During Saturday night’s Mock Rock, the hosts — Director of Student Activities Anthony Manno and senior Alex Buchmann — made a number of comments, especially regarding Greek houses, that highlight issues dividing our student body. These comments, although made in jest, were unnecessary and counterproductive to the mission of homecoming.
Homecoming is about bringing Hillsdale students, past and present, together. Mock Rock is one of the most popular ways that this is accomplished, as it unites the whole student body around one dance floor to cheer on their fellow students.
Throughout the evening, Manno and Buchmann used clever jokes, anecdotes, and campus stereotypes to poke fun at each group before it took the stage, helping to move the event forward. For the most part they made an extremely hard job look easy, and I commend them for that. I respect both of these men, and I look forward to hearing more of their quick wit and confident style should they MC more events in the future.
Unfortunately, some of their jokes crossed the line from humorous to distasteful.
“A lot of their stuff was pretty funny and some of it went too far,” said senior Dominic Restuccia, a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
One joke perceived as offensive referenced an incident in which members of Delta Tau Delta spray-painted the cross on the front lawn of Sigma Chi. The comment, made during the introduction to the Delts’ dance, came as a surprise to both fraternities.
“I don’t think any of us expected that,” said junior Tom Novelly, vice president of Sigma Chi fraternity. “We understand that students are going to talk, and find out about it, and that’s fine, but to come out on a stage with a mic and say it was unnecessary.”
This serious issue was resolved in private by the fraternities and should not have been made into a joke in front of the whole school.
Other issues unnecessarily brought to light included Sigma Chi’s social probation from last year, as well as a number of negative stereotypes for the different sororities on campus.
Even though most Greeks understood that the comments didn’t come from a malicious place, they were still disappointed.
“While I realize that this year’s Mock Rock commentary was in good fun,” said senior Sophia Coyne-Kosnak, President of Chi Omega sorority, “Hillsdale’s Greek system is such a positive force, and I hope that will be better recognized in the future.”
The MCs did flaunt various accomplishments, including the admirable philanthropy efforts organized by Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Chi. But Buchmann and Manno accompanied these kind words with negative caveats that could have been dropped without taking away from the show.
It is true that having a sense of humor about oneself is important, and accepting comedic criticism can often help us admit our faults to ourselves. This should not be done, however, in front of the whole school in the midst of homecoming week.
Interfraternity Council President and sophomore Ian McRae said he believes that the Greek system needs to have a better sense of humor regarding critical joking, but added that “we also need to realize that there is a line, especially in choosing the right venue. Mock Rock was not the right venue.”
In my time here, Manno and Buchmann have both garnered my respect, and I stand by this. In this instance, however, I believe that they failed to consider the weight with which some of their words would land.
