Clam Jam. Mock Wedding. Keg Races. And now 200 Nights.
These are just a few Fairfield traditions of the past, and while they were primarily student-organized with little University involvement, they were events that did not win the administration’s approval.
However, some students feel that college traditions are not necessarily associated with formal organization.
“We [the students] represent the University,” said Ada Sim ’06. “Student traditions are University traditions.
In an Oct. 20 Mirror article, Fairfield administrators said that the University no longer wished to assume liability for an event such as 200 Nights that was centered around drinking.
In response to the disappointment expressed by seniors after the cancellation of 200 Nights was announced two weeks ago, the Fairfield University Student Senate put forth a resolution regarding Fairfield traditions and addressed the issue at a meeting Sunday night.
“The Fairfield University Student Senate feels that traditions are crucial to the undergraduate experience but are disappearing rapidly at Fairfield University,” read the Oct. 23 resolution.
“Maybe we can take this experience, get a committee together to work with administration… and see why it was cancelled,” FUSA President Jess DiBuono ’06 said in response to the resolution.
Matt Dinnan, assistant director of Student Services and Activities, was present at the meeting and explained the history of 200 Nights to the approximately 50 senators and students present.
He reiterated that 200 Nights was never really a University event, and that the University only became involved about four years ago to help out.
Now, though, Dinnan said that his office no longer wishes to sponsor the event, and reminded students to keep in mind traditions that are more in line with the nature of Fairfield University, such as the Presidential Ball and the annual Dogwood Dance.
“The premise of the event [200 Nights] tends to be, like it or not, alcohol and drinking in nature… We don’t have the ability to put any control measures into that event,” he said.
He also said that the cancellation was not a last-minute decision, and that the Senior Class Council was notified over the summer and again during training before Labor Day.
Senior Class Council representatives Lou Spadaro, Steve Tyburski and Matt McCarthy were invited to the meeting, but the three failed to show up.
In the Stagweb announcement they posted, they offered students the chance to share their input for alternative events. Students had until Oct. 24 to reply.
Senator Jenna Siraco ’06 asked why alternatives were not discussed, such as having drink tickets so students would have a limited number of drinks or not having alcohol at all.
However, past Class Councils have not had interest in anything but an open bar, according to Dinnan.
Dinnan acknowledged that it is unrealistic to plan an event for seniors in which no alcohol is involved, but also said that using students funds to purchase alcohol is something that a university group can be involved in.
In addition to concerns about 200 Nights, some students have questioned the schedule of events for Senior Week which was recently distributed.
The schedule lacks many of the events that seniors typically participate in the week prior to graduation, such as Casino Night.
However, Dinnan reassured seniors and members of the Senate that this was an error, and that all senior week events that have been held in the past will be held this year as well.
Dinnan urged students to take action after passing the 200 Nights resolution instead of simply using it as a forum for complaints.
“Hopefully, instead of drafting a resolution that just passes on sentiments, [Senate will] try to find solutions,” he said.
Jenn Cole ’06, chair of Senate, echoed this as the 200 Nights section of the meeting came to a close.
“This is definitely your time to take this and really grow from it and turn it into something useful,” Cole said.
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