Author Rachel Feyre

Extracurriculars? Check. Strong academic record? Check. Criminal or legal record? Check. Last year, the University of Georgia cross-referenced a local sex offender list with its student body and found matches. Those who were convicted denied their criminal history on their applications and, with little background check, were accepted into the university.

Across the country, universities such as Cornell, Princeton and West Virginia are looking to mix social and academic life by creating residential colleges. At Fairfield, the Ignatian Residential College has been a successful experiment of living and learning, and University President Fr. Jeffrey von Arx would like to expand the program throughout the campus, making it a "hallmark" of the University, according to his strategic plan.