college, I have observed that people are reading less. In college, everyone’s schedules are super busy and hectic with academics, extracurriculars and trying to have a social life. It seems that any free time that a college student has is usually spent on streaming services to watch movies and binge TV shows. Not many people want to cuddle up with a good book anymore.
Black History Month Should Celebrate Impacts of African Americans
Black History Month is a celebration that is observed throughout the entire month of February when important African American people and events are remembered and celebrated. During the 2020 Grammy Awards show on Jan.
Documentaries: A Deep Look Into the Unknown
While sitting in my designated seat in the Mirror office pondering what I should use this space to talk about this week, I couldn’t help but think about one of my secret guilty pleasures: documentaries. Today, I signed up for the 7-day free trial for Disney+ and was delighted to see a whole section for National Geographic documentaries for me to binge watch before effectively cancelling my subscription on the sixth day so I won’t get charged.
Look It's-...It's Freakin' Butts...I Love Halloween
The fall season is the time for pumpkin spice flavored everything, pumpkin picking and carving, snacking on pumpkin seeds and putting out your best pumpkin themed Halloween decorations. According to Fox News, for Mike O’Neil of North Fulton, Georgia, the pumpkin themed decoration that he chooses to display on his lawn is an absolutely hilarious “mooning pumpkin man.” This pumpkin man of scarecrow-like stature is complete with a jack-o-lantern head and two smaller pumpkins to make up his buttocks.
As Fairfield Rises, It Shouldn't Lose Sight of Its Identity
As all of us Fairfield University students are aware, our school is known for it’s rather small size. This fact played a major part in my decision to attend Fairfield because of my history of attending small schools throughout all of my education. My graduating eighth grade class was only 13 students, and my graduating high school class was only 89 students. Due to my experiences in smaller schools, I felt that attending a smaller college would be best for me.
'Green Book' Amplifies White Superiority, Not Race Relations
Awards season came to a close on Sunday, Feb. 24 with the broadcast of the Academy Awards, where the best cinematic creations of the year are celebrated. As of recent years, there has been much controversy about diversifying the Oscars and the film industry as a whole. The inclusion of minority groups has been scarce, but the film industry and the Academy has improved on this issue.
'Unconditional Surrender' is Honest Emotion, Not Assault
An iconic moment that was captured in a photograph, and that many of us have probably seen and are familiar with, is the famous picture of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square after WWII ended, entitled “Unconditional Surrender.” This famous photograph was created into a statue that now resides in Sarasota, Fla. Sadly, the sailor in the photo, identified as George Mendonsa, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the age of 95.
Fairfield Shouldn't Restrict Students' Freedom Over Their Education
All of us have experienced professors who include a section in their syllabus strictly for the use of electronics in class. Most of them say no cellphones in class, which I completely understand; however, on the topic of laptops and other note-taking electronics, some professors say students may use them in class, some specify when it is appropriate to use them and some say they are not allowed to be used at all.
'The Breakfast Club' is Best Left As an '80s Icon
Molly Ringwald is an actress who is best known for having starred in multiple John Hughes films, including “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink” and, of course, “The Breakfast Club.” Ringwald sat down with Couch Surfing by People TV recently, and the topic of a reboot of “The Breakfast Club” was mentioned.
Fox's 'Rent' Did Its Best Despite Serious Drawbacks
The latest addition to the trend of live musical performances, “Rent: Live,” aired on FOX on Jan. 27, but it did not premiere as originally planned. Cast member Brennin Hunt, who plays Roger Davis, broke his foot during the show’s dress rehearsal the night before, which caused FOX to use pre-recorded material instead of a completely live performance in order to premiere the show as scheduled. Many people were outraged by this decision, but FOX did the right thing in broadcasting the show anyways.
Lady Gaga Represents the Best of Christianity
During Lady Gaga’s Jan. 19 Enigma show in Las Vegas, Nev., Gaga decided to make some very strong, but fair, political comments right in the middle of her performance of hit song “Million Reasons”..
White Supremacy Is Not Acceptable at Any Age
On Monday, Nov. 12, multiple news postings came out about a Twitter photo of a large group of boys from Baraboo High School in Baraboo, Wis. that went viral. This group of boys, about to go off to junior prom, appear to be making the Nazi salute in their posed picture. A recent graduate of Baraboo High School reported to The Independent that, “the image was taken in May and features mostly boys who were in 11th grade at the time,” meaning those posing are currently seniors.
Critics Shouldn't Dictate How We Enjoy Movies
“Bohemian Rhapsody,” the biopic movie about the well-known and beloved band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, has received very mixed reviews from audiences and film critics since its release on Nov. 2. As reviews come out, they can have a major influence on how we as audience members view the films, but it is important to keep in mind that seeing a movie should be mainly subjective.
Respecting Rihanna's Rights, Not Her Motives
As we all know, the Super Bowl is one of the most popular events in sports. Part of what makes it so popular is the much anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show when a famous musical act is selected to perform during halftime. This football season, Super Bowl LIII, 2019, is set to happen on Sunday, Feb. 3 in Atlanta, Ga. at Mercedes Benz Stadium, the home field of the Atlanta Falcons. This year, the NFL offered the performance spot to Rihanna, but she shockingly turned it down.
Georgia's Voter Suppression Strips Away Civic Rights
On Nov. 6, 2018, midterm elections will take place and voters will decide who to elect as governor of their state. As the election draws closer, all eyes have been on the state of Georgia, where current Secretary of State Brian Kemp has been accused of suppressing black voters from voting in the upcoming election. So many potential voters are being held from voting in this midterm election, and it is just plain wrong.
The Broadway and Hollywood Divide Should Remain Intact
Well-known and beloved Broadway musical “Cats” has big plans to become a musical movie, set to be released on Dec. 20, 2019. “Cats” was created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is based on a collection of poems from the “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot. The poems follow the secret world of the Jellicle cats. Tom Hooper, director of “The King’s Speech” and “Les Miserables,” is set to direct it, and the script is to be written by Lee Hall.
Movie Review: A Star is Born
“A Star is Born” (dir. Bradley Cooper), starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, tells the story of Ally (Gaga), an unsuccessful yet talented singer and songwriter who crosses paths with Jackson Maine (Cooper), a drunken, drug addicted and fading rockstar. The movie follows Ally and Jack’s journey, as Jack helps Ally embrace her talent and the two eventually fall in love. As Ally rises further into stardom, Jack continues to struggle with substance abuse, and their love suffers.
'My Favorite Murder' Injects True Crime with Humor
Rising in popularity, and being a top 10 regular on the iTunes comedy podcast charts, “My Favorite Murder” is a true crime story podcast, created in January of 2016. Hosted by T.V. writer and comedian Karen Kilgariff and Cooking Channel host and writer Georgia Hardstark, the podcast covers murder cases, while adding comedic twists to these chilling tales.
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