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The Man Behind the Frosted Glass

The clock reads 2:00 am; at first look, one wouldn’t suspect a soul to be in the Barone Campus Center. But amidst the ubiquitous darkness, emerges a man from his office, with the utter look of exhaustion and dismay on his face. Working long, tedious hours at his desk in seclusion, he eats, sleeps, and breathes FUSA. He attends endless meetings during the day and sacrifices much, even his summers, to do the job that he enjoys so much. Fairfield students know Jeff Seiser as FUSA president, and not much else.

Jeff is usually dressed in his political attire dawning a bright FUSA red. His tie often clashes with the shirt he is wearing and his shoes usually don’t match his belt. Walking over to the Levy for the FUSA election results party, Jeff is eager to stop and talk with many students that pass him. He politely says hello and extends a friendly hand. Jeff creates some small talk with the student but there is an extreme awkward silence after he says hello. After an awkward goodbye, Jeff continues nonchalantly on his way. The people seem to all stare and notice him as he strolls along with his noticeable presidential strut. “He holds himself like a proud peacock,” said Sal Aspromante a student in line at the Levy for food. “I have never actually met him but he comes off as a goofy guy,” said Dan McQueen, a freshman who is eager to receive his FYE credits for attending the event. “I never see him outside of FUSA. I actually wonder if he has a life outside of it.”

On stage at the Levy, Jeff reluctantly stands up in front of the group of students that has assembled and says a few words. He speaks softly and often is at a loss for words, sometimes stumbling on what he is trying to say. When he finishes he sits down and gives a large sigh of relief. He then continues to talk with other members of FUSA about future events they are planning. It is no surprise Jeff is sometimes at a loss for words; he appears to be overworked and stressed, but manages to pull it all off somehow.

Jeff had to face many tough decisions to get to where he is today. He tells me that in his junior year he was ready to study abroad at Regis University in England and was really looking forward to. When he found out that the elections for FUSA president were going to be at the same time as the trip he had to make a decision as to what to do. He decided that he needed to run for president. “I had to give up something that I really wanted to do, but now there is nothing else that I’d rather be doing than FUSA,” he says as he plops himself down into his rolly-chair.

“It all starts with me,” he says putting his feet up on his desk. Suddenly, Jeff seems to put up a politically correct barrier when speaking, trying to make sure he does not say the wrong thing. “I have to pick my entire cabinet. Before they chose in a manner that was more political. I have implemented a new interviewing process that is much more sufficient in finding the best people for the job.” Jeff bends over to the wall and points to his “Leadership” poster that pictured a flying V of geese. He asks, “Which one do you think is me?” He is eager to point at the bird in the back. “FUSA is about the John Doe’s not about the Jeff Seiser’s. It’s my job to push everyone around me to reach their highest potential and make FUSA the premier student government it should be.”

Seiser says he loves his role on campus, relishing ever minute of it. “Everyday I wake up looking forward to the challenges and adventures that awaits. Being FUSA President is my identity at Fairfield University.” Jeff often spends his Friday and Saturday nights in his office doing FUSA related work and talking to others about FUSA. “Jeff is a great kid and means well, he used to be shy but I think he's broken out of his shell a bit,” said Frank Fioretti, the FUSA Senate Leader. “He's very serious now and it's a little upsetting, he isn't much into partying or going out and having a good time. FUSA is his life and I don't know what he's going to do after graduation.”

When asked about his personal life, he responds with stereotypical answers. He is short and sweet not giving much detail, as his body grows tense. “At home he’s a mess,” said Frank Fioretti also a housemate of Jeff’s. “Whenever he brings home a drink from a fast food joint he'll leave it on his desk for days until the liquid starts to seep through onto his desk,” he said as he clumsily tried to prepare dinner in his apartment kitchen. “This has been going on for a year and he’s too stubborn to learn.”

Frank reveals other interesting facts about Jeff such as his extensive collection of history movies. “He's a history major, and if you ever came over our house and looked at some of the movies he has you'd realize that pretty quickly,” Frank said quickly motioning to the stack of History Channel DVD’s. Jeff is never seen alone with a woman and has never had a girlfriend. He also has a passion for Disney World and Mickey Mouse. Jeff says he has even pondered the possibility of someday being the man inside the Mickey costume. “I love Disney World. I’m a big fan. I actually just got back yesterday from Florida,” he said as he sports some bright red sunburns.

The hopeful 2010 graduate inspires to become a principal and superintendant someday. Jeff understands that success does not come without hard work and looks forward to the challenge ahead of him. Like his parents, he plans on teaching high school and will begin studying for a master’s degree in educational leadership. “I have challenged myself for four years and feel like I have succeeded here. I can’t wait to share what I know with my students like my professors have done with me.”

Fairfield has been Jeff’s home and FUSA has been his life for the past four years. He says he is now ready for a new beginning and it is time for him to move on. “I’m going to miss it everyday. I need to find a new passion and a new challenge. It’s time to expand my horizons,” he said as the emotion overwhelmed his face.

The clock reads 2:00 am; at first look, one wouldn’t suspect anyone to still be at school. But amidst the ubiquitous darkness, emerges a teacher from his classroom, with the utter look of exhaustion and dismay on his face. Working long, tedious hours with his students, he eats, sleeps, and breathes teaching. His students will know him as Mr. Seiser and not much else.