I'm All Alone (No I'm Not)
Upon checking my facebook tonight after work, something finally dawned on me. I saw an FBK image on my "My Friends" area. It belonged to my good friend Phil. Congratulations up and down his comments-box, he was so happy to tappped. Phil was Access, Phil is an Indie, Phil is one of the nicest and most-real people you will meet at UF. Suddenly I felt so sad, not sad that he joined Key, sad that perhaps I was the only one living this GDI fantasy. What does it all mean? Why propagate the Independent' Discipline to the next generation of SG'ers if in the end, what everyone wants is just to join FBK and even the people that today stand by my side, do so because a). they couldn't get tapped even if they want to - or - b). because they are just sitting tight until the opportune moment to apply.
But there is a movement, there is a will. Those that participate in student service for the goal of empowering students, fomenting change, and strengthening the Independent tradition ARE the Independent Movement. There is FBK and there is an Independent movement. Age is irrelevant in this constant journey in pursuit of wisdom. Thanks to the net, we have the works of the greatest minds the movement has seen: Charlie Grapski, James Argento, and one person whose words I especially enjoy, Ryan Nelson. What we as independents lack, is the longevity of the Keys, but with the advent of the internet, blogs, and the renewed will of the movement, I say to those of you that have never - and will never - apply to FBK, that will forever, call yourselves GDI's: "congratulations on this day, on being YOU!"
33 comments:
Ah studying Gratiutous Transfers late at night (actually watching Wrath of Khan because I am huge geek). So I read on the facebook my old friend Phil Harden was tapped in to Blue Key. He was really happy so I had to send him a congrats facebook message. However he seemed a little bit too happy about getting into a club.
To all the kids who read this blog who joined FBK, congrats, whether your greek or not. To all the people who don't join FBK, like me, that is cool, or the people who get rejected, like my friend Andrew Hoffman when he applied, thats cool too. Rejection is apart of life (and doing a job search I should know), and just because one club won't take you that doesn't mean other clubs won't or that you won't get other honors.
My message to everyone pro-fbk and anti-fbk is this: FBK is a club, nothing more nothing less. It doesn't run the state (no matter how some of its members would like it too), and it isn't responsible for all the bad things that happen at UF (no matter what some of the FBKhaters would like think). If you aren't in FBK, that doesn't mean you can't get a job. And if you are in FBK it doesn't gurantee you a job. FBK means a lot to some people in this state, including a few of the states former leaders and prominent managing partners in some of the states major law firms, but most people in this state they have no idea what it is or care. We have some members of FBK in office, like Bill McCollum, Congressman Mica, and Dean Cannon, and a lot more nonFBK's in office, like Charlie Crist and Mel Martinez.
My point in all of this is Florida is much more than FBK or UF for that matter. It also is 11 other major public universities (which include their own clubs) and numerous private institutions and community colleges. It is also the countless out-of-staters who come in for a change of scenary. It is the great number of internationals who make Florida their home. Bottom line to everyone its just a club. Don't make your self sick trying to get in or trying to fight it.
Yeah its one thing to rage against the machine while in college and doing student politics, but thats college. There is more to your life than that.
Read more in my groundbreaking interview with Christian. Cheap plug.
- JA
Well said JA. Always with grace and dignity. Thanks goodness there is someone with a little tact writing into this obscene blog.
Obscene blog? Nothing more "obscene" that one whom slanders from anonymity. :)
fbk is evil.
Christian, not to worry. Phil was an accidental tap. His vote count was 60-57. No one really knew who he was or what he'd done. No one proed or conned him. He slipped through the cracks so to speak. He was never a big player in SG politics. Most SG politicos never knew who he was. Thus even though he fought against the "machine" his efforts went unnoticed by the powers that be. He had an excellent resume with a TON of positions. He deserved to be on the reccomended list just like Haupt and Guerra. Unlike Haupt and Guerra he had a level of anonymity that benefited him. Guerra got just what you asked for. I never thought I'd see the day when Christina Duque was calling hits in FBK.
ps I meant Christian, not Christina. Sorry.
