This past Sunday, the Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) organized more than 50 students at Jennings Beach to take a morning plunge into the ice-cold Long Island Sound.
Their participation raised awareness and funds toward supporting heart health safety at the University. The student-led event raised nearly $3,500 toward purchasing additional Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for residential and academic buildings on campus. AEDs are portable medical devices that can provide life-saving treatment for people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
There are currently 30 AEDs located throughout the University campus, primarily in areas with higher risk factors such as large crowds, age, athletics, and recreation. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) also carries portable AED devices in their vehicles.
Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) spearheaded the AED initiative with leadership from Ainsley Corriveau '25, Speaker of the Senate, and Andrew Caslin '25, Chair of Community Safety. Since joining FUSA as a first-year student, Corriveau, a management and marketing double-major with a minor in entrepreneurship, said they have connected with numerous University faculty and administrators "to help make a lasting legacy at this school.”
Caslin, a political science and international studies double-major, was trained to understand when and how to use an AED while working as a lifeguard in Cape Cod and witnessed the life-changing impact it could make during a medical emergency. His lifeguard training has informed his role as chair of community safety on FUSA, he said, and he recognizes "how integral they [AEDs] are on college campus.”
Continuing their support of the Fairfield University community, the alumni-owned Elicit Brewing Company donated $750 to sponsor the FUSA Polar Plunge fundraiser. This sponsorship follows a successful collaboration between the University and Elicit with the launch of alumni-inspired craft beer ’42 Brew.
In celebration of the sponsorship, FUSA teamed with Wave Creations, the 2024 StartUp winner, to design a commemorative FUSA Polar Plunge crewneck featuring Elicit and Wave Creations.
The students created a FUSA GoFundMe webpage for anyone interested in supporting the AED fundraising initiative.
