Fairfield U. responds to ‘ghetto party’

The Fairfield University campus on Monday. The Fairfield University campus on Monday. Photo: Cathy Zuraw / Hearst Connecticut Media Buy photo Photo: Cathy Zuraw / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Fairfield U. responds to ‘ghetto party’ 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

FAIRFIELD — A “ghetto-themed” party hosted Saturday by Fairfield University students in off-campus housing has set off both an investigation and a call for more sensitivity on the sprawling, suburban campus.

“It is truly disappointing to see my fellow students ... behave in such a manner that mocks (another) race,” Anmol Tabassum, a Bridgeport resident and Fairfield University sophomore, said Monday.

“The fact that there was even an idea to dress as ‘ghetto’ is an intrinsically perverted issue,” said Joe Harding, a Fairfield University junior from Philadelphia. “When a party has a theme, the participants are expected to wear a costume. In this case, the partygoers chose to wear clothing and accessories that portrayed their conceptualizations of what it means to be ghetto ... Ghetto is not a term of endearment.”

Harding called the event “despicable” and “disappointing.”

Tabassum, who is originally from Pakistan and graduated from Bassick High School in Bridgeport, said she wants the university to take immediate and appropriate action and open more channels of communication.

University officials are saying they will.

After responding to social media posts and at least one picture allegedly taken at the party, on Monday Jennifer Anderson, the university’s vice president of marketing and communications, said officials are working with students and diversity officials to investigate.

“There was a party on Saturday evening, at a house on the beach,” Anderson confirmed. “We are working to understand the details.”

University spokeswoman Teddy DeRosa said appropriate actions would be taken as soon as the facts have been determined.

University President Jeffrey P. von Arx, in an email to the university community later Monday, said the theme of the reported party “perpetuated racial stereotypes that have no place in our community and only serve to offend and devalue people.”

The university’s Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs will hold extended evening hours to talk to students about the incident, von Arx said. In addition, the student government association was to hold an emergency meeting to plan a student forum on the subject.

Anderson said students in off-campus housing are held to the same code of conduct and behavior as those living on campus.

“We expect that our students, faculty and staff maintain the highest level of respect for one another,” she said. “We will be investigating this matter immediately, and will take appropriate actions as soon as the facts have been determined.”

More Information President’s letter Here is the letter sent out by Fairfield University President Jeffrey P. von Arx to the university community on Monday: To the Fairfield University Community: I am writing to you today in response to an incident that occurred over the weekend where students living off-campus allegedly hosted a party, the theme of which perpetuated racial stereotypes that have no place in our community and only serve to offend and devalue people. I am personally aware of and sensitive to the impact that this incident is having on our student body. Both within and outside the classroom, we have spoken to many of our students, and heard the personal accounts for how this incident has impacted them. Their concerns go beyond the incident this weekend. To some within our community, this incident is symptomatic of conditions on campus that inhibit our many positive efforts to build a more inclusive, respectful, and safer community. In this instance, respect must not simply be extended to those we know, it must apply to those we do not, but who nonetheless see, hear and are impacted by our actions. This dynamic is something that as an educational institution we must continuously address. I am personally committed to continuing to engage in critical dialogue to build an inclusive community of learners from a diversity of social, economic, racial, cultural, national and religious backgrounds. Fairfield University is explicitly committed as a Jesuit and Catholic university to a culture that embraces and celebrates diversity. We actively encourage conversations and multicultural education programs that deepen our cultural competence. This week the following will be occurring on our campus: • The Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs will be open and holding extended evening hours to meet with students to discuss issues, concerns and thoughts related to this incident; • FUSA, through the auspices of the Student Senate and Class Presidents are holding an emergency meeting this evening to plan a student forum to occur this week; • Faculty and administrators are planning a dialogue which will be open to all members of the University community. More details on these events will be forthcoming. I urge all of our students, faculty, and staff maintain the highest level respect for one another. As a University we have made great progress, but there is more we can and must do to build our learning community. I ask again that you join me in personal accountability and meaningful action to make us a better institution. Sincerely, Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. President

Mixed reaction

On the Fairfield campus, some students said they were disturbed and outraged by the reported incident.

Brianna Tancredi, a junior accounting and management major, condemned the party.

“There are certain groups on campus where that’s their culture, that’s where they came from,” Tancredi said. “But having that party, it’s like making fun of it.”

Marelyn Maces, a freshman from Bridgeport of Mexican descent, found out about the theme of the party Monday morning from a friend.

“Sometimes we make decisions and don’t know what the outcomes are on other people,” Maces said. “We have to think twice about what we’re doing. We’re not just affecting ourselves, we’re affecting everyone around us.”

Other Fairfield University students seemed unfazed.

“I’m neutral about it. I don’t have any feelings toward it,” said Nick Sagliocca, as he and fellow sophomore Brian Mason headed to the gym Monday afternoon.

“It’s like Halloween, where I’m dressed as a gangster,” said Brian Mason, who said he dressed that way as a 4-year-old. “Nobody said anything then.”

Both said they heard of the party and watched the theme go through several iterations, starting as a toga theme early in the week and ending up ghetto-themed.

Sagliocca said he considered going, but ended up going elsewhere.

A learning opportunity

George Mintz, president of the Bridgeport chapter of the NAACP, said he was waiting to learn more before commenting.

“We’re trying to find out ... what was the party, was it planned by an organization and how were people notified to be invited?” Mintz said.

Mintz said the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People offered the opportunity to establish a local branch at Fairfield University. This may be the right time, he added.

Carolyn Vermont, director of urban initiatives for Connecticut Against Gun Violence, is a Fairfield alumna and former university trustee. She called von Arx directly after seeing on social media what transpired and said he seem genuinely concerned.

“Whether it was insensitivity or a mean-spirited prank, it shows we have a lot of work to do,” Vermont said.

She said the incident did not surprise her.

“It’s symptomatic of an insensitivity to race across the country, not just at Fairfield University,” Vermont said.

Vermont said when she went to Fairfield University in the 1980s, the minority population on campus was barely 1 percent of the student body. Fairfield has made an effort in recent years to boost its minority student population, which now stands at 17 percent.

Fairfield University, traditionally ranked among the top regional colleges in the Northeast on U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings, has a steep tuition that, with room, board and fees tops $58,000 a year.

“The larger percentage of Fairfield University’s campus is conscious about the world, engaged with multiple communities and dedicated to living a good life with integrity,” said Bryan Ripley Crandall, an assistant professor at Fairfield. “Sadly, distasteful micro-aggressions on college campuses occur more often than they should, and they are a symptom of larger illnesses existing in American society. Such behaviors are embarrassing for a number of reasons, but mostly because such ignorance does not represent the majority of students on Fairfield’s campus.”

DeRosa said Fairfield sponsors many cultural programs and clubs to increase communication and collaboration, and just began offering a Black Lives Matter course, launched in the spring semester. Vermont said she has agreed to work on a conference in conjunction with the course.