Quinnipiac – Page 13

Quinnipiac to be a tobacco-free school in 2019, according to President Olian

On November 15, 2018, President Judy Olian announced that Quinnipiac will become a tobacco-free university starting on Jan. 1, 2019. In an email sent to students, Olian said that tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, will be banned.

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Both the Mount Carmel and York Hill campuses are following suit after the North Haven campus, which became tobacco free in 2012. The Quinnipiac North Haven campus received the CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation from the CEO Roundtable on Cancer.

“It’s important for students to take into consideration what they are putting in their bodies (so) Quinnipiac deciding to push this to other campuses besides North Haven is great,” said Cassandra Reyes, an Occupational Therapy student. “Why not really take care of the students by making a huge health decision like this?”

This new policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products on campuses from regular cigarettes, to hookah-smoking products. Students on campus use a variety of smoke products that, according to experts, have negative effects on the body.

These negative effects can have deadly repercussions. Tobacco use is the “single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States,” according to the CDC. Nearly a half-million people die a year from smoking cigarettes and 41,000 die from secondhand smoke.

“Honestly, I hate the smell of cigarettes or any kind of smoking. I grew up watching my uncle gradually get very sick because of his smoking addiction and he lost his life to it,” said Andres Baez, sophomore. “When I see people my age walking around campus smoking so much it disgusts me and saddens me at the same time.”

According to the American Cancer Society, “Cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in tobacco smoke damage important genes that control the growth of cells, which causes them to grow abnormally or to reproduce too rapidly. More than 70 such cancer-causing chemicals have been identified in cigarette smoke to date.

“The research is unequivocal on the deleterious health consequences of smoking and nicotine products,” Olian said in the email. “We have an obligation to all members of our community to support a healthy learning, working and social environment for our students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

The U.S Department of Health & Human Services conducted research approximating that 2.6 million high school and college students were currently tobacco users in 2017. This figure, however, is much smaller in proportion to adolescent tobacco use forty years ago. Only one in 25 teens smoked tobacco products in 2017.

But considering the smaller, yet still-living presence of college students smoking in the 21st century, not everyone is on-board with the new policy.

“President Olian made a strong decision. I vape all the time, that’s a way for me to destress myself. I know the harm it has to my body, but that’s the thing, it’s my body. I understand the betterment as a whole, but this is just a bit annoying,” said Quinnipiac freshman, Leo Thomas.

Although the decision to become a tobacco free university stirred-up different opinions from students and faculty, the main goal of implementing this new policy is to assist students, faculty and staff while quitting smoking. Ultimately, this will assist in creating a healthier community at Quinnipiac University.

Timeline/Graphics: How a QU professor got caught in a sex sting

By Nora Scally, Cullen Ronan and Aaron Robinson

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Following the incriminating video of a Quinnipiac University finance professor who appears to be looking to have sexual relations with a 14-year-old boy, an online sting operation has been brought to light.

The sting netted Dr. Thomas Coe, an associate professor and chair of the finance department.

Coe, who has been suspended pending an investigation, but not arrested, began teaching at Quinnipiac in 1999.

After extended online conversations posing as a minor, the head of an organization known as “PopSquad (Prey on Predators Squad),” who goes by “Incognito,” lured Coe into meeting up with what he believed to be an underage boy, only to greet Coe with a camera upon his arrival.

Leading up to the interaction, he had canceled his classes after November 1 due to travel and out of town conferences.

Above: An e-mail Coe sent announcing his travels.

He sent out an e-mail hours before his interaction with “PopSquad” as well.

Above: An e-mail Coe sent before his confrontation with “PopSquad”.

“PopSquad” is dedicated to luring and exposing child predators in Connecticut, in an effort to help protect children and “raise community awareness around the issue in hopes of toughening laws and legislation” according to the “PopSquad” website.

The videos taken of unsuspecting predators, including the one featuring Coe, are then posted to the “PopSquad” website, where they join the ranks of the other 129 individuals that Incognito has caught on camera.

Incognito told Fox 61 that the mission of “PopSquad” is to change Connecticut legislation regarding how the state handles sex offenders.

“Technology has outgrown our laws and that’s a huge loophole that a lot of the guys I catch get,” Incognito said. “If they go online and they talk to your child and they don’t say anything sexual, they technically aren’t breaking a law,”

HQ Press reached out to Incognito regarding “PopSquad”, who says he has stopped talking to news outlets because he feels as though they are also part of the problem, but did not elaborate on the issue.

