Cheers to Doug Perlitz ’92 for staying in Haiti to continue his mission helping poor children in the face of increasing violence and political unrest. Living in one of the wealthiest and most peaceful parts of the world, it is sometimes easy for us to lose sight of social injustice around the globe. Fighting such injustice is one of the most central aspects of the Jesuit mission, and Perlitz’s work in Haiti reminds us all of the importance of world events outside our insulated Fairfield bubble.
Boos to the housing lottery. Although there will never be a system where everyone is satisfied with his or her living situation, Fairfield certainly has ample room for improvement. When instances of seniors living in Kostka/Claver and having to accept unwanted meal plans arise, like they did for students interviewed this week by The Mirror, they need to be addressed. Also, student groups who did not get townhouses forced to live in Kostka/Claver are forced to drop one of their friends from the group in order to fit into a suite. This creates an awkward situation that seems to contradict the spirit of the lottery, which is intended to let friends “be able to live together and not have to take in strangers on pick night,” in the words of Director of Housing Gary Stephenson. Fortunately, Stephenson seems to be receptive to ideas for change, but for current juniors any such changes will regrettably come too late.
Cheers to men’s basketball coach Tim O’Toole for receiving the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s Coach of the Year award. With his team already under intense scrutiny because of the investigation into alleged NCAA violations, O’Toole lost two key players, Deng Gai ’05 to injury and Terrence Todd ’06 to suspension. The team then finished the season 9-2 without their two key players, with an overall conference record of 12-6. Throughout the season, O’Toole helped the team keep off the court rumors just that, off the court. Although the team lost in the first round of the MAAC tournament to Siena, O’Toole’s performance this year as coach was undoubtedly his best.
Boos to graduation fees. Although the picturesque commencement exercises on Bellarmine Lawn are unforgettable for all, the $150 fee attached for all seniors is a bitter pill to swallow. It would be a lot easier for the university to collect these funds by distributing them equally throughout every student’s tuition bill. Since everyone will eventually graduate, students won’t have a problem, and it would probably be a lot better for the school than squeezing their next 1,000 or so potential donors for $150 each.
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