I wouldn't go so far as to think my blog was the basis for any member's vote, but I would like to think that perhaps someone may have read my pleas and found some logic in them. Whatever the reasons of the majority may have been, I'm glad that at least the Outgoing/Public-Face-GDI's, those that milked BEING DIFFERENT got REJECTED into the realms of the elite & exalted. And I do mean elite and exalted, respectively btw.
I am not sure how the elite feel about Ryan Nelson, my natural reaction as a GDI would be to protect him, idk, if I was at UF I think I would follow him, just like I did James Argento, just like I did Charlie Grapski. I'm a leader to a point, but whom can be a true leader, whom isn't a true follower as well? On the other hand-- Ryan did walk off from one side to join another and I do realize that must have stung you guys as much as reading some very, very familiar names from my Access past crossing over to join the ranks of the rival's have clearly stung me.
Access was old Ignite and the old Ignite was Key, it was NPHC Greek, it was all things SYSTEM. But there was also a very strong Indie component. Had I been truly a Greek, let me re-phrase, had I been more inclined to remain on a good-footing with Greeks (as best as possible) in a time like early '04 and with a party like Access was...I would have had to fall under Andre Samuels & Lowell Wong. But I clearly made my choice, I fell under the Indie wing of the Access Party, I fell under James Argento & Frances Harrell.
This having been said, I don't necessarily hold much angst against someone like Phil for joining Key b/c he was part of the old Ignite/FBK faction of Access, still Indie, still with us in the trenches, in the rain, at 6am but part of 'the other faction.
While figuring out who was on which faction seemed easy THEN, it sure seems COMPLEX today. But when I see members of the GDI side going up for FBK it just irks me. That's all, but there is a reason, there is always a reason, it NOT just plain ole knit-picking.
In my year and half of reading the SG blogs, Argento that is the smartest thing ever written. Hope law school is treating you well.
Guerra deserved FBK. She's always worked hard, no matter what side she was on. Anyone who has worked with her can attest to that. Her resume was great and she was on recommended. She came short by votes and it stinks of political bullshit.
To you Duque, she was not the a fake independent as you keep claiming her to be. She always stayed true to her roots right down to her departure from Senate. She never used people and you'd know that if you knew her at all. Maybe next time you get your facts right.
I don't think you call the shots in FBK, I think you got lucky knowing she was about to be screwed.
I didn't make the statement about controlling FBK, anyone with a pulse knows that's laughable. But I did request she be rejected and I also made several pleas, at most they have influenced a few votes and I stress...at most.
And she does work very hard and I know this and for that she was rewarded in Acces with seats on R&A and Judiciary. However, once Dennis lost, her political choices do not reflect that of someone of the GDI persuasion and I didn't have to be on the ground to know that.
Bruce Haupt is another one. Came of as an Indie, spoke to me as an Indie, and then applied to Key. I don't hate 'em, I don't hate anyone that serves the students, but I also don't like getting jerked around. And I don't like breaking bread with turncoats, well, GDI's than turned coat to join the Machine. Yes, I'm a hypocrite, but you smell :). LOL
for the record Guerra was always supportive of the Impact kids in the Chambers and we loved her for it
What happened to the rest of the Senate in Tapping?
Here's what is chruning through the rumor mill, probably incomplete:
Tanaz Vaghaiwalla: Tapped
Sam Green: Not Tapped
Robert Agrusa: Not Tapped
Sharon Fieldman: Not Qualified
Jessie Kirsch: Tapped
Keith Hardwick: Tapped
Dipesh Patel: Tapped
Lauren Asher: Not Tapped
John Clayton Brett: Tapped
Joel Witter: ???
