COMMENTARY THE WABASH
April 2017
ADVANCING IDEAS & INSIGHTS ABOUT TRADITIONAL WABASH, EST. 1993
This is not a Magazine
April 2017
COMMENTARY THE WABASH
E ditor J acob R oehm ‘18 S taff Nathan Muha ‘18 Jared Cottingham ’18 John Newton ‘18 Logan Taylor ‘18 Nolan Callecod ’19 Brennan Davenport ’19 Brandon Johnson ’19 A ustin Y eomans ‘20
CONTENTS
5| Dress Like a Gentleman by Jared Cottingham ’18
6| How to Be A Gentleman: Whiskey by Jared Cottingham ’18
9| #NotAllLiberals
by Logan Taylor ’18
11| A Call for Opposing Voices by Brandon Johnson ’19
13| Matthew Rarey: In Memorian by Matthew Rarey ’00
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15| The Folly of the Five-Day Work Week by Brennan Davenport ’19
17| A Case Against the Exodus by Austin Yeomans ’20
19| Nicotine
by Ezra Pound
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The Wabash Commentary is published by the Foundation for a Traditional Wabash, Ltd., and is distributed free to Wabash Students (limit two copies per person). Donate $25.00 or more and receive a subscription! All contributions should be made payable to the “Foundation for a Traditional Wabash.” The Wabash Commentary is a member of the Indiana Collegiate Press Association (ICPA) and the Collegiate Network. Special thanks to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Leadership Institute, Young America’s Foundation and USBIC.
Who We Are: The Wabash Commentary (TWC) is a student-run journal of news and opinion dedicated to advancing ideas and insights about Traditional Wabash. Since its founding in 1993, TWC has fiercely maintained its editorial independence, free of administration or faculty control, not beholden to any social, partisan, or religious agenda. Drawing from both classical liberal and traditionalist thought, TWC’s mission is to foster rational discussion in the common pursuit of Scientiae et Virtuti, on campus and beyond.
Not Now, Voyager Hello, This is the third issue of The Wabash Commentary this year, and my last as its editor. I can’t thank this staff enough for their effort and the creativity they put into this issue. In addition, we all thank the alumni and friends of this publication for their continued support in all aspects of our work, you have helped more than you know. Many of us involved with TWC were saddened by the recent death of Matthew Rarey ’00, the second editor of TWC. This Magazine owes a great deal to Matt, not only for keeping this publication afloat in dire times, but, for lending us his talent for prose and copy-editing long after Wabash became his Alma Mater. Recently, many people have been thinking about acceptance, a trendy topic on college campuses today. But what does that mean at Wabash? We tend to think ideas of acceptance are vaguely obvious but learned tools through the teaching vehicle of The Gentleman’s Rule. While no one can claim to have the perfect solution, several of our writers have taken a look at what it means to live in a community with people who have different opinions than ourselves. Logan Taylor ’18 takes a look at a controversial Chapel Talk by John Hailey, and questions the way we paint our enemies with a broad brush. Austin Yeomans ’20 looks back to the days of Ezra Pound, mining for enlightenment by examining how Wabash has changed and remained the same since his departure over the seas, “Cantos in hand.” On a lighter note, spring has sprung at Wabash, and so shall a gentleman’s summer attire with tips from Jared Cottingham ’18. Poking fun at “progress” has been a recurring theme at TWC, and in this issue Brennan Davenport ’19 embodies that theme, inspiring revolt against the five day workweek, asking with mock seriousness, what has the modern world done to us? From myself and all of us on staff I hope that you enjoy this issue of The Wabash Commentary.
Cheers Jeers
to golf, the post-coitus Cheers to the boat races for turning Jeers to T Wade for skipping math cigarette of nuclear destruction. the Natatorium into the Mediterranean. class. Turns out, Fraternities sharing an equal number of prospects actually Jeers to Grindr. The cashier at Cheers to Phi-Psi for winning the meant uneven distribution. Who Kroger doesn’t get off ‘til 11pm. boat race. You truly had the best Knew? swimmers. Cheers to the Phi Delt landscaper. Cheers to Beta for furthering Hope you don’t find chunks in the Cheers to the IFC for finally drafting campus-community outreach. We’re ground. a constitution in a time of great peril, sure the South Mont. Cheerleaders just like our founding fathers. were available that night anyway. Jeers to Phi Delt. Have you seen Fiji’s card? Jeers to Assad for picking the 5 In their fright the perfect time to go on vacation. You prospectives bowed down Jeers to Delt, for trying to be ‘frat’ won’t believe what the kids got into with their faces to the ground, when you’re not even a fraternity. while you were away. but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the Jeers to Pan Hel for having Cheers to Theta Delt. Though she living among the dead? 6 attendance, somehow, less impressive may be but small, she is mighty. The liberal arts are not here; than our enrollment. they have risen! Remember Cheers to the Bachelor for making how they told us, while it was Cheers to the Bachelor for slander. words gooder again. still with us at Wabash: 7 ‘The How dare you pick on Phi-Delt. Liberal Spirit of Man must be Cheers to Betona for improving delivered over to the hands of Cheers to Dean Thorpe wanting to town-gown relations. It was the philistines, be abandoned and raise tuition. We heard there was an perfect way to bring everyone together, never to be seen again.’ ” inverse correlation between standards gathering around a cozy keg. -Select Verses from and price. the Gospel According Cheers to Scarlet Celebration to Caleb Mills Jeers to T. Wade for rush events. Try Weekend for proposing creative getting a reservation at Dorsia now. solutions to the refugee crisis. Cheers
Got Opinions? We can help!
