Category: Uncategorized

Jake Ziegler

HAMDEN – Hamden’s unique Sleeping Giant State Park has finally re-opened to the public for the first time since last year’s destructive tornado. The park closed on May 15. 2018 and became available to visit this past June, allowing hikers to return to their favorite trails.

The park’s repairs totaled about $735 thousand, according to the press release. The good news, though, is that the emergency management agency is projected to reimburse roughly 75% of those expenses. 

Although the Sleeping Giant will never be the same, the Hamden surrounding community can rest assured that everything possible was done to return Sleeping Giants State Park to its original condition.

After more then three months of negotiations and eleven days on strike, Stop & Shop workers have reached a tentative agreement with the Supermarket chain and went back to work this past Sunday. The employees at more then 240 Stop and Shops across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island reached a deal with the Super Market chain which gives them better pay and health care coverage.

Quinnipiac student Alex Bernstein said that he believes that full time workers should be given benefits. “I definitely think that they deserve full time rights I mean right now they work them like thirty-nine and a half hours a week so they don’t get the forty hours so that way they get the benefits so it’s just kind of corporate greed.”

Super market chains such as Aldi, Costco, and Shop Rite offer their employees health insurance, dental insurance and more, causing potential competition in hiring. During the strike there was more then just competition with employees but also with shoppers. Students say they chose to shop at Aldi and Shop Rite during the strike forcing Stop and Shop to loose business.

“I usually shop at Stop and Shop to get my groceries,” said Quinnipiac student Emily Dryzgual. “But because they were on strike last week I went to Shop Rite which I guess is bad for their business because all the students are shopping at their competitors now.”

Shop Rite offers more then just health insurance coverage to their employees and includes a competitive 401 (k), auto home and pet insurance and tuition reimbursement. The Stop and Shop workers on strike included cashiers, stockers, bakers, deli clerks and butchers. During the strike, Stop & Shop employees argued that the chain’s parent company, Ahold Delhaize, reported profits of more than $2 billion to its shareholders last year, and could afford to compensate workers better.

Democratic presidential candidates including Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren supported the workers through out the strike. Warren tweeted out saying “Congratulations to @UFCW and the 31,000 @StopandShop workers who are back on the job today after striking to secure fair wages, health and retirement benefits for workers. When we fight together, we win.”

The union said in a statement: “The agreement preserves health care and retirement benefits, provides wage increases, and maintains time-and-a-half pay on Sunday for current members.” Details of the proposed three-year agreement will not be made public until the 31,000 union members across five locals ratify the contract. Voting will begin this week.

A group project at the University of Hartford went horribly wrong this past Sunday when two students were stabbed. University of Hartford student Jake Wascher has been accused of stabbing two classmates in a dorm room while practicing for a drama class assignment. After stabbing the two students Wascher then ran into the campus woods but was later found by police.

Lieutenant Paul Cicero said in a statement, “One of the victims, a 21-year-old male suffered one punctured wound to the chest and four to the back. A second victim, 19-year-old male suffered from a single puncture would to the chest as well as the back.”

Students although shaken by this incident are taking it well-said Hartford student Matt Frasier. “Students seem to be very relaxed I don’t mean accepting but more safe and secure then they would after something like that,” said Frasier.

The university sent out an email to students saying that if they need counseling or assistance the university is providing services to help the campus community. The university stated, “While there is no ongoing threat to campus, we recognize that this isolated incident is frightening and unsettling.”

According to court documents, when Wascher was found he told police that we was just interested in what it was like to stab someone and that he was not provoked or endangered.

Quinnipiac student Rob Tammaro said there should be more focus on mental health in college campuses to permit events like this from happening. “I think mental health is an issue amongst college students whether it’s at Uhart or across the country and I think colleges could change the stigma of it by maybe sending emails or making it more accessible for students to access help”.

Uhart commuter, Jake Wascher is now being charged with two counts a criminal content to commit murder and two counts of assault first degree. His bail is being held at $1 million dollars.

By Elisa Ruiz Martinez

It’s Bobcat Challenge week but some Quinnipiac students and student athletes are not really sure on whether this competition is the best way to raise money.

Bobcat Challenge is back and with only one day left, but do Quinnipiac student know what it is?

 Let’s take a look at what some students said.

“I do not know anything about the Bobcat Challenge. If I had to guess what it is maybe they split up the student body into different teams and had them compete in like fun games or something like that… I’m not sure,” senior Quinnipiac student Kyle Gaughan said.

I also asked senior Quinnipiac student Alessandro Woodbridge and he did not know what it was either. “No, what’s the Bobcat Challenge?” Is it something like, I don’t know, you have to act like bobcats or something, like who can act like the the bobcat, the mouse?”

Bobcat Challenge is a race between 21 Division 1 teams where they compete against each other to see which team can raise more money in only 5 days.  

Student athletes need the support from alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff and fans. However, some player’s personal reactions to this challenge were not as everyone expected

“Okay so I think it’s a bit weird, considering a lot of people are on scholarships here and we come to expect, especially international students, not to be asked for money, you are always told that athletics has a lot of money…” Division 1 Field Hockey Athlete Anna Wamlsley said.

