On Friday, Oct. 31, teachers and students gathered in the Oak Room of the Barone Campus Center from 12 to 4 p.m. to learn more about Fairfield’s core classes.
Falling on Halloween, this ‘unmasking of the core’ featured some crazy getups and tasty treats. The second you entered the Oak Room you were overwhelmed with information, free T-shirts and refreshments.
The goal of this event was to discuss the purpose of core courses and their relevance in Fairfield student’s lives. Fairfield boasts one of the largest core curriculum requirements in the country.
The event consisted of booths with information, games and free candy. Each department of the College of Arts and Sciences was represented with several teachers behind each table. Movies were playing in the background and PowerPoint slides were flashing to give a visiting student the complete perspective on that department.
The teachers who daringly donned Halloween costumes were entertaining additions to the booths. The English department had word games and activities, even auctioning off an iPod Nano.
So what did the student attendees think of the event?
Freshman Lauren Dubois wanted to go pick up a course booklet and admittedly, ‘wanted to get an FYE swipe and check out the food. But I also came to find answers about the registration process, like what to do after the whole rollover thing.’
All in all, this event was helpful for freshmen that are overwhelmed by the daunting task of registering for courses, which is the majority.
Not only was faculty in attendance to answer questions related to the core but so were experienced senior students to give their input.
Senior Denise LiGreci, a double major in English and international studies is a huge fan of the core.
‘It has given me a well-rounded education and enabled me to take classes that I would not normally have taken. I now have a real Jesuit education.’ Teachers can certainly vouch for the core’s importance.
‘The core is fundamental, especially economics. The core surprisingly helps students understand the world and ties everything together,’ said economics professor James Buss. ‘For example, psychology teaches you how people react while other classes can give you an understanding what is just and not just.’
Gathered in the Oak Room on a blustery, cold Halloween day, students ‘unmasked’ the core while enjoying candy and free handouts.
The students surely came away with at least one thing they did not know about the core before attending the fair and possibly a new view of their holistic Jesuit education.
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