“PopSquad's” Instagram direct message to HQ Press — “PopSquad’s” Instagram direct message to HQ Press

The “PopSquad” method of exposing sexual offenders bares a resemblance to Dateline NBC’s “To Catch a Predator,” a program aired from 2004 to 2007 that used similar means of convincing offenders to meet up with underage boys and girls through online chat rooms.

However, those who were caught by the operation would leave in handcuffs after the executors of the sting were temporarily deputized by the local police department throughout the length of the sting.

Despite not having an affiliation with law enforcement, the efforts of “PopSquad” have gained plenty of traction online, tallying thousands of views and leading to 14 arrests, nine pending trials and five convictions throughout its two-year history.

However, questions still remain about the future of the 104 other predators caught in the “PopSquad” sting.

Above: Timeline of the events surrounding Thomas Coe.

Mass shootings are affecting communities coast to coast

By Paige Meyer

“It was very much the spot of my town and is a very laid back, happy environment to hang out, dance, party and just let loose with your friends,” Quinnipiac University freshman and Thousand Oaks resident Lauryn Yarnall said.

“Everyone around my age absolutely loves Borderline,” she added.

The Borderline Bar and Grill located in Thousand Oaks, California was known as a popular spot for nearby colleges. On Wednesday, the bar was hosting line-dancing lessons for college students ages 18 and up when gunfire stunned the crowd. A night filled with celebration quickly turned to a night of heartbreak.

“I just felt so bad for those kids. The shooter totally knew Wednesday nights were a big night for Borderline,” Daniel Madnick, Borderline regular and Thousand Oaks resident, said.

“It had to be very planned out at least that is what I think because Wednesdays are a huge draw for young kids,” he said.

At about 11:20 p.m., a veteran of the U.S. Marines tossed a smoke bomb and began to open fire. The shooter was a machine gunner in the Marine Corps and has had recent run-ins with the law. In April, officers had to respond to an incident reported at his mother’s home, where he lives.

“My brother was supposed to go to the bar that night and at the very last minute his friend bailed and he didn’t go, he very well could have been there last night and not have made it like the rest of them,” Madnick said.

As bullets flew, terrified patrons and community members fled the scene as fast as possible. According to the Los Angeles Times, the shooter was found dead on the scene and is suspected to have committed suicide, but due to the amount of blood in the Borderline Bar, it is unclear to whether he took his own life or was shot down by officials.

“There are always big bouncers who throw out drunk kids but none that are ready to take on smoke bombs and a gun. I have only seen police activity maybe once at that bar and I go all the time. For the most part it is a very secluded little spot and I can see why he targeted it,” Madnick said.

Sometimes the security at bars, clubs and events can only do so much.

“There are times where I walk into an environment and can smell the tension in the air and I just can tell that something is going to happen,” said Jared Allen, a protection specialist, high profiled celebrity bodyguard and Connecticut club security guard.

“While providing security I have been sliced, shot at, had bottles broken over my head, and attacked. This only comes once in a blue moon,” Allen said.

After the Sandy Hook shooting back in 2012, there have been 1,895 mass shootings affecting people and communities around the world.

Below are some of the hotspots in Hamden where many Quinnipiac students spend their free time. The fear of a possible invasion is setting in close to campus for many students.

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“I didn’t go out in Hamden or New Haven this weekend and I tried to convince my friends not to go out either. It was too soon for me and it is still too soon for me. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that I will be able to go to a club or bar again without thinking of the shooting and considering the possibility that I could die,” Yarnall said.

Yarnall set up a vigil on the Quinnipiac University Quad to honor the lost lives in the Thousand Oaks shooting. She set up 12 candles with the name of each victim on them in front of the student center on Quinnipiac’s main campus.

“I set up the vigil for a lot of reasons,” Yarnall stated. “The main one was to help me feel not so useless, all the way on the East Coast. I’ve wanted nothing more than to go home and be with my family and stand with them to help my community.”

Quinnipiac University organizations assemble care packages for Homes for the Brave

By Scott De Bell

Community Assistant Cynthia Clements making a care package for Homes for the Brave

Several organizations at Quinnipiac came together on Sunday afternoon in honor of Veterans Day to help homeless veterans for Thanksgiving by assembling care packages fro Homes for the Brave.

Quinnipiac’s Residential Life, Residence Hall Council and Student Veterans Organization came together to host an event where students could bring non-perishable products and make their own care packages.

