Let’s get theoretical, Fairfield. As a prospective undergraduate going through the motions of picking a college, would you choose a school that requires you to live on campus for all four years? Most likely you answered no; but alas, you are a Fairfield student.
According to Residence Life, the day you sign the mission statement is the day you throw away your freedom of living where you wish: “All full-time, matriculated undergraduate students who do not meet the criteria of a commuter student or who do not live with their spouse are required to live in one of the University student residences for the four, traditional undergraduate years.”
This statement is stowed away within the pages of the Student Handbook. We all know this book as the one we all diligently read in our first month of freshman year. This is a beautiful example of “small print.”
The reason that this rule has not drawn any attention is because its effects have not been too detrimental in the past. Unfortunately, the class of 2009 has had to deal with a decline in living choices due to the over-acceptance of our class members.
There has been a discerning amount of consequences. For freshman year, there was an extreme rise in forced triples. Sophomore year, those who chose to live in Gonzaga via lottery were moved across campus to Claver. They were notified via e-mail just 30 days before the year started and had absolutely no choice in whom they were sharing a bathroom with – and believe me, that matters. Additionally, many had to live in Jogues for the second year in a row, with the change in scenery being a different floor or wing.
Going into junior year, 30 percent of students from the class of 2009 who applied for a townhouse did not receive one.
The last straw fell about a week ago. The class of 2009 applied for off-campus housing for its senior year, and over 100 students were denied. Most of these people are 3.0-attaining, clear-record holding students who are being told that they still cannot have the choice, at age 20 and 21, to live where they want.
I was in a forced triple freshman year, moved to Claver sophomore year, didn’t get a townhouse this year and have not been released from campus for senior year.
Why has Residence Life done this?
Its argument is that there is an agreement with the town of Fairfield; the University can only release a certain amount of students off campus – I have only recently found out this unwritten agreement exists.
Additionally, if college is supposed to prep you for the real world, what exactly is Fairfield assuming about those of us who have been forced to live in Claver for two years? Do we give the impression that our only motivation in life is to live in co-op, project or row-housing?
Well, if this is true, we sure have practice in minimal living conditions.
I have envisioned my senior year since day one: Waking up in a house filled with the friends you’ve made so many memories with, enjoying the last year of the time of your life by partying at Lantern Point or enjoying an afternoon at the Grape.
But the University is trying to tell 100 seniors that their ideal future cannot be a reality.
This completely conflicts with the residency requirements that state that “preference is given to seniors.”
I guess Fairfield chooses what handbook rules it wants to follow.
We have been annoyed to the point where we think a revolution is a good idea; perhaps picketing and protesting in the circle on a Preview Day would be the best course of action. This way, students will actually know what they are getting into instead of finding out late in the game and writing an angry newsletter.
Don’t get me wrong; I love this school just as much as FUSA President Hutch Williams ’08 does. I love the people, I love the teachers, I even have love for crazy Jo-Jo in Barone.
But as a student who chose Fairfield over many schools, I feel as though I should be shown a little more respect.
It is clear that the class of 2009 has suffered a great loss in their freedom of choice, a characteristic right that Fairfield’s well-rounded curriculum teaches its students to value, emphasize and fight for if threatened.
Leave a Reply