Mirror - Vol. 08, No. 17 - December 13, 1984

              'The Image
of
Fairfield"
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Volume 8, No. 17 Thursday, December 13, 1984 Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut 06430 Incorporated 1977
University Council Reviews
New Townhouse Policies
by Eileen Quirk
The Fairfield University Council, composed of
students, faculty, and administrators, met this past
Monday at an emergency meeting in an effort to
end the dispute over the existing townhouse
policy.
While three major issues were discussed, only
one was voted upon. The Council recommend-ed
that the existing 70-30% senior-junior ratio be
amended to 75-25%, possibly paving the way to
an eventual 100% senior-privilege ratio in the near
future. Other issues brought up in the course of
the debate included the future of "squatter's
rights", or the priority of townhouse juniors to re-tain
their housing, and a provision which would
allow students to move off campus for their junior
year and still be eligible for a townhouse their
senior year. Because the ultimate decision must
come from Dean Schimpf, the conflict will prob-ably
not be mended this year.
Since last year, the university has attempted
to balance the distribution of seniors and juniors
in the townhouses at 70-30%. However, through
pressure from the student body, the F.U.S.A.
Housing Committee has lobbied strongly to enact
a 100% senior privilege selection for next year.
According to F.U.S.A. Housing Committee Chair-man
Tim Lane, who has been a major work force
in these efforts, the new ratio would "reduce the
number of seniors finding themselves without a
room or a beach house because they thought they
were getting a townhouse."
In an informal meeting last November, Dean
Schimpf outlined his position to Lane stating, "a
100% senior population at the townhouses would
not be educationally productive for the universi-ty
as a whole." He also added that enough time
has not passed to accurately evaluate the impact
of the existing ratio.
Logically, a move to make the townhouse popu-lation
all seniors would eliminate the necessity
of "squatter's rights."
This unfortunately will place all juniors living
in the townhouses at the time the provision is
eliminated back into the lottery with the same
chances to get a house as other seniors-to-be.
The third issue at hand would give juniors who
are already living at the beach the chance to enter
back into the townhouse lottery their senior year.
Traditionally, once a student moves off campus,
they are not entitled to on-campus housing.
However, juniors presently continue to reside on
campus in hopes of acquiring a townhouse their
senior year. This has, resulted in a reduced
amount of housing available for incoming
freshman.
While such strides as were made on Monday
may sound somewhat promising, it must be
remembered that the University Council voted
only for the new ratio to be proposed. They must
now wait for Dean Schimpf's decision.
Artwork Controversy Continues
At the university council meeting Monday, Mr. William P. Schimpf, Vice-President of Student
Services and Dean Phyllis Porter of the School of Nursing (left to right), seated at table dis-cussed
townhouse lottery procedures. Dean Porter called the proposed 100% senior plan
"elitist.' [Photo by Karen Haney]
by Thomas P. Moore
New artworks on campus have stimulated a
wave of reaction, causing commentary in verbal
as well as written form all over campus. The latest
addition to the university's art collection is a work
titled, "Rosie", an example of what Dr. Philip
Eliasoph called "a minimalist pied." The artist who
created the red and off-white, square composi-tion,
is Bob Tinch, a Connecticut sculptor who
is a doctoral candidate at N.Y.U. in the area of
sculpture. Tinch has another exhibit in the New
Canaan area on the Merrit Parkway near the Con-necticut
Department of Transportation.
Shortly before the work in front of the Center
for Financial Studies was installed, a second work
by Larry Mohr Criss Cross V, showed up in front
of the library. The fact that the three major art-works
that the university owns are all modern, and
two are in the theme of Constructivism has
caused some controversy on campus. An expla-nation
for this imbalance lies in the fact that the
university is only beginning to acquire an art col-lection.
According to Eliasoph, the art has all been
donated to the school. To commission an outdoor
work in a realistic or representational nature would
cost an amount far more than the university is
able to handle at this time. He concluded that as
Fairfield establishes a name for showing a taste
for progressive art, more prominent artists will
consider the university as a possible recipient of
artworks.
F.U.S.A. Office Relocates
by Martin P. Healy
In a joint move with the university bookstore,
F.U.S.A. has decided to move it's office from the
current room opposite the Campus Center mail-boxes
to more spacious rooms by the elevator.
John Barone, University Provost, first outlined
the plan when the campus Space Committee de-termined
that the bookstore required more room.
Considering the mad crush to buy text books, at
the beginning of each semester, the committee
recommended acquiring the F.U.S.A. office and
broadening its storage space.
