Author Bill Klump

1. Should Marty O' Sullivan stay? 2. Franchise tag a good thing or bad thing? 3. Better playoffs: NHL or NBA? 4. How many softball games will you attend? 5. Be the groundhog: more snow to come?

Most people who have been following this year's election season know that the Connecticut senate race is among the most competitive and confusing. What they may not be able to tell you, however, is that it all started with Fairfield University politics professor.

Congressman Christopher Shays, a 19-year incumbent Republican, has made every effort this election season to convince voters in the fourth congressional district that he is an independent voice in Congress. Indeed, at a time of bitter partisanship in Washington, the Congressman has gone against President Bush and members of his own party on a number of issues, voting to fund stem cell research and against drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

In the toughest decision we had to make this election season, we believe students should chose competence over integrity and vote to re-elect Joseph Lieberman as Connecticut's junior senator. If this decision was made based on who was been the more honest, straightforward man, we would have endorsed Lieberman's Democratic challenger, businessman Ned Lamont.

Jodi Rell has done an admirable job as Connecticut's chief executive for the past three years, but we believe college students and other citizens would benefit from a change in Hartford. While we commend Rell for pushing a tough ethics reform bill though the state legislature, and for turning a budget deficit into a surplus, we think Democrat John DeStefano, the sitting mayor of New Haven, is a better candidate on issues that matter to college students, and therefore has earned our endorsement as Connecticut's next governor.

Fairfield's men's basketball and lacrosse teams have recently garnered the most support from the student body. But the women's soccer team may shake things up and soon become Fairfield's best team. With nine incoming freshmen, two of whom have already secured starting jobs, and a solid core of players returning from last year's MAAC championship team, this team is ready to wow spectators.

Despite being one of the lesser known sports on campus, the men's and women's club rugby teams continue to grow in participation, fans and recognition. With the season underway, the Fairfield men's rugby team has started the season with a 1-2 record, defeating rival Sacred Heart and fighting hard against Vassar and Seton Hall.

The Stags' stagnant offense finally broke out of its slump this weekend, scoring six goals in two games and helping the women's soccer team win the BAE Systems Classic hosted by Army in West Point, N.Y. The struggling Fairfield team entered the weekend 0-3-2 but was able to beat Delaware 4-2 and Army 2-1 for its first two victories of the season.