FREE | Take one Week of December 7, 2011 | Vol. 37, Iss 4
The
Mirror fairfieldmirror.com
The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University The Reflection of Fairfield
Tradition of Past, Present, but Not Future By Chelsea Whittemore Contributing Writer
Photo Illustration by Tom McKiver/The Mirror
One of the beach houses currently up for rent to the seniors of Fairfield may not be occupied by Fairfield students next year.
BUDGET UPDATE
Curious about the progress of the $4.3 million budget deficit and impact of the recent layoffs? Fairfield will soon be releasing a document updating the campus community on budget progress and the University’s current financial situation. Check out our website at
www.fairfieldmirror.com
for full coverage of the budget update!
Jesuit Greek Life Does Exist 16 of 28 Jesuit Colleges have Greek life, why not Fairfield? By Salvatore Trifilio Contributing Writer Beach. Townhouses. Apartments. These are three things that come to your head when one thinks of campus life here at Fairfield University. But one thing that would never come to mind is Greek life. For most Fairfield University students Greek life is a system they are neither familiar with nor knowledgeable about. Many students believe that Fairfield University doesn’t have fraternities and sororities because of Jesuit beliefs and ideals. However 46% of Jesuit universities have Greek systems. Among these are universities such as Georgetown and Marquette. Others still believe that Fairfield lacks a Greek system because it is simply too small. However Collegeprowler.com, a college search website“by students, for students”which receives more than
1 million hits a month by high school and college students, list 12 of their top 15 Greek system universities as having an enrollment of 5,000 or fewer. So what’s the deal with Greek life at Fairfield University?
Greek Life at Fairfield University Fairfield University was founded in 1942. Since its founding, the University has neither had nor allowed Greek life. Traditionally Greek life was not allowed at Jesuit universities because it was seen as counter-productive to Jesuit ideals. In an interview with the Fairfield Mirror in 2004 President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. stated, “It wasn’t just the Jesuits; it was the Catholic Church that opposed fraternities at Catholic universities.” But that’s not the reason for the lack of a Greek system at Fairfield
Greek | page 5
It was once a bustling student colony, the ultimate place to reside, the place where Fairfield students dreamed of living their senior year. But this fall, many houses around the beach still feature “for rent” signs, even half way through the academic year. Fairfield administrators have moved swiftly to slash the number of students allowed to live at the beach by half over two years so that new on-campus housing can be full. The numbers are clear. The student population at the beach reportedly peaked at 1,200 students in the 1970s, including some from Sacred Heart University. It was cut to 400 in recent years, 300 students in 2011-2012 and down to a projected 200 students for the 2012-2013 school year. “Why take away a tradition that goes back beyond some parents that are alumni?”Mckenzie Naylor ’12, who is currently living at the beach in the house known as the“Last Resort”, said. The decision to reduce one of the attractions to attending Fairfield comes as the school struggles to
close a $4.3 million budget gap. Director of Admissions Karen Pellegrino said she is not concerned that any change in the number of students living at the beach will impact enrollment for the Class of 2016. “Students choose to attend Fairfield for reasons such as the quality of their campus visit, the school’s academic reputation and the beauty of the campus,” Pellegrino said. Fairfield administrators had promised the construction of new dorms on campus was not designed to end one of the school’s most cherished student prerogatives. Fairfield President Jeffrey von Arx S.J. repeatedly said the purpose of the construction was to provide extra space so that dorms rooms and townhouses could be reduced in size and brought back to their originallyplanned student capacity. The Mirror reported in recent years that Director of Residence Life Charlie Sousa has said, “The Beach is here to stay.” Dean of Students Karen Donoghue had said construction plans for the new dorms were aimed at decreasing overcrowding as well
Beach| page 3
Fairfield Fails Trojan Condom Report Card By Megan Forbes Contributing Writer
When it comes to the Trojan Brand Condoms Sexual Health Report Card, it doesn’t pay to be a Catholic school. Seton Hall University, Boston College, and St. John’s University were all part of the bottom 20 schools out of the 141 schools surveyed. Fairfield University was not even on the annual ranking. Trojan says that this assessment is about “celebrating positive sexual health and the campuses that empower it.” The universities and colleges are ranked on categories such as the student opinion of the health center, contraception availabilityfree or at cost, HIV/STI testing on or off campus, lecture programs about sexual health, and student peer groups. Fairfield provides a means of public safety and alcohol awareness, but sex safety is nowhere to be found at 1073 North Benson Rd. Although people all over the world are told to practice safe sex, Fairfield makes it difficult to endorse such an activity. It’s a constant controversy on campus between the students and University policy, paired with Catholic values.
Ten students, who are to remain anonymous, say they buy them in town in places such as CVS and Stop and Shop. They also said they ask their friends in their hall for condoms when necessary. Fairfield students are aware that there are no means of contraception available on campus. Fairfield is a Jesuit university, and due to traditional beliefs it’s hard to break away from practices that have been held onto for so long. Harry Cintineo, a sophomore, said “I think a lot of people would use them if we had then on campus. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have them available.” Populations across the globe
are going through epidemics of sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV. So why wouldn’t Fairfield help show students how important it is to have safe sex?
Why doesn’t the church believe in condom use? The Catholic Church has been debating means on contraception. Although Pope Benedict XVI announced last year that the use of condoms is appropriate at times to prevent the spread of AIDS, the overall view of Catholics still holds to tradition.
Condoms| page 6
Why didn’t we make the list? There are zero condoms available to students on campus. Fairfield students have to obtain condoms by hopping on the Stag bus to go to stores in town.
Megan Forbes/The Mirror
Trojan condoms , purchased off campus, on top of a Fairfield student’s desk.