Contact us at : thewabashcommentary @ gmail . com 4 - The Wabash Commentary
D i da s k a lo s
Dress Like a Gentleman Spring Style Edition
B y J ared C ottingham ’18 | jtcottin 18@ wabash . edu As the easy breeze begins to drift throughout the campus and the flowers begin to bloom, springtime makes life much more enjoyable for the Wabash Man. However, despite our gradual approach to the fun and sun of summer, we must grapple with the issues that face our wardrobe between the April showers and May flowers. Let’s face it: the spring is an extremely difficult season to dress for. From the frequent rain to the extremes on both ends of the temperature spectrum, you can easily go from comfortable to not so much in your daily ensemble rather quickly. Nonetheless, a gentleman must always look his best, regardless of what Mother Nature throws at him. It’s no secret that the easiest way to combat spring weather is layering. Whether it be a light jacket or a sweater for the brisk mornings, you can easily remove your top layer as the mercury begins to rise. My go-to is traditionally a Barbour jacket or cable-knit sweater for the coolness of the early morning, with a broadcloth oxford or linen base layer that will serve me well as the afternoon brings its warmth. Depending on your preference, you can opt for a cotton trouser or denim to cover your legs, or a sturdy pair of cotton shorts. I tend to lean more toward denim in the spring, as it is safe from the occasional cloudburst. On the warmer days, a pair of shorts is never a poor option. In fact, if the Ivy-League is your aesthetic, they can be your best friend and a hassle free transition to summer staples. Always be sure that your shorts rest an inch above your knee, and that they are trim fitting.
A gentleman’s footwear is perhaps the most exciting facet of dressing for the warmer months, as there is a myriad of options for all tastes. Now is the time to bring your suede brogues and saddle oxfords out of hibernation. You can roll up your pant-cuffs and proudly grace your feet with your most prized of fair weather footwear. Some of my favorites are oxfords and brogues in brighter colors, such as pine green, navy, or canary yellow, all of which are statement pieces that welcome the sunshine and drown out the drab of Old Man Winter. Be sure, of course, to match your footwear with the rest of your ensemble, as you are a gentleman, not a rainbow. However, do be sure to take some liberties and step outside of your proverbial comfort zone. If you are more of a traditionalist, your sturdy leather oxfords and boots will continue to do their time-tested job. Just be sure that you check the forecast before you step out the door in proper leather shoes, as you don’t want to ruin your Goodyear welts jumping between puddles. A good purchase for this time of year is a pair of galoshes or overshoes that slip over your selected shoe for the day. Swims makes a great pair that come in a few different colors. Canary yellow and navy are my personal favorites, though they also make models that match the tone of your footwear. You can find these from quite a few different brands, as Swims tend to be a tad expensive. Nonetheless, whatever you choose, it will be a worthwhile investment. Spring is the time to take risks with colors, as well as many of the more
traditional facets of your wardrobe. A pink oxford? Go for it! Perhaps a lavender cable-knit sweater? Absolutely. The options are endless, and none of your constituents will bat an eye when you sport your favorite yellow trousers. On the other hand, you can’t go wrong sporting more traditional colors in certain spring basics. A must have for the spring is a proper raincoat or trench. This will serve as a wonderful outer layer that is just downright classic. From a more utilitarian standpoint, it will also keep you from getting wet when accompanied with a proper umbrella, or bumbershoot if you are East of the pond. Opt for the classic camel color when you’re selecting your coat, and be sure it fits as snugly as the rest of your ensemble. The line between the late Glenn O’Brien and the formidable Inspector Gadget is extraordinarily fine. Call me odd, but I like a belted double-breasted raincoat, though a single-breasted option sans belt will suit you just as well. Choose a length that fits your preference and overall aesthetic, as I can guarantee you that any option that fits properly will be quite suave. Here’s to dressing well this spring, regardless of the weather outside your window. Whatever you’re wearing, I can guarantee you’ll find a great deal of peace and contentment. To quote the great Ernest Hemingway, “When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.”
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Prohibition
How To Be A Gentleman: Whiskey A Gentleman’s Guide To Whiskey, Bourbon, and Scotch
B y J ared C ottingham ’18 | jtcottin 18@ wabash . edu Ah, to muse in the late evening with a glass of whiskey in one’s hand! Frankly, to sit at any time with a glass of whiskey is a divine and more memorable moment. However, whiskey in particular seems to have an ability to enter the gullet and the spirit with vigor. There is a great variety of the simple grain mash elixir, though the Holy Triumvirate seems to rest in the Scottish and American varieties: Scotch, bourbon, and Tennessee whiskey. Though to say these are the only true whiskeys is asinine, they are probably the most accessible to you and I, and will provide a proper palette to enjoy the rest of the whiskey world. Let’s begin with William Faulkner’s personal favorite and a Kentucky staple: bourbon. Though the creation of the spirit itself is a bit fuzzy and perhaps incorrectly attributed to the minister Elijah Craig, the makeup of the whiskey itself is very cut and dry. Bourbon must be made in the United States and consist of a substance that is at least 51% mash according to The Federal Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits. Additionally, it must be aged in oak containers and be 80-proof or more. The aging process for bourbon is equally as convoluted as its origins, though straight bourbon must be aged for at least two years. Regardless of how long the bourbon has been aged before it enters your glass, you’ll find a great deal of variety amongst its tasting notes and the overall quality of the spirit. A personal favorite of Faulkner himself was Four Roses. The distillery produces bourbons that run the gamut of pricing and, therefore also, the aging
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and manufacturing processes. Their small batch and single barrel varieties are exceptional in my book, though their cheaper yellow-label bourbon is still far better than many I’ve had. Due to the additional care and specificity that goes into single-barrel and small batch varieties, these will likely cost you a bit more. However, that does not necessarily mean that the spirit itself will necessarily be better, nor that it will better suit your individual tasting preferences. By all means, explore and see what fits your palette. If you are lucky enough to have access to Pappy Van Winkle bourbon and have inherited a small fortune, you’ll have unlimited access to the finest of whiskeys. If you’re like the rest of us, pricing will have much to do with the varieties of spirit you’ll try. Some of my favorites are the Woodford Reserve, Four Roses, Knob Creek, Blanton’s, Buffalo Trace, and Jefferson’s Reserve from the middle price point. However, if you’re looking to spend a bit less, Four Roses yellowlabel and Wild Turkey 101 will suit you nicely. One of the beautiful things about bourbon is how versatile it is as a spirit. One can mix it as easily with CocaCola as they can with a bit of simple syrup and some Angostura bitters for an Old-Fashioned. Bourbon can be utilized as a base for many staple cocktails such as the Old-Fashioned, the Manhattan, and the Mint Julep. Likewise, very fine bourbon can be drunk neat, on the rocks, or with a bit of water to bring out some of the more floral notes in the whiskey. I prefer my
