TL;DR : Institutional Justice: Make Facebook Group -> Get Fined $2000
The “organizers” of Tour de Franzia have been fined $2000 by the University.
Somehow, while providing neither a venue or a single drop of alcohol, their creation of a Facebook event is grounds for being held liable for both any damage at all that occurs on campus the evening of the event and also the reckless endangerment of the 900-odd people who ended up clicking the “Attending” button. The fact that this event happens every year regardless of who ends up picking a day for it to occur, along with the fact that this year’s group went out of their way to discourage the attendance of the underage(they even encouraged us to pick up boxes for chrissakes), seem utterly lost on the disciplinary apparatus of the University.
The notion of community responsibility embodied in this decision is beyond fucked — individuals are responsible for the actions of vast swaths of their peers? Half the student body “behaves irresponsibly” with regards to community standards and yet 5 people are held absolutely responsible? How can it be proven that any damages that may have occurred that night had any connection whatsoever with the Tour? If Michael Roth threw a party that I and 900 of my friends showed up to and proceeded to trash, could we run wild with full knowledge that in the end he would be the one on the hook for our actions? What about if he just talked about throwing a party?
What kind of judicial body, given this glaring absence of any coherent framework of responsibility, could render unequivocally under it a verdict this ridiculously disporportional against the students? Certainly not the SJB?!?!?! .. Actually, certainly not the SJB. The administration, perhaps rightly suspecting that any judicial body composed of students would have necessarily included in its ranks at least a few participants in the Tour, opted to defer prosecution of this case until the student members of the SJB were removed from power. Rather than being judged by a jury of their peers, the students responsible for the brutal and shocking crime of creating a Facebook event were tried and sentenced by a team of administrators.
Now what? Well, if the residents of 1 Pearl Place can’t scrape together $2000, they don’t get their diplomas. If you can, please give them money — they’re asking for donations of $5 per person. If you happen to be a rich alum who cares about the vitality of the undergrad experience, you might consider helping them out with considerably more. Its sad to leave Wesleyan with such a bitter taste in one’s mouth towards the administration — I know these assholes are very soon going to start asking me for money. Nostalgia for the fun, sometimes raucous memories of college are a great and oft-deployed fundraising tool… The institutional logic too often seems willing to foreground and capitalize upon the bawdy times of yore in the pursuit of money on the one hand while on the other it does its damnedest to strangle the life out of any and all of today’s campus bacchanalia.
y’know, this might have had something to do with it…
taken from the argus:
http://wesleyanargus.com/2010/05/04/tour-de-franzia-wesleyan-floods-local-emergency-room/
“A Facebook event, titled “TOUR DE FRANZIA 2010” had 925 confirmed guests and provided details about its location and organization. On Friday April 23, two messages were sent to members of the event. The first message earlier that afternoon served as a warning.
“The University knows about the event, and is going to be on the lookout,” read the message. “So just be smart tonight. Conceal your franzia, avoid p-safe [sic] etc.”
Later in the evening, another message was sent out informing attendees that University Party Policy applied to this event and that only students 21 and older should be drinking wine.”
y’know, this might have had something to do with it…
taken from the argus:
http://wesleyanargus.com/2010/05/04/tour-de-franzia-wesleyan-floods-local-emergency-room/
“A Facebook event, titled “TOUR DE FRANZIA 2010” had 925 confirmed guests and provided details about its location and organization. On Friday April 23, two messages were sent to members of the event. The first message earlier that afternoon served as a warning.
“The University knows about the event, and is going to be on the lookout,” read the message. “So just be smart tonight. Conceal your franzia, avoid p-safe [sic] etc.”
Later in the evening, another message was sent out informing attendees that University Party Policy applied to this event and that only students 21 and older should be drinking wine.”
anon: Did you read the post and comments or did you just skim them? Students are objecting to the punishment of the creators of a Facebook group. If you want to charge $5 next year great. Right now 3/4 of the campus has gone home and can’t drop off their $5 to the people who are being scapegoated.
anon: Did you read the post and comments or did you just skim them? Students are objecting to the punishment of the creators of a Facebook group. If you want to charge $5 next year great. Right now 3/4 of the campus has gone home and can’t drop off their $5 to the people who are being scapegoated.
My email to Roth and Cullinton was basically a longer, fancier version of “THIS IS THE UNIVERSITY THAT SPONSORS SENIOR COCKTAILS, WHERE STUDENTS ARE LITERALLY DRIVEN TO A ‘SECRET LOCATION’ BY SCHOOL BUSES TO GET SHITFACED. SERIOUSLY?!”
