Winter 2000-2001

Parents enjoy their time at Fairfield
Parents' Weekend - A Success
Up for the Challenge?
Meningococcal Disease - Be informed!
Financial Assistance for Creative Events (F.A.C.E.)
Habitat for Humanity comes to Fairfield
Spring 2001 Academic Calendar

Parents enjoy their time at Fairfield

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, this family enjoyed good food and good company.

Students show-off their research projects that they completed during the summer.

Mary Kelly '02, Parents' Weekend worker helps a parent review her registration packet.

Parents' Weekend - A Success

Another successful Parents' Weekend (held October 14-15, 2000) has come and gone with over 1,900 people registered. As seen by the pictures, parents enjoyed the opportunity to visit campus and take part in the many activities planned. Thankfully, the weather more than cooperated - nothing but beautiful sunny blue skies!

Some of the highlights of the weekend included:

Father Kelley's Address held in the Quick Center - over 600 parents came to learn about current University news.

The Football team defeated St. Peter's 24-10.

Women's Field Hockey defeated Lehigh 3-2 in overtime.

Women's Soccer defeated Canisius 6-0 on Friday and Niagara 5-1 on Sunday.

Women's Volleyball defeated Iona 3-0.

A University-wide Mass was held on Saturday afternoon. Father Kelley blessed the Junior Rings during Mass. Following the Mass a Junior Ring Reception was held in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Over 600 guests enjoyed the Glee Club performance at the Quick Center.

Do you have comments or suggestions regarding Parents' Weekend? If so, then please email us at: ParentsWeekend@mail.fairfield.edu. We'd love to hear from you!

Save the Date ...
Parents' Weekend 2001
October 20 & 21, 2001
Invitations will be mailed around Labor Day.

Up for the Challenge?

A $1 million challenge has been introduced to Fairfield University's Annual Fund to spur increased giving through The President's Circle, the membership of donors who make a gift of $1,000 or more.

The $1 million challenge is being provided by Trustee Joseph DiMenna, a member of the Class of 1980, and his wife Maureen who previously made a gift of $5 million for the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.

The DiMenna Challenge will function in the following way:

All increases in gifts to The President's Circle will be matched on a 1:1 basis this year. Thus, a $1,000 donor who increases to $2,500 will find his or her gift matched by $1,500 from the DiMenna fund.

New members of The Circle will have their entire gift matched 1:1 so that a $1,000 gift get the full $1,000 match.

The matching gift challenge is expected to generate significant increases in the Annual Fund and in the membership of The President's Circle which has provided the leadership for all Fairfield's fundraising efforts for 30 years.

In September, Fairfield University announced OUR PROMISE: The Campaign for Fairfield University, a $100M fundraising campaign. Of this amount, a minimum of $18M needs to be secured from the Annual Fund or "unrestricted" support.

If you are interested in learning more about the challenge, would like to join The President's Circle, or make a gift to the Parents' Fund, please call our toll free number at 877-748-5123 or mail in your gift.

Meningococcal Disease - Be informed!

On October 20, 1999, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that "individuals who provide care to freshmen, particularly those who live in or plan to live in dormitories or residence halls, should provide information about meningococcal disease and the benefits of vaccination to those students and their parents."

Three years ago, in response to a similar advisory from the American College Health Association, the Fairfield University Health Center distributed educational materials on meningococcal disease to the Fairfield University community. During the Freshman Orientation this past summer, Anne Cole, R.N., Director of Health Services, discussed this health issue. In her June 2000 welcoming letter to incoming freshmen, Ms. Cole reiterated this recommendation. During the past two years, the Health Center has offered to students this immunization against meningococcal disease.

The Health Center again offers information on this rare but potentially fatal illness. We encourage students and parents to consider immunizing students who live in residence halls. This may be accomplished at home with their primary care physician or on campus at the Student Health Center.

Please call the Health Center for further information at 203-254-4000, x2241.

Financial Assistance for Creative Events (F.A.C.E.)

