Hello, freshmen! By the time you’re reading this, you’ve probably cruised into Fairfield’s front entrance while being greeted by hordes of eager, hand-waving orientation workers, been embarrassed by your parents a couple of times and met your facilitators and “First Year Experience” group.
It’s a hectic time. I remember my freshman orientation in the summer of 2000, running around participating in so many bewildering events I didn’t even have time to realize how swelteringly hot it would be when I finally got a chance to make my way to Regis Hall-at the time I had no idea on earth where that was-to make an attempt at sleeping.
That’s where The Mirror comes in. As Fairfield University’s independent student newspaper, we all thought we could do something really special for the Class of 2007’s orientation. In the pages of this special issue, you will find everything you ever wanted to know about orientation but were afraid to ask. We’ve included an easy-to-read map of campus, a schedule of events, information on restaurants in the area, important Fairfield University news about a number of issues, and even advice columns.
The Mirror is really the only organization on campus that is completely of, for and by the students. The Mirror is staffed exclusively by Fairfield University students and is completely independent from any administration censorship or review. This allows us to provide a free, open forum for all students at Fairfield University, and every year we work harder to do just that.
The Mirror also offers hands-on working experience for those interested in working in journalism, in an environment where promotion is fast and relatively easy. I started out as a sports writer at the beginning of my freshman year, became Sports Editor during my sophomore year, Managing Editor my junior year, and Editor-in-Chief this year. Over this time, I’ve also had internships at area newspapers and media outlets.
All in all, The Mirror offers great real-world work experience in a relaxed, fun environment. In the three years since I came to Fairfield, we’ve reported on the ending of the “Luau” and “Clam Jam” beach parties, the Sept. 11 tragedies, an on-campus Anthrax scare, a hostage crisis in Canisius Hall, Fairfield’s connection to the Enron/Arthur Andersen scandals, the election of the first female student body president in school history, and the cuts of the football and ice hockey teams.
In all this time, there has never been an activity or group I’m more proud to be a part of than The Mirror. The people who have been a part of this newspaper in the past and still are part of it are some of the best friends I’ve met at Fairfield, and that is largely the case for most people who work here on a regular basis, whether they are editors, writers, photographers, or business and advertising staff members.
So on the odd chance that you get a free moment during this hectic orientation, don’t hesitate to stop by our office-it’s the really messy one on the first floor of the campus center-and say hi. Four years from now, you won’t regret it.
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