Charity bar crawl
Letter to the Editor
Tim Fanelli, Instructor Electrical & Computer Engineering
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Opinion
This past Friday evening, April 18, Clarkson's senior students participated in a charity bar crawl through the village of Potsdam: beginning at Maxfields, followed by a stroll to the Cactus Grill and Cantina, and eventually to Backstreets. I must say, throughout this evening, I was ashamed to be a member of the Clarkson Community.
I had the misfortune of being at Maxfields restaurant for the start of the bar crawl. The restaurant had prepared well - bringing on several extra bartenders, and did their best to keep up with the initial rush; the manner in which the employees, and building itself, were treated, however, was truly appalling. Right from the start, most in attendance were annoyed and impatient while trying to get their drinks. Several often screamed to the bartenders from several rows back in line, and several more made inappropriate and distasteful comments about, and to, the staff.
Things only worsened when the students realized that the draft beer special was for $2.50, not $1.00, which was never promised to them in the first place. Angry that they should have to pay for a beer, let alone a whole $2.50, the crowds surrounding me at the bar became intolerable. My friends and I took our drinks and made for the balcony. Fortunately, the mayhem only ensued at Maxfields for less than an hour. However, the students returned later that evening as well.
By the end of it, the restaurant itself had been ransacked. Trash, glasses, and spilled drinks littered the bar area. In the men's room, I discovered that the soap and paper towel dispensers had been ripped from the walls and smashed on the floors,. Students had also left their mark in permanent ink and urine along the hallways outside the restrooms.
I was truly ashamed of the disrespect and irresponsibility demonstrated by the Clarkson senior class. While I know several of you personally, I must say now that it will be a pleasure to watch you leave Potsdam after commencement in just a few short weeks. I have been a member of the Clarkson Community for eight years now, as an undergraduate, graduate, and now faculty. As such, I do understand that many of you have come to despise the North Country and are anxious to leave. I only ask that for the short period of time you have left here, you realize that the faculty, that has educated and supported you, call this place home.
I hope this display does not repeat itself during your senior week celebrations, and I trust next year's seniors will demonstrate a higher level of self control and respect for the surroundings.
Note: Professor Fanelli would like to extend his apologies for singling out the Clarkson Senior Class. His comments are purely directed at those who were in attendance and acting inappropriately at the bar crawl.
I had the misfortune of being at Maxfields restaurant for the start of the bar crawl. The restaurant had prepared well - bringing on several extra bartenders, and did their best to keep up with the initial rush; the manner in which the employees, and building itself, were treated, however, was truly appalling. Right from the start, most in attendance were annoyed and impatient while trying to get their drinks. Several often screamed to the bartenders from several rows back in line, and several more made inappropriate and distasteful comments about, and to, the staff.
Things only worsened when the students realized that the draft beer special was for $2.50, not $1.00, which was never promised to them in the first place. Angry that they should have to pay for a beer, let alone a whole $2.50, the crowds surrounding me at the bar became intolerable. My friends and I took our drinks and made for the balcony. Fortunately, the mayhem only ensued at Maxfields for less than an hour. However, the students returned later that evening as well.
By the end of it, the restaurant itself had been ransacked. Trash, glasses, and spilled drinks littered the bar area. In the men's room, I discovered that the soap and paper towel dispensers had been ripped from the walls and smashed on the floors,. Students had also left their mark in permanent ink and urine along the hallways outside the restrooms.
I was truly ashamed of the disrespect and irresponsibility demonstrated by the Clarkson senior class. While I know several of you personally, I must say now that it will be a pleasure to watch you leave Potsdam after commencement in just a few short weeks. I have been a member of the Clarkson Community for eight years now, as an undergraduate, graduate, and now faculty. As such, I do understand that many of you have come to despise the North Country and are anxious to leave. I only ask that for the short period of time you have left here, you realize that the faculty, that has educated and supported you, call this place home.
I hope this display does not repeat itself during your senior week celebrations, and I trust next year's seniors will demonstrate a higher level of self control and respect for the surroundings.
Note: Professor Fanelli would like to extend his apologies for singling out the Clarkson Senior Class. His comments are purely directed at those who were in attendance and acting inappropriately at the bar crawl.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Matt
posted 4/21/08 @ 2:23 PM EST
I agree. As an alum who lives and works in the area, I was enjoying a drink with friends when this rush happened upon us. What a disaster. Cuss words were flying, nasty comments being traded and all together the theme of the night- charity was lost! If this is how you will behave in the "real world" or feel that this is how people who serve you should be treated, you should maybe stay in college a little longer and know how good you really have it right now. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 4/22/08 @ 7:10 PM EST
This event was open to people of all 3 univeresities in the area as well as to members of the comunity. It was not just the Clarkson Senior class. Also, I doubt that the entire senior class was there so its unfair to call out the class as a whole. (Continued…)
Katie
posted 4/22/08 @ 7:54 PM EST
Professor Fanelli,
I have been a member of the Clarkson Community for approximately five years now. Although I am still an undergraduate, I also hope to pursue a graduate degree, potentially at Clarkson. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 4/23/08 @ 11:50 AM EST
So what Tim, you haven't been fired yet? Last I knew, you decided to violate a plethora of Clarkson regulations in your section of Engineering for Non-Engineers last spring, and as a result was facing a slew of grievances being filed against you, not to mention several complaints to the Deans of both schools Engineering and Business. (Continued…)
Craig
Craig
posted 4/23/08 @ 11:58 AM EST
I am agreeing with Mike here. As a member of the senior class I think it was extremely ignorant of you to point out and lash at the entire senior class. (Continued…)
Zack
posted 4/23/08 @ 2:04 PM EST
As has been said by others, I understand the disappointment and disgust felt by those subjected to the activities of those present that night (I was NOT one of the Senior Class students that attended), but that does not give any reason to place blame on hundreds of students that weren't affiliated with that nights events. (Continued…)
dorara
Rob Dora
posted 4/23/08 @ 6:31 PM EST
Please note that the article has been updated with a brief message beneath the body of the text.
Roberto
posted 4/25/08 @ 5:14 PM EST
It's shocking that there are many who are surprised this day would come when someone would speak out against the destructive nature of the drunk and rowdy clarkson student. (Continued…)
Alcohol Rehab
posted 8/25/08 @ 7:56 PM EST
Yes, bar crawls tend to be alcohol induced displays of stupidity...but they're usually fun
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