bourbon neat, though a good cocktail does, on occasion, hit the spot. Let your preferred taste or location dictate the way you drink your whiskey, though don’t feel obligated to request top shelf spirits in your cocktails. It may sound more refined to your constituents, but, a very fine bourbon is unnecessary to have in a cocktail: it adds too much expense; its fine qualities are mellowed in the mix. Nonetheless, if you feel like a top-shelf cocktail, swing away. It is poor taste to tell a man how to enjoy his whiskey in a social setting. Mind your own glass, and let Grandpa take his medicine in his own fashion! Tennessee whiskey is quite similar to bourbon, in that both are American whiskeys and are legally defined as “bourbon” by federal agencies. However, the producers of Tennessee whiskey, like Kentucky bourbon, take a great deal of pride in the namesake spirit of their state. In identical fashion to bourbon, Tennessee whiskey must be made from a mash that is 51% corn, though every drop must come from the great state of Tennessee according to most international trade agreements. Though relatively few producers of true Tennessee whiskey still exist today, one is perhaps the most iconic American whiskey; Jack Daniel’s made in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Though the Old No. 7 is extremely versatile, I would prefer to reach for something higher on the shelf of their distillery if I were not mixing. Gentleman Jack is not really my bag, but I do quite enjoy their single-barrel select. For what it’s worth, I usually reach for a bottle of bourbon over a Tennessee whiskey because, though I do prefer
medium to full body spirits, Tennessee whiskey tends to be a bit syrup-like for my taste. Nonetheless, you should absolutely try it. Jack Daniel’s famous elixir has been around since the mid-19th century and adorned by gentleman of taste such as Mr. Frank Sinatra and Mr. Winston Churchill. Thus, given its pedigree, it clearly gets the job done. Jack Daniel’s has even made a Sinatra Select whiskey to honor one of its most famous drinkers. It is said that, Frank loved Jack Daniel’s so much that he was buried with a bottle. The bottles of Sinatra Select and other limited run novelty whiskeys are fairly expensive and difficult to come by, and often receive rather mixed reviews. However, a chance to drink a rare whiskey is one that should never be passed up. If you do happen to come across a bottle, the cost of a nip can often be worth it. Our final whiskey class of discussion is one of the more divisive in the world of libations: Scotch. Many people would say that Scotch, similar to something like coffee or cigars, is an acquired tasted. I would have to agree, though only up to a point. I obviously don’t think that Scotch is something that everyone will like. However, I do
believe that one can grow to enjoy Scotch once their palette has been adequately exposed to the different varieties of malt and barley that exist in the specific regions of Scotland, from whence this beverage hails. Technically speaking, all Scotch must be distilled in Scotland, and matured for at least three years in oak casks. There are approximately five distinct types of Scotch, though the single-malt variety seems to be agreed upon by master distillers as the true reflection of the product. Blended scotches, such as Johnnie Walker, may have a very pleasant tasting profile, however, they lack some of the most defining characteristics of the regional malt. Thus, I would advise to reach for the single malt when one chooses to have one’s first Scotch experience, to get off on the right foot. With Scotch, the aging process can provide rather large differences in the taste profile, thus, aged Scotch will almost always cost more because of the more intense notes that are present. Many of the best Scotches on the market sit around the 12-year mark in regards to aging. The Glenlivet and Macallan 12-years are phenomenal
Scotches that will provide a wonderful introductory experience, and perhaps lifetime enjoyment. Currently, I have a bottle of Aberlour 16-year that was aged in sherry casks nestled in my decanter. It is probably the best scotch I’ve had in my lifetime, and it brings with it a great deal of fond memories both in taste and life. Now, this may not necessarily be the best Scotch to start out with for beginners, but one can never be sure. I’ve met many a man that can appreciate a great deal of the tasting profile on their first rodeo. If you are so compelled, you can always opt for a more complex Scotch right of the bat. However, be warned that these are often more costly, and garner the risk of one not caring for the Scotch as the palette may not be fully developed. If you are interested, see if the Scotch you’d like is carried by your local watering hole. The risk is nearly nonexistent in this case, as you’ll only pay by the glass rather than be left with a bottle you can’t stand. An interesting
Selection of American whiskeys at mid-price point
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side note: Scotch can sometimes make a nice cocktail. I recently had a scotchbased cocktail at a speakeasy that added a very smokey bottom to what was a truly splendid drink. These may be few and far between, however, go give them a try if you can! Some of my favorite single-malts that get a lot of mileage on my part, are Highland and Islay single-malt Scotches. With Islay Scotches like Laphroaig or Lagavulin, the whiskey has a great deal of smoke and peat to it that I find particularly enjoyable. Highland single-malts have a bit more variety in their profiles, often ranging from very rich and complex to intensely floral. Glenmorangie is my favorite Highland single-malt, with an aroma and profile of rich fruits with subtly floral bottom notes. Like the other whiskeys I’ve mentioned, the best way to find your
favorites is to try as many as possible. You will often be surprised at what you do and do not like in the whiskey department, particularly with Scotch. Now that you have an idea of what you’d like to drink, it’s time to discuss what you’ll drink it out of. When sipping bourbon or Tennessee whiskey, opt for the traditional rocks glass or tumbler that is sturdy enough to handle frequent use, and the bumps in the carpet as you glide through your dinner party. Glass will do you fine: a crystal glass is an item of finery. Don’t feel obligated. These glasses can hold everything from your Old-Fashioned to your neat whiskey, so they are as versatile as the spirit within them. Scotch calls for a bit more specific of a glass. Though you can absolutely enjoy your single-malt in a rocks glass, a glencairn glass with a tapered rim
These Scotches typically cost more than bourbons of similar quality. However, these beverages are well worth the cost.