Space Committee Proposes New Campus Plans
by Chris Tyler
The Fairfield University Space Committee re-cently
met to discuss several key areas of the cam-pus
that are badly in need of improvement.
According to Phil McCarthy, a student represen-tative
on the Committee, the Committee recog-nized
several problems that may arise within the
next few years.
Plans to re-locate the Fairfield University Stu-dent
Association (F.U.S.A.) will allow the Book-store
to expand on an interim basis according to
University Provost John Barone. Dr. Barone went
on to add that the Bookstore has not yet submit-ted
a plan for the space that they will get as a
result of the relocation proceedings.
Other problems addressed include plans for
improving space in the dining hall area, which
is very cramped at the present time. Also, plans
to allocate more space for commuters and staff
in the Campus Center were mentioned. "Noth-ing
has been formalized. Everything is purely con-ceptual
at this time," said Dr. Barone when asked
about granting that space request.
Plans to construct the Visual and Performing
Arts Center were also brought up. Said Phil
McCarthy, "That building will probably be built
first in order to attract investors in other buildings
in that area." Dr. Barone added, "We're looking
to get large capital funding from outside sources
towards construction."
According to Phil McCarthy alternatives for
housing students from Julie Hall in the event that
the contract is not renewed is another problem
that will be actively addressed by the Space
Committee.
The plan includes taking over the F.U.S.A. office
as well as knocking down the adjacent wall and
adding the existing hall to bookstore space.
F.U.S.A. will then move its offices into rooms B41,
B42, and B43. Originally, Barone recommended
that F.U.S.A. occupy only rooms B42 and B43, but
without the additional space B41 offered, the plan
would only be "a lateral move—a step backward"
according to Membership Co-ordinator, Phil
McCarthy. F.U.S.A. was able to make progress out
of this venture due to support from Campus
Center Director, James Fitzpatrick.
The new move for F.U.S.A. has its good and bad
sides. On one hand, the many F.U.S.A. commit-tees
can be separated according to functions, so
the Arts and Lectures committee can have full
use of B42 while B43 can be used exclusively for
desk space.
On the other hand, conference rooms are be-coming
increasingly scarce on campus and the
F.U.S.A. move would be consuming vital meet-ing
space. "We hope to help both sides by mak-ing
the offices availble to the many clubs and
committees on campus when F.U.S.A. isn't meet-ing",
said Fran Kenneally, F.U.S.A president.
If all goes according to plan, the new switch
and a remodeled Campus Center basement will
be ready for the beginning of second semester.
Spring Concert Bid Changes
"Rosie", the university's latest art aquisition, sits between the Financial Studies Center and
BeMarmine Pond. The creation is a work of Bob Tinch, a doctoral candidate sculpture of N.Y.U.
[Photo by G.M. McPartland]
by Martin P. Healy
F.U.S.A. Special Events has announced that the
band originally planned for April has been
changed due to fierce competition from other
schools. As a result, the spring concert will most
likely feature the Pointer Sisters instead of
Madonna.
Co-chairman of Special Events, Kerry Besnia,
speaking before the Student Legislature last
Thursday, stated that the first band considered
Madonna, was being actively solicited by other
universities such as Boston College. Because of
the better facilities and higher bids from these
schools, Fairfield had little chance of getting the
popular band for the spring concert.
Fortunately, as an alternative band, the Pointer
Sisters have met near unanimous approval. "As
well as having top songs on the charts now, thely
have a legacy of popular songs going back over
a decade", observed John Mancini, F.U.S.A. club
coordinator. Most of their songs, then, from the
current hit "Jump" all the way back to their clas-sic
'Fire' will be recognizable.
While it should be emphasized that a deal with
the Pointer Sisters is far from concluded, the pos-sibility
is good. The approved bid for the band
is $35,400, $4000 less than Madonna, which
would drop the initial ticket price estimate for stu-dents
from $13 to $12. Any cost overruns conse-quently
comes out of Special Event's budget.
"We've actually made profits on our last few
shows," pointed out Kerry Besnia," so we will pay
for any costs above the bid out of the surplus."
Having already covered their debt quota of
$6000 this year, F.U.S.A. has managed to cut costs
in an effort to balance the budget so effectively
that committees such as Special Events still have
all of their original budget to work with.
The spring concert is traditionally held on
March 22,23, or 24. If a deal with the Pointer Sis-ters
is made, the Dogwoods Dance the following
month will feature either a smaller band or another
cabaret-style event.