Housing is currently the primary cause for concern among Fairfield students. While plans have been discussed and presented, no progress has been made and the problem continues to worsen.
Last week, members of FUSA announced that they would take a stand against the administration’s handling (or lack thereof) of this problem in the form of a protest. This informed campaign would take place on Accepted Students Day to make prospective students aware of the housing problems that they would very likely face if they decided to attend this University.
These plans changed on Sunday when FUSA decided that it would not follow through with the plan to protest after the administration offered to meet with them. Instead, FUSA took the bone that Dean of Students Tom Pellegrino threw – an offer to address the housing issues in a presentation to the administration, strategically scheduled after prospective students day.
This presentation will only waste more time by establishing what is already common knowledge among students, and if administrators are not already well aware of these housing issues, then they are not doing their jobs.
It is the administration that should be presenting a solution to the housing problem to FUSA in order to avoid a protest that could bring bad publicity to their office.
This is not a fair compromise, and FUSA has missed the opportunity to protest at a pivotal time. This informed campaign would take serious steps toward giving a voice to solving an issue that affects students of every year, every day. The housing problem continues to snowball; progress has been stalled once again.
FUSA, as its name implies, works on behalf of the students and serves as the figurehead for the student body. It is troubling that this key campus voice can be so easily calmed, perhaps in fear of administrative discontent.
FUSA’s primary responsibility is to represent students, not worry about admissions statistics. It is disappointing that FUSA chose to be diplomatic after dialogues have already been exhausted. It is time to be proactive and take a stand.
Members of the Student Life Committee were so close to proving their point and gaining respect and support among their peers by voicing their opinions in a way that would not go unnoticed.
Instead, Pellegrino offered a less than adequate compromise, and FUSA backed down and took it.
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