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will allow you to fully enjoy the aroma of your Scotch and perhaps provide a better tasting experience. No matter what whiskey you choose or how you choose to drink it, the nectar of creatives everywhere will provide you a fruitful and relaxing experience. Enjoy whiskey with your friends, your significant other, yourself, or in the company of a fine cigar or meal. Churchill once said, “My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them.” When you choose to indulge, be sure that you enjoy yourself and the company around you. Also, since we can’t all be as sturdy as Mr. Churchill, remember that a gentleman always drinks responsibly.
A lt e r n at i v es
#NotAllLiberals
Chapel Talks and Character Attacks
B y L ogan T aylor ’18 | lataylor 18@ wabash . edu We’ve all been to Chapel Talks. Whether you were once a pledge many years ago and only went when you had to, or you go every week in order to see what the faculty, alumni, and affiliates of the college have to say about our institution, we’re all familiar with the format: brief introduction, a number of personal stories that tie into a central theme, and something significant we’re supposed to take away from the talk. It doesn’t hurt that there are often more than a few notes of “Rah Rah Wabash” floating around in there; it makes sense that those speaking would think fondly of Wabash and want to express that. All in all, it’s a mostly harmless and sometimes heartwarming weekly experience that is almost entirely inoffensive. Stark counter-examples do exist, however. When I saw alumnus and former employee of the College John Haley’s Chapel Talk this past February, I was shocked by the content of it. It started off normally, Haley talking about his personal life and his experiences at Wabash, cracking a few jokes, putting everyone at ease, and then he began to mention and praise Ben Shapiro. For those of you who don’t know, Shapiro is a conservative reporter and writer, formerly of Breitbart. I had heard of Shapiro before, as I’m sure many of you have; the talk that he gave at Wabash in March of 2015, just two years ago, is one of the most-viewed videos on Wabash’s Youtube channel. I’ve never been a fan of Shapiro, but I thought, whatever, maybe Haley will have some good points. That is, unfortunately, where I was wrong.
The talk consisted mostly of Haley reading eight Shapiro quotes and then telling his audience how right they were and how they pertained to Wabash. The quotes varied in topic and context, but most of them had something to do with how all liberals are uncommunicative and violent toward anyone who holds an opinion that doesn’t align exactly with theirs. While these statements are clearly untrue based on the breadth of their scope, what was really bothersome was that Haley expressed sentiments that Wabash is like this. He claimed that, as a conservative student, he was afraid to speak up in his political science classes because of the stigma that conservatism carried and because his liberal professors would shut down any and all opinions that did not align with theirs. While he didn’t mention any names, I am sure that the professors about whom he was speaking knew who they were. I’m wondering if Haley ever attempted to engage in open and honest discourse with them before this chapel talk, but somehow I doubt it. Haley’s Chapel Talk got me a little fired up when I heard it, though not for the reasons that he would hope. I thought back over my experience at Wabash and talked to several of my fellow Wallies to see if they think Wabash is an intellectually dishonest, liberal echo chamber. It would be a serious problem if it were true, if Wabash touted to accept a variety of opinions while actually only accepting ones on the liberal side of the political spectrum. Wabash claims to promote rational discussion and the ability to see issues from many sides; it’s right
there in the mission statement: “Think Critically.” Is Wabash as an institution intellectually dishonest? To answer that question, I’d like to tell a little story of my own. We all remember the climate on campus the day after the election in November. Email wars were being fought all across Wabash’s servers, people were disgusted and relieved and sad and happy; in short, tensions were high on campus. Everyone felt it, even in their classes. One of my female professors talked about how concerned she was about Trump’s promise to get Roe v. Wade overturned, and it was one of the most emotionally vulnerable moments I’ve ever seen from a professor. In another class, the first twenty minutes of class were dedicated to open and honest discussion of the issues, of how everyone felt about the election. Say what you will about liberals always talking about feelings or whatnot, but both liberal and conservative feelings, anti-Trump and pro-Trump alike, were expressed during that time, and people weren’t afraid to come out with their opinions regardless of which side of the political spectrum they fell. In another class, several people said that they were/are Trump supporters, and the professor did not attempt to shut them down or tell them that they were wrong, despite this same professor telling me in private that he despises Trump and everything he stands for. But, I could tell stories all day and the information would just be anecdotal. Haley attempted to back up his points by bringing up a study by Samuel Abrams, a professor of politics
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at Sarah Lawrence University, that finds a discrepancy in the ideological bent of college professors; liberal professors outnumber conservative professors in just about every college and university in the country. However, Haley seemed to focus on a figure that stated that ratio of liberals to conservatives among professors was 28 to 1, which is an alarming number that reeks of discrimination. And this number is accurate... in New England. Haley even mentioned this, but it seemed to get lost in the shuffle somewhere. Here in the Midwest, where Wabash is located, the ratio is closer to 4 to 1, according to that same study. On the west coast, the ratio is about 6 to 1. Still in favor of liberals, but easily explained by other factors. So the numbers don’t support Haley’s argument about Wabash either. Intellectual dishonesty is a serious issue to consider in a college climate, especially in a place like Wabash where we pride ourselves in the ability to think critically. If Wabash actually were intellectually dishonest, and professors consistently shut down opposing political opinions in class while touting that they accept a variety of viewpoints and opinions, then this article would be about how Haley’s chapel talk opened my eyes to that fact. But as it stands, the only way that Wabash has taken on a liberal bent in recent years that could even begin to match that of other colleges is the introduction of a Gender Studies minor and the fact that the college doesn’t sponsor conservative speakers nearly as much as it does liberal ones (looking at you, Jackson Katz). The only intellectual dishonesty that John Haley’s chapel talk opened my eyes to was his own. Generalizations about every liberal in America being militant and unable to even hear
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a different opinion and using anecdotal evidence to support that claim is not intellectually honest. It would be intellectually dishonest if I said the same things about all conservatives based solely on John Haley’s comments and articles I cherry-pick from the news, so I won’t. Broad, sweeping generalizations about huge and diverse groups of people will always be counter to intellectual honesty, and I think that is something that Haley fails to realize. A professor expressing a political opinion in class is not intellectual dishonesty. A student being afraid to speak his mind on an issue is not automatically indicative of intellectual dishonesty. Haley brought up Dr. Kubiak’s 2005 Chapel Talk to support some of his points, so I would like to add something that Dr. Kubiak told me personally: it is up to the student to stand up and speak if they disagree with what their professors are saying. If you’ve never done that, never stood up for your side of an issue, never talked to the professor one-on-one about the subject, then you’re just coming to the issue with your objections already in hand, and that is intellectually dishonest. Mr. Haley, I am sorry if your experience at Wabash did not feel as inclusive as you wanted it to, but maybe a good place to start would be to look inside yourself and see if the problem lies within before pouncing on the liberal boogeyman lurking in the halls of every institution of higher learning, seeking to stifle whatever it is you have to say. This isn’t to say that Wabash doesn’t have problems; we here at TWC are acutely aware of that. I am no more obligated to say good things about Wabash than Mr. Haley was in his Chapel Talk. But whatever problems Wabash has, intellectual dishonesty is not one of them. Sure, when a student
misinterprets a text, or misrepresents an author’s ideas, the professor will tell a student he’s wrong. But at least in this aspect, Wabash does live up to its mission, and I would remind Mr. Haley and all of our readers that the most important part of being a Wabash man is the ability, and the willingness, to think critically. I think we can all learn from John Haley’s misstep in that regard.
