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FREE | Take one Week of Mar. 31, 2010 | Vol. 35, Iss. 22
Mirror
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Commencement Speaker Announced Staff Report It’s official. Katherine Lapp ‘78 and Dr. James Abbruzzese ‘74 will be visiting their alma mater. They are the speakers for this year’s 60th commencement, according to a University press release. Lapp will speak at the undergraduate students ceremony on the morning of May 23 and Abbruzzese will speak at the graduate students ceremony,
which will take place that afternoon. Lapp is currently the executive vice president and chief administrative office for Harvard University. She is also a former employee of New York City’s former mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was in office during Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the former executive director of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).
Abbruzzese is a recognized leader in the field of pancreatic cancer research and treatment. He has published over 350 articles, and has co-edited many books. Additional honorary degrees will be handed out to three other people: Dr. Mayra Luz Pérez Díaz,
who is the first female president of the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) in Managua, Nicaragua, Emily Rafferty, who is the first woman to head the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Rev. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., who is a professor at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Past Commencement Speakers 2002: Douglas C. Perlitz, Founder of Project Pierre Toussaint 2003: Strobe Talbott, American foreign policy analyst 2004: Cokie Roberts, an American Emmy Awardwinning journalist and bestselling author 2005: Fr. Jeffrey Von Arx, Fairfield University President 2006: British August Robinson, National Director of Jesuit refugee services 2007: Rev. Thomas J. Regan, S.J, Provincial Superior of the New England Province of the Society of Jesus and former Fairfield professor
Contributed by Nancy Habetz
Dr. James Abbruzzese was named the speaker for the graduate student commencement and Katherine Lapp was announced as the speaker for this year’s 60th undergraduate commencement.
Walking Away
2008: Fr. Jeffrey Von Arx 2009: Dr. Peter J. Pronovost, named one of Time’s most influential people for his work in medicine
Biology professor abandons bird research in face of tree removal
By Lily Norton Executive Editor After $24,000 and four years of research, Assistant Biology Professor Brian Walker is throwing in the towel. Walker’s decision to terminate his research of birds on campus was brought on by the construction in the Quick Center parking lot, which forced him to take down two bird houses nestled in the trees that once stood there. “It’s no longer possible for me to continue this project that I have done for four years,” Walker said. “Almost $24,000 which was meant for this project is now gone.” The research was one of the highlights of campus research for the biology department because it offered students hands-on experience without having to travel long distances. When Walker received a call on March 1 from the campus Facilities Management telling him to take down one of his research bird houses in the southend forest on campus, he couldn’t believe his ears. This was not the first time his research with birds on campus had been affected by campus construction. Frank Spizzoucco ‘10, a biology major who had been working on the project for two years, said Walker had to take down about 10 bird houses prior to the new construction. Every time, it set back his research because “it takes time
Walker | page 5
The minimum price to replace all of the 2,583 books lost in the damage done to the library by the recent Nor’easter is $88,519.41. That assumes each book that was damaged was a hardcover, meaning none were academic, which some probably were. The 2009 Library & Book Trade Almanac lists the average cost of a hardcover book as $34.27. It lists the average cost of an academic book
Index Opinion• Page 7 Features • Page 9 Arts & Entertainment • Page 13 Coffee Break • Page 17 Sports • Page 24
The Reflection of Fairfield
Student Loans to be Revamped By Keri Harrison News Editor
Student loans. Many students have them and few know exactly how they are going to pay them back. But with the passing of a new bill last week, it is about to get a bit easier. A new bill revamping the student loan process was passed last week by the House and the Senate as a part of President Barack Obama’s health care reform bill. According to an article in the New York Times, commercial and private banks will no longer provide student loans with federal money and the Pell grant system will be increased for needy students. In addition, students will then repay loans after graduation based on a certain percentage of their income. Director of Financial Aid Erin Chiaro said, “The new bill eliminates all private lenders from making federal Stafford or Plus loans and all universities and colleges must participate with the Federal Direct Lending Program.” In other words, the U.S. government has now taken on the role of direct lender in terms of student loans. “The only change to Fairfield University students is that they will have to complete a new master promissory note (MPN) with the U.S. Dept. of Education in order to borrow either a federal Stafford or Plus loan,” he explained. “Everything else remains the same for the student.” Senior Erin Shea said, “While I agree that regulation needs to be in place, I think the government is trying to over-extend themselves in this instance.” “I think this bill will provide students with many benefits. Pell grants will be increased and the new repayment plan should aid students,” said Stephanie Stadig ‘10. “It will give new graduates more financial stability to start their careers, find that first apartment, and get themselves going,” she continued.
Contributed by Brian Walker
Brian Walker stands with a 120-year-old tree stump in the Claver parking lot.
Library Loses Books At High Cost By Meghan Schelzi Multimedia Editor
The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
at $83.71. Processing materials and staff costs to acquire the books and make them shelf ready are additional costs. Joan Overfield, director of Library Services at Fairfield, who was among the first to witness the damage, said that after about 30 seconds of feeling shock and horror at the damage, the urge to assess all the damage and begin immediately to do everything they could to prevent any further losses kicked in.
Breaking down the new student loan package Private banks and middlemen will no longer provide students with federal loans. Students will now go through their financial aid office to apply for government-issued loans. Repayment plans, a huge addition to the bill, will depend on 10 percent of their incomes. This applies to loans taken out after July 1, 2014.
Over | page 5
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