(Mirror File Photo)
Father Charles Allen is the executive assistant to the president at Fairfield. He has been a part of the University community for the past 33 years.
The Mirror: What is the greatest change you have seen on campus?
Father Charles Allen: I have seen a lot of buildings go up, I’ve seen the campus change its layout, I have seen more diversity, I have even seen the religious part change from not having a chapel to having a chapel.
TM: Why did you become a Jesuit?
Fr. A: Because I wanted to see the world. The Navy would not take me and the Jesuits would. I did not want to be a diocese priest because you can’t really go anywhere, whereas the Jesuits are an international order.
TM: What would you have liked to have done if you had not become a Jesuit?
Fr. A: I probably would have taught high school math as math major. I’d like to think I would have gotten a nice job with a computer company.
TM: You are one of two people at Fairfield whose e-mail address is not their name but their title. Is there any story behind that?
Fr. A: The fellow before me had the e-mail [address] executive@mail.fairfield.edu. I’m not the only one with no name because President von Arx has president@fairfield.edu. But I like “executive”.
TM: Why do you love living in Dolan?
Fr. A: One story I tell is: I came home one night and girls were sitting in the hallway and said, “Father, do you have a car? Can you take us to Cold Stone [Creamery]? We will buy you a cup of ice cream!”
[I also like] saying mass in the study hall, but just having the kids around. People always say, ‘are you lonely?’ I live with 300 students plus the Jesuit community of 25. You behave like the people you live with, if you live with young immature people you will act immature — which is great.
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