Quinnipiac’s student planning board and radio station, WQAQ, have teamed up to plan this year’s Fall Fest. The annual concert will be held on the Quad on Oct. 12. The vendors will start at 12 p.m. and the performances will start at 1p.m..
As always, the event will be free of charge for anyone who wants to attend. The headliner for the concert is country singer, Cale Dodds. Dodds is most known for his singles “Take You Back” and “What We Gonna Do About It,” which he released in 2018. The Sulls, a two-brother rock band from Connecticut will also take the stage at this years Fall Fest.Last but not least, the cover band Those Guys will be performing.
WQAQ announced on Instagram that the annual concert will be undergoing some major changes. One of the most notable changes is the location of the event. The concert has always been held in South Lot but this year has moved to the Quad.
There will be free food trucks during the event and an additional station where students can make their own candy apples, plus a donut wall. Another fun addition to Fall Fest is the mechanical pumpkin (Yes. Pumpkin, not bull) that students can ride.
SPB and WQAQ have made many changes in an effort to bring something special to this year’s Fall Fest. With annual concert ready to kick off the fall season, the new changes could be a refreshing twist to a Quinnipiac tradition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Three people have died in eastern Connecticut after contracting Eastern Equine Encephalitis from mosquitoes carrying 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.
According to CAES, these are the locations that have tested positive for mosquito pools in Connecticut.
Starting on Oct. 1, Mayor Curt Balzano Leng suspended town and school activities from dusk until dawn at the recommendation of the regional public health organization, the Quinnipiack Valley Health District. Officials are taking extra precautions to limit resident exposure to mosquitoes after scientists found insects carrying the virus in Bethany. Public health officials note that the species of mosquito found in Bethany does not typically bite humans, but commonly feeds on birds.
Health District Recommends Suspending Outdoor Activities from Dusk to Dawn Due to Mosquito EEE Virus Precaution
QVHD has recommended the suspension of school and town sponsored activities at dawn or dusk, when mosquitos are most active…. https://t.co/b5drvnEA5r
Quinnipiac officials are also taking caution, restricting outdoor activities and events that occur just after the sun sets and rises.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont issued a press release on Sept. 24 warning residents to be careful, but not panic, after the first person died from EEE this year. Officials have also put up warning signs on highways all over the state to spread the message and encourage people to “avoid outdoors [at] dusk and dawn” even in towns where EEE infected mosquitoes have not been found. (Click on the image below to see the full message of the sign near the I-95 on-ramp in Milford).
Connecticut isn’t alone, as local news outlets report Rhode Island has experienced three human cases and one death from EEE. Massachusetts has experienced 11 human cases and four deaths.
Steve Mansfield, the health director of the Ledge Light District, which includes much of eastern Connecticut, was one of the first health officials to deal with re-emergence of EEE in the state.
“We were contacted by the state department of epidemiology a few weeks ago to notify us about the first positive mosquito pools in Connecticut,” Mansfield said. “The most important thing now is we’re waiting for a hard frost because that’s how the mosquitos will die.”
Mansfield explained that the EEE virus is relatively uncommon. Prior to this year, Connecticut had not seen any cases of EEE since 2013.
“Although the disease is very severe, it’s between 30 to 50 percent fatality rate and it’s extremely rare,” Mansfield said.
Mansfield further explained that people who survive EEE typically suffer from cognitive impairment, such as impaired memory or dementia. Some symptoms of EEE include chills, fever, malaise (discomfort), arthralgia (joint pain), and myalgia (muscle pain). Symptoms don’t typically show up until three to ten days after a bite.
Towns across the state are taking different measures to protect residents.
Concerns about the virus have spread to high school athletics, which have postponed or moved up events, according to Twitter accounts from Xavier High School, Stonington High School, Ledyard High School and Windsor public schools.
Stonington 40, Montville 34 – Final suspended after 3 quarters EEE restrictions until Saturday, 10 a.m. #cthsfb
Health officials say that limiting exposure to mosquitoes is a quick way to act upon the virus.
“I think it’s preventive, very cautious and assuring that people who do not want to take action against mosquito bites are not caught off guard,” said Balch of QVHD. “I don’t think it’s necessary in every town of the state to try to prevent mosquito bites.”
Mansfield added that Connecticut residents can take further steps to protect themselves.
“People can minimize outdoor activity around dusk and dawn, wear long sleeves or protective clothing that can cover as much skin as possible,” Mansfield said. “That’s the most effective way to prevent the disease.”