The organizations raffled off a Quinnipiac hockey jersey, hosted trivia with prizes and provided pizza for anyone who came and donated goods. The event also gave students an opportunity to talk to student veterans.

Chidi Nwuneli is one of the community assistants that organized this event. This is the second year that Nwuneli has run this event and this year he was striving to make it bigger.

Hector Alicea from his time in the Marine Corps

“Last year we had a smaller scale event and this year we tried to work with Residence Hall Council and Student Veterans themselves to make it a bigger event and we’re just trying to help on a bigger scale,” Nwuneli said.

One thing that the coordinators of this event tried to offer the students was the opportunity to talk to student veterans. Hector Alicea was one of those veterans in attendance at the event. Alicea is a veteran of the Marine Corps. He served for seven years and completed two tours. As a veteran, Alicea is very appreciative of events like this, as well as being able to help out.

Junior Kathryn Lees writing a note to put in her care package

“The fact that people are willing to come here and donate and raise money for those service members who are still serving, or those service members who returned who are still trying to integrate back into society, it means something to us. So the Student Veterans Organization, we’re going to support that all the way,” Alicea said.

Thomas Perry, a junior at Quinnipiac, came and donated goods and assembled a care package for Homes for the Brave. Perry has quite a few connections to military veterans, so this event really pushed him to give back.

“I have a lot of family who were in the Armed Forces and it is the little things like this, and it is nice to be able to give back and it all goes to our troops,” Perry said. “I think it’s awesome to give a little something to make a soldier’s day that much better.”

Quinnipiac president, People’s United Bank EVP give lessons from top

The People’s United Center for Women and Business hosted an inaugural event, Women in Leadership: Lessons from the Top, on Nov. 6. This event showcased two intelligent leaders: Judy Olian, president of Quinnipiac University, and Sara Longobardi, senior executive president, retail banking at People’s United Bank. Women and men from the town of Hamden and the university came to learn from the experiences and wisdom of these two leaders.

Olian and Longobardi shared many personal stories about their journeys to the height of their careers. Many attendees thanked them personally for sharing their stories.

Olian and Longobardi have worked together to bring The People’s United Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as apart of the 10-year agreement between People’s United and Quinnipiac, where the bank has donated 5 million dollars to the center and women in business. This agreement has been put in place to help bridge the gap of resources for women pursuing careers in the business world. Some of these resources provide advisory services, workshops in legal, finance, research, marketing, design, business plan development and startup mentoring.

Both People’s United and the university have high hopes for the centers ability to help students from all majors and disciplines. “We want women from all different backgrounds and areas of life to bring their skill sets to the same table and create a diverse community,” said Judy Olian. Olian, as the ninth president of Quinnipiac University, is motivated to bridge different cultures of women together to leadership.

She touched on 10 important skills to have that will ensure one’s success in the business world as a women, including: “Saying yes to assignments that intimate you, Finding your own brand, and knowing when you fail and being honest with oneself about it to get right back up.” These were a few statements Olian made in her pursuit to abide by “the obligation to help young women pursue their dreams and goals.”

Olian states that dreams and goals start to flourish just by saying “Yes.” “You just say yes to stuff that people dump on you and say ‘would you do this?’ If you can bring yourself to say yes it is probably a career development opportunity because you are learning new skills and you are becoming visible in new ways to people, and you become known as a can-do person.” In doing so, Olian became more aware of her own skills that she probably never knew she had by just

saying yes

Olian encourages students to be very self-aware when saying “Yes” to different opportunities as as part of their leadership development. “You’ll be a much better leader, and will understand what your passionate about and what you love doing which makes work so much more fun.”

Sara Longobardi agrees with Olian in which students and women in leadership should take advantage of every opportunity, because those numbers have potential to bring diversity. “Culture and diversity is what brings strength. Celebrating differences will be a source for strength for future women leaders,” said Longobardi. Longobardi gave many motivating words about what diversity means to her and this partnership between the center and Quinnipiac. Many students and faculty aim to see this change as this partnership grows.

“Diversity is a business partner, and women from all walks of life bring that. It’s great to have these two exponential women feel such a gratitude in their careers to want to share those passions and experiences in what they learned with other women,” said Gail Gilmore, Director of educational leadership at Quinnipiac University.

