The newly released details of SU Showcase, formerly known as MayFest, are a reminder of the changes being made this year. For many, getting that October e-mail announcing regularly scheduled classes during SU Showcase made for a dark day. The student body has organized meetings, written articles in protest and used social networking to show displeasure (the Facebook group Operation Rescue MAYFEST has 5,235 members).

When the university began making changes to turn SU Showcase into an inspiring academic event, I complained too. I can’t pretend I didn’t love MayFest. After enduring nearly five months trudging to class in a frozen tundra of snow and slush, spending a day frolicking in the sunshine on Euclid was heavenly. In the dead of winter, MayFest was a promise that better days would come. MayFest is one of the reasons I studied abroad in the fall semester instead of the spring. But let’s be realistic: MayFest is not a birthright. It’s not even technically a tradition (it only started five years ago). Is it really asking too much for the university to expect us to go to class on a Monday?

It sounds like Steve Parks, who’s in charge of SU Showcase, is really putting thought into what this day will entail. Raising the standards on what work will be displayed at SU Showcase will bring pride to the people chosen to participate in the event and to the university community for having such talented students and faculty. In addition, even though SU will have fewer high school students in attendance, the students on campus for SU Showcase will be there because they care about their education and deserve to present their work.

Syracuse police officers reported to The Post-Standard that an estimated 3,500 students took place in the booze-fest last spring, about the same number of local, talented high school students that visited campus that day. Busses brought thousands of young intellectuals to see SU academic work, and what did we show them? How to throw the winning beer pong ball, the art of hooking up with drunk chicks and the formula to be a sloppy mess (add one part vodka, four Keystones, a pair of jorts and shake). There’s no reason we can’t all move our block party to a Saturday, or perhaps skip class on a day that’s not supposed to celebrate the academic work.

Lauren Thomas, a sophomore magazine major, thoroughly enjoyed her freshman MayFest but said she can see the benefit of what the day is really supposed to be about, too. ‘It’s great that high school students are given the opportunity to showcase their work and see what we do academically,’ she said. ‘I think it can be a step forward for them in the college process.’

The university’s steps toward refocusing this event and the recently announced details of what SU Showcase will entail can potentially create an enriching experience for SU’s visitors, students and faculty. I’m happy to go to a school that’s known for having fun, but I’m more proud of the prestigious academic reputation of SU. I worked hard to get into this school, and I work hard while I’m here. I agree students should have a day off to unwind, but it doesn’t really make sense to schedule it on a day that’s meant to present academic achievements. I’m not denying the beauty of day drinking in the spring, and if you really feel the need to fight the power of Nancy Cantor and skip class for your own personal MayFest, no one’s stopping you. But maybe we should be more open to what SU Showcase can offer and reschedule showcasing our keg stand abilities.

Courtney Egelston is a senior magazine journalism and political science major. Her column appears weekly, and she can be reached at cbegelst@syr.edu.

Published on February 17, 2010 at 12:00 pm