Fairfield University celebrated its first “Fairfield Friday” of the 2024-2025 academic year, with events to raise school spirit and awareness.

The Activities Fair, one of the day’s hallmark celebrations, returned to the traffic circle area after being moved to the interior quad last year. As a tradition, the event allowed students to join and discover more than 100 clubs and organizations. 

In addition to the fair, the Stag-spirited afternoon included other activities, such as a pop-up marketplace, shirt giveaways and the official blessing and opening of Avery Dulles S.J. Hall, the newest residence hall on campus. 

Father Paul Rourke, S.J., the vice president of Mission and Ministry, led the holy blessing by sharing anecdotes of his encounters with Cardinal Dulles, highlighting his discipline and work ethic. 

Fairfield University Provost Dr. Christine Siegel also shared that this new academic year will have 3,985 undergraduate students living on campus, 200 more compared to the 2023-2024 academic year.

“We are so fortunate to be opening this residence hall that will house over a 100 of them,” Siegel said as she continued to highlight the numerous infrastructure improvement projects that have been made to accommodate the growing classes.

Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., was the son of former U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and a Jesuit theologian. In 2001, he became the only American theologian appointed to the College of Cardinals, as highlighted in his 2008 New York Times