This event brought many different leaders, educators, and students together to bring new insight to what Quinnipiac represents and supports. Longobardi and Olian look forward to having more events like this to continue to motivate and cultivate women in leadership. “Always remember that together we are a stronger force,” said Longobardi.

Halloween: Quinnipiac University raises awareness about cultural appropriation

By Scott De Bell and Ana Grosso

Throughout the Halloween season in Hamden, children, parents and university students celebrate in many different ways. Between trick or treating and the infamous Halloweekend, people in Hamden spend their holiday dressing up in all sorts of costumes.

From sports jerseys to fake blood, there is wide variety of options for students deciding what to wear.

However, Quinnipiac University considers some costumes inappropriate, especially those that could appear racially or culturally insensitive.

Leading up to the holiday, university officials put up posters around campus to inform students about the specific types of costumes to avoid. In addition, the university sent an email to every student.

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HQ Press journalists went live on Facebook to find out what the student body thought about the issue. Click the link to hear what they had to say.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/HamdenQuinnipiacPress/posts/?ref=page_internal

Quinnipiac students hold ‘Bridge The Gap’ event on campus

By Aaron Robinson

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

This quote was one of the focal points of the “Bridge the Gap” discussion that took place on the evening of Thursday, Oct 26 in the Mount Carmel Auditorium at Quinnipiac University.

The discussion was sponsored by the latin sorority Chi Upsilon Sigma and co-sponsored by the latin fraternity Lambda Theta Phi as well as Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity inc.

It was the second annual “Bridge the Gap” discussion. The inaugural event last year was heavily attended, but not this year. This time, there were just over 20 people in attendance.

“I think people fear the unknown. I think people might hear bridge the gap and think it is going to be an attack on them when in fact it is the opposite,” said Destiny Dejesus, who sponsored the event as a member of of Chi Upsilon Sigma. Sophomore psychology major Darian Duah agreed.

“It seems like not many people on this campus want to learn different things about how to bring the community closer,” he said.

This sentiment is one that is felt by many minority students on campus. Many feel as though they are the only ones who care about issues such as inclusion and multiculturalism, and those values aren’t shared by many of their peers on campus.

“Not many people feel like they want to be more informed on other cultures and have the conversation at all,” said Stanley Jean Bart Jr., a sophomore health science major. “Whether it is time or just general preference of not wanting to seek out knowledge, I guess that’s why they didn’t come.”

Even though the event was not heavily attended, there is still a motivation to continue to have these events at Quinnipiac.

“I think events like this are always important on campuses like this one. Especially where us minority students are in the vast minority, so I think that the more we can talk about these challenging topics the better,” said Andrew Robinson, another event co-sponsor.

As far as solutions go, many students feel that there is only one way to improve race relations and interactions on campus.

“You got to be different,” said Duchaine Augusta, a junior marketing major. “You got to get out of your comfort zone and talk to somebody that you have never seen before and just start a conversation.”

This idea of getting out of your comfort zone was a recurring theme at the event. The hope is that students from all races will be able to reach out to each other and interact within the same social space without a fear of how they will be perceived.

“Bridge the Gap” organizers, sponsors and attendees again look to Dr. King’s words and implore their peers to “get out of the narrow confines of individualistic concerns” to broaden social circles and create dialogue between students of color and white students.

Canada legalizes marijuana: Is the U.S. next?

By Max Slomiak

On Oct. 17, Canada passed a law to make legal all uses — including medicinal and recreational uses — of marijuana.

Dylan Chand is a Quinnipiac University senior from Coquitlam, British Columbia.

“I think legalization for marijuana is something that has been long overdue,” he said. “For Canada I think it’s great for the economy because we’re known as a cannabis country already, so it makes the sale of marijuana seem much more legitimate and can reduce the stigma of marijuana as a drug.”

Over the past five years, marijuana legislation has started to become more common in states around the U.S.

According to the National Conference of State Legislators, as of Oct. 25, marijuana is legal for both medicinal and recreational use in nine states and there are 30 states in which it is only legal to use for medicinal purposes.

Will the U.S finally make marijuana legal in all 50 states?

Quinnipiac professor Jonathan Pelto, who studies government affairs and policy said, “As more and more states look to Canada and their experience and particularly the revenue that they will make from this policy, these states are going to say, ‘Look, if Canada and Colorado can do it so can we.’”

Canada’s policy may also make marijuana laws more strict at the federal level with the current administration’s stance against the legalization of marijuana.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the Trump administration tries to ramp up stronger enforcement of marijuana laws to get back at Canada,” Pelto said.

