The start of a new school year brings lots of new opportunities, especially for our first-year students. But, whether it’s your first year on campus or not, there’s always an opportunity to join a club or organization on campus! With over 100, Fairfield students have a wide variety of options. Here are a few hidden gems:
Book Club:
If you have a love for reading and want to discuss books with other students, Fairfield University’s Book Club is the place for you. The club, which will soon resume its biweekly meetings, provides students with a chance to talk about books in a fun and relaxed environment.
“This is just for enjoyment,” Book Club co-president Grace Foltin ‘24 said. “…it’s very chill and it’s not another class.”
Each month, club members will meet and decide together which book to read as a group. Last year’s Book Club picks included “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi.
The Book Club will provide the agreed-upon book to members at no cost. Members will then spend two weeks reading up to the midpoint of the book and meet again to discuss. After two more weeks, the club will convene again and talk. “…It’s really just a conversation,” Foltin said.
Students interested in joining Book Club can search for the club on Life@Fairfield and select “join” to be added to a mailing list to hear about upcoming meetings.
Every Voice Coalition:
Every Voice Coalition is a student-run national organization fighting for sexual violence survivors at colleges across the country. Every Voice at Fairfield works to make everyone on campus safe and comfortable.
The club held its first meeting of the year on Thursday, September 16, where members got to know each other and club guidelines focusing on respect were set. At future meetings, Every Voice hopes to bring in speakers from groups such as the Black Student Union, Gender and Sexuality Alliance and the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport, Conn.
“We’re talking with the social work department and we’re hoping to team up with some other department and just bring in all perspectives because sexual violence is very much an intersectional issue…” Vice President Christina Carucci said.
In addition to their bi-weekly meetings here at Fairfield, Every Voice Coalition worked over the summer to pass House Bill 6374. This law established a statewide amnesty policy for student survivors of sexual assault as well as a twice-annual anonymous survey to gather student data on sexual assault.
“Basically if someone experiences an event of sexual violence under the influence, they are not held accountable for being under the influence at all, that doesn’t have any effect on them whatsoever,” Carucci said.
Every Voice at Fairfield meets every other week in NHS Room 404 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Students who want to join the organization can request to be added to the email list on Life@Fairfield.
Arthur’s Club:
For many nursing home residents, the COVID-19 pandemic brought on isolation and loneliness. Fairfield University’s Arthur’s Club aims to combat this by providing nursing home residents with companionship and more.
Arthur’s Club was started last year by 2021 Fairfield graduate Liv Sarantopoulos, and is named after her grandfather. Although the club has not been allowed in nursing homes due to the pandemic, members have found other ways to reach the seniors they hope to serve.
“…we send them care packages, write them letters, [and] just make sure they’re not lonely,” club vice president Morgan Hoffman ‘23 said.
This year, the club plans to meet once every two to three weeks. Members will put together packages for the residents and drop them off at the nursing homes. Club president Megan Hansen ‘23, says she hopes the club will be able to personally deliver the cards and packages in the future.
“The whole idea of the club is to just bring little pockets of joy to places that haven’t had it in a long time…” Hansen said.
Those interested in joining Arthur’s Club can reach out to Hansen or Hoffman, or sign up at Life@Fairfield to hear about upcoming meetings.
Book Club, Every Voice Coalition and Arthur’s Club each provide students with unique experiences and chances to explore their interests. No matter what interests you, there is something out there for everyone.
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