My email to Roth and Cullinton was basically a longer, fancier version of “THIS IS THE UNIVERSITY THAT SPONSORS SENIOR COCKTAILS, WHERE STUDENTS ARE LITERALLY DRIVEN TO A ‘SECRET LOCATION’ BY SCHOOL BUSES TO GET SHITFACED. SERIOUSLY?!”
wait what the fuck? who the fuck? why the fuck?
Definitely wishing there was a way to rescind my contribution to the senior gift right about now. Is the school seriously incapable of realizing the connection between shit like this and the abysmally low giving rate of recent alumni?
The general across-the-board incompetence with which this school is run never ceases to amaze me.
Guys, I mean, it is the Tour De Franzia. Are you at all surprised the administration doesn’t like it? Remember Zonker Harris Day? the administration has to at least PRETEND it doesn’t want the students acting unsafe or participating in illegal activity in order to have a chance at getting any donations or other money. Tour De Franzia is fun and awesome, but I’ve had friends who have absolutely not been alright that night and I’ve had other friends who’ve been sick to a very scary level. Come on, let’s not be immature about it. Letters? Phone calls? Please. There should be a $5 entry fee paid by everyone and that can cover the fine in future years. Let’s not act childish about this.
Guys, I mean, it is the Tour De Franzia. Are you at all surprised the administration doesn’t like it? Remember Zonker Harris Day? the administration has to at least PRETEND it doesn’t want the students acting unsafe or participating in illegal activity in order to have a chance at getting any donations or other money. Tour De Franzia is fun and awesome, but I’ve had friends who have absolutely not been alright that night and I’ve had other friends who’ve been sick to a very scary level. Come on, let’s not be immature about it. Letters? Phone calls? Please. There should be a $5 entry fee paid by everyone and that can cover the fine in future years. Let’s not act childish about this.
This is riduculous. I’d threaten to sue and/or withhold any donations. Have PARENTS call the Dean or Roth. This will quickly change the tone.
This is riduculous. I’d threaten to sue and/or withhold any donations. Have PARENTS call the Dean or Roth. This will quickly change the tone.
It just isn’t senior week at Wesleyan without a bloated misuse of administrative power.
It just isn’t senior week at Wesleyan without a bloated misuse of administrative power.
Scott Backer needs a big hurrah every year. Last year it was Eclectic, now it’s this. Fire the velociraptor!
Scott Backer needs a big hurrah every year. Last year it was Eclectic, now it’s this. Fire the velociraptor!
Their logic has to come from somewhere. I wonder if it’s from this:
II.A.10 of the Code of Non-Academic Conduct:
10. Reckless Endangerment—Creating condition(s) or an environment that endangers, or has the potential to endanger, other members of the community or property is prohibited. Failure to take reasonable constructive action to remedy such conditions may also constitute a violation.
We all know about the property damage. Whether it totals 2k needs proving…
Their logic has to come from somewhere. I wonder if it’s from this:
II.A.10 of the Code of Non-Academic Conduct:
10. Reckless Endangerment—Creating condition(s) or an environment that endangers, or has the potential to endanger, other members of the community or property is prohibited. Failure to take reasonable constructive action to remedy such conditions may also constitute a violation.
We all know about the property damage. Whether it totals 2k needs proving…
I am writing President roth & Dean culliton to let them know that if the girls have to pay the fine, or heaven forbid are denied diplomas, then I will never donate a cent to this school once I graduate. I would highly suggest everyone else do the same.
If I were still on campus I’d be circulating a petition saying the same thing and trying to get at as many people as possible to sign. I gotta believe that if hundreds of 2010 students signed such a position, the administration would have to rethink. And if they didn’t, I’m sure the board of trustees would be very interested in the potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of future donations lost…
I am writing President roth & Dean culliton to let them know that if the girls have to pay the fine, or heaven forbid are denied diplomas, then I will never donate a cent to this school once I graduate. I would highly suggest everyone else do the same.
If I were still on campus I’d be circulating a petition saying the same thing and trying to get at as many people as possible to sign. I gotta believe that if hundreds of 2010 students signed such a position, the administration would have to rethink. And if they didn’t, I’m sure the board of trustees would be very interested in the potentially hundreds of thousands if not millions of future donations lost…
I’m really interested to know on what procedure outlined in the Code of Non-Academic Conduct was followed in this case.
I don’t know what is going on with Wesleyan.
I’m really interested to know on what procedure outlined in the Code of Non-Academic Conduct was followed in this case.
I don’t know what is going on with Wesleyan.