Marijuana is already being discussed at the federal level as Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey proposed a bill to remove marijuana from the schedule 1 classification. This classification means that it is the worst kind of drug in the federal government’s eyes.

In the upcoming midterm elections, both Michigan and North Dakota will vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana.

“I think it will pass in Connecticut this year or next year. As Massachusetts gets on board, it’s just that you’re losing so much revenue,” Pelto said.

Some students are in favor of legalizing marijuana throughout the U.S.

Quinnipiac junior, Stephen Cangelosi, said, “Marijuana should be legal because it’s not that bad of a drug. It’s safer than alcohol and if it was controlled on the market you wouldn’t have to worry about it being laced with any other drugs, such as angel dust.”

Some students think that eventually the entire country will legalize marijuana.

“I think that in the next five years all states will legalize marijuana … because it makes so much money for the states and if it’s regulated by the federal government “ said Khrys De Jesus, a sophomore.

Some college students think — legal or not — marijuana will stay the same on college campuses.

De Jesus said, “I think more people would be open to doing it, but overall the amount of people who use it would stay the same.”

Everything you need to know about the 2018 Midterm Elections

By Sarah Russell and Shane Dennehy

On Nov. 6, 2018, Americans will have the opportunity to head to the polls and vote in the midterm elections. All 50 states will be voting on seats in the House and Senate, among others. Because all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and a third of U.S. Senators are being voted on, the midterm elections are incredibly important. They will decide which political party, Democrat or Republican, will control each part of Congress.

How to register?

If you are 18 and a U.S. citizen then you most likely qualify to vote. For easy instruction of where and how to register to vote visit vote.org, find your home state, and click “Find out how to register.” If you are able to register online in your state this will bring you directly to your state’s online voter registration.

For most states, you can register to vote online. However, 12 states don’t have online registration available. These states include Arkansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming.

As a Quinnipiac University student, you can register to vote in the state of Connecticut. As residents while attending the university, students have the ability to register and vote in Connecticut. On Nov. 6, transportation will be available for registered students who wish to go to the polls and vote.

If you are registered in your home state rather than in Connecticut, you still have the ability to vote. Each state has different requirements in terms of absentee voting. Even if your state requires excuses for an absentee ballot, most states accept the excuse of being a student at an out-of-state college or university. You can find your state or territorial election office website here. Once on the website, the page should have instructions for requesting an absentee ballot in your state.

The map below depicts which states allow early voting:

Early voting and absentee ballot laws by state. Source: http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx — Early voting and absentee ballot laws by state.

Source: http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx

Last dates to register:

Connecticut: Oct. 30

Maine: Oct. 16

Massachusetts: Oct. 17

New Hampshire: Nov. 6

New Jersey: Oct. 16

New York: Oct.12

Rhode Island: Oct. 7

Vermont: Nov. 6

For a full list of states’ last days to register to vote, click here.

Where to vote locally:

Quinnipiac University students can either register to vote in the town of Hamden or can vote in their hometown. If they choose to vote in Hamden they have to fill out a Connecticut voter registration form and send it to the Hamden Registrars of Voters. Quinnipiac students must bring their student IDs to the polling place when they go to vote. Hamden residents can vote at the Bear Path School, Hamden Middle School,Board of Education building, Miller Library, Helen St. School, Keefe Community Center, Spring Glen School, Ridge Hill School, Dunbar Hill School and West Woods School.

If you missed the the deadline to register to vote, there is election day registration. Quinnipiac students can bring their student ID to the registrar of voter’s office at the Hamden Government Center, located at 2750 Dixwell Ave. on Nov. 6 and register to vote in the state of Connecticut.

What is your state voting on?

Connecticut

Connecticut will vote in a new governor on Nov. 6 as incumbent Governor Dan Malloy decided to not seek reelection. The two candidates for Governor are Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Bob Stefanowski. Lamont ran for Governor of Connecticut in 2010, however Malloy defeated him in the primaries. Stefanowski has never held a political position before but he has experience in the business world working at GE Capital, 3i Group plc and the Dollar Financial Group. Senator Chris Murphy is running for re-election for his position in the United States Senate. Murphy, a democrat, is being challenged by Republican Matthew Corey.

Connecticut voters will vote on an amendment to the State Constitution that would create a transportation fund that could only be used to pay for transportation related things and transportation debt. The other question will be on limiting the state’s General Assembly’s ability to sell property to out of state entities.

