Front and center

It would be an incredible understatement to say that the University’s new no-keg policy has generated more interest on campus than the up-coming congressional elections.

Ask a student how much beer he’s legally allowed to have in his townhouse, and he’ll immediate spout out “167 cans,” but ask him to do so much as name four people who are running for office this fall in Connecticut, and he won’t have a chance.

But don’t blame the University for the troubling amount of political apathy at Fairfield.

In an election season that has put a national spotlight on Connecticut, the administration stepped up to the plate and made sure that spotlight was pointed directly on Fairfield.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s policy speech last Friday at the Dolan School of Business was covered by a horde of reporters from newspapers across the region, and was televised throughout Connecticut.

Love Lieberman or hate him, his speech gave Fairfield an invaluable avenue for promotion, and at the same time sought to get students involved in the democratic process.

Two days later, another nationally known political figure took center stage on campus when Fox News talking head Bill O’Reilly spoke as the opening act of this year’s Open Visions Forum at the Quick Center.

While we fully recognize O’Reilly’s status as a political lightning rod and a man who offends a whole lot of people every time he opens his mouth, students and faculty should be honored that he chose Fairfield as the location for his first lecture related to his latest book.

The speakers would have kept coming on Monday had U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays not cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Quick Center, where he was to be featured in a documentary series being put together by the Center for Faith and Public Life.

According to Fr. Rick Ryscavage, who runs the center, Shays was scheduled to be the first – and, from what we understand, the least prominent – in a long line of speakers that may, when all is said and done, include the names Hillary Clinton, Bill Frist, and Barrack Obama.

If Ryscavage can pull that off, Fairfield will be able to claim its place among the elite universities in terms of attracting influential public figures.

The university will also be front and center on Oct. 16, when Shays and his Democratic challenger, Diane Farrell, face off in a debate at the Quick Center.

We understand that what goes in Washington seemingly has little effect on what goes on at Fairfield. But thanks to the good work the university has done, students now have an opportunity to give the election process a chance.

We commend the University for what we consider to be its best effort yet to combat apathy, and to promote Fairfield at the same time. It is our hope that their efforts will pay off.