Author Rachel Brean

Imagine being able to donate to female entrepreneurs on the other side of the world, to actually track where your donation goes and choose which projects to support. Then, after a few months, you will get your full donation back and be able to choose another project to fund.

A network of walking paths. More picturesque landscaping. New spaces for recreation and relaxation in the Quad. These are some of the first steps in the campus makeover of the University due to begin this summer. "It's exciting with any master plan to finally 'put a shovel in the ground' and get started," said Thomas Curran, director of Campus Planning and Design.

Tuesday signified more than the commemoration of Earth Day for members of the Fairfield community as they gathered at Bellarmine Hall to break ground on the new, environmentally friendly Jesuit residence. "Let me welcome you to what will be a momentous occasion for the University community," said University President Fr.

The country's widening "credit crunch" has caught up with the student lending industry, and students across the nation this spring may pay higher interest rates and fees and find it more difficult to borrow. Philip Lane, chair of the economics department at Fairfield, said everyone looking for loans this year will see the impact of the "credit crunch" problem.

Strep throat. The flu. Mono. College students aren't always the healthiest individuals - and usually not the richest either. With the rising importance, and cost, of health insurance, Fairfield has implemented a new "hard waiver" health insurance policy to ensure that all students are covered.

Don't be fooled by the rising temperatures and spring-like weather. College students are still susceptible to the flu virus, and U.S. health officials say it's partly because the vaccine doesn't protect against most of this year's spreading flu bugs. Fairfield's Heath Center has reported 75 cases of students with the flu or flu-like symptoms this academic year, which is actually down from last year.

Receding equity markets. Falling housing values. Sub-prime credit crunch. For students not following economic trends, recent national headlines, such as those, would appear irrelevant to their lives. On the contrary, these national financial issues affect more than meets the eye, including the job search, student loans, financial aid and several other aspects of life.

Not only will newly elected FUSA President Jeff Seiser '10 have some big shoes to fill, he'll also have a red wig and some face paint he'll have to live up to as well. The biggest Stag super-fan is beginning his last stretch of college, and the Fairfield community will soon be saying goodbye to two-time FUSA President Hutch Williams '08.

Political debate may actually be swelling students' wallets as the House recently passed legislation to help curb mounting college education costs. A bill entitled the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 passed 354-58 and will be put up for vote in the Senate.

One year ago, Carly Jurman '11 was deciding which college to attend. Jurman, like many others, began her college application process with a Princeton Review guidebook. Quotes in the review such as, "lots of class discussions" and "an extremely social school" attracted her to Fairfield.