P at i en c e
A Call for Opposing Voices A Call for (Delayed) Judgement
B y B randon J ohnson ’19 | bjjohnso 19@ wabash . edu I don’t think many would disagree with the statement that authoritarianism is bad. One ruling body, to some, is worse than none at all. To have decisions made, to hear orders from, to be led by one entity is what I consider to be the enemy of freedom, and the death of productive decision and discourse. But why? While I believe this disagreement does not solely stem from any predilections of power, this distaste for authoritarianism does hold its roots therein. Rather than a disapproval for the fact that one simply has power, it is a disapproval for the fact that there is a singular entity, a singular voice, that holds all influence. Whether there be a singular entity ruling a government or ruling a school club, accepting no outside influence and
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ideology. If we so believe that all beliefs have merit, why do we now find ourselves or others being told that we are wrong at every turn, and further find our voices being silenced, or instead find that those of conflicting beliefs are trying to drown out the voices of others. This has become a particular issue here on our campus. Looking over the past year alone, there have been various speakers– panels of speakers, even– with one political belief, and hardly any at all from the other. We have had a host of liberal speakers – something I am not against because of their political beliefs— but because of the singularity of voice. Yet the only conservative speaker that comes to mind was an employee of the college, who just so happened to be conservative, that was
risk– and are stronger for it. My question is this: How can we have productive discourse coming from only one direction? If authoritarianism is bad due to its singular input, its singular voice, then the voice of Wabash, at least in the past year or longer, has become like that of the authoritarian. With no opposing voices, how are we to dissent? With other beliefs being drowned out and silenced, so are the voices of those merely questioning. We need other voices, any voices, to combat this, lest we fall into the trap of the hive mind ideology. If there is no disagreement, how can things be improved? How can issues be pointed out if we both refuse to look for these issues, or refuse to listen to those who do? Individuality, free thought,
My question is this: How can we have productive discourse coming from only one direction?
instead making decisions for others, each will be disliked for the simple fact that they are singular. In our minds, all decisions should be made considering all voices and points of view. As many people believe there is no inherently prevailing belief, only different ones, we must prevent one voice dominating all others. Ours are the ears for many songs, not the beat of one drum. Why, then, do we find one entity– one voice – dominating this campus? In this, I do not mean the voice of one person, but the voice of one
asked to speak in a Chapel Talk. How does this compare to the number of liberal talks, like Jackson Katz and the panelists of “Views from the Left” (among many others), invited and paid by the college to promote their beliefs without counter voices or views. The only reference to conservative beliefs, or any other for that matter, being either as a demonization of them, or instead a mockery. In this, they even seem to play the victim, the weak– acting as though other beliefs for once holding power puts them wholly at
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is one of the greatest strengths of humanity. Why then do those on this campus refuse to use it, handicapping themselves and blinding themselves to the possibility of higher learning and enlightenment? Are their beliefs so fragile that they cannot accept, cannot risk, the beliefs of others, lest their own be shattered like a false mirror? The only justification for these people refusing to hear other voices are these: either they believe that their voices are wholly right, and wholly better, than the beliefs of others (thus
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going against their apparent stance that no one person is any better than another), or they feel that their beliefs are weaker. Regardless of whatever justification is used, and regardless of whatever ideological stance someone has, it is against the spirit of Wabash to have one voice monopolize the airwaves. We are taught to look at things from as many points of view
as possible, holding all possibilities equal. Yet, here we find ourselves held hostage by one voice, the spectrum of speakers, an attack that creates an intellectual desert. If there is one person in a room, how can he have a productive and intelligent discussion? If there is only one belief, how can it find itself challenged, and therefore given the opportunity to prove itself or to change what was pointed out to
be wrong? I do not ask for a flood of conservative speakers, nor do I ask for there to be fewer liberal speakers. All I ask for are others. Dissenting opinions. Anything less, and these speakers might as well be speaking to a mirror, so little will their words affect the oversaturated air of this campus. Anything less would be unintellectual and unacademic. Anything less would be against the spirit of Wabash.
