As another academic year winds to a close, Fairfield University must prepare to face one of its biggest changes in a quarter century as Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. steps down and Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. becomes Fairfield’s new president.
No one knew what to expect when Kelley was first inaugurated in 1979 and took control as president. Some of the things that resulted from his presidency were seven buildings either built or renovated and the endowment growing from $2 million to $131 million. He helped propel Fairfield’s status as one of the top universities in the Northeast region. Whatever expectations people held for Kelley, he more than exceeded all of them.
Except, perhaps, for being a president who was available to the community. Without degrading everything that Kelley accomplished, we all admit that we would have liked his “sightings” to be more frequent than benefits for organizations such as Campus Ministry.
It is obvious that von Arx has large shoes to fill, especially since the Fairfield community now has high expectations. Kelley has been an excellent model for a president, despite his few shortcomings. Now, though, we want von Arx not only to maintain the status that Fairfield has gained during Kelley’s reign, we want him to be a familiar face on campus in a way that Kelley was not and to address problems that Kelley did not.
Although we are constantly told that the financial status of Fairfield is still tenuous we want von Arx to concentrate on the more subtle problems of Fairfield, such as student apathy and lack of spirit. We want von Arx to attend occasional sporting events, club meetings and perhaps even Spam Jam or May Day.
That may be asking too much considering all the duties that he has to attend to as president. Even so, the visible presence of a president can accomplish a lot in itself.
We wish Fr. Kelley good luck in his retirement. You have certainly earned it and we are grateful. For Fr. von Arx we also wish luck and extend our welcome.
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