Mirror - Vol. 01, No. 10 - February 2, 1978

              THE
FAIRFIELD Volume 1, Number 10 February 2, 1978
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY, FAIRFIELD, CONN. 06430 MIRROR ^ Incorporated 1977
Dean Coughlin To Resign
After 16 Years In Office
Fr. James H. Coughlin S.J. [Photo by Colin Kelleher]
Tuition Jumps $300,
Room/Board $100
By Gigi Byron
The parents and student body of
Fairfield were informed during the
Christmas that the tuition is increasing
by $300 and room and board fees are
going up $100. These additions will go
into effect in Fall 1978 and will bring
the current tuition to $3,200 and room
and board costs to $1,800.
One major reason cited for the rise
in tuition is the construction of the
recreation complex. The total cost of
the recreation center for the first year
will be $400,000. Of this figure
$260,000 is going toward a debt
service which includes refinancing hte
CUF (maintenance) building. The
remaining $140,000 will be broked
down into three components:
equipment and supplies, staff salaries
and fringe benefits, and utilities and
maintenance. Fr. Fitzgerald believes
the recreation complex is a "much
needed addition" to the University.
The director of atheltics, C. Donald
Cook feels that the "student's will be
getting more than their money's
worth." He also sees the complex as a
very necessary addition. Cook points
out that all our competitor schools,
such as Fordham, Georgetown, lona,
St. Peters, and Boston College are
either building new recreational
centers or adding on to their present
ones. He thinks that the new complex
will be an important factor in the
number of applications the University
will receive, especially with the
projected decline in enrollments for
the Baas. Cook also stressed the
importance of the University's
operating at full enrollment and feels
the new complex will help us con-tinued
to do this. Fr. Fitzgerald also
felt a reason for this year's low at-trition
rate may be because students
are seeing a positive result of what
they pay for, namely the recreation
complex.
The projected completion date for
the field house, with four playing
courts and a track, is October 1978.
The other more complicated building
with the swimming pool and handball
courts "might be finished around
Christmastime" according to Fit-zgerald.
When questioned about the
concern expressed by the Junior Class
over paying a full year for one-half
year's worth of facilities, he replied
with a smile, "if the Juniors want to
stay a little longer, we'll be happy to
keep them here."
President Fitzgerald attributes the
remainder of the tuition increase,
Cont. on p. 2
Table of Tuition and fees
National Fairfield U
Average* |
1973-74 $2,400. $2,295.
1974-75 2,500. 2395.
1975-76 2,700. 2,645.
1976-77 2,950. 2,795.
1977-78 3,403. 2,995.
* Figures taken from U.S. News
and World Report, Jan. 30, 1978.
By Tony Tamell
Fr. James H. Coughlin, S.J.,
academic vice president and Dean
since 1966, will leave his post this
summer to resume his former role as
teacher. Fr. Coughlin, who has been
with the Fairfield Faculty since 1954,
will return to Fairfield next fall as a
teacher of Education.
Fr. Coughlin, a graduate of Boston
College and Weston College, came to
Fairfield as a member of what was
then the Graduate Department of
Education and also served as chairman
of the Department of Education. He
was named dean of the Undergraduate
College of Arts and Sciences in 1962,
and has served since 1966 as
Academic vice president and dean, his
present position.
"Fairfield's notable academic
progress during these past 16 years is
attributable in large part to the
leadership which Fr. Coughlin has
exercised," commented Fr. Fitzgerald.
Dean Coughlin reflected on his
years at the University by comparing it
to a "good friend," one that he has
personally watch grow to it's now
prominent position.
Since Fr. Coughlin was named dean
in 1962, many significant changes
have taken place at Fairfield.
Coeducation,a School of Nursing, and
increases in the number of programs,
majors and faculty are some of the
changes which have taken place in the
last 16 years, as the undergraduate
student body has grown from 1,331
males to 2,723 men and women today.
A soft-spoken man, Dean Coughlin
feels that "no one person alone
contributes most to the school; it is
the collaboration of the whole that
makes great things happen."
"We have a competent bunch of
students here at Fairfield," pointed out
Dean Coughlin. He feels that the
University "has a good spread of
students." He continues that, 'There
desires are homogeneous due to their
economic backgrounds." When asked
about student apathy, he replied that
"there really is none. The students
want to be themselves. They have
their own interests." Dean Coughlin
said that the question of "apathy
comes up all the time, and it always
will come up as the students look at
each other." However, Dean Coughlin
would like the students to attain a
higher intellectual degree, to "read an
extra book, not just what is assigned."