Very Fun Wordsearch For Kids* T H D W R F T
S C I E E A S
I O S I A K I
L N P V C E N
A S A E T N U
I P R R I E M
R I A L O W M
E R T A N S O
P A E I A T C
M C I C R S B
I Y M I Y I I
Z S P D N C G
A P A U K S O
N D C J B A T
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*May be entirely inappropriate for kids 12 - The Wabash Commentary
Pyre
Matthew Rarey: in memoriam
B y M atthew R arey ’00
Matthew Rarey ’00, brother of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Editor of The Wabash Commentary, journalist, friend, and mentor, died on April 3rd. Matt joined the ranks of The Wabash Commentary early in his time as a Wabash student. Showing prudence, determination, and a way with the written word, the first to take the mantle after Morgan Knull ’97, he became the editor in the fall of his sophomore year, Matt loved Wabash, eternally. He showed that love through his writing, describing TWC as “always a labor of
Correspondence with Matt I became editor of TWC my sophomore year after its principal players graduated the previous spring. It was a big job to fill, especially because the remaining staff numbered three or four. The mantle of leadership had to be assumed by someone, and I found myself in the breach. It was a do or die decision, excruciating to make that early fall of my sophomore year: to either conduct TWC’s swansong and humbly wrap up operations or hear the horns of Elgar and ride to the sound of the guns, devoting myself to doing the heavy lifting. With prayerful reflection and the support of others, I bit the bullet. Editing TWC became a labor of love on behalf of a College worthy of love, however tough that love had to be at times—and continues to be. Seeing TWC carrying on the good fight all these years later is heartening confirmation of the rightness of that decision. In spring 1998 TWC staff produced a page-long statement of principle explaining what we stand for and what we’re against— at that time, proposed academic minors in multiculturalism and gender studies. We printed it in the magazine and distributed it among alumni and parents. It caused
love. Tough love, usually. “ In honor of Matt, we’ve reprinted excerpts from his time as editor. The first excerpt is from correspondence with a TWC staff member when transitioning into his editorship. Followed by excerpts from, in his words, “the best piece I ever wrote, ‘Manhood in America.’” His insight is brilliant, and his heart is pure. Enjoy. *Full reprints of his work will be posted online among our archives on our website: thewabashcommentary.org
hysterical reactions—one of my classmates threatened to exercise his right to bear arms against me for exercising my right to free speech! Still, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. But it generated strong support and indignant reactions from constituents kept in the dark about goings-on at Wabash. The statement ran under the banner “Is Your Son a ‘Gay Farm Boy’?”—an attention grabber, to be sure, but taken from a lecture sponsored by the Gender Studies Committee. It illustrated the contrast between Old Wabash—an unabashedly masculine college for men with a real joie de vivre, civilized with meaningful traditions uniting generations of Wabash men, rooted in academics of a time-honored tradition of importance—versus the New Wabash, something else entirely. The best piece I ever wrote, Manhood in America (Feb/March 1999 issue of TWC), garnered the most favorable student reaction. It was a defense of manliness within the context of Wabash. The day after it appeared, the president of the Sphinx Club came up to me in class—a class with Professor McLean, by the way— and shook my hand. I still stand by the whole piece, especially its closing:
Manhood in America Matt begins his article with a historical analysis of the cultural decline in American manhood, starting with WWII through present day (late 1990’s). He focuses on American culture increasingly lacking transitions, or rites of passage, for boys to transform into men. Quoting social commentator Midge Decter, Matt implies Wabash is the place to replace in men “some loss of energy, shying away from their instinctive restlessness and competitiveness, and, with it, a fading loss of whatever happened to be the standards of gallantry.” Wabash is an anachronism by its all-male status alone. But ‘male’ is a mere zoological determination which doesn’t necessarily translate into ‘man.’ Is Wabash an anachronism in name only— a liberal arts college that happens to have single-sex students because its endowment is large enough and trustees stood up to faculty in 1992? Or does Wabash proudly embrace masculinity, unabashedly one of our culture’s last bastions of virtuous manhood? The answer is far from clear. Professors Few alumni remember calculus
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equations, the finer points of Shakespeare, or the conjugation of Greek verbs. Alumni do not reminisce about exams; they praise professors who taught them to be men. Wabash’s most permanent gift is the memory of noble teachers whose character and personal conduct eternally inspire. Wabash is blessed with several such mentors— real men. To enjoy a shared laugh and know that his laugh is the wellspring of a wholesome spirit. To ask a question and receive an honest reply. To be told when one is behaving foolishly, and to be encouraged to do the honorable thing. A professor can be a powerful figure in the lives of young men, especially those from broken families. The dearth of fathers and sound masculine rolemodels suspends many boys in a twilight zone between youth and manhood. The consequences can be catastrophic, ruining more than the life of the boy. Wabash has a moral duty to hire professors who will serve as paternal mentors— confident, out-going men who will challenge students to reach their highest level of personal development. These mentors teach young men the seriousness and grandeur of life, and how it may be met with a stout heart and wise mind. Rites of Passage The student body and most alumni have fought to maintain Wabash’s traditional role in higher education. It is students who remain this College’s great hope, forging for themselves their own rites of passage into manhood.
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For three-quarters of students, fraternities foster these rites. A pledge, like a young recruit, has responsibilities to keep, tests to pass, and lore of his fraternity to memorize. During pledgeship, he and his pledge brothers are akin to a platoon training to meet a common objective. And upon his initiation, he joins something larger than himself, to which he swears his fealty.
the College’s inept way of presenting itself is to blame. President Andrew Ford has boasted that Wabash’s chief selling-point is that it is “one of the last remaining residential liberal arts colleges.” Forty years ago, President Byron Trippet debunked such a notion. “A College may be old and small and have a neat liberal arts curriculum which looks noble in catalogue,” he told a group of seniors, “and still be a mediocre educational institution.” If fostering gentlemen scholars were proclaimed as the College’s main virtue, Wabash might attract more boys yearning for a vehicle into manhood, and dissuade those who wish to stay estranged from it. Manhood today is a precious commodity, yet little valued until the effects of its absence are realized— in families, in government, and in academia. The traditional mores have been subverted, rites of passage denied, and masculinity made irrelevant by technology. And one wonders why there no longer are heroes! While one cannot hope to redeem an entire culture, a flame can be lit here and When fraternities are at their best, there. Despite trends that would strip they help boys to assume the duties Wabash of its masculine identity, the of men. These “brotherhoods” also College continues to be a place where encourage the development of manly one can still overhear what C. S. Lewis friendships that are increasingly rare in declared to be his favorite sounds— our culture. (At their worst, fraternities men’s laughter. May it forever remain encourage a perverse gang mentality…) so. Wabash and Manhood If Wabash is to be a great school for men, it should not recruit students who want to hide from life. Perhaps
R u m i n at i o n
The Folly of the Five-Day Work Week
B y B rennan D avenport ’19 | bcdavenp 19@ wabash . edu Picture if you will, an epidemic that has been present across the nation since its inception. Nay, a disease that has plagued humanity since the dawn of modern civilization. This malady has caused humans afflicted to lose capacity for proper functionality, for psychological and physiological reasons. The converse holds no escape, as even attempting to function in the presence of this epidemic leads to debilitating effects. This epidemic we shall call the Five-Day Work Week. Such symptoms may include but are not limited to: fatigue, grogginess, malnutrition, stress, dizziness, and, in some extreme cases, nausea and depression. Regardless of who may
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the modern world came to be, before progress was forced upon him, man lived in an era of tradition and peace. He had a rigid concept of time, rising active and falling dormant with the daily passage of the sun. This allowed for a great many wondrous things to grace mankind with their benevolence. As a result, all that man had to do in his earliest days of existence was thrive off the bountiful fruits of nature. They had the soil of the earth overflowing with incredibly easily obtainable resources. The water and food of the land practically flowed to the lips of early man in a cascade of pleasurable living. None of this “air conditioning” or “indoor plumbing” nonsense.
