2008 Woodie Awards
Defeatism at Union
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Opinions
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A spectre is haunting Union College -- the spectre of Defeatism. All the powers of the old Union have entered into a holy alliance to embrace this spectre: Dean and Professor, Campus Safety Officer and Minerva Leader, Fraternity Brother and Common Student. Defeatism has stripped of its halo every occupation hitherto honored and looked up to with reverent awe. It has converted the Student, the Professor, the Dean, the Administrator, into its pawns. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere.
Defeatism has morphed into the mindsets of Pessimism and Apathy - stifling Progression from breaking down faculty-dominated institutions, addressing diversity issues and drugs and alcohol effectively, self-governance for students, and establishing a presence on campus for Minervas. Defeatism has subjected the Student Body to the rule of the former minority, now developed substantially. Union's traditional Apathy and Ignorance is the final and most complete expression of restraint that is based upon Defeatism, on the Tragedy of the Majority. Through the strength of its pressure and allure, it has made the Uncertain sway to its detrimental ideals, and caused the disorganization of the Motivated. What Defeatism produces above all, however, through its Ignorance and its Cynicism, is its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the Motivated are equally inevitable.
The history of Union College is the history of class struggles, between the Defeatists and the Motivated. Defeatism, however, develops more rapidly than Motivation and Inspiration. The Motivated seek to breakdown the hold of Defeatism at Union. Now and then they are victorious, but only for a time. The real fruit of their battles lie not in the immediate result, but in the ever expanding facets of their toil: the Strategic Plan, the Minerva System, and the Multicultural Greek Council.
The Motivated fight for the attainment of immediate aims, for the enforcement of the momentary interests of the progression of our College; in the movement of the present, they also represent and take care of the future of that movement. The Motivated turn their attention chiefly to Union, because that country is on the eve of a Campus-wide revolution that is bound to be carried out under tense conditions of Collegiate Civilization. The President has formulated the Strategic Plan to enhance and strengthen Union's innovation. The Minerva Council seeks to encompass the entire Student Body as an intellectually and socially united entity. The Minorities clamor to be heard, and they shall not be kept silent for long. Union has been considered Progressive for some time now, and is historically known as an Innovator. Motivation will protect and accelerate this Progression.
Defeatism has morphed into the mindsets of Pessimism and Apathy - stifling Progression from breaking down faculty-dominated institutions, addressing diversity issues and drugs and alcohol effectively, self-governance for students, and establishing a presence on campus for Minervas. Defeatism has subjected the Student Body to the rule of the former minority, now developed substantially. Union's traditional Apathy and Ignorance is the final and most complete expression of restraint that is based upon Defeatism, on the Tragedy of the Majority. Through the strength of its pressure and allure, it has made the Uncertain sway to its detrimental ideals, and caused the disorganization of the Motivated. What Defeatism produces above all, however, through its Ignorance and its Cynicism, is its own grave-diggers. Its fall and the victory of the Motivated are equally inevitable.
The history of Union College is the history of class struggles, between the Defeatists and the Motivated. Defeatism, however, develops more rapidly than Motivation and Inspiration. The Motivated seek to breakdown the hold of Defeatism at Union. Now and then they are victorious, but only for a time. The real fruit of their battles lie not in the immediate result, but in the ever expanding facets of their toil: the Strategic Plan, the Minerva System, and the Multicultural Greek Council.
The Motivated fight for the attainment of immediate aims, for the enforcement of the momentary interests of the progression of our College; in the movement of the present, they also represent and take care of the future of that movement. The Motivated turn their attention chiefly to Union, because that country is on the eve of a Campus-wide revolution that is bound to be carried out under tense conditions of Collegiate Civilization. The President has formulated the Strategic Plan to enhance and strengthen Union's innovation. The Minerva Council seeks to encompass the entire Student Body as an intellectually and socially united entity. The Minorities clamor to be heard, and they shall not be kept silent for long. Union has been considered Progressive for some time now, and is historically known as an Innovator. Motivation will protect and accelerate this Progression.
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