Daily Archives April 17, 2008

Camille Dolloff '11 didn't stumble as she walked back to Campion Hall one bitter January night. The piercing stench of alcohol didn't waft from her breath and a bloodshot glaze didn't cloud her eyes. Her jeans weren't soggy with stale beer, chunks of vomit didn't stain her shirt and her words didn't pile on top of each other when she spoke.

The decision has been made to remodel the First-Year Experience (FYE) program. Instead of the current program, where groups of freshman meet once a week, First-Year Mentors (FYM) will meet with students who live on the same wing each month and individual students will meet with their mentors individually once a semester.

Andrew Chapin's April 10, 2008, column wrongly blames FUSA President Hutch Williams for disorganization within the FUSA Senate as it prepared a protest. All blame should have been placed on me, the senate chair at the time. I take full responsibility for the pre-mature announcement of the protest - an endeavor the Senate was clearly not ready to embark on.

For the second time in four years, University President Fr. Jeffrey von Arx will address the class of 2008. Seniors will have the treat of hearing the New England area's master fund-raiser preach "Jesuit values," a concept just as ambiguous as the word diversity at Fairfield. At least the seniors will recognize the name of their commencement speaker.

A year and a half ago, I was one of the many freshman sitting in FYE class with 15 strangers learning how to transition into college. I can still remember those 50 minute sessions spent reading aloud from the FYE handbook about the Jesuit tradition, diversity and the dangers of drinking jungle juice.

Walking to class every Thursday, I feel somewhat relieved and proud: The Mirror comes out today. I pick up a copy and stare at the front page, delighted that the staff's hard work and long hours have come to fruition. Then I notice that many who are browsing through the paper aren't reading the professor profiles, the CD reviews or the latest sports scores; they're reading Dan Stanczyk's "He Said" column.

Jacqueline McAvoy remembers her sister, Maureen, as a best friend, someone with whom she'd spend time sleigh riding during the winter months and swimming year-round. Despite a six-year age gap, Jacqueline deems her an exemplary older sister known for her courage.

It was Kristen Duhamel's infectious smile and hearty laugh that set her apart. "You never saw Kristen mad. She always had a smile on her face," said Sheenagh Denniston, one of Duhamel's closest friends from home. "If I was ever upset or a friend was, she would snap you out of it within five minutes of conversation.

One week ago, Kristen M. Duhamel '10 told her mother, Loren, that her car was not working properly. The two traded cars and planned to meet up the following Saturday after the vehicle was fixed. But plans were changed last minute, and the car exchange occurred Friday afternoon instead.

Just say the word "graduation" in front of seniors and they'll cringe. Mention Senior Week and positive reactions are sure to surface. Senior townhouse and apartment managers, however, may be on duty while their classmates get to drink heavily on Pub Night or dance the night away during the semi-formal.