To the Editor:
After reading last week’s article about students being angered by preferential registration, I felt compelled to reply. I am a University Fellows Scholar and receive preferential registration, and while the article presented some valid points, it failed to demonstrate the reason why the so-called “elite” students receive preferential registration. As a scholar, I do register before everyone else, but have yet to have a semester with days off during the week, and have had my fair share of 8 o’clock classes.
The other so-called “elite” students (RAs, athletes, nursing majors, etc.) are given the ability to register early because otherwise they cannot complete the courses necessary to complete their academic careers. Nursing majors, for example, do not have flexibility in their schedule to sleep in or have days off, but instead face getting up at 5:30 in the morning to make it to their clinical rotation on time. At the same time their career here at Fairfield is structured to the point that if they do not have the ability to take a certain core class during a specific semester, they will be required to make it up during the summer or intercession in order to graduate.
If someone else can’t register for a certain elective or core class, they always have a chance to take it at another time. In-season athletes register early because they need to factor in practice and traveling. RAs register early to ensure they can take all the classes they need and still be able to spend enough time on their floor to serve as a resident assistant. Certain scholars register early as a privilege granted to them by the university in recognition of their performance in high school and through their years at Fairfield under the stipulation that they maintain a 3.0 GPA.
It’s not like the school picked certain students to give special privileges to in order to screw over the rest of the student body. In addition, I believe the author of the article failed to remember that the point of being here at Fairfield is not to have three day weekends and be able to sleep in during the week, but instead to get a well-rounded education. As far as registration, and how the school handles this difficult process, I think Fairfield University is doing a good job.
Sincerely,
Adam Blom Class of 2005
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