From the outside, Loyola Hall looks like any other residence hall on campus. On the inside, however, exists a completely different scene.
Loyola is now the home to Fairfield’s Ignatian Residential College. Inspirational quotes greet the sophomore students of the college as they embark on their intellectual journey here at Fairfield, and framed artwork graces the walls of the hallways.
There is more to the educational experience in the Ignatian Residential college then just teaching the mind. “The goal of the Ignatian College is to not only educate the student’s mind,” said Therese Lederer, associate director of the college, “But to also educate the spirit of the student. That is one of the foundations of the Jesuit education, and we feel it is an intricate part of our system here.”
When the Ignatian College took over Loyola Hall this past summer, plans for a classroom on the second floor and a plush common area for the residents to convene were created. However, already in December, the lounge is yet to be completed and the classroom was just recently finished. “We wanted to have weekly dinners for the students to come and hear a guest speaker talk about a certain career vocation while in the lounge,” said Lederer. “We didn’t have the space this semester, but it will be a big part of next semester.”
“I think that it is great having the commons as a place for everyone to meet,” said Chris Taggart, ’05. “And having a classroom located in Loyola is great because we can walk down the hall and be at class.”
As the semester comes to an end, and the Ignatian Residential College finds itself halfway through its first year, Rev. Thomas J. Regan S.J., co-director of the Ignatian College, said: “The student response has been very positive. There is a true sense of community throughout the halls.”
But students had mixed reactions about their experiences in the nascent program.
“There are lots of advantages to living here,” said Karel Vetrovec ’05. “But I don’t take advantage of all of them. I go to certain events, but a lot of us are so busy with everything else that we really don’t have time.”
The directors of the Ignatian Residential College understand this. “The goal of the college is so ultimately expose the students to a wide range of vocations so that they understand the pressures that people face in the real world,” said Regan. “Some of the events we have will naturally appeal to some, but not to others.”
Other students enjoy the vast amount of activities offered.
“Our floor is a lot more of a community than it was last year and I like how there are always activities in the lounge,” said Sarah Bachman ’05
Greg Hill, ’05, agreed. “The Ignatian College from the beginning has fostered a strong sesnse of community and having classes here isn’t bad either,” said Hill. “The hall also has a sense of home. With the newly refurbished lounge and artwork on the walls I feel like the dorm is more of a living space and not just a place to sleep.
According to Lederer, the idea of having the Ignatian College just for sophomores is perfect. “The sophomores are the only group on camus without a designated part of the community of Fairfield geared towards them,” Ledderer said. “The freshman have everyone helping them get acquainted with the school and the juniors and seniors with the internships and majors. I think it is a great experience for the sophomores.”
“I think the students get out of the Ignatian College exactly what they put in,” said Rob Keder,’04, who is a resident assistant in Loyola. “I think that the whole program is a great idea. What better than to have a program right in front of you that will cater to a specific group like the sophomores?”
The essence of community is highly stressed in the Ignatian College. Residents were just recently involved in a retreat to the All Saints Center in Washington, CT, according to Lederer.
“I thought it would be all organized with religious type things,” said Vetrovec. “It was actually a lot more social and we got to hang out and stuff. It was a good time.”
According to Regan, people coming to visit Fairfield are already asking about the Ignatian College and what it has to offer.
The Ignatian College is trying to get out most of the kinks that any first year inception will naturally have. “We are hoping that this first semester is a learning process,” said Lederer. “We hope that as the year goes on we will continue to get better.”
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