He detailed that "the students project
a desirable image for the potential
students who want to come to Fair-field.
When asked what he felt has been
the greatest detriment to the
university, he responded, laughing,
'There is nothing wrong with Fairfield
tomorrow." He replied that "even in
the protest years, the university
managed not to lose it's com-munication
with the students. The
University has been like the growth of
a family. Everything is met in stride,
there has never really been a negative
aspect to Fairfield."
The greatest achievement at
Fairfield as seen by Dean Coughlin,
was the development of the fifth year
program. For a period of time Fairfield
offered minority students a special
program so they could take 2 years to
complete their Freshman year. "All
students involved in the program got
something out of it. Not just those
who finished the program," according
to Fr. Coughlin.
One faculty member, who preferred
to remain anonymous, commented
that he was "disturbed and disap-pointed"
upon hearing of Fr.
Coughlin's resignation, and is
-somewhat "fearful" of what my lie
ahead for the University, if this
resignation is any indication of the
direction in which Fairfield is heading.
Junior Mary Ann Daly commented
that "Fr. Coughlin has upheld high
academic standards at Fairfield for
many years. I'm sure the University
community will miss his dedicated
service."
Fr. Fitzgerald has explained that a
Search Committee will be formed in
the near future, to select a successor
for Fr. Coughlin.
Four Seek F. U.S.A. Presidency
By Trudy Newhaus
This year, the candidates for
F.U.S.A. (Fairfield University Student
Association) president are: Kevin
Collins, Jim Hoefner, Vinny O'Brien,
and Greg Blair. In the February 10th
primary, two of the four candidates
will be eliminated, leaving only two
contenders in the election on February
17th.
Jim Hoefner "Hef" a junior, off
campus boarder is among the can-didates
running for FUSA President. A
member of the student legislature, Jim
also served as Chairman for Orien-tation
'79 this past fall. Jim feels this
position as Chairman gave him many
insights into the problems which arise
between the student and ad-ministrative
relationship. While noting
that there are inconsistencies in
Student Services' policy, Jim states "I
feel that I have established a fairly
reputable working relationship with
Student Services."
Jim felt that being Chairman of
Orientation also enabled him to have
"a more flexible, open viewpoint. By
not committing myself solely to one
aspect of group of the Fairfield
community I have been able to ob-serve
many different viewpoints."
"Social life is foremost in everyone's
mind. Within the community it is
important that the student govern-ment
provide different outlets and
new innovative ideas to stimulate
students. Concerts, lectures and
coffeehouses all should be included."
One new idea which Jim feels
strongly about is the revitalization of
Dorm and Projects Council as a
"clearing house" for campus events.
"Better communication between SEC
and the Dorm and Projects Council
would alleviate the problem of having
an Oak Room, 4 Floor parties and a
basketball game one weekend and a
suitcase school the following
weekend," commented Jim.
"It also is necessary that we start
working to lay the inroads for a
student vote on some of the com-mittees
at Fairfield, such as the Core
Curriculum and Trustee committees.
Granted, we need guidelines to follow,
but we deserve a vote, we are paying
for the education," he added.
As a present member of legislature,
Jim feels that the legislature can be a
viable working body. Speaking on the
delayed legislature president election,
he pointed out "It's about time we
finally had a president. A legislature
without a President is not effective.
But the controversy did show that
members are taking an active in-terest."
"Fairfield has a lack of com-munication
between students (on-campus,
off, and commuters) as well
as between students and ad-ministrators,"
Jim replied when asked
what area of the University needs the
most improvement. "Even within the
administration itself there are
problems, as exemplified by the lack
of communication between the
Athletic Department and other
departments regarding basketball
tickets. This is our home - we have a
right to know what is happening - we
should not be held in the dark, as we
were with the placing of new tennis
courts."
Jim pointed out that Fairfield is a
growing university. "As we become a
more prominent school we are ex-panding
in many ways. The FUSA
President must be a leader. He must
represent the students. That's why I
Cont. on p. 7
Kevin Collins Greg Blair Vince O'Brien Jim Hoefner