Shannyn Schott (former): Not Qualified
I don't know who else went up from Senate. If someone is Not Qualified, it just means their resume got chopped up at some point before the vote.
So the real question is why these nice little system lackies didn't make it in. More importantly....What does this mean about the spring election?
How the Hell were Keith Hardwick and J Clay qualified? What they kiss ass well? List their qualifications because I'd enjoy a nice laugh.
No shit Schott wasn't qualified. She's a big a lackie as the two above. Guess she isn't at good at being an ass kisser. Cheers to you Shannyn!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Asher already a Key? If not, she definitely should be.
Keith has decent enough credentials as IRHA Auditor, Broward senator, committee member, Swamp spokesman...what makes you think he's unqualified, and for that matter just how is he that ridiculously shady and corrupt of a character?
Senate is the laughing stock of all insiders. We put all of these kids in senate and let them meddle in mediocrity for four years. Senators just pat themselves on the back, while the rest of us bask in everything they want to be. However, when it comes to tapping you actually see who really pulls the strings. Look at people who you don't think should get in or don't know exactly what they do, those are the people who have all the power.
Let me clarify that there are some senators on the inside, but alot more just trying who will never achieve it.
If it wasn't through SG, how would say the "power circle" came into being at UF at this present time?
Oh Peter Allende you are so profound in your words! Loser!
Don't you know they're absolutists? God has choosen them directly to rule over the UF serfs.
You guys are all missing everything James Argento said. You all are making such a big deal out of this group. Calm down.
Where is the interview with James?
What does all this mean for Spring? Well... Asher(DDD), who is really close to Josh Weiss might be supporting him for president, so perhaps the SigEps blocked her. Agrusa (KS) might flock over with Weiss, as well as some other smaller houses like PBPhi.
I don't think Josh is out the race at all. As sharp as Moseley is, I believe Weiss is a bit sharper. The houses have not decided anything; the cultural communities have not decided anything. I believe that is where life and death lay for Ryan and Josh.
both candidates have met with houses and orgs. the big houses have made up their minds--that's evident in the tappings. small houses will go with whomever fbk backs. ah, i love non-greeks talking about house plans.
Weiss will be done as soon as he is charged with falsifying a police report from last spring's election.
So who is supporting Ryan? and who for Josh? From the information presented in the comments on this blog site, I would venture to say Ryan has ADPi, Theta Chi, and all of the other usual suspects. However, based on tapping you will that Asher, the Tri-Delt didn't make it, and neither did Agrusa, the KS. So I suppose they are supporting Josh for the presidency.
KD will go Josh
Sometimes my head wants to explode by the sheer stupidity of some of the comments here. The above break down of who supports who is way off. Just know that Ryan is way ahead of Weiss.
Wow. Don't visit Christian's blog for a week and all kinds of crap happens...
I'll be back after din din with some thoughts
- The Sellout Whore and Untapped Bruce :)
Just a note on JA's non-FBK members running the state,Charlie Crist and Mel Martinez, both went to FSU where there is no FBK.
2:11 I think that was the point Argento was making. Not everyone in Florida goes to UF. So Florida is much more than UF (and therefore much more than blue Key.) Don't worry James you made sense to me. So why make yourself sick about FBK.
Also Debbie Wasserman and Robert Wexler went to UF and they weren't Blue Key and they are two ranking US Reps.
Ryan is by far the cuter of the two. That is what really counts, "Sex Appeal." Ryan is hot. Ryan is my SBP!
I know this might sound odd with all the politcal bullshit...
Does anyone ask who they think would do a better job?
If your not thinking Josh, you are sadly mistaken.
Josh has been nothing but helpful to me and others that seek his advice. He spends every second of his day trying to make this school better. He truely cares about this school..
I wish I could say the same about Ryan but, he stays in his own little sigep world and is the least approachable exec member. I am sick at the possibility of him running this University and I have talked to many others in senate who feel the same way but would be afraid to say so at the thought of not becoming a key.
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