This is only one instance of the benefits held by early man’s clutch on traditional values. It can be clearly seen through the well-documented history of man’s early days that life was simpler. Adults and children alike enjoyed good health fostered by the hand of superior convention and the heart of mother nature. However, this superior era was not to last for mankind. As civilizations rose to prominence, leaders of a more corrupt persuasion from societies rose in tandem. They sought unnecessary and unwanted progress, and to take more from nature’s bounty than should have been given. The Star Wars movies
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Symptoms may include but are not limited to: fatigue, grogginess, malnutrition, stress, dizziness, and, in some extreme cases, nausea.
be subject to employment’s vices, we see it has made the happiness of all Americans diminish. The young person finds his time spent finding ways trying to cope, as though in a parasitic relationship. The middle-aged person finds themselves in denial of his true level of affliction. The elderly recognizes and tolerates it, accurately and without refutation, calling it “the inhibitor of happiness and progress.” While we ask the reader to imagine these horrendous thoughts, we can assure you this epidemic exists, and is a very real threat to the well-being of American citizens. Elaboration is in order. Before
Buildings and man-made structures were things of folly and imagination, costing precious time and effort. Having this spare time and effort allowed man to foster a healthy mind. It is written clearly in the well-preserved Dead Sea Scrolls that astrophysics was first conceptualized in this early period. Using naught but their naked eyes and adherence to the tried and true methods of “making hand binoculars,” they were able to discern that not only did the sun revolve around the earth, but the moon was a billboard in the sky. Upon this discovery, the free advertising space was promptly used to advertise “Back to the Future.”
took a leaf from these leaders’ books by mimicking the mind tricks used on their substituents. Mind tricks such as “dropping a solid fiver” or “writing an I.O.U.” persuaded those of weaker minds into departure from tradition and further into undesirable subjugation. This subjugation came as of the 5-day work week. No longer could man use his leisure to study the finer complexities of Faulkner, who was around at the time of early men, nor could he peacefully live in the company of the animals in nature. No, these corrupt progressive men wanted to live in “places that didn’t
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reek of animals 24/7.” To do so would be to blaspheme, as such smell was part of life for generations. The good man of the land was forced into subjugation, the kind that comes with nontraditional structure and rigidity. This madness was reached when man was forced to work for five days out of the week. Try as he may, man could not avoid this “progress” put upon him by leaders of unwonted power. The well-documented passage of time, and instances of trial followed by egregious amounts of error, led to the eventual creation of the 5-day work week. The concept of the “week” was created after this advent when Earnest Hemingway felt cheated in a game of dice, thinking an additional side to the die was needed (it was). But regardless, day in and day out man has been stripped of his traditional and far superior days of leisure and inevitable mental enrichment. Such progress allowed men of false power to subjugate them into meaningless tasks. Tasks such as “providing electricity for a small town” or “take a man’s lunch
order.” How far man has fallen in the age of modernity from the desirable days of languid self-enrichment and mind expansion. In order to keep men under the yoke, the men of false power took precautions. Devices were created by this “modern world”. The idea of clocks tacked upon walls, constantly reminding us of appointments we must take or when we ought to go to sleep, kept men from his traditional waking and sleeping with the passage of the sun (the more natural way of doing things). Not to mention, of course, this invention forced wristwatch makers out of business, a product that was available to man from his earliest history. In addition, the decision to divide the day into base 60 was also clearly a side product of man having free time to create with his mind, a fact that those in power abused. Further adding to the travesty of subjugation, the modern man has been forced to adopt folly in order to cling to any semblance of long-lost traditionalism. Strikes demanding better wages and fairer
work conditions were deemed by the corrupt progressive men in power to be “inhibitive to progress” and “presenting a reasonable argument,” This subversion by corrupt men is twofold, in that by protesting for better work conditions, the modern man drives himself further under the yoke. The only respite for the modern man has been the weekend, where the chance to recapture the days of old leisure and knowledge-acquisition is granted to us in a façade. For after a mere two days of weekend, the construct of modern day work claws us back into its harsh falsehoods. Like the great statue of Ozymandias in Ozymandias by Ozymandias (aka Percy Bysshe Shelly), we must stand for this no longer. We must make a great and noble push for the days of old, the days where traditional leisure and easily acquired knowledge reigned supreme. For the days in which man could say “heck no” to any sort of work prompt in favor of sitting on his backside and playing with the dirt by his feet. Days where the good Dead Sea Scrolls told us all we needed to know of the universe. Days in which man did things not because he had to, but because he felt like it and the timing was convenient for him. To recapture the traditional and ancient age of man, the age of leisure and prosperity, would truly be the greatest accomplishment of this generation. Because traditional life was clearly easier back then, anyways. On adding to the Gentleman’s Rule: Denied the expectation that they will behave chivalrously and honorably, boys are not socialized into gentlemen. —Matt Rarey
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Ounce
A Case Against The Exodus