But getting the correct information out to the public is also key.
“We field a lot of phone calls from people who are very concerned and haven’t done their research,” said Mansfield. “They start asking questions, so the most important thing is spreading that message.”
Balch of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District wants residents to feel comfortable contacting her office for more information and guidance.
“I do feel for anyone who is confused by the multiple messages or the level of messaging that’s going out from different areas of the state,” Balch said.
“Whether it’d be the media, department of transportation, from one town to the next town they must find it very confusing. I want them feeling comfortable calling the health department.”
To reach a public health official at QVHD, residents can call 203-248-4528.
The data in the report covers all three Quinnipiac campuses
Hate crimes and drug arrests on campus have increased in the past year, but the number of liquor referrals have gone down.
The noteworthy differences from 2017 to 2018 include a rise in hate crimes and drug arrests, and a decline in liquor referrals.
In 2018, the number of hate crimes on campus increased to five. Three of the five hate crimes were acts of vandalism based on sexual orientation. The other two were instances of intimidation based on race. There was one hate crime on campus in 2017, a simple assault based on religion.
There were 17 drug arrests on campus in 2018. This number was significantly higher than 2017, when there were seven drug arrests on campus.
In 2018, there were 327 liquor referrals on campus, a dramatic decrease from the 436 liquor referrals in 2017.
The reason there are so many referrals and no arrests for liquor offenses is because the Connecticut does not require the university to report these offenses to law enforcement, according to Karoline Keith, Quinnipiac’s Clery compliance officer.
“[Quinnipiac] has the discretion to determine how they want to handle these incidents,” Keith said. “These incidents are handled by the Dean of Students in collaboration with campus partners such as public safety and the state’s attorney office.”
Rape, aggravated assault, burglary and drug referrals are four crimes that have maintained a steady rate since 2014.
Crimes that remained close to previous totals include rape, aggravated assault, burglary and drug referrals.
In 2018, there were three reported rapes on campus. There were no reported rapes on campus in 2017, two in 2016, four in 2015 and five in 2014. Most of these crimes occurred on Mt. Carmel campus.
Aggravated assault is defined as “an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury,” according to the Clery report.
There were three aggravated assaults on campus in 2018. In 2017, there were five aggravated assaults on campus. In 2016 there was one aggravated assault, in 2015 there were four and in 2014 there were five.
In 2018, there were 13 burglaries on campus. This was a slight increase from the nine burglaries in 2017. There were 10 in 2016, 19 in 2015 and 17 in 2014.
There were 170 drug referrals on campus in 2018. In 2017 there were 172. This was a big increase from 2016, when there were 127 drug referrals on campus. In 2015 there were 128. In 2014, there were 160 drug referrals on campus.
Officer Keith speculated that this increase is due in part to the popularity of marijuana.
“I suspect some of the increase is due to social acceptance of marijuana use in the United States,” she said.
Quinnipiac has a zero tolerance policy for drugs on campus, which is spelled out in the student code of conduct. Due to federal funding, the university must abide by federal laws, which does not permit recreational marijuana.
“Even if Connecticut legalizes recreational use of marijuana, it would still not be permitted at QU,” Keith said. “
To report an emergency on campus, students can one of the “Code Blue” boxes, which are located throughout campus. The boxes are noticeable by their blue lights and only require users to push a button to notify authorities.
Another option for reporting emergencies on campus is the Rave Guardian app. Students can notify public safety from their smartphone, and an officer will respond to the student’s location. The third way to report an emergency is to simply call 911.
To report a non-emergency, students should call public safety at (860) 582-6200 or Hamden Police at (203) 230-4000.
The state of Connecticut has increased the legal age to purchase tobacco products, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcement of new mysterious lung illnesses due to vaping. Starting Oct. 1, businesses can no longer sell cigarettes, cigars, tobacco paraphernalia and vaping products to customers under the age of 21.
Gov. Ned Lamont of Connecticut and Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York worked together on a regional partnership to put policies in place on e-cigarettes and other vaping products.
“It makes no sense to pass one set of rules in New York when they can just drive across the border to Connecticut and have a different set of rules and vice versa,” said Cuomo at a recent press conference.
Photo by: Leah Sutherland
Government officials passedTobacco 21 in Connecticut and New York in hopes that it will slow down the rising number of young adults vaping. The legislation went into effect days after a CDC stated that 805 people have suffered from lung injuries due to vaping in the United States.
