Reflections on a Common Error: A Reminder to Freshmen & Seniors Alike
As another summer comes to its final days, a new chapter begins at dear old Wabash, and with the gentlemen of 2013 joining this brotherhood, there will no doubt be a few familiar words echoing ‘round the campus. Before long, we all will be able to recite the Gentleman’s Rule while asleep thanks to all of the freshman orientation activities, chapel talks, and other traditional lectures common to the start of another school year. With vigor as never before, this solus legis that has bound Wallies for decades on-end will be proclaimed, preached, and pounded into the heads of every person within fifty miles of the College – and with good purpose, given last year’s months of upheaval that nearly shook this storied place to the ground. Yet, while we all wish to put the trials and tragedies of yesteryear behind us (as we should) and look unto the future, we would be foolish not to remember and reflect on those dark times, for the choice to be a “responsible citizen” is one that every one of us must make “at all times” as we move forward from these past memories.
Responsibility, in its truest sense, is not limited to the dictionary definition of “being accountable or to blame for something”. No, it is much, much more than that. It is a moral duty, a practicable “obligation” to ourselves, our families, and our communities, to be people of character and good judgment. But this is a duty that we all tend to neglect in some fashion or another. “Boys will be boys,” as we say, and “that’s what college is for,” state the best of us following a major gaffe – and it truly would be foolish of us to not expect ourselves to fall prey to the natural human tendency towards, well… stupidity. But the tragedies of the past have made a point very clear, one that is both completely obvious and, at the same time, largely neglected: the actions of but a few have a far-reaching impact upon an untold many, either for good or for harm.
By no means do I intend to accuse or point a hypocritical finger in blame, but one cannot help but wonder what the state of this College would now be had other decisions been made in the months of October 2007 and October 2008. Two broken families, a divided College, a displaced fraternity, nationwide scorn, ridicule, and scrutiny: all of these because of poor, fateful decisions– ones we all have the opportunity to make, but must swear to never again allow. These demonstrate with shocking clarity that choices made in the privacy of our most secluded settings can result in the most public of outcomes.
While consequences such as these are thankfully uncommon, it is only by Providence that more of the decisions that you and I make do not end in such horrible finality. Yet regardless of the severity of our worst errors, each of our actions will always bring with it some sort of consequence. Even the things which we do not often consider to be of concern – things like self-centeredness, poorly chosen words, spiteful conduct, a lack of concern for others– the fulfilling or neglecting of our obligation toward responsibility will impact those around us. Family members, fraternity brothers, dorm residents, and classmates are most often the recipients of these sorts of behaviors, and can be greatly harmed by our errors in judgment. Furthermore, our actions may influence them to make irresponsible and destructive decisions of their own. Thus, when any one of us disregards our obligation, we are not only at risk of harm personally, but we will always drag others into the fray as well.
Men of Wabash, the choice, as well as the duty, belongs to each of us. We may fulfill our obligation, and in so doing reap the reward. We may disregard that obligation, and thus reap a different reward. But we would be fools to say that nothing will come of our actions. We have been through far too much to believe that.
When the sun rises this late August morn’ and we all return to our studies, let us not forget that responsibility is more than just an idea. Rather, let us remember that it is a character, an identity, and a solemn duty that we must henceforth live out.
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