Members of the Ignatian Residential College (IRC) despise the conception that the group is a cult. Yes, these students were given doorstops to encourage an “open door policy,” reside in the same dorm, meet for monthly IRC meetings and go to activities/occasional dinners and a class together but please, it’s not a cult – it’s a community.
Spirituality, retreats, community, vocation, life-style – I haven’t heard these words since CCD – and yet they’re often discussed in Loyola Hall, home to the IRC. As a student of a Jesuit school, I decided to question. I kind of had a Jack Welch straight from the gut negative feeling surrounding this program from the start.
So why is this program offered to sophomores? Joe DeFeo, assistant director of the IRC, stressed that it was a key year – sophomores are choosing majors and career paths. It is after all, “a wide open gap and formative year.” Formative – I get it. Grab them while they’re vulnerable!
Why strive to be an individual when you can be a face in the crowd – or community? I asked Mr. DeFeo what the difference was between an IRC and non IRC student. IRC students must attend monthly mentor meetings to discuss “themes”, are encouraged to write in a journal, are part of a committee (either physical, spiritual, service, social, expansion of mind, cultural) and attend an IRC course within Loyola. Do they have snack time as well? Oh right, they have dinner series instead.
Opportunities abound within the IRC. For instance, the community has already sponsored a trip into New York, is planning several trips to see plays and organizing a trip to see the Dalai Lama. As a bonus, all of these activities are FREE to Ignatian students. However, fellow tuition-paying Fairfield University students are not allowed to enjoy these opportunities. Sounds very un-community like to me.
These opportunities are funded by a five year $2 million dollar grant from the Lily Endowment. The problem is the IRC is in year 2 of the grant. Tick tock. What happens in a couple of years when the grant is gone?
Mr. DeFeo stressed that FU’s stance is that the IRC will be an academic priority as part of long term planning. That’s code for FU will pick up the tab. I was under the impression that FU was under severe financial restraints (the football and hockey teams were cut in the name of the bottom line).
Anyone interested in exploring their spirituality is welcome to inquire about the program within Loyola Hall. IRC students will soon be going “door to door” recruiting freshmen for next year’s program.
This is in no way arguing that the IRC is the next Heaven’s gate. There are a few good benefits to the program – good rooms and free stuff- and at only $400,000 a year! The IRC strives to “build community” however, they are only building themselves a small, contained community exclusive to them – how do they fit into the Fairfield University community as a whole?
College is a time for growth, questioning and opportunities. A program “designed for everybody” and with “university-wide support,” yet it only benefits a few – doesn’t really sound like a community that I want to associate with – or eventually pay for.
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