The senior class officers have finally responded to all the concerns and differing opinions expressed both here on Wesleying (pro and con) and on the acb over the past few days concerning the proposal to cancel the next senior cocks and donate the funds for that event to Haiti instead. As you know, the cocks proposal survey closed on Wednesday and we’ve all been wondering about the results. Here’s the email sent out earlier today, which I have to say was nicely written and did a good job of addressing some of the major points of contention on both sides:
Dear Class of 2010,
First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the ongoing dialogue regarding the proposal to forfeit our upcoming cocktail. We have received valuable feedback from members of the class both for and against the proposal. We also realize that this proposal has spurned a considerable amount of discussion regarding the appropriateness of donating cocktail funds, the method of gauging the senior class opinion, and of altruism in general. It is worth noting that we fully recognize the shortcomings of our online survey and we should have taken greater responsibility in ensuring that the survey targeted only cocktail-pass purchasers, and that voting was restricted to one-time only.
With these problems in mind, we openly accept that the results of this survey cannot be used in the decision-making process. It was, however, disappointing to see several forums of discussion, including the survey, used for very inappropriate and offensive remarks. We recognize the argument made by some seniors who felt as though the reduction of this issue to a “for cocktails” or “for giving” dichotomy was too simplistic. After considering the class response, we will continue to explore options for our class to make meaningful contributions to this cause without completely eliminating an event that our class holds dear.
It is important to note that the turnout on both sides of this issue was considerable, so we hope that we might achieve some sort of middle ground. We have decided to try to work toward both goals – we will go ahead with the four spring cocktails as planned while also providing considerable opportunities for our class to contribute funds to Haiti relief efforts. To clear up some confusion about the next few events, there will be two more traditional “cocktails” during the semester, and two events during senior week – an outing day and a semi-formal.
For our upcoming cocktail we will encourage those who feel moved to donate to do so. We will facilitate this by recommending a $10-20 cash donation at registration for whoever wishes to contribute. We hope to provide ample opportunity to raise a sizable donation for the Haitian relief efforts, while maintaining the original promise of cocktails.
Furthermore, we would like to address some of the concerns/questions raised in response to our survey. While we would love to put on a cheaper version of cocktails, perhaps even on campus, this is not as feasible of an option as it might seem. There is no venue on campus that holds our necessary capacity of over 500 guests, and the cost of outside venues takes up the majority of the event’s budget. We will do everything in our power to cut any unnecessary costs and direct any leftovers toward a class contribution. For those who expressed opposition because you value class-bonding experiences, we urge you to take advantage of many of the other senior events made available to you throughout the semester beyond cocktails, including this Saturday’s Senior Winter Ball at Beckham Hall. We are in the process of trying to coordinate with the event planners to make a cash donation box available at the entrance to this party as well. We urge all of you who expressed your desire to donate in other ways and through other venues to do so. We pledge to devote a great deal of energy over the next semester to make both class bonding and fundraising opportunities available to you, and we hope to still be able to deliver a significant donation to the Haiti relief efforts from the Class of 2010.
We would appreciate any further feedback or suggestions that anyone may have. If you would like to continue this conversation, feel free to email us at SeniorClass(at)wesleyan(dot)edu. Again, thanks to everyone for their input throughout this important and difficult decision.
Sincerely,
Your Senior Class Officers
So, dear readers, what do you think of the outcome?
Everyone is fucking stupid. I’m drunk as shit.
Listen, fucktards: If you want to help Haiti, fucking donate. If you don’t, fucking don’t donate. God damn, is that fucking difficult to understand? I didn’t god damn think so, fuck all of you god damnit.
Thanks #14. I think you nicely summarized the problem and hopefully it will bring some clarity to confused readers.
Thanks #14. I think you nicely summarized the problem and hopefully it will bring some clarity to confused readers.
Thanks #14. I think you nicely summarized the problem and hopefully it will bring some clarity to confused readers.
