FREE | Take one Week of February 22, 2012 | Vol. 37, Iss 8
The
Mirror
The Independent Student Newspaper of Fairfield University
fairfieldmirror.com
The Reflection of Fairfield
Say Goodbye To Fairfield Cab!
After Much Negative Publicity, Taxi Company Will Be Shut Down By The Month’s End
ce
rvi e s i x a ive t ent t a n r e t al cem a n l a p , e t r o Red D nd potential a
h is c i h w , e offic e h t e d i t down Outs u h s e b soon to
A broken d
oor handle
on a Fairfi
eld Cab ca
r
Lisa Bufe/The Mirror
By Mary Kate McCormick Staff Writer Have you ever stood outside of Jogues or the townhouses, waiting for a cab that was already 45 minutes late, only to be picked up by an old, unkempt vehicle that seemingly risks your life on the way to Lantern Point? These are everyday taxi issues met by Fairfield students who have used Fairfield Cab in the past, some of whom “would rather walk than use them again,” according to senior Keith Brocker. But after Feb. 29, students can’t travel with Fairfield Cab even if they want to. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) is shutting down Fairfield’s longest running taxi business at the end of the month due to recent
Dents on another Fairfi convictions of drivers and safety violations on every vehicle in the fleet, according to the Connecticut Post. For Fairfield students, this
Index Opinion • Page 7 The Vine • Page 9 Coffee Break • Page 16 Sports • Page 20
SPORTS:
eld Cab car
may mean temporary inconvenience but hopefully it will lead to safer, more reliable transportation in the future.
Stags top Stony Brook in Season Opener p. 20
Companies like Red Dot Taxi are happy to accommodate Fairfield students. According to Matt Watanabe ‘12, “If you are trying to get somewhere safely and on time, Fairfield Cab should be your last resort.” And at Fairfield, taxis are a necessity to some. After all, there are only so many places the StagBus will go. In addition to having cars that failed inspection due to failure to display driver ID and presence of excessive body damage, the recent arrest and conviction of two Fairfield Cab drivers publicized in the CT Post added significantly to the DOT’s decision to shut down the company. Most notably, the recent sentencing of cab driver Bruce
OPINION:
OMG! Are You Facebook Official yet? P. 7
Northrop for sexual assault while on the job is among the most well known offences of the collapsing taxi company. According to Brocker, although Northrop’s conduct was “never professional” and his slang terms for residence halls were sometimes disgusting, “he got us where we needed to go.” Issues such as the huge wait times and unreliable phone dispatchers plagued students for years. Fairfield Cab was the only option for a long time – until now. Due to the closing of Fairfield Cab, students must now use alternative companies like Red Dot and Yellow Cab, which many have already switched to. The transition should be an easy one, aided by rumors
Cab | page 3
Innovative Designers “Emerge!” at New York Fashion Show P. 9