B y A ustin Y eomans ’20 | abyeoman 20@ wabash . edu One thing the Wabash recruiters fail to mention to high school seniors lofty in their illusions of college grandeur, perhaps intentionally, is Crawfordsville itself. I’m certain they have some notecard for handling questions about our “college town.” Those of us who have committed ourselves to the Wabash way of life have bitterly accepted the Truth of the community in which dear old Wabash resides. An apparent light on a hill, formerly referred as “The Athens of the Midwest,” this town stands at the juncture of aimless alleys and dusty cornfields, the Midwestern soggy cigarette butt known as Crawfordsville. Even the native townie, born and raised here, might find former professor Ezra Pound’s description of Crawfordsville apt: as the “last or at least sixth circle of desolation.” When the most redeeming quality of a city is its “extensive” selection of sub-par restaurant menus, there is a longing
for more. Yet, there has continued to be some unnamed spirit that has resided here since 1832, an ideal of what this place can give to anyone brave enough to venture into its depths. Much like ancient Greek heroes, we expect that our adventure through the underworld will leave us not completely unscathed, but stronger for having preserved. Wabash is not a college for everyone, as many who face the gates of hell are likely to turn around immediately, or crawl away whining after a semester or two. We know Crawfordsville is as boring as watching corn grow, but it is not something as concrete as restaurant selection which makes Crawfordsville a place to brave, it’s something in the air of this place which makes it worthwhile to endure. That spirit is grounded in Ezra Pound’s brief history at Wabash. The story goes as such: On a particularly frigid February night in Crawfordsville, Ezra Pound roamed the streets,
happening across a young woman who had starred in a local burlesque show that night. Scantily clad and left behind by her troupe, she had nowhere to go. Ezra Pound as the true gentleman offered her his bed, spending the night wrapped up in a thin blanket on the floor. Known for his frequent soirees, the presence of an unknown woman in his bed did not sit well with the maids the next morning, and soon the whole campus was aware of Pound’s apparent promiscuity. As word spread, Pound grew to feel unwelcome among the “high starched collars and stiff woolen suits of his colleagues.” With mutual distaste between Pound and the Wabash faculty growing exponentially with time, Pound soon felt the poet’s wanderlust take over, and left before the end of the year on a boat for Italy. We lost one of the greatest and most influential poets of the 20th century over a piece of hearty gossip. He turned his back on the Midwest,
Young and old Ezra. Pound, born 1885, was only 22 when he taught at Wabash in 1907
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Cantos in hand, taking the remainder of his salary with him. (Tsk Tsk Wabash.) His voracious cigarette smoking, untidiness, eccentricity of character, and a wild eye for the world are qualities which we here at The Wabash Commentary pride ourselves on, qualities which many students continue to possess today. One may feel alone in these aspects. One may feel as though a great divide exists between oneself and the school, but
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doing it right,” and it isn’t the most outlandish idea. Many among us may have had transfer applications open for months on the desktop, beckoning. We needed a boat to carry us away. For various reasons, one may decide that Wabash simply “is not the place for me.” If enrollment numbers are proof of anything, they are such that Wabash indeed never ceases to have an air of exclusivity, a resting place for a select few who benefit from this niche, but it
We are not the Wabash that Ezra Pound left trailing in the wake of a boat to Italy.
the Wabash life is more accessible to any given man now than it ever was in 1907. The average Wabash Man today might have scoffed at the top-button, bourgeois, sidewalk judicators that roamed the streets of Crawfordsville before, but now the Wabash education means much more. We are a College of acceptance, of differences, and instead of fighting over opinions and resolving arguments in savage fistfights we are allowed the opportunity to coexist with our peers. We have the ability to temper ourselves in a way that makes true, productive discourse a reality. We are not the Wabash that Ezra Pound left trailing in the wake of a boat to Italy. If Ezra Pound were to return, he would likely embrace us, have a lovely cup of tea from our dear Brew, and likely try to reclaim his office from our very own Dr. Mong in Center Hall. You aren’t going to find another place that will be so accepting yet so combative. Ever. A Wabash man among us once said, “if you aren’t thinking about transferring once a semester, you aren’t
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is worth noting that the majority of a Wabash experience is what one makes of it. If doubt still rests in you, make this experience your own. Here you can carve your own way. For the Ezra Pounds of Wabash, get involved, or don’t, or stray from the path like the true poet. Reject the reality that others subscribe to and handcraft your own Wabash experience. If that doesn’t sit deep in your heart, then Wabash might well deserve to be a hiccup in the world of post-secondary education. For over a hundred years the men of the Midwest and beyond have defined what it means to be a Wabash man, and in this day that task falls to you and you alone. Find on the next page a poem by Pound.
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Nicotine
H ymn to the D ope G oddess of the murmuring courts , N icotine , my N icotine , H ouri of the mystic sports , trailing - robed in gabardine , G liding where the breath hath glided , H idden sylph of filmy veils , T ruth behind the dream is veiléd E’ en as thou art , smiling ever , ever gliding , W raith of wraiths , dim lights dividing P urple , grey , and shadow green G oddess , D ream - grace , N icotine . G oddess of the shadow ’ s lights , N icotine , my N icotine , S ome would set old E arth to rights , T hou I none such ween . V eils of shade our dream dividing , H ouris dancing , intergliding , W raith of wraiths and dream of faces ,
S ilent guardian of the old unhallowed places , U tter symbol of all old sweet druidings , M em ’ ry of witched wold and green , N icotine , my N icotine : N eath the shadows of thy weaving D reams that need no undeceiving , L oves that longer hold me not , D reams I dream not any more ,
F ragrance of old sweet forgotten places , S miles of dream - lit , flit - by faces A ll as perfume A rab - sweet D eck the high road to thy feet A s were G odiva ’ s coming fated A nd all the A pril ’ s blush belated W ere lain before her , carpeting T he stones of C oventry with spring , S o thou my mist - enwreathéd queen , N icotine , white N icotine , R iding engloried in they hair M ak ’ st by - road of our dreams T hy thorough - fare . The Wabash Commentary - 19
COMMENTARY THE WABASH
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