In agreeing to be the alcohol permittee for this weekend’s Spam Jam festivities, Bill McBain saved a treasured Fairfield tradition, and almost singlehandedly prevented a case of widespread student outrage against the administration.

We are elated that McBain stepped up to the plate and scored one for the student body, when the junior and senior classes, and the senior class in particular, desperately needed to hold on to one of the last events they had left.

However, the fact that the event was saved at the last minute does not take away from our frustration with members of RASOR/UNITE, the student organization responsible for organizing the event, for failing to take care of the issue themselves.

According to members of RASOR/UNITE, the policy regarding the purchasing of alcohol for events on campus was changed at the end of last year, requiring a student, and not the townhouse Area Coordinator, a university employee, to assume liability for any damages that could potentially occur. They claim that they didn’t know about the policy until it was too late, and that after consulting with their parents and lawyers, they felt it was too much of a risk to sponsor the event.

We understand their reluctance to assume personal responsibility for an event that always has the potential, albeit a very small one, to get out of hand. But shame on them for not taking care of this a lot sooner, and for not reaching out to the student body for help.

It is inconceivable to us that RASOR/UNITE had an entire year to plan for the event, yet was completely unaware until the last minute of what needed to be done to make the event work.

Moreover, once it became apparent that no one in the group was willing to sponsor the kegs, RASOR/UNITE President Mike Dominello ’06 should have done everything in his power, including reaching out to every 21-year-old student on campus, to make sure someone stepped up.

Instead, McBain voluntarily came forward, and out of complete selflessness, joined RASOR/UNITE so the organization could have a hand in – and take credit for – funding the kegs.

Every other time that an event has been cancelled it has been the administration or the town of Fairfield sullying the fun. This time though, Spam Jam was almost ruined because of the incompetence of a student organization.

Next time, we hope student leaders will go the extra mile to preserve traditions with minimal turmoil.

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