“Hey, so where are you living this year?”
“I’m in Regis. How about you?”
“I’m over in 70 McCormick Road.”
Confused? Yeah, so was I. But thanks to the creative geniuses in Fairfield’s administration, this is an example of how things will be next year.
As many students know, the University is planning major construction and building renovations that will begin this semester. These much needed plans will increase the amount of beds on campus by over 200. Despite this seemingly good plan, the administration has found a way to screw it up. I’m not referring to the fact that our “Quad” is now going to have six buildings, which always makes us seem stupid whenever I give a tour. No, I am referring to the names that these new buildings are receiving.
Instead of following the beloved Fairfield tradition of naming buildings after notable Jesuits such as Edmund Campion and Stanisław Kostka, the decision has been made to not name the buildings at all. They will instead be referred to by their address on campus. That’s right. The new quad building will be 70 McCormick Road. The new apartment building will be 51 McInnes Road. The former Jesuit Residence will be 42 Bellarmine Road.
Really Fairfield?
When these plans were first presented to the IRHA General Assembly, everyone thought it was a joke. After raising our concerns, we got the typical administration answer: “The street numbers assigned are actually quite significant. 1942 is when the school was established. 1951 is when the first class graduated. 1970 is when Fairfield first admitted women. Plus, other prestigious schools like Holy Cross and Boston College have treated matters similarly, so apparently that makes it okay. But we will keep your concerns in mind.” (not an exact quote).
Well, the real reason for this ridiculousness is, of course, money. Fairfield is simply using this stupid idea of naming buildings after their addresses until a donor comes along and donates money to have that building named after him or her. Now that sounds more like Fairfield! It’s always about money. And I guess I get that. I don’t agree with it, but Fairfield is a business, and it simply isn’t cost effective to name a building after a venerable Jesuit when they can make more money to name it after a rich person. Just like it’s not cost-effective to have a campus shuttle when it’s cheaper just to have the poor freshman walk in the rain and snow up to Dolan, but that’s another issue.
What annoys me most is the fact that, once again, students are not given a voice. IRHA is supposed to be an organization that works with the administration and represent the thoughts and opinions of Fairfield’s residential community. But it is hard for us to do that when the administration simply presents these kinds of decisions to us already made. And because of that, this idea will backfire.
Any reasonable person knows that no student is going to identify the place they live by a number. They will come up with nicknames for the buildings. And knowing Fairfield students, especially freshman, I’m guessing these nicknames will be less than flattering (thank God Fairfield didn’t decide to let women attend in 1969).
Maybe one day the administration will learn that things are easier when you work with us, not without us. Until then, let the student naming process begin. Be creative!
Editor’s Note: James Ballanco is the Director of Student Affairs for IRHA.
Leave a Reply