As the smoldering ashes of Songfest 2012 grow smaller in our rearview mirror, whispers echo through the halls of Seaver College: “Remind me never to do this again.” Fast-forward 51 weeks into the future to Songfest 2013. These same students stumble around campus in a haze of sleep deprivation and malnutrition. They have mysteriously ignored their own advice from the previous year and once again, they believe themselves oppressed.
But who is to blame? Is it not these bedazzled, bumbling students who signed up for the late rehearsal hours and prolonged time commitment in the first place? We suggest this editorial be rolled up and tucked into a time capsule, only to be opened pre-Songfest 2013 as a reminder to the aforementioned participants.
We agree that Songfest is an honorable and unique tradition, and as such, should be supported by the campus. Undoubtedly, it brings students together in earnest competition while accomplishing the impressive feat of uniting Greeks and non-Greeks. In the same vein, no one can deny that a couple of hours of harmonized mash-ups and flashy choreography is just good clean fun.
But the attitude that accompanies this tradition is often characterized more by complaints than by appreciation for the opportunity to perform.
Now, we’re not exempting ourselves from this behavior. The Graphic staff is as guilty as anyone else. Indeed, we have mastered the craft of complaining about strenuous schedules we’ve imposed on ourselves.
Again, we are all culpable of the “woe is me” tendency, but let us offer some helpful touchstones if you plan to take up your Songfest cross again next year:
• First of all, remind yourself that you chose it. Despite the taskmaster attitude of your directors, not one of you was abducted and forced to jazz square for two hours each night. You paid the costume fee and, with your own hand, signed over your soul on that roll sheet. Like any other commitment, weigh the pros and cons, and roll with the consequences. If your roommate was an athlete and constantly complained about early morning practice and traveling on the weekends, you would tell him or her to quit, right?
• Do not, we repeat, do NOT use Songfest as an excuse to get out of class work. Staying up late is certainly not unique to the Songfest clan, so remember your zombie-like state before diving back into the commitment again next year.
• We all agree that Songfest is highly entertaining, and truly a wonderful experience for non-performance majors to get a chance to shine (among several hundred other people crammed onto the Smothers stage). But, at the same time, try to keep a balanced perspective. Just take into consideration the fact that there are pale, nocturnal thespians all around you who are continuously rehearsing and performing like you have been for the last couple of weeks.
• Remember that this is a competition between friends. While all groups may not have the same, ahem, resources, it is just a fun display of talents among circles of friends.
• For all you boys anxiously scrubbing off that pesky eyeliner from last week’s show, two words: baby wipes.
• Of course, every group thinks it deserves to win (and if it doesn’t, it’s convinced it took second). If the glorious prize — bragging rights — did not shower down upon your group, have no fear. There’s always next year.
We see some of this complaining as a manifestation of the greater Pepperdine psyche. The whining is a symptom, if you will, of the archetypal Pepp student that is all too happy to continue signing up for activities, overbook his or her own schedule, then write a dozen Facebook statuses about the late nights and wearisome schedules — not just Songfest.
We are all guilty of this. It can be applied to all aspects of our college lives, from research papers and 8 a.m. classes to chapter meetings and internship requirements. All this is voiced shortly after our parents have wired checks to pay for the very tasks that we deem irksome and stressful.
So, as your mother always said: “Quityerbellyachin’.” (What’s that? Your mother isn’t an Appalachian hillbilly?) We should all take a moment in these few quiet, post-Songfest weeks to evaluate the state of our schedules and think twice before complaining about the stress that costs each of us fifty thousand dollars a year to endure.
