Clam Jam, Luau, and Keg Races used to be Fairfield’s annual beach events, attracting students to the beach party scene for decades.
Now, they are all distant memories, simply because “times have changed,” according to Dean of Students Mark Reed.
Reed, in speaking with a Fairfield journalism class, addressed the most recent “controversial” beach issue-the termination of Keg Races, the annual fall and spring event where teams of female students compete to finish a quarter keg first.
“The university did not cancel Keg Races,” Reed stated, to clarify any misconceptions.
He went on to discuss that it was students who made the final decision to end the races in lieu of all the lawsuits against landlords.
“I applaud it,” Reed said, in response to that decision.
Reed commented that events such as Keg Races draw a lot of attention to the university, and blatant violation of conduct will force the university to act.
The 2004 Student Handbook clearly states on page 54 that “these standards of conduct [the ones listed in the handbook] apply to behavior both on and off campus.” Later, on page 57, it states that, “police or court reports or documents, reports from University officials, or student complaints may be considered when reviewing allegations of off-campus misconduct.”
When it comes to disciplinary infractions, Reed said that he follows the “spirit and letter of the law.”
Some students may feel as if many of the Fairfield beach traditions are slowly being wiped out.
Reed commented that while he does sympathize with these students, we need to move forward in the right direction.
Reed is a 1996 graduate of Fairfield University, and he was involved in some of the banned activities such as Clam Jam.
He said that things are different at the beach now than they were then. Specifically, circumstances have changed with the influx of non-Fairfield residents. Things are always going to be altered yearly when it comes to Fairfield beach life, according to Reed.
Reed said he does feel bad when neighbors call the police about students’ loud music at 10 p.m., but he doesn’t blame the residents when students are having loud parties on a weeknight, when most are trying to sleep.
Reed went on to say that some behavior, such as urinating on residents’s lawns, are “indefensible.”
There are a wide variety of opinions about the changes occurring at Fairfield beach. Some argue that Reed may not understand, given that he was never a beach resident.
Many students who live at the beach know that living there is very different than just visiting for a party.
In addition, given that one of Reed’s tasks as dean of students is to deal with disciplining students for alcohol violations, students may feel misunderstood by this former Fairfield student.
Reed, when asked about his disciplinary record during his time at Fairfield, replied with a hint of joking in his voice, “I never got written up and I was not a problem child.”
Reed claims that just because students can’t have Keg Races or Clam Jam, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be anything to look forward to.
When questioned about what potential beach activities junior or senior students have to look forward to, Reed asked, “What don’t they have to look forward to?”
“I think students are having just as much fun,” Reed said.
Some students still believe that the traditions and long-standing perks of living at the beach are being taken away from students.
“The beach residents need to have their fun too, and it is slowly being taken away from us,” said Mike Barry ’05.
“Everything gets broken up or you could get in so much trouble that’s its not even worth it,” he said.
John Anselmo ’05 agreed with Barry.
“They are just canceling something our school has done for years. It was a huge deal in canceling the Keg Races and Clam Jam.”
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