From Clam Jam to keg races, from the forgotten path to 200 Nights, it has become a well-documented tradition at Fairfield in recent years for the University to cancel traditions.
But the real shame isn’t when administrators shut down events in order to cut down on underage drinking. The real shame is when events don’t go on as they should because of incompetence in student organizations.
Sadly, for the second year in a row, Spam Jam, the outdoor party for upperclassmen that was instituted several years ago in place of Clam Jam, is in danger of ceasing to exist in its current form.
Last year, the event would have gone on, but without alcohol – its one and only drawing card – had former Mirror Photography Editor and Business Manager Bill McBain ’07 not stepped in to organize the event after RASOR/UNITE, the organization representing townhouse and apartment residents, astonishingly failed to follow though on the simple task of obtaining a liquor permit.
Last year’s RASOR/UNITE left the organization in such a state of disarray after the botched event planning that this year, the organization, whose only significant responsibility was to plan Spam Jam, ceased to exist.
The result was that townhouse and apartment representatives joined the Inter Residence Hall Assembly (IRHA), a group composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores who represent various residence halls.
This year, worried that the organization’s resources would be stretched too thin organizing two separate events, IRHA decided to combine Spam Jam, which had previously been held at the townhouses, and May Day, a festival for underclassmen held on the quad, into one event at Lessing Field.
Beer will be served, but only in an isolated area where only students aged 21 and above can go. That means that juniors who aren’t of age will be restricted from socializing with their of-age classmates, and those students who are 21 won’t be able to walk outside of the roped-off area with cups in their hands.
IRHA President Dan Gorman ’09 is a bright student with good intentions, but he’s in over his head.
But given the lack of perspective he has as an underclassman, Gorman should have had the presence of mind to ask for help – something neither he nor any of his colleagues did.
On some campus issues, student opinion is divided. This is not one of them.
FUSA voted this week to oppose the consolidation, and President Hutchinson Williams ’08 is strongly in favor of attempting to save the old format.
This decision is remarkably easy. The IRHA needs to listen to the student body and save Spam Jam as we know it.
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