With this past summer having both a death and an arrest connected to Fairfield University, looks of shock and dismay can be noticed throughout campus.
In a tragic event that occurred on campus over the summer, 28 year old Anthony Danca died of a heroin overdose.
According to Frank Ficko, associate director of Security Danca, a non-student and guest DJ for campus radio station WVOF, was found unresponsive in the bedroom of a townhouse on June 29. “Because this is such a tragic issue, we are trying to keep the details to a minimum,” said Ficko.
Jeff Stone ’03, station manager for WVOF, reflected on the tragedy. “Anthony was a really good friend of mine,” he said. “He was doing a lot for the station, working with the Bridgeport Bluefish to broadcast their games with us, and he was getting his life in the right direction, but unfortunately what happened happened. He made a lot of friends here and it hit everyone here hard, especially the people at WVOF.”
“We all really miss him,” Stone added “We think about it alot…He was always around the station, trying to learn more, trying to get more involved, trying to learn how to do stuff. It’s just rough to lose a guy like that.”
“I am shocked.,” remarked Chris Donato, ’05. “It just goes to show you that anything can happen, even at Fairfield. It is a tragedy.”
The death is the second overdose in the townhouses in as many years, both involving non-students. Jonathan Stark, residence area coordinator for the townhouses and apartments believes the story goes further. “I think what the real story is about is the significance of the drug incident on campus, and that students aren’t doing anything to keep those around them safe.”
“Two drug-related deaths, involving “friends” of students? Don’t tell me the students don’t have any indication of what goes on- yet choose to ignore it. That is a problem,” explained Stark.
While most of the University community was home enjoying the summer, Police and Security were very busy keeping up with the events at Fairfield.
In a case that is a year in the making, a former New Haven high school teacher turned himself into Fairfield Police after learning there was a warrant for his arrest. He is being charged with 39 counts of sexual misconduct, two of which occurred in Fairfield’s own DiMenna-Nyselius Library.
According to detectives, Van Clifton McKenzie-Adams, 41, turned himself in at Fairfield Police headquarters after he learned that a judge had issued a warrant for his arrest. He has been charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault for having sex in the library.
“The acts in the Fairfield University library occurred during the summer of 2001, between July and August,” said Liddy, “and the incidents both involved sexual intercourse.”
According to Fairfield Police Lieutenant Chris Liddy, the victims of all 39 counts were the same two girls, each 17 years old and students in the New Haven School District.
“The acts occurred all over Connecticut,” noted Liddy, “and whether or not 39 acts of sexual assault with the same two girls shows the girls gave consent, they are still illegal.”
Neither girl knew the other was involved with McKenzie-Adams.
McKenzie-Adams had been a New Haven high school Latin teacher since September 2000, after having moved to the area from California. He had been working in New Haven under a Durational Shortage Area Permit while studying for teaching credentials.
Previously published reports say that McKenzie-Adams was about to ask the state for a one-year renewal of the permit when allegations about his sexual misconduct surfaced. In addition to teaching Latin, he also conducted a Saturday course, preparing students for the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
A warrant was issued on June 15 of this year and McKenzie-Adams turned himself in on July 2. Fairfield Police have since turned the investigation over to New Haven Police considering that only 2 of the 39 accounts occurred in Fairfield.
Some students were surprised to learn about the incident in the library. “Get a room,” remarks Matt Molinari, ’04. “The library is such a great place to study. We don’t need those kinds of things happening there.” The library staff had no comment on the issue.
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