I originally voted “Yes.” But you know what? I’m glad that cocktails will be happening, and I won’t “feel guilty” while I’m there, and I might or might not make an additional contribution to the one I already made a few weeks ago. It’s up to ME, not the senior class.
I originally voted “Yes.” But you know what? I’m glad that cocktails will be happening, and I won’t “feel guilty” while I’m there, and I might or might not make an additional contribution to the one I already made a few weeks ago. It’s up to ME, not the senior class.
I originally voted “Yes.” But you know what? I’m glad that cocktails will be happening, and I won’t “feel guilty” while I’m there, and I might or might not make an additional contribution to the one I already made a few weeks ago. It’s up to ME, not the senior class.
I believe that when the disaster struck Haiti, the senior class government saw this as a way for us to all unite and give something as a class. When they looked for money to fund it, I don’t believe that they looked into senior cocktails because they deemed it frivolous, as some people have claimed. However, it is difficult to drum up twenty thousand dollars (not the fifteen that everyone has been throwing around) that comes from the entire class.
People who are suggesting that we just donate our own twenty dollars are missing the point. The primary source of funding for senior cocktails is money that the university has given to the senior class, whose representatives then budget it for senior cocktails, not everybody’s twenty dollars, as so many people seem to believe. This money would have been from us as a class, not as a bunch of individuals.
Not everybody goes to senior cocktails; in fact, I’d say that about half of my friends in the senior class didn’t show up to the last one. Also, from my experience, people at senior cocktails tend to just hang out with their own friends, which calls into question the whole idea of “bonding as a class.” However, this donation is something that we could have been united on. For me, it would have represented not just a night of bonding and certainly not a “sacrifice,” but something for which we could all band together and be proud for decades to come. Meeting up with classmates twenty years down the line, we could still take pride that we got together as a class and donated twenty thousand dollars to charity, a contribution that I’d like to think represents who we are.
I’m supremely disappointed that this event won’t be occurring. That’s not meant as a “tsk tsk” to people who voted “no” or stirred up controversy, and I don’t have any doubt that they are just as moral and deep-thinking and potentially lovely as anyone who held the opposite opinion. I’m sure that I count some of them as my friends. And it’s true that we can give more money as individuals than the twenty thousand dollars we might have donated as a class — and I certainly hope we will, considering how there are over seven hundred of us. However, for a little while there, I thought that something beautiful was going to happen. That chance has passed, now.
Imagine if instead of having two cocktails during senior week, we had an annual class donation to charity, and someone had recommended that those funds instead be diverted to create a big class gala. I can’t imagine that we would have been nearly so divided over such a proposal.
I believe that when the disaster struck Haiti, the senior class government saw this as a way for us to all unite and give something as a class. When they looked for money to fund it, I don’t believe that they looked into senior cocktails because they deemed it frivolous, as some people have claimed. However, it is difficult to drum up twenty thousand dollars (not the fifteen that everyone has been throwing around) that comes from the entire class.
People who are suggesting that we just donate our own twenty dollars are missing the point. The primary source of funding for senior cocktails is money that the university has given to the senior class, whose representatives then budget it for senior cocktails, not everybody’s twenty dollars, as so many people seem to believe. This money would have been from us as a class, not as a bunch of individuals.
Not everybody goes to senior cocktails; in fact, I’d say that about half of my friends in the senior class didn’t show up to the last one. Also, from my experience, people at senior cocktails tend to just hang out with their own friends, which calls into question the whole idea of “bonding as a class.” However, this donation is something that we could have been united on. For me, it would have represented not just a night of bonding and certainly not a “sacrifice,” but something for which we could all band together and be proud for decades to come. Meeting up with classmates twenty years down the line, we could still take pride that we got together as a class and donated twenty thousand dollars to charity, a contribution that I’d like to think represents who we are.