This is the biggest hunk of bullshit I have ever heard. They CANNOT charge based on a FUCKING FACEBOOK EVENT. THAT IS SO FUCKED UP. What the hell? We have a right to advertise/publish whatever we want on Facebook! What’s next? PSafe trolling to find out who’s throwing parties and when? This is such such SUCH bullshit. Why is the administration suddenly being such a fucking hardass?! I agree with the previous posts– we cant just sit complacently, we have to DO something and tell them to shut the fuck up.
This is the biggest hunk of bullshit I have ever heard. They CANNOT charge based on a FUCKING FACEBOOK EVENT. THAT IS SO FUCKED UP. What the hell? We have a right to advertise/publish whatever we want on Facebook! What’s next? PSafe trolling to find out who’s throwing parties and when? This is such such SUCH bullshit. Why is the administration suddenly being such a fucking hardass?! I agree with the previous posts– we cant just sit complacently, we have to DO something and tell them to shut the fuck up.
I realize that feelingfs are running high, but do you guys really want to add possible libel (reading the fine print) charges to the mix?
I realize that feelingfs are running high, but do you guys really want to add possible libel (reading the fine print) charges to the mix?
This is absolute bullshit. The administration/Scott Backer need to shut the fuck up because they won’t stop us. They can’t.
This is absolute bullshit. The administration/Scott Backer need to shut the fuck up because they won’t stop us. They can’t.
Rick Culliton’s number is 860-685-2627 and his office is in North College. I have found that polite, personal phone calls or visits work better than e-mails (less dismissable). If the university can symbolically punish Pearl Place, anyone is qualified to symbolically complain (read Braille’s informative post to prep?) – cool.
Rick Culliton’s number is 860-685-2627 and his office is in North College. I have found that polite, personal phone calls or visits work better than e-mails (less dismissable). If the university can symbolically punish Pearl Place, anyone is qualified to symbolically complain (read Braille’s informative post to prep?) – cool.
Time-consuming and expensive legal action probably won’t be necessary if the student body takes collective action…
Sue. Sue the university. They have no fucking right. Every single little piece of their procedural for throwing a party was followed. They can’t fine you.
Sue. Sue the university. They have no fucking right. Every single little piece of their procedural for throwing a party was followed. They can’t fine you.
I would try Rick Culliton, the Dean of Students, or President Roth himself. Incidentally, I think Arielle’s approach is a far better one than simply paying the fine. We, the students at this university, should not tolerate such an incredible miscarriage of justice. The school, as usual, feels unburdened by the duties it bears under the Code of Non-Academic Conduct, or the rights students are supposedly accorded. The system is not going to change unless we make it change.
Which admin should I write to? Give me a name and I will make a formal complaint.
Which admin should I write to? Give me a name and I will make a formal complaint.
SUE SUE SUE SUE.
SUE SUE SUE SUE.
Next time, someone with a fake facebook account should just create an event, publish a list of places and start or end the race at Roth’s house. Who would the administration hold responsible then? What is wrong with them. I think as students, we should fight the decision/ make sure that the administration doesn’t get away with this.
Next time, someone with a fake facebook account should just create an event, publish a list of places and start or end the race at Roth’s house. Who would the administration hold responsible then? What is wrong with them. I think as students, we should fight the decision/ make sure that the administration doesn’t get away with this.
If the organizers are up for it, they should plea inability to raise the necessary funds. It would reflect terribly on Wesleyan if they withheld these people’s diplomas. I doubt the threat would be carried through, especially considering they did not do anything illegal.
2000 bucks is a ton of money for people who have just graduated from college and may not have jobs yet. If they need donations for anything, it’s a lawyer.
If the organizers are up for it, they should plea inability to raise the necessary funds. It would reflect terribly on Wesleyan if they withheld these people’s diplomas. I doubt the threat would be carried through, especially considering they did not do anything illegal.
2000 bucks is a ton of money for people who have just graduated from college and may not have jobs yet. If they need donations for anything, it’s a lawyer.
how can we get money to them?
how can we get money to them?
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL CHIP IN 2 DOLLARS AKA THE 900 ODD PEOPLE AND THEN GIVE IT TO THE ORGANIZERSSSSSS
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALL CHIP IN 2 DOLLARS AKA THE 900 ODD PEOPLE AND THEN GIVE IT TO THE ORGANIZERSSSSSS
this is the most fucking absurd thing i’ve ever heard. convenient that they wait until everyone except the seniors are off campus to file the fine.
this is so fucked up. wow. it’s gonna happen anyway next year. better, faster, stronger.
this is the most fucking absurd thing i’ve ever heard. convenient that they wait until everyone except the seniors are off campus to file the fine.
this is so fucked up. wow. it’s gonna happen anyway next year. better, faster, stronger.
Fucking ridiculous.
Fucking ridiculous.