After being documented by a Resident Assistant, you realize the coming weeks will be occupied by checking your mailbox, hitting the four button in the Barone elevator and forking over more of your money to Fairfield University.
After being documented by a Public Safety officer, students are often required to perform community service, take mandatory online and in-person classes, placed on some kind of warning, and more often than not, pay a hefty fine.
Fines are ‘a payment to the University or to an individual for unacceptable behavior or physical damage caused,’ according to the University handbook. It goes on to say that the money is not a part of the University’s general fund, but is used to cover the direct cost of repairs or restitution associated with replacement items.
Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Tom Pellegrino said he does not track the amount of fine money collected and mentioned that the direct amount to repair damages is also different from restitution payments.
‘The fines do not go into the general University fund and are also not related to the direct cost associated with the repair or replacement of an item that is broken,’ he said. ‘I do not track the amounts taken in as a matter of practice, and that monies collected do roll over.’
Pellegrino said he thinks monetary fines have a place in the system of responses to conduct that includes ‘punitive, educational and reflective components’ and that ‘the fines are and remain proportionate to the behavior in question.’
Many students around campus agree that the money should be tracked, but differ over the question as to where the fine money should be put toward or if they should even exist at all.
‘They should definitely be held accountable for the money,’ said Evelyn Saiter ’11. ‘There are definitely a good amount of fines during the year that would make for a large amount of money that should be accounted for.’
‘I don’t think they should fine students to begin with,’ said Pat Meehan ’12. ‘But if they are going to continue, then the money should be recorded.’
Many students also commented that instead of the fines returning to the University, which is thought to already receive a substantial amount of funds, the money from fines should be put toward toys and canned goods for food pantries.
‘The fines should be given to local charities in need,’ said Kaitlin Farrelle ’12. ‘Students should be able to buy either food or toys for the equivalent of their fine instead of the money going back to the school.’
‘I know some of my friends only buy food and toys and don’t pay the fines,’ said Christine Ruane ’10.
‘I think the funds should definitely be put toward charity; the school doesn’t need anymore money.’
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