From the FWC Executive Committee
At our Oct. 23 FWC meeting after the last General Faculty Meeting, we had a conversation about the many ways we might engage with the current campus climate. Members of color in particular shared that they have not felt safe on this campus. The Princeton Review has ranked Fairfield University as number one in least interaction across lines of race and class and 14th most unfriendly campus for LGBTQ+ students.
The conversation centered on two recent campus events, a Turning Point rally in the BCC and an incident at a women’s volleyball game, and specifically the University’s lack of response to both. Members expressed frustration that the University has not clarified what happened at the volleyball game, leaving the campus community without an official account of this troubling incident. Members also raised questions about how the TP event went through the permitting process, since several aspects of the event were unusual or unprecedented. The FWC is working on a longer report about these issues.
Members expressed frustration at the lack of public knowledge as to just what happened and the University administration’s lack of response to both the TP event and the volleyball game incident. Many questions were raised about the permitting process for campus events, and the FWC is working on a longer report about these issues.
An FWC member reported that, before the Fall Break, several of her students wanted to talk to her about the Turning Point presentation. The students were embarrassed. One said, “I don’t want my degree to come from a racist institution.” An FWC member pointed out that we lack the safe spaces for students to express their feelings.
What can we do?
- Faculty leaders are currently requesting to activate the Committee on Free Expression Resolution, as described in the Journal of Record, to discuss this incident.
- One suggestion was to signal to students with graphics or symbols that we are safe people to discuss such issues with. The FWC is brainstorming about this, so let us know if you have ideas!
- An FWC member asked, in support of student clubs and particularly athletics, that people reach out to Erin Ryder (eryder@fairfield.edu), Director of Student-Athlete Success, regarding the Faculty Fellows Committee, and consider becoming a Faculty Fellow.
- We are currently discussing the formation of a rapid response network and a way to connect to students who need support, an umbrella Campus Climate Working Group, that can coordinate across different groups to provide a network for conversation.
Other Announcements
- We are looking for faculty members whose course releases and stipends have been cut and would like to learn about the ways this has impacted your well-being and your ability to do your jobs. Please email me at indigomission@gmail.com.
- In response to FWC members' frustration with AI use in the classroom, we reached out to the CAE about a possible "low tech/no tech" discussion. Please see their call below.
- Call for CTSC-AAUP (Connecticut State Conference-AAUP) Officer Nominations: The CTSC-AAUP (Connecticut State Conference-AAUP) represents all of the AAUP chapters in Connecticut. Incoming CTSC-AAUP Officer terms will begin on March 1, 2027 and end on June 1, 2028. CTSC-AAUP is soliciting nominations for eight CTSC-AAUP officers – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four At-Large Members.
- This is a SPECIAL ELECTION and will be conducted online. If there is only one nomination for a position, the nominee will be elected by acclamation. Only current members as of December 1, 2026 will be eligible to vote. Elections will close on February 1, 2027. November 15, 2026 is the deadline for receipt of nominations and materials. Nominees shall indicate in their email their willingness to stand for office and shall supply contact information, their Connecticut chapter, and a biographical statement for use by the CTSC-AAUP. Submission of these materials would constitute a complete nomination. Subsequently, office candidate biographical information will be available on the CTSC-AAUP website (https://ctsc-aaup.org). For officer duties and responsibilities, please consult the Constitution and Bylaws posted on the website. To make a nomination, please send the candidate’s name, discipline, and institutional affiliation to ctconf.aaup@gmail.com by November 15, 2026. Nominees must be current AAUP members in good standing in a Connecticut AAUP chapter.
These comments were collected in a comment form included in the last newsletter. Each commenter had the option to add their name or be anonymous. We publish all comments regardless of whether the FWC EC agrees with them. You may add comments for publication in a future newsletter here.
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"Students have expressed feeling unsafe and being frustrated with a lack of capacity for students to 'just treat each other like human beings' on campus."
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"Damage control. Damage control. Damage control. Community partners are once again questioning their willingness to collaborate with Fairfield University faculty and students because of the perennial racist, classist, and sexist support to those who violate our shared humanity. Senior administration should have put forward a statement immediately to the entire campus. The bigger incident was, and remains, the lack of integrity held by senior administration on campus. They show faculty, students, and staff over and over again exactly who they are (and how little they care for the work the majority of us do to uphold the Jesuit mission). Once again, damage control has to take place, because those who do the most damage get paid the highest salaries. The Board of Trustees simply reward them with extended contracts. It's as if hatred, ugliness, bias, inequality, inequity, prejudice, and elitism is what they want as an imprint for our entire campus."