Recognizing the need for more on-campus student programming, Fairfield created F.A.C.E (Financial Assistance for Creative Events) during the 1999-2000 academic year. The Financial Assistance for Creative Events Committee is a program funding board whose mission is to review program requests and to allocate money to sponsors of creative alternative programs which are in need of financial assistance. All Fairfield University members and recognized organizations are eligible, including students, clubs, faculty, staff, administrators, and departments. The 11-member committee is comprised of 6 students, 2 faculty members, 2 administrators, and 1 graduate student. The committee meets twice a month to review requests and to determine funding allocations. Program funding proposals must meet the following criteria:

• The program must be open to all Fairfield University Students
  
• The program must take place on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening, or extend into the evening
  
• Alcohol can not be a funded program component
  
• The program may not be in direct conflict with a similar or "like" program taking place on the same date with the same targeted student audience
  
• Co-Sponsorship efforts must be demonstrated in an attempt to increase the program resources, including funding, marketing, and participation. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other clubs, departments, and individuals in an attempt to ensure a successful program.

Several programs have already benefited from F.A.C.E (Movie Pass Series, Stagstock, Six Flags Trips, etc.). The hope is that as F.A.C.E gains exposure, more and more creative programming will become available for students. For further questions about this committee, contact University Activities office at 203-254-4000 x2377.

Habitat for Humanity comes to Fairfield

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. It welcomes all people to join and build decent, affordable, houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 100,000 houses in more than 60 countries, including some 30,000 houses across the United States.

Fairfield University's Campus Chapter was founded in March 2000. This new chapter is an unincorporated student-run, student-led organization that performs three main functions: building or rehabilitating houses in partnership with Habitat affiliates and homeowners; educating the campus and local community about affordable housing issues and the work of Habitat for Humanity; and raising funds for the work of Habitat. It enables students to put their love into action and build partnerships with people sharing a common goal. Additionally, students gain greater awareness of the need for decent and affordable housing, encouraging a deeper commitment to social action. While Fairfield's campus chapter is only in its infancy, its enthusiasm is ever growing.

Fairfield's founding President, Greg Newman '00, graduated in May and was succeeded by Felipe Polanco '01. Beginning in May 2000 and throughout the summer, Felipe and the Executive Board have been working hard to publicize Habitat for Humanity, both on and off campus. It is their hope that by gaining exposure they will be better prepared to perform their primary functions as described above. Specifically, they are in need of tools in order to fulfill their workdays and have started a Habitat toolbox.

Although this group is off to an aggressive start, their hard work serves as a foundation to their ultimate goal - a Fairfield University sponsored house. In order to do this they need to raise over $65,000 and although this may take some time, their enthusiasm has and will not waiver.

Executive Board
Felipe Polanco '01 - President
Kevin Horne '02 - Vice President
David Hirx '03 - Secretary
Jack Hammond '01 - Treasurer

If you would like further information or would like to help out by making a monetary donation or donating tools, please call Fairfield's Campus Chapter at 203-254-4000 x3868.

Spring 2001 Academic Calendar

January 15

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Day Residence halls open at 10:00 a.m.

Dining halls open at 4:00 p.m.
January 16

New Student Orientation
January 17

Classes begin
February 19

President's Day - University holiday
March 2-4

Siblings' Weekend
March 9

Residence halls close for Spring Recess at 6:00 p.m.
March 12-16

Spring Recess
March 18

Residence halls reopen at noon
March 19

Classes resume
April 12-16

Easter Recess
April 17

Classes resume
April 20

Deadline for educational leave applications for Fall 2001
May 1

Last day of classes
May 2, 6, 9

Reading Days
May 3-12

Final Examinations
May 12

Residence halls close at 6:00 p.m.
May 15

Senior Week begins
May 19

Baccalaureate Mass/Parents' Dance
May 20

51st Commencement
May 21

Townhouses close at noon

The Advancement Division of Fairfield University publishes Parent Ties three times a year for its current parents. Letters to the editor, address changes, and correspondence should be sent to:

Parent Ties
Bellarmine Hall Room 327
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT 06430-5195

Editor
Catherine Bassi Desmarais '93

Editorial Committee
Eileen Bosson
Clare Carney Schimpf '76