Between the Fairfield Friday red clothing line and the shot glasses with inch-tall stags lies Fairfield’s newest commodity in the bookstore: rosary beads.
As the holiday season approaches, Catholic religious items are now available in the Fairfield University bookstore for the first time. They include a selection of St. Ignatius medals, pendants and bracelets.
‘As’ a’ Jesuit’ Catholic’ school,’ it’ should’ not’ have’ taken’ us’ 62′ years’ to have’ religious’ items’ in’ our’ bookstore,’ said James Fitzpatrick, assistant vice president for student services who oversees the bookstore.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
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‘I am a little embarrassed that I did not think of these items sooner,’ he said.
Fitzpatrick gave credit to Fairfield bookstore manager Barbara Farrell for moving forward on the idea and products.
‘The St. Ignatius prayer card addition is primarily to add to tradition and to test the market,’ said Farrell.
An employee of the University for 14 years, Farrell believes that these particular religious items are an ‘appropriate fit’ for students. According to Farrell, the Jesuit medals are a proper addition for this kind of campus.
But the bookstore at Fairfield is only selling Catholic items, as opposed to other religions and religious traditions of which students attending the University are members.
Worldwide, from 1990 to 2000, followers of Christianity and Judaism increased by less than 10 percent, while followers of Hinduism increased 273 percent, Buddhism 170 percent and Islam 109 percent, according to the Pew Forum on Religion and American Life study.
At’ Fairfield, student reaction remains varied.
Some students feel that Fairfield may be exploiting Catholic merchandise for the wrong reasons.
‘They never did it before,’ said Emily Coville ’09. ‘Why are they doing it now?’
‘ ‘I wonder whether they are suddenly trying to promote the fact that this is a Jesuit school and that is the reason why they are selling these items,’ said Pamela English ’11.
At Fairfield, the Follett Higher Education Group is stationed at the bookstore. Farrell is testing the market to see how much money these new items will bring in profit.
There is some ethical concern in Campus Ministry about the intentions of the bookstore in selling these items for significant profit.
Historically, these items are sold through religiously-oriented shops which have a conscientiously ethical approach to the size of their profit option,’ said Associate Director of Campus Ministry Conor O’Kane.
O’Kane wonders if the bookstore has a conscientiously ethical approach in selling these items for the first time.
‘I wonder if Follett management is taking a similar approach to selling these items,’ he said. ‘Ethically, I would have a hard time supporting them if they make a great deal of profit on them.’
Other students feel that these religious items are convenient for the University community.
‘It gives people the option to buy those items for their family,’ said Michael Csorba ’09.
‘You cannot find them anywhere outside of the Jesuit community.’
Yet others asked about materials from other faiths.’
‘Why aren’t they selling other items of religion? Are we forcing our religion on everyone? I do not see how they relate to the holidays at all,’ said English.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas are around the corner, Farrell thought it would be an ‘appropriate fit’ for shoppers who want to get some early shopping in, as she said the aim is to ‘give the gift of spirituality this season.’
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