This week on QNN, see where to get free flu shots on campus. Plus, a new law designed to make people healthier is hurting businesses along Whitney Avenue, and a sneak peek at new Quinnipiac University Podcast Studio. Those stories and more are in this week’s QNN newscast.
Courtesy of THINKSTOCK
Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill Tuesday that raised the tobacco age from 18 to 21 years old. The bill includes a restriction on all things tobacco including vapes, cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco paraphernalia. The Tobacco 21 bill won passage in the house in mid-May and cleared the Senate two weeks leader.
This fall the states Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services are responsible for going into businesses and conducting compliance checks on tobacco dealers. If the dealers do not follow all of the rules included in the bill the first fine is up to 300 dollars, a second violation can be as much as 750 dollars, and up to 1,000 dollars for any following violation. Lamont and other law makers made sure to include in the state budget a 40 percent-per-milliliter tax on electronic cigarettes liquid, and 10 percent tax on the wholesale price of all vaping products in stores.
These types of increases on all things tobacco effect the businesses owners mostly. The businesses who distribute tobacco products rely on the younger population to purchase the products at a higher rate than the older population. Even though it helps keep dangerously addictive products out of the hands of youths, it does hurt some of the tobacco profits for certain businesses.
Connecticut is the 15th state and one of hundreds of towns to have passed a similar tobacco bill, and each state and town is looking to take an initiative to stop such addictive products to reach the hands of young citizens.
Over the past two weeks Quinnipiac has held flu shot clinics that were open to all students and faculty. Last week the clinics were held on York Hill and this week they were held in the student center from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. There was a line to get in the clinic, but many students do not fully commit to getting a shot.
According to a study done by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases 70 percent of college students want to get vaccinated, but on 46 percent actually go through with it. Also 36 percent of students say that they do not need it according to another study done by the N.F.I.D.
No matter how students feel about the flu shots they will be offered for the last time tomorrow on Quinnipiac’s campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Quinnipiac is set to open a podcast studio in the Center of Communications for all students to use. Students will be able to produce any type of podcast show that they want within the studio, and be able to book the room at any time. The podcast room is set to include a camera, a television set up, two microphones, a sound board, and four channel sound mixer.
The podcasting room is a new development to the school of communication after the closing of Hamden’s radio station WQUN. A few microphones have been given to the studio as a donation. The studio is also in the process of hiring a full time director to handle all of the room bookings, equipment, and to assist in producing some of the shows.
84-year-old Angela Disorbo was attacked by a raccoon while she was gardening at her own home. She claims that the raccoon came out of no where from around her shed. She said the raccoon then lunged towards her face, Disorbo put her hands up to defend herself and the raccoon then latched onto her hand.
Frightened Disorbo screamed, and luckily her daughter that lives with her heard the screams and came out to her rescue and called 911 immediately. The incident is currently being investigated by the Hamden Animal Control, and the raccoon is still on the loose and trying to be found.
On Monday afternoon, Quinnipiac University held a Fresh Check day right outside of the Arnold Bernard Library. Fresh Check day is an event available to students who want to unwind during mid-term season. Events that were included during this event was a meditation station, tables that included tips and tricks on how to deal with stress, and there were give aways for free gear. There were also raffles for bigger prizes, and free food for all of those who participated in Fresh Check day.
Fresh Check day has been an annual event on Quinnipiac’s campus for several years now, and students have used it to get a quick escape from studying in the library.
By Brent Costantino
Public speaking adjunct professor, Terri Corigliano, has been employed by Quinnipiac University for the last decade, and built strong relationships with her students throughout her 30-year career.
But Quinnipiac’s School of Communications let her go from her teaching position for next semester due to the university’s most recent budget cuts. The budget cuts are a result of lower freshmen enrollment, according to the chair of the media studies department, Nancy Worthington.
Professor Terri Corigliano teaches her public speaking course with a wide smile across her face.
“I literally had a stomach ache talking to them. These people have been with us for years, and I feel really bad about it,” Worthington said.
Adjunct professors are considered part-time employees on college campuses across the country. Even though they can be responsible for teaching multiple classes per semester, adjuncts are not offered benefits.
Quinnipiac’s low enrollment numbers for the fall semester have caused administrators to cancel certain sections of freshman courses such as public speaking, leaving veteran adjunct professors such as Corigliano out of a job. A total of 1,895 incoming freshmen were enrolled at Quinnipiac heading into the fall of 2018. Meanwhile, fall 2019 enrollment for freshmen was just above 1,700, according to Quinnipiac admissions.
