“It does bother me at times that there aren’t a lot of minorities here. Unlike back home there aren’t enough people here that can actually relate to my background and my experiences. Yes it’s all well and good that everyone is happy to hear your stories and is willing to learn, but there are times where you want a person that already understands and knows what you’re saying without saying it,” reflects AHANA student Mothler Dalexis, ’05.
Dalexis is one of 396 students in AHANA (The African, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Club ) on Fairfield University’s primarily white campus. Yet many AHANA students disagree amongst themselves as to the efficiency of the university’s attempts to create a comfortable environment for students of various ethnicities.
Miguel Delgado, ’04, an AHANA student, felt that Fairfield is taking a step in a positive direction. “I think it’s good what Fairfield University is doing to promote diversity on campus. Hopefully the AHANA population will expand in the future,” he said.
Enrique Iturralde, ’05, said that diversity was not a factor in his decision to attend Fairfield. “I think the diversity on this campus is non-existent. However, it does not bother me at all. People are people, and I get along with whomever. If there was more colored people, great, but it doesn’t make a big deal.”
According to Fairfield University representatives and statistics, the AHANA population has increased and currently makes up 11.8 percent of the overall undergraduate population.
In consulting the Fairfield University Fact Book, the class of 2005 currently has the largest AHANA population, with 120 students representing 14 percent of the class. Since 1980, there has been a steady increase in the AHANA population.
In the spring of 2001, a five-year plan was put into effect in an effort to recruit more AHANA students to the university. Included were more recruiting in urban areas and an increase in the number of AHANA representatives at the Fairfield open houses. “An active plan has always been part of our (administrative) conversation. It has always been a priority,” said Judith Dobai, director of admissions. The plan also calls for mailings to perspective AHANA students.
Through the Community Partnership Scholarship Program, Fairfield University gives out 10 full-tuition scholarships to AHANA students in Connecticut and New York, based on socio-economic need.
The School of Engineering aids urban high school graduates through Earn and Learn, where students are placed in field-jobs and attend classes at night, which are paid for by their part-time work and scholarships. Also, the Office of Admissions presents six urban high school students with the Sophomore Achievement Awards annually.
Once AHANA students arrive at Fairfield University, the Center for Multi-Cultural Relations helps them adapt to life at Fairfield. “Everyone has a culture and there are resources for people to learn about different cultures,” stated Larri W. Mazzon, director of the center for multi-cultural relations. “Most AHANA students like [Fairfield]. There are things they don’t like, but they make the best of it and the opportunities.”
Dalexis agreed. “The center helps you adapt to this atmosphere. They give you that immediate family of people who are just like you.”
Fairfield University’s efforts seem to be working. When compared to other Jesuit universities, Fairfield surprisingly has one of the larger AHANA populations. Boston College has an undergraduate population of 8,930 students and an AHANA population of 20 percent. Fairfield has less than half the amount of students and more than half of BC’s AHANA population (14%). Providence College located in Providence, Rhode Island has 3100 students and an AHANA population of a mere 6.4 percent.
The AHANA retention rate is 87 percent as compared to the 89 percent total for all students. According to Edwin Wilkes, associate AVP-enrollment management, Fairfield University graduation rates based on a six-year scale show that 72 percent of all AHANA students graduate as compared to 79 percent for all undergraduates. “Nationally, the Latino and African American graduation rate is 38percent-39 percent. Our [rate] is almost double that, ” said Wilkes.
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