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"The incident has not affected any student I have spoke to, including some who were at the game. The FWC should see if the Mirror has published a retraction from their earlier erroneous reporting on what was actually said. The FWC should reflect on what its goals are (I have been a dues paying member for 20 years) and if some of its actions actually detract from achieving teachable moments."
(As a point of clarification, FWC has historically maintained many committees devoted to specific community needs on campus, including a women's committee--please see our By-Laws on the FWC website for more information. We have attempted to revive this structure with our working groups, even as AAUP nationally is broadening its agenda. Faculty welfare reaches into many factors that shape our life experience on campus.)
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"Makes me feel the environment on campus is unsafe. I would appreciate a direct message from the institution (after each occurrence) describing the incident(s) and their action plan to provide a safe environment for everyone on campus. There was also a recent racist incident at the Egan School / NHS that has not been taken seriously or directly discussed with faculty. I would hope and pray that this campus has 0 tolerance for hate speech and guests with a documented history of such and/or affiliations with racist, sexist, misogynistic, xenophobic institutions. Its time for FU to take a direct stand and stop condoning (especially with inaction) behavior that is frankly unacceptable and emotionally/socially violent toward vulnerable populations."
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"I'm disappointed, but also not surprised. I have not been here as long, but already feel jaded. I was so enthusiastic when I first joined Fairfield, reading the mission statement, and all the amazing things I was going to do here, being proud to be part of this community. Not anymore, it is now just a job. It is pretty clear to everyone what actions were needed to be taken, but does it change anything? I can reiterate the importance of social justice to my class million times and talk about morals and ethics, but this incident (like many previous ones) was a perfect teaching moment for our community, and our administration stripped off this learning opportunity from our students. Oh, well."
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"Students are fearful to speak up in class although they highlight their own feelings of not belonging and the rampant racism/sexism they experience as part of campus life in their journal reflection responses. Many students write about God's call to love all and to disavow hate in pursuit of this love within the context of recent racist/sexist events at Fairfield. Students also mention the desire for administrative action to inspire and empower students on campus. The FWC may consider highlighting other University statements such as University of Maryland's most recent incident and collectively submit a proposal to General faculty encouraging administration to respond internally to what students have been expressing to mentors and faculty."
Trainings, Meetings, & Events
Join us for FWC lunch in the Staff and Faculty Dining area upstairs in the Tully at noon on Friday Nov. 13!
Thursday, November 19, 3-4 p.m. ET
This special topics workshop from the AAUP's Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance provides an overview of AAUP policy regarding academic freedom in teaching, focusing primarily on the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure andthe Committee A statement The Freedom to Teach. Register here.
Mark Your Calendar for December Workshops:
- Academic Freedom: The Basics (Tuesday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m. ET) Register here.
- Using AAUP Policy to Defend Academic Freedom (Thursday, Dec. 3, 3 p.m. ET) Register here.
- Academic Due Process for Faculty on Contingent Appointments (Thursday, Dec. 10, 3 p.m. ET) Register here.
Next FWC Meeting
Please save the date for May 1, 2028, a national day of action for multiple unions and organizations, including AAUP. We are asking you to mention this in your planning and professional organizations, and where possible, plan to not hold work events that day.
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CAE "Teaching in This Moment"
What is working in your classroom right now? What feels harder than it used to? And what kinds of learning experiences do you most want to create with your students?
The Center for Academic Excellence invites faculty to explore Teaching in This Moment, a new Community of Practice facilitated by Christine Rodriguez and Mary Laughlin.
Together, we will share what is working and what is not, learn from colleagues across disciplines, and consider the choices we make in response to our students and a changing teaching environment. Our conversations will explore approaches ranging from intentionally low-tech and no-tech experiences to reconsidering familiar assignments, experimenting with new strategies, and strengthening practices we already value.
This is a space for candid conversation, shared exploration, and thoughtful discernment, not a community organized around any one approach to teaching or technology.
Interested in thinking alongside colleagues about teaching in this moment? https://form.123formbuilder.com/6984805/teaching-in-this-moment-a-community-of-practice
Email cae@fairfield.edu with any questions
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We promote faculty welfare, broadly defined, through chapter programs and activities designed to advance academic freedom, advance the economic and professional status of the faculty, encourage faculty participation in governance, and inform the community about AAUP standards and policy statements to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good.
