“Clam Jam a go!”
This headline of last week’s Mirror made many students stop in their tracks. Sadly, the return of the Clam Jam to Fairfield was just an April Fool’s Day joke. To the disappointment of the Fairfield student body, even those who have never had the opportunity to attend a Clam Jam, the yearly party is not back in effect.
Clam Jam and other large events at the beach have been banned due to an order from the Bridgeport Superior Court, which prohibited large gatherings at the beach.
In response to the end of spring semester quickly approaching along with warm weather and a desire for students to make their way down to the beach on weekends, a memo was sent out by Dean of Students Mark Reed on March 28.
This memo was to remind Fairfield students of the continuing situation at the beach. While Reed praised the students living at the beach for their behavior this year, he also outlined possible consequences for students found violating the court’s injunction.
Reed wishes to remind students that whether they live on-campus or off-campus, they are held to the community standards listed in the Student Handbook. If any students are found in violation of these rules they will be sanctioned accordingly by the University.
Also, if students are found sponsoring a large gathering on-campus or off-campus where alcohol is served or provided, especially to a large number of underage students, they will be found in violation of University standards.
Reed said, “Sponsors of such a party at the beach would be suspended or dismissed from Fairfield University, and for seniors planning on graduating from Fairfield in May, that means they would not graduate and would lose the entire past semester.”
Along with punishment from the University, the local police can respond to disobedience with tickets and arrests, and a violation of the court order could lead to contempt of court charges with discretion in a judge’s hands, said Reed.
What do students think about another year without a Clam Jam? “Clam Jam is just another Fairfield tradition gone, like the Luau or “The Pit” in Gonzaga. Since we don’t have a football team anymore I guess there goes Homecoming. And they wonder why we have no spirit,” said Caitlin Winters, ’05.
Although Clam Jam will not occur, there will be many on-campus events during May Day Weekend, the final weekend of the semester prior to finals. The IRHG will be sponsoring a carnival-like activity in the quad along with meals being served in the quad. There will also be the junior/senior event at the townhouses. Only juniors and seniors will be able to attend this event and students 21 or older will be issued wristbands allowing them to consume alcohol.
Anyone wishing more information concerning May Day Weekend activities is encouraged to contact the Student Activities office.
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