A mix of glitter, competitiveness and relaxation can be an intriguing way to kick off a college weekend with DIY flag pendants, pop culture trivia and late-night laser tag. From indulging in creative outlets to the possibilities of meeting new friends, college is about branching out and taking advantage of all the opportunities available.
For students looking for an alternative to a night out, Fairfield at Night (F@N) offers just that. Located in the lower section of the Barone Campus Center (BCC), students from first-years to seniors have the option to sit together at colorful, circular tables filled with Crayola markers next to a blaring speaker playing tunes from modern pop songs to 2000s throwbacks.
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 9 to 11 p.m., F@N hosts upbeat and positive events open to all Fairfield students. F@N is a student run organization with tiers of involvement from Street Team to Creative Directors. Students receive emails each November providing information about the application process in becoming a member of the F@N team. Materials are found on the Life@Fairfield website with a questionnaire before advancing to the in-person interview stage.
The Street Team are members who run the in-person events, aiding in the distribution of supplies to attendees, with the requirement to host four events per semester. Sophomore Molly Beauregard, Street Team member, shared that her most memorable event was the bamboo cup painting last semester where there were 100 attendees.
“I initially went to F@N for an FYE credit,” Beauregard said. “From then, I wanted to become part of the other side and give back to the program that had uplifted me as a first-year.”
First-Year Experience (FYE) seminars require students to attend Fairfield events for credit. Beauregard, who is also a participant of the Sophomores Give Back program, affirmed that these two programs are not interconnected although there are transferable leadership and community-building skills in both programs.
Creative Directors lead the team, dedicating extra time commitment to the program, by organizing action plans for weekend festivities. Creative directors need to interact with the street team to coordinate logistics of activities. Junior Jenna Walsh, a Creative Director, serves as the contact for street team members. Creative Directors are responsible for ordering the supplies, dealing with issues and debriefing events to the advisor.
“F@N helped me come out of my shell, which encouraged me to apply in hopes of making these magic moments happen for other people. F@N helped me find my community,” Walsh said.
Beauregard and Walsh collectively shared that Quad Fest, orchestrated on first-year move-in day, was a rewarding experience. While F@N’s activities welcome all students, it particularly facilitates friendships for first-years while creating a welcoming space on the weekends.
Senior Creative Director Madeline Donohue has found F@N to be a supportive environment to freely share ideas. As her time at Fairfield is coming to an end, Donohue believes that the values of leadership, communication and inclusivity she learned from F@N can apply to a future career.
“If I can impact somebody positively, at least one person a day, I think that adds meaning to everyone’s lives around me,” Donohue said.
There have been advisor switches internally, yet members ensure the changes have not affected operations of the organization instead teaching adaptability.
Students can find upcoming F@N events such as DIY Painted Records, Breast Cancer Awareness Bingo and Escape Room on Life@Fairfield or the @fairfieldatnight instagram page. F@N is hiring for Spring 2026 and is looking for Street Team members and Media Influencers.
For more information, students can email fairfieldatnight@gmail.com. Whether you are a first-year trying to find your place or an upperclassman looking for a leadership opportunity, F@N welcomes your involvement.