“I actually don’t like the fact that they force us to do it because it’s a donation you shouldn’t be forced to do, and also you are paying for your own traveling and stuff…” Division 1 Golf Athlete Elena Ybarra said.

Another Division 1 Gold player, Queenie Lai also said “I think it is a good idea, but personally from an athlete standpoint, I think it may not be the most efficient way to raise funds.”

The Bobcat Challenge is over with the Women’s Field Hockey team as the winners. They had 465 donors with over $15,000 raised. They will also be receiving $3,000 as their price.

Dominic “Nick” Yoia, a long-time member of the Quinnipiac community, died on Tuesday, Feb. 26. He was 55.

Yoia served as associate vice president and director of financial aid in his time at Quinnipiac since his hire in 1999. He died overnight at his home in Wallingford.

Many students and faculty alike are devastated by the news.

“He would really do anything for anyone,” junior Phil Akre said, who worked with Yoia in the financial aid office. “I really hope that people know the kind of guy he was.”

Quinnipiac President Judy Olian sent an email to students on Wednesday morning offering support services to students, faculty and staff.

In his 20-plus years at Quinnipiac, Yoia was often spotted supporting Quinnipiac Athletics.

“He and Marcia often attended basketball and hockey games at the People’s United Center and volleyball matches on Lender Court,” Olian said in her email.

Coaches and fans alike took to social media to honor Yoia as the regular seasons came to a close.

Proud of the commitment of our players. All year long — selfless. Our character and culture came through. I lost a good friend this week. Quinnipiac lost a friend. #RIP Nick Yoia. We share this with you. https://t.co/YCTnHzBF5V

— Rand Pecknold (@RandPecknold) March 3, 2019

Thanks to all who supported us our last few games at home – sorry we couldn’t pay you back with a W to finish the year! Credit a gritty performance by Manhattan. RIP Nick Yoia – wish we could have gotten it for you. Hope to see Bobcat Nation in Albany! #ATTITUDE

— Baker Dunleavy (@BakerDunleavy) March 4, 2019

Special Thanks to @QU_WBB @QUAthletics QU’s Stream Team and ESPN+ for this special tribute to our friend, colleague and true fan Nick Yoia #QuinnipiacUniversity #NickYoia pic.twitter.com/PnjtY78gnC

— Jack McDonald (@FavUncleJack) March 1, 2019

Yoia received a Center of Excellence award last year for his contribution to helping students on campus.

University officials have since created a scholarship fund — The Dominic Yoia Endowed Scholarship Fund — in his honor.

“He was passionate about all things Quinnipiac,” said Joan Mohr, former vice president for admissions and financial aid. “I think it’s a great tribute to have his name as part of Quinnipiac University.”

Yoia leaves behind his wife Marcia and two daughters Lindsay and Lauren, who both attended Quinnipiac.

Sunday night into Monday morning saw the region experience a snowstorm.

While there was some dissatisfaction, most of the people I questioned stated how happy they were to have a day off due to snow.

Between snowmen (and women), it looks like for the most part people were content with where the snowstorm left them

By Kyle Levasseur

Quinnipiac University students and members of the local community donated blood at the Mt. Carmel campus on Thursday, March 7. The Community Action Project teams up with the American Red Cross for the blood drive twice a year as a way to give back to the community.

The Community Action Project’s co-directors Taylor Fay and Melissa Neves were busy signing people up throughout the day. Both are health science students at Quinnipiac and have special ties to donating blood.

“My mom had breast cancer,” Fay said. “We were on a family vacation and she wasn’t feeling well so we brought her to the hospital and she actually had no white blood cells so she needed a lot of blood transfusions. Now I hope to pay it forward to others that need help.”

One donation of blood can save three lives according to the American Red Cross. That was enough for Neves to join the Community Action Project, even though she can get queasy when she sees needles.

“I actually fainted once,” Neves said recalling one of the three times she gave blood. “If you can just put up with (the pain) for a little while, it’s worth it.”

The Community Action Project says most donations of blood are a pint, but lesser amounts can also be used for research.

The American Red Cross has a promotion with HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones from March 7-12, part of which is free t-shirts and stickers for each donation in that time frame. Another part of the promotion includes a chance to win a free trip to the Game of Thrones season eight world premiere if a donation is made before March 17.

Game of Thrones fan and Quinnipiac senior Nick Borgman came to the blood drive for the free t-shirt but says he will be donating blood again in the future because of what he learned.

“I never realized just how helpful donating blood can be,” Borgman said. “I just didn’t think that me giving a little bit of blood could help others. It wasn’t until I actually donated my own blood and saw it with my own eyes that I realized I was wrong.”

Snow days don't stop the need for blood. As soon as it is safe to leave the house, please consider making an appointment to give blood or platelets. https://t.co/SwYdTKlTqO

— CT Red Cross Blood (@RedCrossBloodCT) March 4, 2019

The American Red Cross is offering other days to donate blood on it’s website: redcrossblood.org