Massachusetts

Republican Governor Charlie Baker is seeking re-election and Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez is opposing him. Gonzalez worked on Massachusetts previous Governor Deval Patrick as Deputy Secretary of Administration and Finance. Then in 2009 Patrick appointed Gonzalez to Secretary of Administration and Finance. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is seeking reelection to the United States Senate. Republican Geoff Diehl is challenging Warren.

Massachusetts residents will have three questions on their ballots. The first question will ask residents if nurses should be assigned a limited amount of patients. Residents will also vote on whether the state can make a commission that would look at the spending of corporations into political campaigns. The third question would prohibit discrimination in places of public accommodation based on gender identity.

New Jersey

Current Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat, is running against Republican Bob Hugin. Menendez has been senator since 2006. Hugin is a past biopharmaceutical executive, an at-large delegate at the Republican National Convention in 2016.

New Jersey’s Public Question #1 is about school projects bond. Voting yes on this question would support a $500 million obligation bond for grants including school security, college career, vocational schools, and school water infrastructure.

New York

Current Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, is seeking re-election against Republican Marcus Molinaro. Cuomo was first elected in 2010 and hasn’t had a Republican governor since 2002. Molinaro is a former member of the New York State Assembly for District 103 from 2007 until 2012. Prior to that, Molinaro served as mayor of Tivoli, New York, county legislator of Dutchess County and village trustee of Tivoli, New York. Incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand is seeking reelection to her seat the senate, a position she has held since 2009. This year she runs in opposition of Republican Chele Farley. Both ran unopposed in their primary elections. There are no ballot measures in the 2018 election in New York.

What’s at stake?

According to NBC News, the president’s political party has lost an average of 32 seats in the House of Representatives and two seats in the Senate in every midterm election since the Civil War. During this year’s election, the Democratic party will only need 24 seats to flip the House to their majority and two to flip the Senate.

Family weekend activities and insights

By Max Slomiak

Every year, the Student Programing Board (SPB) hosts Family Weekend. The weekend provides parents of Quinnipiac students an opportunity to visit their children and all of the resources Quinnipiac has available.

The Mount Carmel campus comes to life as families begin to arrive on Friday. Events on campus are held to spark conversation and interaction, such as the Quinnipiac Sustainability Farmers Market or sporting events.

It gives student’s a chance to see their families who have a major influence on their college success.

“Family plays a big role in my college success. They push and encourage me to be the best that I can. Family will always be important to me”, said Ryan Ditcham a junior.”

On Friday parent’s had the opportunity of going to the student performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream or they could head to the auditorium and take part in Night on the Boardwalk where students and their families can play games and eat food.

On Saturday is when the parents get to tour the entire campus. They get a full tour of the learning commons and have the opportunity to go into a classroom and hear from professors about the teaching style of Quinnipiac and what the students are learning in their classes.

There’s also a market held in the Burt Khan gym where local businesses set up tables for the families to shop. Saturday night is headlined by the Rocktopia performance. Which is a performance that puts together all generations of music for an experience that both parents and students can equally enjoy.

Family Weekend is also a great time for all friends and families to get together. College can change a family dynamic since a child is no longer living at home in most cases. So there is no longer the constant connection of seeing each other everyday.

Inge Ameer who has two children in college. One at Quinnipiac and one at Bay Path University. Talks about the changes that occur when your children go off to college.

“Some of the connections are weaker, like knowing what is going on in their day to day lives – their favorite hangouts, restaurants, etc. But some of the connections are stronger like talking about adult matters like their future and the coming choices they will have to make”

It also gives parents a chance to see their kids blossom and become independent.

Inge said, “When they leave for college, they are still young, just out of high school. But you watch them mature, make some mistakes and have some successes. You watch them fully move into adulthood and your relationship with them changes.

Family also plays a huge role in a college students as the relationship changes between a student and their family since they’re maturing and making decisions on their own.

“My relationship has changed for the good they trust me to make the right decisions and they’re more open about talking to me about family business”, said John Hughes.

One thing that every college student has to deal with is not having that support of your family all the time

Robert Weinfeld uses the Family weekend to visit his parents in Massachusetts.

“Since I’ve been in college my family still plays a major role in my life, but I’m not as close with them since I’m away and don’t get to talk often ”, said Weinfield a junior.

Family will continue to play a major role in students life even after college. Even if the relationship has some changes.