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The Reflection of Fairfield
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1SJEF 8FFL TUJMM MBDLJOH By Maggie MacKenzie Contributing Writer
Photo Illustration by Nick DiFazio/The Mirror
New Student Leaders’ (NSL) code of ethics, which currently states they cannot be in the presence of underage drinking, is being debated.
/FX 4UVEFOU -FBEFST QFUJUJPO GPS DIBOHF By Leigh Tauss Opinion Editor
A petition to alter the code of ethics governing whether New Student Leaders can be in the presence of underage drinking has sparked debate between students and staff. New Student Programs assimilate freshmen and transfer students to campus culture. The program rests on the shoulders of the New Student Leaders (NSL), who help guide this transition as mentors. One of their most important duties is to combat the culture of underage drinking on campus and help students make healthy and legal recreational choices. It is common knowledge that there is a drinking culture at Fairfield. However, data from a survey of incoming freshman conducted by Fairfield showed
that the amount of high-risk drinkers is significantly above the national average. For incoming freshmen, 32 percent were reported to be high-risk drinkers in contrast to the national average of 19 percent. Another survey, conducted midway through the fall semester, showed an increase in high-risk drinkers to 44 percent of students, compared to the national average of 25 percent. With the knowledge gained from these surveys, how can NSLs work to change Fairfield’s drinking culture? According to John St. Marie, graduate assistant and one of the key staff members involved in the program, the current NSL code of ethics states that if an NSL is in an environment where underage drinking is occurring, the NSL should talk to the party’s host.
“If the person that is holding the party decides not to do anything about it, then NSL [is asked] to leave that environment,� St. Marie said. In an anonymous survey conducted by Lorena Gullotta, former co-chair of the NSL program and author of the petition, out of 44 NSLs surveyed, 90.9 percent stated that they had violated the code of ethics’ alcohol policy. 97.7 percent stated that they were in support of the petition to change the code of ethics to allow NSLs to be in the presence of underage drinking. The policy not only isolates NSLs from their friends, but also the culture they are trying to combat, Gullotta said. Director of New Student Programs Kamala Kiem said that “just because 99 percent of people are violating it doesn’t mean
that we change the policy.� What it does mean is New Student Programs “have more work to do� communicating with students why the policy is important. According to Kiem, “the power of presence is exceedingly powerful. If a student leader is in the presence of illegal activity and does not intervene, it is promoting that culture.� Gullotta believes the policy change would be “more of an acceptance of the fact that there is a drinking culture more than it is condoning it.� Having the leaders present in situations involving underage drinking shows “that it’s OK to go out and have fun but you don’t necessarily need to have a drink,� she said. Among the other arguments in favor of the petition is that by
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Fairfield hosted their annual Community Pride Week on March 4 to March 8 to a low participation rate among the student body Run by Inter-Residential Housing Association, Community Pride Week is, “Designed to encourage school spirit, building spirit and getting people to think of their community as a whole,â€? according to Dominic Paolino, president of IRHA. The focus of this year was to create a community amongst the entire campus as opposed to solely within one’s residence hall, which had been the primary focus in prior years. IRHA wanted to encourage Fairfield pride. Redesigning the event, however, did not encourage enough students to participate in the festivities. Paolino thought Community Pride Week just “wasn’t hyped up enough.â€? Fairfield University Students Association president, Rob Vogel ‘13 believes the solution is all in social media. “Incorporating social media‌is a huge thing,â€? he stated. “Information sharing is so important and across campus we don’t do PRIDE
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5PXOIPVTF DMPTFUT SFNBJO DMPTFE GPS TBGFUZ By Salvatore Trifilio News Editor
With spring and warmer weather rapidly approaching, students are looking forward to weekends filled with barbeques, Slip’N Slides, Clam Jam and a number of other activities to be enjoyed in the sunny quads of the townhouse complex. However, juniors and seniors will have to find space throughout their townhouses to store these seasonal belongings. Students are well aware that their basement doors are never to be opened for storage or any other purposes. But, new to this year, they are no longer allowed to use the utility closets - located
on their back porches - for storage either. Senior Mike Warch said, “Last year we had access to the closet via our townhouse key but this year they changed the locks. I don’t know why they did it but I think we should be able to use them.� However, Associate Director of Resident Life Charlie Sousa said, “These closets really aren’t for storage, they’re for utilities.� Sousa explained the decision to refuse students’ access to the closet was suggested by Facilities Management in a meeting over the summer where
Residence
Life,
Facilities
CLOSETS | PAGE 4
Contributed Photo by University Fire Marshal Joseph Bouchard
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