FREE | Take one Week of Sept. 22, 2010 | Vol. 36, Iss 4
The
Mirror
fairfieldmirror.com
The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University The Reflection of Fairfield
Increase in
Sex Crimes and
Thieves
Peter Caty/ The Mirror
By Gillien Murray contributing writer
Safe. It’s a word used often and it is often taken for granted. As the 2010 school year begins, both new and returning students flood campus with hopes of epic parties and acceptable grades. But are they thinking about how safe they are? Public Safety is. Every year, in accordance with state law, Public Safety conducts a uniform campus crime report for the previous calendar year. This report must be consistent with the FBI’s uniform crime reporting system. Assistant Director of Public Safety John Ritchie said, “We don’t think the numbers going up on the report are a direct result of more in-
cidents occurring, but of more incidents being reported.” Ritchie is referring to a rise in incidents in two of the ten crime categories: sexual offenses and larceny. The other eight crime categories include criminal homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson and hate crimes. “Larceny is when there is no forced entry,” Ritchie explained. “These people are being invited in. This weekend alone we caught two student-aged men with an estimated $3000 worth of personal property in their vehicle.” On a college campus it is easy to get so caught up in throwing parties, being friendly and letting guests into your home that you don’t personally know. It is the nature of campus life, but Larceny | page 5
Dan Leitao/ The Mirror
Muslim Holiday In Campus Ministry By Sarah Hassan contributing writer
At a time when Muslims are faced with many challenges as a result of the Ground Zero mosque controversy, the EidAl-Fitr celebration and dinner held at Fairfield University is not only a testament to the increased diversity on campus, but a demonstration of the collaboration that still exists between people of different faiths. The event took place on Monday evening in the McGrath Commons and was hosted by the Muslim Student Association of Fairfield University that began in the spring semester of 2009.
The MSA began the event with an introductory lesson on the significance of this religious event to the Muslims, both on campus and all over the world. Eid-Al-Fitr, or the festival of the breaking of fast, happens at the end of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset and perfect their relationship with God through the offering of extra prayer and charity to the poor. This introduction was offered by Heba Yousif, the new Muslim Chaplain at Fairfield University. Yousif, a student at Hartford Seminary, is one of the many chaplains throughout the country who serves as advisors and representatives for the Muslims on college campuses, hospitals, prisons and
other settings. A Question & Answer session followed the lesson that allowed the audience to pose any questions they might have to a panel. “The event was a good opportunity to start a dialogue,” said Dr. Martin Nguyen, assistant professor of Islamic Studies in the Religious Studies department and one of the speakers in the panel. One of the questions posed was whether or not the Quran, which is the holy scripture of the Muslims, condoned the actions of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attacks. Dr. Nguyen said that from an academic point-of-view, the Quran is a complex text that must be thoroughly examined and that any educated individual who does so will find
Eid-Al-Fitr | page 5
Inside This Issue
Beer-O-Nomics See P. 7
Fall Concert Preview See P. 11
Cheers and Boos IS Back! See P. 19