The President’s View

This week, I sent this message to the Fairfield University community concerning the news regarding Project Pierre Toussaint:

To the Fairfield University community:

In the past few days, our community has been shaken by the news concerning the arrest of and criminal charges against Doug Perlitz ’92, founder and former director of Project Pierre Toussaint, a program to educate and help impoverished boys in Haiti. I am deeply saddened by this tragic situation.

Since its establishment in the mid-1990s as an independent non-profit organization, Project Pierre Toussaint garnered the support of several individuals from the Fairfield University community. Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J., former University Chaplain and Director of Campus Ministry, initially provided financial support to the program through the use of collections received from weekly Masses at the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola and other donations. Collections historically have been used to support charitable organizations and service activities.

As the project continued to grow in scope, Fr. Carrier, Doug Perlitz, and others formed an independent charitable organization known as The Haiti Fund, Inc., in order to support and carry out expanded fundraising activities for Project Pierre Toussaint. Fairfield University did not have a role in the management or board oversight for either of these organizations. Since Fr. Carrier’s departure from the University in 2006, engagement with the project by individual members of the University community lessened steadily.

The University learned about a year ago that the project’s Board of Directors had removed Doug Perlitz as director. The board communicated to its many benefactors that there had been accusations made against Doug Perlitz involving the sexual abuse of boys. The board hired an investigator to review the matter and decided to remove Doug Perlitz as director.

If the allegations against Doug Perlitz are true – of course, he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty – then it will be a tragic outcome for the affected group of children in Haiti and the irreparable harm caused them, as well as for the members of the University community who donated their time and support to this cause – with the firm belief that it was for a good cause – and who will have been misled. It is important that the judicial process move forward appropriately for all parties involved in this matter.

As a University, it is important that we take appropriate steps to respond to this situation. We will engage outside counsel to conduct an internal review of the nature of campus support for these organizations, as well as the accounts where weekly Mass collections and other special gifts were deposited and disbursed. It is important to note that these accounts are subject to the University’s standard financial controls and procedures and we do not expect to find any irregularities.

For our on and off campus communities, there will be an opportunity this Sunday following Mass to come together and express their feelings and concerns about this tragic matter. In addition, we will organize an appropriate forum on campus for members of our community to engage in discussion and dialogue about our mission as a Jesuit and Catholic university, and core principles related to helping and serving the poor and economically disadvantaged. Information regarding this discussion forum will be forthcoming.

Please join me in praying for all involved in this difficult situation, especially the children of Haiti.

Sincerely,

Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J.

President