I’m supremely disappointed that this event won’t be occurring. That’s not meant as a “tsk tsk” to people who voted “no” or stirred up controversy, and I don’t have any doubt that they are just as moral and deep-thinking and potentially lovely as anyone who held the opposite opinion. I’m sure that I count some of them as my friends. And it’s true that we can give more money as individuals than the twenty thousand dollars we might have donated as a class — and I certainly hope we will, considering how there are over seven hundred of us. However, for a little while there, I thought that something beautiful was going to happen. That chance has passed, now.
Imagine if instead of having two cocktails during senior week, we had an annual class donation to charity, and someone had recommended that those funds instead be diverted to create a big class gala. I can’t imagine that we would have been nearly so divided over such a proposal.
I believe that when the disaster struck Haiti, the senior class government saw this as a way for us to all unite and give something as a class. When they looked for money to fund it, I don’t believe that they looked into senior cocktails because they deemed it frivolous, as some people have claimed. However, it is difficult to drum up twenty thousand dollars (not the fifteen that everyone has been throwing around) that comes from the entire class.
People who are suggesting that we just donate our own twenty dollars are missing the point. The primary source of funding for senior cocktails is money that the university has given to the senior class, whose representatives then budget it for senior cocktails, not everybody’s twenty dollars, as so many people seem to believe. This money would have been from us as a class, not as a bunch of individuals.
Not everybody goes to senior cocktails; in fact, I’d say that about half of my friends in the senior class didn’t show up to the last one. Also, from my experience, people at senior cocktails tend to just hang out with their own friends, which calls into question the whole idea of “bonding as a class.” However, this donation is something that we could have been united on. For me, it would have represented not just a night of bonding and certainly not a “sacrifice,” but something for which we could all band together and be proud for decades to come. Meeting up with classmates twenty years down the line, we could still take pride that we got together as a class and donated twenty thousand dollars to charity, a contribution that I’d like to think represents who we are.
I’m supremely disappointed that this event won’t be occurring. That’s not meant as a “tsk tsk” to people who voted “no” or stirred up controversy, and I don’t have any doubt that they are just as moral and deep-thinking and potentially lovely as anyone who held the opposite opinion. I’m sure that I count some of them as my friends. And it’s true that we can give more money as individuals than the twenty thousand dollars we might have donated as a class — and I certainly hope we will, considering how there are over seven hundred of us. However, for a little while there, I thought that something beautiful was going to happen. That chance has passed, now.
Imagine if instead of having two cocktails during senior week, we had an annual class donation to charity, and someone had recommended that those funds instead be diverted to create a big class gala. I can’t imagine that we would have been nearly so divided over such a proposal.
if you are mad at this decision then just donate $20 to haiti yourself! thats what you would be doing anyway but just with other people. if you wanna help out then help out anyway – you shouldnt do it just because it was going to be part of $15000. quit acting as if haiti is now not going to get money just because we are still having a party. did they cancel cocktails during hurricane katrina or the tsunami? do you still go out and buy alcohol or nice clothes knowing that there are people dying in darfur? why can’t i go to a goddamn party with members of my class? not having a party isnt going to help a single person in haiti – stop trying to be a martyr. we can all donate money AND have cocktails.
if you are mad at this decision then just donate $20 to haiti yourself! thats what you would be doing anyway but just with other people. if you wanna help out then help out anyway – you shouldnt do it just because it was going to be part of $15000. quit acting as if haiti is now not going to get money just because we are still having a party. did they cancel cocktails during hurricane katrina or the tsunami? do you still go out and buy alcohol or nice clothes knowing that there are people dying in darfur? why can’t i go to a goddamn party with members of my class? not having a party isnt going to help a single person in haiti – stop trying to be a martyr. we can all donate money AND have cocktails.
if you are mad at this decision then just donate $20 to haiti yourself! thats what you would be doing anyway but just with other people. if you wanna help out then help out anyway – you shouldnt do it just because it was going to be part of $15000. quit acting as if haiti is now not going to get money just because we are still having a party. did they cancel cocktails during hurricane katrina or the tsunami? do you still go out and buy alcohol or nice clothes knowing that there are people dying in darfur? why can’t i go to a goddamn party with members of my class? not having a party isnt going to help a single person in haiti – stop trying to be a martyr. we can all donate money AND have cocktails.
