When the announcement was made that Fr. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. would become our new president, the Fairfield community rejoiced at the prospect of having a president who was more visible, embraced diversity and supported the student body. However, Fr. von Arx’s decision to cancel Alliance’s same-sex marriage forum last week has made some students and faculty question his ability to do so.
In a press release distributed on Tuesday, April 12, Vice President of Student Services William Schimpf stated that he hoped another event could be scheduled with “speakers who can represent varying points of views on this subject.”
However, the university appeared to refocus their reasoning in a Thursday, April 14 release from von Arx in which he stated that the cancellation was due to concerns surrounding invitations sent to members of the Connecticut General Assembly. Von Arx said he was concerned that the event was being used by the group Love Makes a Family in order to advance their agenda and influence then-current legislation in the General Assembly, even though the legislation concerning civil union in the state was voted, and passed, on Wednesday, the day before the event was to occur.
Fr. von Arx was quoted many times saying that he decided to cancel the event. This is a dangerous policy to practice. If one person, even if it is the president of a university, can unilaterally cancel a student-arranged event under such dubious reasoning as was provided, then whatever semblance of autonomy that the student body held has been destroyed.
One of von Arx’s goals is to increase the diversity at Fairfield. Canceling a forum that showcases one of the most controversial issues of diversity in an academic forum is not a step in that direction. The message he sent is that the university does not value diversity and moreover, will cower away from the students’ attempt to explore these issues. At a Jesuit and liberal arts university, this is a failure of mission.
The honeymoon period of von Arx’s presidency is clearly over. This forum was his first real encounter facing controversy, and sadly, it has proved disappointing. Instead of his support and understanding, the student body got shoddy equivocations and an overhaul of our rights. The student body wants and needs a president who will work with the university community to promote dialogue, especially when the dialogue is initiated by students.
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