BOOS to the tuition raise. We understand that prices always increase and that it was needed to cover the wage raise, but to raise tuition to almost $40,000 seems excessive. Will parents send their children to a university that is not Ivy League and does not have the reputation of Swarthmore or Villanova for $40,000? Of course, the education at Fairfield is excellent, but outside the university, the name is still not worth the going rate. Hopefully, Financial Aid will find ways to compensate for the strain on the students and parents who will decide to empty their wallets and send their children to Fairfield.
CHEERS to Spam Jam. Following the cancellation of Clam Jam, the discouraging of keg races and the recent complaints voiced about Mock Wedding, it is a welcome change to see the administration making an effort to placate disappointed juniors and seniors with the annual Spam Jam. Though RASOR/UNITE raised the money for the 25 kegs that will grace the lawns of the 8, 9 and 10 blocks this Saturday, it’s nice that the administration is willing to attach its name to the event at all. With most other Fairfield traditions being thrown by the wayside, the creation of a new one will at least in part compensate for those we’ve lost.
BOOS to the continued denial by the athletic department that the move to the Arena at Harbor Yard might have been a bad idea. It’s clear that Alumni Hall was no longer able to keep up with the more modern arenas that other universities moved into, but it was far from decrepit. The department even refuses to play a few games on campus, a move that would almost certainly energize the students about the season. It’s time to admit that some very expensive mistakes were made, and this move was not as beneficial as Siena’s. If the school expects students to be excited about athletics, they have to make the experience more accessible.
CHEERS to the men’s lacrosse team, who are currently ranked No.16 in the nation. This young team, of which 22 of the 40 players are freshmen, maintained a seven game winning streak until last Saturday’s 9-6 loss to No. 10 Maryland. Season highlights include a 12-11 win against then-ranked No. 11 Notre Dame, dropping the Irish to No. 20 nationally, and game attendance of around 1,500 for both the Notre Dame and Maryland games (and that only counts attendees in the stands, not the multitude who gathered around Lessing Field to watch the games). With the team being so young, and its stand out player, midfielder Greg Downing, in his sophomore year, the team only has room to grow.
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