Shawne Lomauro ’11 thought she had everything she needed to win the Mr. Fairfield competition, and decided she was going to represent Gonzaga Hall in the event. But Lomauro did not realize that a Y chromosome was necessary for all contestants.
Mr. Fairfield is a competition in which male students, one from each dorm on campus, compete against one another in several categories. Competitors are judged on how they look in swimwear and formal wear, how well they display a talent and how they perform in a brief question and answer period.
No female has ever entered as a contestant in the history of the Mr. Fairfield competition, which is held by IRHA, until Lomauro, the vice president of the Gonzaga Residential Community Council (RCC).
“As a group, we never had to deal with an issue like this before,” said IRHA President Christine Papazicos ’09. “There were a lot of pros and cons we had to weigh out, but in the end we decided she should not be allowed to compete.”
“Mike Stahl [sophomore IRHA Vice President] told me that if I were allowed to be in the competition, it would turn into a beauty pageant,” said Lomauro. “At the final meeting they had, the executive board decided it was a tradition to have only men in the competition and disallowed me from participating.”
Lomauro said she was very disappointed in the decision and feels it is a sexist competition because there is no alternative competition for women.
Stahl defended the decision of the organization and said it took the board several meetings and much deliberation before they reached a decision.
“With the University making a much needed push towards diversity and gender equality, it became an issue beyond just IRHA,” said Stahl.
“The IRHA Executive Board came up with the same answer each time they met. IRHA plans to create an identical event for females to be held next year,” he added.
Despite the future plans of IRHA programs, the Office of Residence Life disagreed with the decision of IRHA. The office composed a formal letter and met with members of the executive board to make them aware of their disagreement.
“We advised them to allow Shawne to compete in the competition because of the larger gender issue at hand,” said Co-Advisor of IRHA and Associate Director of Res Life Karen Donoghue.
“However, we only advise the organization and leave the final decisions up to them in matters such as these,” she added.
“Res Life met with us on an individual basis and told us that they disagree,” said IRHA Programming Director Ashlee Downing ’08. “In the end however, it was the executive board of IRHA who had the final call.”
Lomauro first asked Downing about joining the competition, who did not think it would evolve into a big issue.
IRHA agreed to allow Lomauro to be involved with the competition in any other way besides being a contestant, an offer which did not suit Lomauro.
“They said I could help decide the rules, or judge the competition,” said Lomauro. “I definitely won’t judge, and I probably won’t be involved with the program.” Tamika Dickens ’10, marketing specialist for IRHA, was in charge of the program and said the issues surrounding Lomauro’s participation in the competition were not immediately made aware to her.
“I was upset that this issue was not brought to my attention right when it arose,” she said.
“I agree with the decision made by IRHA because it was talked about and voted on until we came to an agreement,” Dickens added.
“I think IRHA made the right decision by not allowing her to participate,” said Shawn Hassett ’10.
“It’s called Mr. Fairfield for a reason.”
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