When will Patrick White take ownership of the College? On Thursday, January 22 President White gave the first Chapel Talk of the spring semester. It was his first public speech to the College since last semester's sober mandatory Chapel Talk addressed the death of Delta Tau Delta freshman Johnny Smith. Since that Chapel Talk, the Delt fraternity closed, TGIF was robbed of its reason to 'TG,' those Delts who were leaders of campus organizations resigned, and the attorney for the family of Johnny Smith gave a press conference during which possibly incriminating emails from the Delta Tau Delta listserv were released. If there were ever a time for President White to assert answers rather than pose questions, to take control of the College as its head authority, it was at Thursday's Chapel Talk. His plate was full.
Rather than answers, though, the Wabash community received an unseemly abundance of adoration. Patrick White really loves this College. He “loves the Chapel,” and he loves “his brothers in Sphinx Club.” He “loves the resonance” of our conversations. He even “loves the word “perseverance.'” When he and Deans Raters and Warner hosted 13 discussions on the Gentleman's Rule last semester, President White “was proud.” He “witnessed and cheered”: “I cheered you when you were furious! I cheered you and was proud of you!” He “felt our anger and our confusion,” and he “cared so much because what we were talking about matters.” Underlying all this feel-good, inspirational-talkish fluff was a logical argument: I care, therefore I am right. Dean Raters cares, therefore he is right. Dean Warner, too. That this conclusion does not follow its premise needn't be shown. What every student and professor in the Chapel that Thursday wanted to hear was a defense of his administration's actions and lack of transparency last semester; what they heard instead was a plea for acceptance.
When, then, will Patrick White take ownership of the College? In most of his Chapel Talks, he recalls his inauguration. In Thursday's Chapel Talk the remembrance led to one of the boldest claims of his speech. After rehearsing the motto of his inauguration speech, 'In Dreams Begin Responsibilities,' and citing the horrors of last semester, President White stated: “I do not look back in regret at all. I've learned much, and I remain proud of Wabash.”
No regrets, Mr. President? Under your reign last semester, the College lost one of its fraternities. A freshman died. The student body lost its trust in your administration, because when it needed an authoritative voice it received but a whisper - and, three months later, last Thursday, when still it wanted authority, it received but many pats on the back. And one too many opaque references to King Lear. Does President White think himself a King Lear? Does he think Wabash students a composite of King Lear? Does President White think himself an antithesis to King Lear? “Lear does not know Lear,” President White said, and thus he fails. However, “Wabash, whatever our weaknesses, in the last months we have not failed.” Does this imply that Wabash knows Wabash? If King Lear failed because he does not know himself, then by analogy Wabash did not fail because Wabash did know itself. Yet if this were true, why then did President White recite a litany of unanswered, identity-troubled questions? “Where have we come from, where are we now, where do we go from here?” and later, “…who are we, who are we trying to become, what does the Gentleman's Rule mean, what is proper Presidential responsibility?”
Near the end of his speech, President White returned to Lear to make a point in contrast. “O I have taken too little care of this,” Lear said. But, as President White then asserted, “whatever last semester means, none of us would say we took too little care.” This is simply wrong. What theme but students pointing fingers at themselves stood out among the others the night Deans Raters and Warner met the student body in the Chapel? Many students admitted that they took too little care. Perhaps it is time for the administration to admit the same. |