Graphic by: Leah Sutherland
In Hamden, at least ten stores around Quinnipiac University sell vaping products. At Amity Wine and Spirits at 3300 Whitney Ave, staff have not noticed a change of behavior among customers. “We haven’t seen much of a decline in sales since the news came out about people getting sick from these things, but with the new Tobacco 21 law, I think there will definitely be a decrease in tobacco sales here at the store,” said employee Michael Goglia.
Quinnipiac student Anna Barton says the illnesses haven’t changed her mind about vaping, “I still use my juul. It seems like the people that are getting really sick is because they’re overusing them.”
After receiving data on 771 people with mysterious lung illnesses, the CDC reported that 16% of the cases are individuals under the age of 18. In Connecticut, the Department of Public Health released health reports involving those ill due to vaping related illnesses. Connecticut has had 18 cases of vaping related lung injuries with 9 in Fairfield County, five in New Haven, …. Most of these cases are among 18 to 34 year olds (11), with four cases among those under 18 and three among those 35 and older.
Source: CDC
Illnesses due to vaping include sudden unexplainable weight loss, shortness of breath and gastrointestinal problems. Healthcare professionals are dealing with otherwise healthy teenagers now needing a ventilator to breathe.
Twelve deaths have been confirmed in 10 states, according to the CDC.
In addition to the legal age change, an additional tax was added to sales of any tobacco products. The bill includes a 40 percent-per-milliliter tax on electronic cigarette liquid that is pre-filled and a 10 percent tax on the wholesale price of all other vaping products.
“People are noticing the extra tax,” Goglia said. “I had someone comment on the price increase this morning, so that is something that will definitely affect all the stores negatively.”
Although the CDC reports that no single product or substance has been linked to all cases, in a recent report, it confirmed about 77% of the ill reported using THC-containing products and 36% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products.
Graphic by: Leah Sutherland
The New York and Connecticut governors will meet again Oct. 17 to discuss the details of vaping and legalizing marijuana and how to do it most effectively.
This week on QNN, what Hamden is doing to protect people from a dangerous disease carried by mosquitoes. Plus, why Connecticut’s higher minimum wage may end up hurting student workers, and a look inside the Acropolis Diner. Those stories and more are in this week’s QNN newscast.
Marty, or as employees call him, Smarty, glides his way around the aisles searching for spills or falling hazards. When the robot detects a hazard, it will blink yellow and repeatedly announce “caution” in English and Spanish.
Not only does Marty alert the customers of hazardous spills, but he announces it to the employees over the intercom that a clean-up is needed.
Current Stop & Shop employees are still adjusting to their new and technical co-worker.
“I don’t like him,” Jesse Rodriguez, a Stop & Shop employee, said. “He’s weird and I feel like he’s always in the way or following me around.”
Marty weighs 140-pounds and stands at 5 feet, 3 inches tall. He costs $35,000, which may seem a bit pricey for a mobile robotic hazard sign.
But Marty offers more than meets the eye.
Marty, designed by Badger Technologies, can also process data through its camera sensors and will increase visibility for store owners of low stock and out-of-stock items. For example, if the Colgate toothpaste runs out on aisle one, Marty can scan past and be able to analyze the lack of inventory. He can then relay the data to store managers through internet connection.
Badger Technologies has also partnered with AT&T to provide the robots with a more private network connection than typical in-store Wi-Fi, according to Badger Technology’s website. The two companies will bring 5G-enabled robots to retail chains nationwide.
“Working with AT&T enables us to better support our retail customers by delivering information faster to increase store efficiencies, improve customer service and boost profits,” said Tim Rowland, CEO of Badger Technologies, in a joint press release with AT&T.
“This gives Badger Technologies more control over what data travels beyond the walls of the store and what data stays onsite, which effectively addresses mounting privacy and security concerns among retailers,” according to a statement on the AT&T website.
There were nearly 500 Marty robots deployed to Stop & Shop chains across the U.S. as of January 2019.
“Marty actually frees up time so that our associates can focus on better serving customers – as opposed to consistently scanning the store floor for potential hazards,” said Jennifer Brogan, Stop & Shop director of external communications, when asked if Marty was the corporation’s first step in automizing jobs.
Other retail chains are implementing robotic technology as well including some Walmart chains, which have autonomous scrubbers cleaning the floors, according to Walmart’s official website. Other stores such as Lowes have robots assisting customers with questions, and keeping track of inventory, according to Lowe’s Innovation Lab’s website.