This makes budget money tight, and leads to certain freshman courses not filling up, and ultimately dropped by the university to save cost.
“I did not see this coming,” said Corigliano.
Neither did professor Kristina Medina, who currently teaches three classes in the communications department as an adjunct.
“I love it here at Quinnipiac, and I’m sad just knowing that I’m not going to be here next semester,” said Medina.
Faculty and staff say that students and the university need adjunct professors. These employees go above and beyond to prove themselves to their students and colleagues, according to Worthington.
“My fear is that during the time they’re off next semester they will find something else to do. They are essential to how we do things here,” said Worthington.
Medina discussed a scenario where she had to prepare an entire semester’s lesson plan for a course which she was assigned to on a Friday before the first Monday of classes last fall semester.
Medina, a former Quinnipiac student is not going to give up on her alma mater.
“The long-term goal is to stay at QU because I love it here. We’ll see if that can work out,” said Medina.
Professor Medina assisting a student with a question for a project.
The recent budget cuts have also impacted student employee work hours.
“The budget cuts have forced us to look at student shift hours. I have to make cuts where I can without affecting my staff,” said Joseph Podsiadlo, associate director of information services at Quinnipiac.
Other than adjusting the hours of a few staffers, Podsiadlo remained optimistic that the general student population won’t be affected by the budget cuts.
“None of us want the existing students to feel like they are not getting the support that they should have,” said Podsiadlo.
By Kim Kerremans
Quinnipiac held its annual parents weekend, where students got to be reunited with their families.
Parent’s Weekend had a full itinerary for everyone to enjoy, but for many parents the weekend was more about getting an inside look into their children’s college lives.
Families wait on the quad for President Olian to start her address.
“I didn’t get to move my daughter in at the beginning of the year, so this is the first time I’m on campus and I came to see what has improved or changed since the last time I was here,” said Kate Marcouillier.
Saturday’s events included an artisan fair, dean’s receptions, food stations, athletic games, the presidential address and family bingo. The events of the day started with a family breakfast at 9 a.m. and concluded with a family fest on the quad with food trucks at 6 p.m.
Parents and families had the option of following the itinerary or spend the day relaxing and going to the events when they wanted.
One family poses with Boomer the Bobcat on the quad.
“This is very relaxed,” said Debbie Hopkins. “We went to the dean’s reception to meet the dean of engineering because our son is a civil engineering major. We went to the chili station and our son showed us around campus while we were waiting to go to the cooking class we signed up for,” added Debbie Hopkins.
Many families walked around with paper shopping bags they received from the bookstore along with a goodie bag they received upon arrival.
“I didn’t come last year so I felt like I needed to make up for it and bought my daughter quite a few things from the bookstore,” said Pattie Donovan.
Other families chose to get off campus and enjoy some activities in Southern Connecticut.
“My daughter suggested going apple picking because the weather was perfect and it is something to do in the area,” said Pattie Donovan.
“I took my family to Wood-n-Tap, the local restaurant in Hamden to show them a small piece of student life. I go there all the time with my friends, so I wanted to share that with my family,” said Lacey Ventura.
President Judy Olian speaks with a parent after her address.
Parents’ Weekend events change year to year.
“Last year there was Rocktopia and no one showed up so I think that’s why they didn’t do it this year,” said junior, Ashley Cotto.
Last year’s Parents’ Weekend included many of the same events. However, last year some of the events were more in depth.
“The dean’s reception last year included short presentations from a couple professors in each school and this year they didn’t have that. I wish they did the same thing as last year because I wanted to meet some of my daughter’s professors,” said Arlene DePinho.
Daughter Olivia DePinho said, “We got to paint pumpkins last year, so I was looking forward to doing it again with my parents this year but they aren’t doing it, which is kind of sad. But I am looking forward to the food trucks later today.”
Besides the food trucks Family Bingo was a large hit with parents and their young kids who came and visited.
President Judy Olian began her presidential address by singing and dancing to Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. She concluded her address by saying, “We are only getting started, let’s go Bobcats.”
On a recent (and warm) Wednesday evening, customers at Wentworth Homemade Ice Cream enjoyed their treats inside.
Wentworth Homemade Ice Cream on Whitney Avenue is a Quinnipiac favorite on warm nights in the summer and early fall. But after concerns about EEE prompted Hamden’s mayor to ask residents to avoid the outdoors at dusk, students say that enjoying ice cream outside doesn’t feel quite right.