this makes no sense!! because of some online anonymous commentors and some controversy, they’re no longer going to consider the proposal? why can’t they make a new survey that is fair and then see democratically what the senior class actually thinks?
this makes no sense!! because of some online anonymous commentors and some controversy, they’re no longer going to consider the proposal? why can’t they make a new survey that is fair and then see democratically what the senior class actually thinks?
this makes no sense!! because of some online anonymous commentors and some controversy, they’re no longer going to consider the proposal? why can’t they make a new survey that is fair and then see democratically what the senior class actually thinks?
the people who shut this down should be ashamed of themselves
the people who shut this down should be ashamed of themselves
the people who shut this down should be ashamed of themselves
Looking at the comments to the three Wesleying posts so far, it seems to me that there are two lines of argument that only superficially address one another, and that’s why they keep coming up again and again (I am not saying these are the only arguments).
Many against the proposed donation keep returning to the idea that it doesn’t make sense to single out this one event – logic would then suggest we cancel all such events. Those for the donation keep saying that, throw in whatever logical arguments you’d like, the practical situation is that an opportunity happens to be present to take a very small step and get a very big result. But I think there is a bit of a gap between these two arguments, that neither side if really quite addressing the other as far as these points are concerned.
Future commenters, try to bring these together?
Looking at the comments to the three Wesleying posts so far, it seems to me that there are two lines of argument that only superficially address one another, and that’s why they keep coming up again and again (I am not saying these are the only arguments).
Many against the proposed donation keep returning to the idea that it doesn’t make sense to single out this one event – logic would then suggest we cancel all such events. Those for the donation keep saying that, throw in whatever logical arguments you’d like, the practical situation is that an opportunity happens to be present to take a very small step and get a very big result. But I think there is a bit of a gap between these two arguments, that neither side if really quite addressing the other as far as these points are concerned.
Future commenters, try to bring these together?
Looking at the comments to the three Wesleying posts so far, it seems to me that there are two lines of argument that only superficially address one another, and that’s why they keep coming up again and again (I am not saying these are the only arguments).
Many against the proposed donation keep returning to the idea that it doesn’t make sense to single out this one event – logic would then suggest we cancel all such events. Those for the donation keep saying that, throw in whatever logical arguments you’d like, the practical situation is that an opportunity happens to be present to take a very small step and get a very big result. But I think there is a bit of a gap between these two arguments, that neither side if really quite addressing the other as far as these points are concerned.
Future commenters, try to bring these together?
Question: If no one had suggested this donation-party-swap in the first place would it still have been wrong to have cocktails?
but but but: they DID suggest it and we can’t just ignore that
Ok so I’m suggesting that all tuition money in the future go to Haiti. Now that it’s been suggested, anyone who does otherwise should feel GUILTY and maybe even self righteous.
Question: If no one had suggested this donation-party-swap in the first place would it still have been wrong to have cocktails?
but but but: they DID suggest it and we can’t just ignore that
Ok so I’m suggesting that all tuition money in the future go to Haiti. Now that it’s been suggested, anyone who does otherwise should feel GUILTY and maybe even self righteous.
Question: If no one had suggested this donation-party-swap in the first place would it still have been wrong to have cocktails?
but but but: they DID suggest it and we can’t just ignore that
Ok so I’m suggesting that all tuition money in the future go to Haiti. Now that it’s been suggested, anyone who does otherwise should feel GUILTY and maybe even self righteous.
that’s not what “spurn” means btw
that’s not what “spurn” means btw
that’s not what “spurn” means btw
people who wanted to donate the money wanted to do it *instead* of a party, not in addition to it… they could have donated additional money anytime, by themselves, without the help of the senior class. i feel like this is a non-solution.
people who wanted to donate the money wanted to do it *instead* of a party, not in addition to it… they could have donated additional money anytime, by themselves, without the help of the senior class. i feel like this is a non-solution.
people who wanted to donate the money wanted to do it *instead* of a party, not in addition to it… they could have donated additional money anytime, by themselves, without the help of the senior class. i feel like this is a non-solution.
