Monthly Archives February 11, 2004

Followed around campus by cameras until they graduate, seven students from the class of 2007 will be the stars of a four-year documentary temporarily nicknamed "4D." "The documentary's first driving vision is to focus on the major life changes that these students go through; their triumphs and failures, their success stories and how they deal with the growing up process of college," said John Ur, Fairfield's digital media and television producer who is in charge of the process.

February 14. Valentine's Day. That Hallmark holiday when young, in love couples swoon over chocolates and gas-station roses. If you're single, it can be a tough time of year, but that doesn't mean you have to lock yourself in your room this weekend gorging on self-bought Godiva and crying over "When Harry Met Sally.

Ahh, Valentine's Day. Now little more than a mile marker on the highway of our culture's deteriorating self-indulgence, it's a holiday that I could do without, to say the least. I've been lucky enough so far in my life not to be involved in a real "relationship" on Valentine's Day, and this of course has saved me tons of money and emotional investment I would have spent on meaningless dinners in fancy restaurants and expensive gifts devoid of any true sentiment or feeling.

Could you be pregnant? Female students who frequent the Health Center at Fairfield University routinely hear this question from doctors and nurses when students seek medical attention. But what if the answer is yes? What if the student wants to keep going to school while pregnant? According to Anne Cole, director of the Fairfield University department of health services, if you become pregnant, you can stay in the residence halls until delivery and can return afterwards only without the baby.

As if driving around trying to avoid ice and snow in the winter at Fairfield isn't difficult enough, students now have a new obstacle to avoid, Fairfield Prep parents. The flow of Prep parents on campus is not a new phenomenon, but their location on "Prep alley" (the road between the Prep and the Quick Recreation Complex) is a change this semester, with the opening of the new gym complex this past fall.

The Irish Society, a new club on campus, will present the Irish expatriates band Black 47 at the Levee Thursday night. Co-sponsoring the event with IRHG and UNITE, this is likely to be the largest event in the young club's life. "We have held one meeting, which included a performance by Carmac [a traditional Irish song band] and we had about 70 people show up.

The environmental issues plaguing the apartment complex which created a substantial mold problem last summer led the university to recently install new equipment on the roof. The equipment, installed over winter break, consisted of dehumidification units and new air handlers.

Bridget Takacs '07 sat down to her computer on the evening of Feb. 2 to write a paper. Suddenly, a piercing noise filled the air. Realizing the noise was a fire alarm, she quickly left the building, waiting to be allowed back. "I was confused and unsure of what was going on," Takacs said.

Tuesday. February 3 1:26 p.m. - People were presenting themselves as Nextel Representatives and trying to get personal information about students. 2:30 p.m. - A laptop was stolen at McAuliffe. The case is under investigation. Friday. February 6 2:11 a.m. - A non-student drove his vehicle off an embankment on the north side of the campus center.

With the emergence of internet textbook retailers and local competitors such as Borders and Barnes ' Noble, Fairfield's bookstore is constantly trying to invent new ways to keep students shopping on campus. Regardless of these promotions of colorful displays, discounts or surveys, some students simply say they cannot afford the prices.