“I normally sit on the swings and relax,” senior Paige Parton said on a recent Wednesday evening from inside the ice cream parlor. “But I didn’t want to get EEE.”
“I’ve already been bitten two nights ago, twice, so I don’t want the possibility of exposing myself too much,” Parton said.
Parton went out for ice cream with junior nursing major Brendan Dillon, who says he feels that nothing is being done about the risks of mosquitoes carrying EEE.
“The state and Quinnipiac aren’t saying, here’s how you protect yourself, this is what it is and this is what we’re doing,” Dillon said.
However, junior criminal justice major Chris Cohen appreciates the care Quinnipiac has for its students.
“I think Quinnipiac is doing a good job spreading the message,” Cohen said. “They sent us an email about the details of EEE and set up stands to pass out mosquito bracelets and other forms of repellent.”
EEE or Eastern Equine Encephalitis is caused by a virus carried by mosquitoes. As of Oct. 7, three people have died in eastern Connecticut after contracting the EEE virus and a fourth person remains hospitalized with EEE, according to a Connecticut Department of Public Health press release from Oct. 1.
Scientists are testing mosquitoes across the state for the EEE virus and as of Oct. 5 The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reported that 19 towns have found EEE-positive mosquitoes. While no mosquitoes carrying the virus have been detected in Hamden, North Haven or New Haven, local officials, including those at Quinnipiac, are urging residents to avoid the outdoors between dusk and dawn when the mosquitoes are most active.
The parking lot of Sleeping Giant State Park was nearly empty on a sunny and warm Wednesday morning.
The Sleeping Giant State Park is also a hotspot for Quinnipiac students and Hamden residents to hike. The parking lot was empty on the morning of Oct. 1, despite the weather being sunny and warm.
Junior nursing major Raeanne Bryceland believes part of the scarce activity is due to the neglect of Quinnipiac and state officials.
“I think Quinnipiac should be doing more to prevent EEE,” Bryceland said. “It’s preventing people from going outside, especially since the weather’s been really nice the past couple of weeks. (Last week) it was 86 degrees and people were wearing pants because they were scared of being bitten by mosquitoes.”
HQ Press reached out to Hamden Mayor Curt Leng to see what additional precautions Hamden has taken. According to Leng, Hamden has “enacted a dusk till dawn ban that will apply to all town and board of education events.”
Hamden will also “consult with the Quinnipiack Valley Health District about weekend events hosted by charities and organizations.”
College athletics are also being affected, as UCONN football moved its kickoff time from 7 p.m. to noon. Hartford moved its men’s soccer game on Tuesday to 2 p.m.
Quinnipiac Athletics issued a press release Wednesday, stating that the field hockey team’s matchup against Liberty on Friday was moved to from 3 p.m. to 2 p.m.
⏰ Game Time Change ⏰
Saturday’s @HartfordMSOC vs. @UMBCMensSoccer game has been moved up to 2 p.m. and next Tuesday’s game vs @SJUHawks_MSoc has been pushed up to 3 p.m. as a safety precaution related to the mosquito-borne EEE virus.
More Details ➡️https://t.co/SoYZLKUvPI
— Hartford Hawks (@HartfordHawks) October 1, 2019
⏰ Game Time Change ⏰
Saturday’s @UConnFootball vs. USF game has been moved up to 12 p.m.
The University made the adjustment as a safety precaution after receiving guidance from the @CTDPH as it relates to the mosquito-borne EEE virus.
Details 👉 https://t.co/qBWYWc3yLg pic.twitter.com/cJbCtTgeVr
— UConn Huskies (@UConnHuskies) September 29, 2019
The Quinnipiac Student Health Services Department is also acting to protect students from EEE. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, health center staff had bug spray available for students to take.
Quinnipiac Student Health Services is taking action by giving out insect repellant towelettes.
But Quinnipiac’s safety messages aren’t reaching everyone. Parton still doesn’t understand what actions need to be taken.
“What is Quinnipiac doing to limit people going outside? They’ve got to come up with a game plan,” Parton said.
For more updates on EEE read our story here, and follow @HQPress on Twitter and Instagram.
Sean Patten
HAMDEN- Tragedy has struck Hamden, as a World War II bomber plane has crashed.
The plane crash-landed at Bradley International Airport, killing seven people. There were thirteen people on board at the aircraft, which consisted of two pilots, an attendant, and passengers at the time of the crash around 10:00 am.
The plane crashed approximately five minutes after it took off. The pilot contacted airport safety right away after he noticed problems with the aircraft.
The National Transportation safety guard is now investigating the crash.