Anyone who voted “No” SHOULD feel guilty.
Anyone who voted “No” SHOULD feel guilty.
Anyone who voted “No” SHOULD feel guilty.
cocktails are not your birthright, this was an exceptional and exceptionally easy way to make a contribution, to make a difference.
Stop harping on the people who support the measure to donate as being overly moral or self-righteous in their claims. anyone who is against this measure is doing it out of a ridiculous sense of self-righteousness and a human desire to complain and moan.
OH poor little senior, did somebody take away your party??? Why don’t you spend the rest of the week obsessing over it, and then, to no one’s surprise, you’ll still get your way and somehow feel satisfied and justified in doing so.
Disappointing to call myself a member of this class today..
cocktails are not your birthright, this was an exceptional and exceptionally easy way to make a contribution, to make a difference.
Stop harping on the people who support the measure to donate as being overly moral or self-righteous in their claims. anyone who is against this measure is doing it out of a ridiculous sense of self-righteousness and a human desire to complain and moan.
OH poor little senior, did somebody take away your party??? Why don’t you spend the rest of the week obsessing over it, and then, to no one’s surprise, you’ll still get your way and somehow feel satisfied and justified in doing so.
Disappointing to call myself a member of this class today..
cocktails are not your birthright, this was an exceptional and exceptionally easy way to make a contribution, to make a difference.
Stop harping on the people who support the measure to donate as being overly moral or self-righteous in their claims. anyone who is against this measure is doing it out of a ridiculous sense of self-righteousness and a human desire to complain and moan.
OH poor little senior, did somebody take away your party??? Why don’t you spend the rest of the week obsessing over it, and then, to no one’s surprise, you’ll still get your way and somehow feel satisfied and justified in doing so.
Disappointing to call myself a member of this class today..
#2, you say you were “impressed with the thoughtful and reasoned arguments on both sides” and then proceed to demonize and unabashedly guilt-trip anyone who voted no.
the situation in Haiti will take years to recover from, so why don’t we cancel the rest of the senior cocktails. as a matter of fact, let not party at all for the rest of the semester because you seem to think its morally reprehensible to celebrate while there is suffering in the world. i hope you haven’t partied in your life considering there is war, famine, and genocide happening every moment of every day.
i contributed to the charity of my choice the day after the events in Haiti, as did almost every single person i knew. the bottom line is i paid $100+ to the senior class officers for the sole purpose of planning senior cocktails (out of my pocket btw, my parents do not pay my student account). it was a discretionary expense that some may deem indulgent or frivolous, but that point is moot because it was entirely optional. no one that didn’t want to take part had to pay. there is no argument you can make that justifies using that money for any other cause without complete consensus. and its clear that is lacking in the senior class.
#2, you say you were “impressed with the thoughtful and reasoned arguments on both sides” and then proceed to demonize and unabashedly guilt-trip anyone who voted no.
the situation in Haiti will take years to recover from, so why don’t we cancel the rest of the senior cocktails. as a matter of fact, let not party at all for the rest of the semester because you seem to think its morally reprehensible to celebrate while there is suffering in the world. i hope you haven’t partied in your life considering there is war, famine, and genocide happening every moment of every day.
i contributed to the charity of my choice the day after the events in Haiti, as did almost every single person i knew. the bottom line is i paid $100+ to the senior class officers for the sole purpose of planning senior cocktails (out of my pocket btw, my parents do not pay my student account). it was a discretionary expense that some may deem indulgent or frivolous, but that point is moot because it was entirely optional. no one that didn’t want to take part had to pay. there is no argument you can make that justifies using that money for any other cause without complete consensus. and its clear that is lacking in the senior class.
