Each year, a certain pop-psych analysis of the RC and EC classes emerges based on common observation and intermittent light gossip. Last year, many RCs (now ECs) observed that the Class of 2002 seemed rather unreceptive to RCs, and at times, a little weird.
Of course, it was the Class of 2003 that received the famous “no conga lines in Spangler” letter from Dean Kester, in what we’re sure was probably a low point for him personally in his tenure as Dean of the MBA Program. (We’re all sorry, right?) That sparked a lot of speculation about the mindset of 2003’ers and in fact was The Harbus’s first cover story in January.
Were we just blowing steam? Were we really that rowdy and unruly? Was it the whole cohort or just a wayward section or two? Rumors and accusations flew, but mostly in good nature.
This week marks the first week for the Class of 2004 sections, A – J. (K: R.I.P.) We don’t know how the sections will fall out, but we have a good indication that this year’s crop will bring lots of laughs and energy.
As an example – just read through this issue of The Harbus. In this week’s Viewpoints, Samantha Gray’s “Stop and Smell Yourself” had a certain Editor-In-Chief laughing so hard at home that his dog ran out of the room frightened. The dog stayed away while the uproar continued during Omari Bouknight’s “The Art of Snore” also in Viewpoints this week and Allen Narcisse’s “Impressions of a First-Year Candidate” in this issue’s Humor section.
(Not that ECs are without humor. Just read Humor Editor Matt Stovcsik’s shenanigans every week, Barry Gittleman’s column “They Said What?”, or Amy Rabinowitz’s (OH) take on securing second-year seats in this issue.)
And to pay further credit to the RCs (and the recruiting efforts of The Harbus Editorial Board), they have submitted for every Harbus issue this fall. They’re here, they’re funny and assertive, get used to it. No problem.
Who knows what shapes the psychology of a class or even a section within that class? Is it contextual relating to the collective decision-point to enter business school? Is it the handiwork of the gods or the Admissions Committee (and are they one in the same)? We don’t know. But each year brings a new crop of future leaders – and gratefully, a new crop of surprises.
Kudos so far to the Class of 2004.
-The Harbus Editorial Board
