Mirror - Vol. 06, No. 18 - February 17, 1983

              Part I of II
Discrimination Finds The Classroom by Lucia Mercurio
Elizabeth Bartus
and
Mary-Margaret Walsh
Mirror Editors
The glamour and advantages
of a small University are dulled in
the shadow of the often hushed
issue of sexual discrimination
on campus. In researching this
subject, numerous stories and
cases could not be reported
because Fairfield University
forms such a contained com-munity.
However, despite the
silence, sexual discrimination is
a real problem.
Stephen L. Weber, Dean of
Arts and Sciences feels that
the"problem of sexual discrim-ination
exists at Fairfield as well
as it does everywhere else...''
Dean Weber continued by
stating that probems arise as to
defining sexual discrimination
and distinguishing between sex-ual
discrimination and sexual
harassment.
Although the figures on exact-ly
how many cases have occur-red
at Fairfield, Dean Weber did
state that of the reported cases,
50% of the sexually biased
cases dealt with men as well as
women. Dean Weber also cited
that teachers have been sexually
discriminated against and cited
a case of an overly affectionate
letter to a teacher.
One area in which students
have been sexually discrim-inated
against is in the area of
grades. The issue involved is
what grade does a student
deserve regardless of his or her
sex. It is for this reason and for
several others, the Academic
Council established a vehicle for
students to repeal their grades.
Dean of Students William
Schimpf directs any student who
thinks he/she has been discrim-inated
against to the Title Nine
Coordinator, Jaqueline Beard.
He suggests that there are cer-tain
steps a student should go
through in addressing a problem
such as discrimination in grades,
verbal or physical harassment.
First, the student should report
the incident to Ms. Beard.
He/She should then confront the
instructor, the department
head, the Dean of the school and
finally the Academic Vice Presi-dent,
Christopher Mooney
respectively if each preceding
step does not work out the pro-blem.
If there is still no resolution,
the student makes a formal, writ-ten
complaint to Ms. Beard. This
would entail "what the com-plaint
is, if it has not yet been
solved," explained Ms, Beard.
She would then investigate the
incident and if necessary a hear-ing
would take place. The com-mittee
consists of two people
chosen by the student, a chair-person
selected by Ms. Beard
and Ms. Beard herself acting on-ly
to present the information but
not voting.
A similar process would be
taken by a professor, admin-istrator
or any employee of the
school who feels he/she has
been the victim of discrimina-tion.
Schimpf stated that the pro-cedure
has never gotten to the
formal hearing stage and that a
Continued on page 2
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Volume 6, No. 18, Thursday, February 17,1983 Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut 06430 Incorporated 1977
Intruder Assaults Co-ed;
Robbery Attempt Futile
by Lucia M. Mercurio
Arts and Entertainment Editor
In a failed robbery attempt at
Fairfield Beach a Fairfield Univer-sity
co-ed was assaulted Monday
evening February 7 around 8 pm.
The woman was alone in her
unlocked house when police
believe the unidentified man scan-ned
the neighborhood by peering
into windows. He entered the
house and continued to the
woman's bedroom where he
demanded money. When she
refused and began to scream,
police believe the man panicked
and "accidentally cut her across
the leg." Frightened, the man then
ran out of the house.
The assailant is described as
being approximately 5'11" and 200
lbs. He is thought to be around 25
years" of age. At the time of the
assault, he was wearing an orange
ski jacket, a tan wool hat, beige
wool scarf and leather workboots.
There is no connection between
this break-in and ones that took
place early last semester. "This is
somebody new," stated Captain
Targowski of the Fairfield police.
Rumors of another assault that
might have taken place later on
that same evening are incorrect.
Police are very optimistic in their
search for the assailant. Anyone
with any information that could
lead to the apprehension of this
man are encouraged to contact
the Detective Bureau of the Fair-field
Poiice Station.
Last September students at the
beach were plagued by separate
incidents involving attempted
break-ins and a suspect who
assaulted a coed in her home.
As in the previous assaults at
the beach, the recent incident
took place within an unlocked
home.
Keep all doors and windows
locked when you are alone, and
the shades down. Report anyone
you see loitering, for the presence
of a patrol car may be a deterrent.
Fairfield police have released this composite photo of the suspect in
last week's beach incident. The assailant was described as 5'11", 200
pounds, and 25 years old. He was last reported wearing an orange ski
jacket and a tan wool hat.
Hicks Advises Students
On How To Stay Sane
Freshman Pat Yerina looks for two points in the Stags
57-55 overtime loss to Army last Wednesday. Fairfield
has been shooting poorly from the floor and has turned
the ball over a great deal in their last few contests. The
Stags have been in a tailspin since their demoralizing
overtime loss to St. Peters two weeks ago.
[Photo by Steve Humps]
NOTE
The MIRROR would like to apologize to all Bridgeport residents for the
front page article "Stench Aggravates Quad Students." The comment in
dispute was not intended in a derogatory manner and the story did not
warrant a place in the news section of our publication.
by Thomas Cairns
Staff Writer
Have an exam coming up and you don't know how
you're going to pass it? You've gone to some parties
and always feel left out. Well, someone out there
hears you. He's Dr. Thomas Hicks, Professor of
Psychology at Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport.
Dr. Hicks spoke recently at Fairfield on, "How to Stay
Sane in College."
Before knowing how to keep one's wits,
understanding the stresses of college is important.
Hicks cites several stressful situations. College is ad-justing
to new situations. Anxiety and depression are
common. Competitiveness can overwhelm some
students. They may begin to wonder "How good am
I?" Students tend to compare themselves with other
students and always come out second.
College is a time when one is supposed to know
what he or she will be in life. Defining this purpose or
goal is hard. Studies may seem like they will last a
lifetime. Drudgery and monotony may set in. Strains
jvithin one's family often cause stress. Some
students want to disengage from their family. This
need for a separate identity or "individuation," is
common. The uncertainties of our day are another
stress factor on college students. This period of rapid
social change is often hard to predict. Lastly, being
excluded by others or the feeling of not being able to
make friends is cited sometimes as the major stress
factor with college students.
Whereas no cure-all for sanity in college exists, Dr.
Hicks offered some suggestions. First, if mildly
depressed, take a break. Maybe a night out or a
weekend away will help. Second, communicate emo-tions.
Talk over problems with a friend. Third, take an
hour a few days a week to do some moderate exercise
Also, recall past accomplishments. Putting life in-perspective
is helpful.
Some additional thoughts to keep in mind are that
college determines, to a large extent, one's future
lifestyle. Fundamental relationships in life such as
what type of person one will marry, as well as the type
of friends a person will have are in part dependent on
completion of college.
Furthermore, Hicks mentioned that living in the
present is best. "Too many students at college live in
the future," he said. "They think too much about get-ting
a job, an apartment or a degree." continued
Hicks. While these are important, enjoying everything
now is equally important.
Hicks stressed having an amused acceptance of
life. Look around and laugh at the chaotic, frenzied,
crazy pace of college life. Of all attitudes to have to
retain sanity, Hicks emphasized strong personal rela-tionships.
These are "central and key" to a suc-cessful
college career, he said. More than any other,
personal relationships, not just boy and girl but all
others, too are vital.
Whenever stress and college are mentioned,
suicide is thought of. Unfortunately, the college stu-dent
rate of suicide has increased 250 percent in the
last twenty years. However, a negative coronation
between the higher educational level of a person and
suicide exists. As important as attaining an educa-tion
is, and as tough as it may be sometimes, suicide
will not solve anything. Finally, not overestimating
one's expectations in college is important. Let it be
what it can be. The most significant changes are
often the most subtle.