#2, you say you were “impressed with the thoughtful and reasoned arguments on both sides” and then proceed to demonize and unabashedly guilt-trip anyone who voted no.
the situation in Haiti will take years to recover from, so why don’t we cancel the rest of the senior cocktails. as a matter of fact, let not party at all for the rest of the semester because you seem to think its morally reprehensible to celebrate while there is suffering in the world. i hope you haven’t partied in your life considering there is war, famine, and genocide happening every moment of every day.
i contributed to the charity of my choice the day after the events in Haiti, as did almost every single person i knew. the bottom line is i paid $100+ to the senior class officers for the sole purpose of planning senior cocktails (out of my pocket btw, my parents do not pay my student account). it was a discretionary expense that some may deem indulgent or frivolous, but that point is moot because it was entirely optional. no one that didn’t want to take part had to pay. there is no argument you can make that justifies using that money for any other cause without complete consensus. and its clear that is lacking in the senior class.
alright, some commenters claimed that the event could go on and still raise 15k, maybe more. Now’s the time to act. Let’s see it.
alright, some commenters claimed that the event could go on and still raise 15k, maybe more. Now’s the time to act. Let’s see it.
alright, some commenters claimed that the event could go on and still raise 15k, maybe more. Now’s the time to act. Let’s see it.
As a senior, I am so saddened and shocked by this result. The money should have gone to Haiti. I cannot believe this is even a question. This is a smart lot, and I have to say I am impressed with the thoughtful and reasoned arguments on both side– I do not assume that those who voted “no” are blind or selfish.
But seriously, seniors, wtf?
Click one button, find something else to do one night, and a substantial and incredibly meaningful collective gift of $15,000+ could have been given to a country that is falling to pieces. What the hell is there to talk about? What is going on???
As a senior, I am so saddened and shocked by this result. The money should have gone to Haiti. I cannot believe this is even a question. This is a smart lot, and I have to say I am impressed with the thoughtful and reasoned arguments on both side– I do not assume that those who voted “no” are blind or selfish.
But seriously, seniors, wtf?
Click one button, find something else to do one night, and a substantial and incredibly meaningful collective gift of $15,000+ could have been given to a country that is falling to pieces. What the hell is there to talk about? What is going on???
As a senior, I am so saddened and shocked by this result. The money should have gone to Haiti. I cannot believe this is even a question. This is a smart lot, and I have to say I am impressed with the thoughtful and reasoned arguments on both side– I do not assume that those who voted “no” are blind or selfish.
But seriously, seniors, wtf?
Click one button, find something else to do one night, and a substantial and incredibly meaningful collective gift of $15,000+ could have been given to a country that is falling to pieces. What the hell is there to talk about? What is going on???
there’s a time and a place to flex your “critically-thinking individual” muscles on questions of principle, but this is not it:
http://wesleyanargus.com/2010/01/26/witnessing-the-tragedy-in-haiti/
nonetheless, i think it’s great that the senior officers were willing to find a compromise, and that it seems like the senior class is too, in the end; i’d like to think they all want the same thing–to help–but are just coming from different perspectives.
there’s a time and a place to flex your “critically-thinking individual” muscles on questions of principle, but this is not it:
http://wesleyanargus.com/2010/01/26/witnessing-the-tragedy-in-haiti/
nonetheless, i think it’s great that the senior officers were willing to find a compromise, and that it seems like the senior class is too, in the end; i’d like to think they all want the same thing–to help–but are just coming from different perspectives.
there’s a time and a place to flex your “critically-thinking individual” muscles on questions of principle, but this is not it:
http://wesleyanargus.com/2010/01/26/witnessing-the-tragedy-in-haiti/
nonetheless, i think it’s great that the senior officers were willing to find a compromise, and that it seems like the senior class is too, in the end; i’d like to think they all want the same thing–to help–but are just coming from different perspectives.
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