President Patrick White’s mandatory Chapel talk last Tuesday has evoked mixed reactions from students. In a speech White said would help students “learn from this horrible tragedy,” he expressed his impassioned concern for Johnny Smith’s family, fraternity brothers, and the entire student body. White defended the Gentleman’s Rule vigorously, but he acknowledged more needed to be done to address the problem of excess drinking. Although light on specifics, White proposed a series of conversations with student, parents, and alumni.
For some students, White’s remarks struck a harmonious chord. Most fraternity presidents and some resident assistants signaled their approval of the president’s address. They thought it was both measured and appropriate. For many of them, their chief concern was the preservation of the Gentleman’s Rule.
“[The speech] was good,” said Martindale Resident Assistant Brock Graham ‘09. “I think it was necessary to call the mandatory chapel, and I agree with what he said. We need to get back to what the gentleman’s rule means. And I’m glad he didn’t do anything specific right away.”
Graham was not alone in his evaluation. Student Body President and Off-Campus Resident Assistant Juan Carlos Venis ‘09 said White was right to focus on the underlying campus culture than dwell on specific resolution at this time.
“I was pleased with the message regarding our culture and what the Gentleman’s Rule should be about,” Venis said. “It was obvious to me that this is a struggle for the administration. It’s a grave situation, and the loss of a student on such a small campus needs to be understood.”
Graham and Venis’ comments were echoed by other students, but there were also those for whom White’s speech fell flat.
Junior Tony Scheetz said he and other students expected more from White.
“I think we all had the notion that he would say something of gravity, but he really didn’t say anything significant” Scheetz said. “He didn’t say anything matter of fact. There really wasn’t a major declaration made.”
Head RA Dan Denomandie ‘09 appreciated President White’s delivery, but he felt much was left unsaid.
“I thought President White gave a great speech,” Denormandie said. “He conveyed his sadness and resolve, as well as that of the entire school, very well. Ultimately, however, I thought we would get more out of it. Not a sense of closure, by any means, but more of a sense of direction. After I left, I still had the same feelings as going in. ‘Where do we go from here?’”
Junior Matt Hudson pushed the point even further.
“I did not find President White’s chapel talk to be very productive towards the future of our college,” he said. “Obviously the sensitivity of Johnny Smith’s death needed to be respected, however simply reminding us of the wording of the Gentleman’s Rule and telling that he loved us was not conducive to making this a learning experience.
“The administration has stated that part of being a gentlemen and a responsible citizen entails obeying the law, but there’s reluctance to tell the students what that means, when many of the behaviors we’re concerned about are taken care of by the law. If the conversations that the President is going to start are for manners, etiquette and like behaviors, then that sounds terrific to me.
“It’s sickening how disrespectful many of our students are in class, on campus, and especially in Crawfordsville. But, it is ridiculous to hesitate to allow campus leaders to police actions that are illegal when they otherwise state that we should.”
College Hall RA Cody Johnson said he could see both sides. “At first I thought that he didn’t say enough but after thinking about it I’ve realized that there isn’t much more that he can say right now. I think more than conversation needs to place. Everyone needs to be help accountable for their actions and everyone seriously needs to consider what the Gentleman’s Rule means to them. Now would be as good a time as any to start making a change.”
FIJI President Steven Stambaugh & Sigma Chi President Jeff Austen said they understand students’ desire for more action, but what needs to be understood that the speech was only a prelude to future actions. The real key to resolution, they said, was in student action.
“I’m happy that the Gentleman’s rule is intact,” Stambaugh said. “And I think it’s all about responsibility. I was afraid he would act to quickly. I think there does need to be some structure in drinking education. A lot of people thought there would be a big turnover. I think what was done was right, but this may only be a preface. Upperclassmen have a responsibility. Who else can we look up to?”
Austen agreed.
“I believe that his chapel speech foreshadows that certain polices will change for Wabash College in the next few months” he said. “And the mandatory chapel was his polite way of preparing the campus for those changes. Instead of declaring marshall law, President White is giving the students a say in what we should change, and what will change.”