On the eve of their Commencement weekend, four award-winning Fairfield University graduating seniors, including one Harrison, N.Y., resident, reflect on how their individual campus experiences led to involvement with a number of critical issues in today's world. They offer comments on a variety of timely topics from Sen. Richard Blumenthal's recent report on sexual assaults on college campuses to the importance of alcohol-free programming for students.

The live link provided here will provide access to the folders that contain short interviews of each of the students, who will be graduating Sunday, May 18, at Fairfield University's 64th Commencement Exercises. The live link is also available here:

https://files.fairfield.edu:8443/xythoswfs/webview/_xy-5762908_1

The folders are identified with each student's name. Right-click on folders and save to desktop to view. The HD versions are broadcast quality. A folder with JPEGS of students is also included.

The students are:

• Eric Lynch, of Harrison, N. Y., a politics major with a minor in peace and justice studies, who won the St. Ignatius Loyola Medal for his commitment to Jesuit ideals of high academic standards, community engagement and participation on co-curricular activities. Lynch, president of Fairfield's chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society, was the co-founder of South Side Café, a popular late-night alcohol-free student lounge. He has devoted significant time to mentoring and assisting younger students through several first-year experience programs. Lynch discusses first-year programs at Fairfield (45 seconds, :08-:53) , establishing South Side Café (31 seconds, 1:03-1:34) and his passion for social justice (10 seconds, 1:41-1:51).

• Bayan Abunar, of Fairfield, Conn. , a chemistry/biochemistry major who won a Student Achievement Award for her commitment to WiSTEM (the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics living and learning community) and to the Muslim Student Association (MSA). Abunar has been MSA president for three years, programming events to promote understanding among people of all faiths at the Jesuit university, and she has spent countless hours mentoring and advising younger students in the sciences. Abunar discusses mentoring WiSTEM students (33 seconds, :09-:42) , Islam Awareness Week's annual Hijab Day (26 seconds, 1:53-2:28) and bringing people together (11 seconds, 1:27-1:38).

• Astrid Quinones, of Walpole, Mass. , a social work and justice major who won the 2014 William J. Kramer '60 Humanitarian Award, presented each year to one outstanding senior who is committed to volunteerism and service that exemplifies the Ignatian tradition of being men and women for others. Among her many accomplishments, Quinones co-founded Fairfield's Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Commons in a residence hall and served as director of the campus Take Back the Night program. Quinones discusses co-founding the Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Commons (29 seconds, :06-:35) , majoring in social work and justice (25 seconds, :45-1:10) , Sen. Blumenthal's report, which recognizes Fairfield University for best practices in sexual assault awareness (23 seconds, 1:20-1:43) , and her plan to serve others after graduation (35 seconds, 1:53-2:28).

C. Spencer Colpitts Jr. of Milford, Mass. , an economics major who won one of four Student Achievement Awards for his outstanding work with University programming. Colpitts helped develop Man2Man, a living and learning community on campus dedicated to helping first-year male students transition to college and consider issues of "positive masculinity" and respect for others through bi-weekly group meetings, mentoring and social programs. Colpitts discusses Man2Man (18 seconds, :06-:24) , positive masculinity (19 seconds, :33-:52) , what he's learned about problem-solving at Fairfield (24 seconds, 1:02-1:26) and Sen. Blumenthal's report (30 seconds, 1:34-2:04).

Media Contacts:
Mike Horyczun (203) 254-4000, ext. 2647, mhoryczun@fairfield.edu
Margaret McCaffrey, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2726, mmccaffrey@fairfield.edu
Meredith Guinness, (203) 254-4000, ext. 2950, mguinness@fairfield.edu

Posted On: 05-16-2014 03:05 PM

Volume: 46 Number: 303