Tim Fater, ’05, has no connection to the recent disbandment of the football and hockey programs, except for the fact that he feels for the individuals and teams involved. However, Fater took his feelings and turned them into action last Thursday after hearing about the decision given by university President Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.
At about 4:00 p.m., Fater decided to get some of his friends together to show that they truly cared about the athletic programs here at Fairfield. “I talked to some people who thought it was a good idea,” said Fater. “So then I made some calls, sent out some Instant Messages and this is what came of it.”
Located on the lawn of Bellarmine Hall roughly 80 students gathered in a mini-protest outside the office of Fr. Kelley last Thursday. There, students voiced their opinions while proving to each other that they did want a say in what occurred. Those who did not know about the protest were drawn in by the sound of fireworks in the distance.
“It is not so much in the fact of what happened,” said Fater, “but in the way the school went about the whole process. If they had shown everyone some sort of financial statement if the true reason was because of money, we could have started fund-raising activities like we did back in high school. We wouldn’t have to be here.”
“It is a shame that the school just came and handed down this decision on everyone like they did,” said Chris Zeitz, ’04, who is a candidate for FUSA president and attended the protest. “There should be some sort of connection with the students and administration, but there wasn’t today.”
However, there are reactions on both sides of the issue. “The budget issue is real,” said Rev. Thomas J. Regan S.J., professor of philosophy. “These times call for tough decisions.”
Regan added his views on the protest. “We are a university community… if students don’t feel as though they have a right to express themselves in public fashion, then something is very wrong,” Regan said. “I always welcome the free expression of ideas.”
Those closer to the decision had their own views as well. “This has exposed a lot about what Fairfield is about,” said Lyon Porter, ’05, who is on the hockey team. “Fairfield is about money. It goes against the whole idea of what a Jesuit institution is supposed to be about. They swept the carpet right from under us.”
In his announcement of the decision, Fr. Kelley said that the elimination of both programs wouldresult in significant annual savings of approximately $570,000, which does not include athletic grants-in-aid. Those funds, he said, would be reallocated to support the University’s student financial aid program.
“It is a shame for the team,” said Porter. “We gave our all for this school and all we got in return was a knife in the back.”
“I think that it sucks that the decision came so abrupt,” said Matt McLaughlin, ’05, while bearing the bitter cold. “It’s almost like we didn’t even get a chance to go to the games… I guess we had an opportunity, but now we definitely don’t.”
A petition began to float around the group of students about 20 minutes into the demonstration. “We want to get as many signatures as we can of people who believe this is the wrong decision,” said Fater. “We want to hang the names on Father Kelley’s door-we just want him to know how much we love Fairfield.”
The response of the protest was constant throughout the eyes of students, faculty and administrators.
“I wish I could have been there to show my support because I think it was a great idea,” said Chloe Tonini, ’04. “If I had known about it, I would have definitely made an appearance. I don’t approve of the situation at all.”
“Yes, the reaction was anticipated,” said Athletic Director Eugene Doris. “Any group that has been affected in the way they have would have had a similar reaction.”
“I think it is a good thing when students are passionate about something and show that passion in their words and actions,” said Mark Reed, Dean of Students. “As a university, this is exactly what a main part of our mission is-free expression and debate of ideas which try in the best way possible not to limit viewpoints or discussion.”
In a Mirror poll, 245 students were asked how they felt about the disbandment of the football and hockey teams. 152 were against it, 54 were for it, and 39 had no opinion.
The same students were asked if they agreed that football and hockey were not priority sports. Almost half, 110, disagreed, 82 agreed with that statement, and 53 were indifferent.
But not everyone is indifferent.
“We are just sick of the university acting in the fashion that they did again today,” Fater said. “I’ve never even seen Father Kelley and here he is making all these decisions for us. Maybe if he was around more, we could actually discuss these things before they happen.”
Staff writer Jessica Holmberg contributed to this story.
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