Category: the Rant Board
I sit on the diversity committee of the student senate here at my college. For about a month, we have been planning a series of three discussions called the Three Dimensions of Diversity. I was put in charge of running the first discussion on gender identity. At the event, I will pose the questions: What does it mean to be a real man or real woman? And what are some stereotypes and double standards faced by men and women today?
I planned to start this discussion with a dialogue, then transition into an open-mic discussion. So I wrote the dialogue, incorporating some humor of course. I wrote this a week ago and tried to get in touch with another committee member who would be the other character in the dialogue. She doesn't call me until Friday night, saying she hasn't been checking her e-mail; she's spent the whole week drinking and so on. Whatever. We plan to meet Sunday night to practice. Then Sunday night rolls around, and she texts me at 6:30 saying she's been in bed all day and she can't shake her hedache. So then we plan for Monday at 5. Oh nope, that didn't work out either because she was called into work. Tuesday wouldn't work for me, so I just said practice your lines and we'll practice together quickly before the skit Wednesday night. So to top this off, the event is tonight, and again, I'm being blown off like a dick. She can't come to the event because she has a study session for an exam tomorrow in a class that she's barely passing.
Yes, I understand that this is not her fault at all. But I'm freaking out e-mailing everyone on the damned committee and she's texting the director of it, and no one is replying accept to say they can't make it either. Even one of the guests I had lined up cancelled.
A week ago, I was excited about this event and was confident it would run smoothly, but I feel like it's falling apart.
Somehow, I have to rewrite this dialogue to make it a monolog or something. I don't do fucking stand up!
I feel like doing something very childish and bitchy tonight and just putting this whole fuckin' committee on blast while I'm up on stage. Hopefully, the rage I feel now will be drained by then because right now, I don't have a problem being the raging bitch who lost her shit on stage.
I'm also compelled to send an e-mail to the whole committee and the student senate and tell everyone how these people are irresponsible and unworthy of their positions.
If my committee director says she can't do the dialogue or find a replacement, I'm inclined to tell her off and drop off the committee. All the time and effort I've put into this event is not reaping the return I expected it would.
I would like to say that I'll just not show up at the event at all and just spontaneously decide to cancel it, but I know this would make me no better than the assholes who find it so easy to let me down even though they said they would do anything to help me with this if I needed it. Well hey, I need your help now, so where the hell are you?
Rant over. Religious people, pray for me.
Wow, that really is sad. One would think that people who are on a committee within the student senate would be at least somewhat responsible and cooperative. I don't blame you for being angry and wanting to step down from the diversity committee after this event; I would probably feel that way, too. I hope you or the director finally found a replacement for the other person in the dialogue, and that it's going well.
So another committee member did come through for me. The director said she would do it if no one else came through, but she really wanted these events to be leadership opportunities for the other members. I understand that now, but earlier when she just kept asking if I knew anyone else who would help other than her, she was adding fuel to my fire.
She came to the event as well as my former partner's replacement and we practiced the dialogue about four times. When we got on stage, we did very well. The discussion went smoothly and people in the audience contributed.
Fortunately, I was able to control myself and not tell people off or put the committee on blast.
I'm still considering stepping down from the senate and committee. But my director wants me to run for senate next year. It has been restructured, so there won't be all these nifty committees within the senate, but I'm not sure. It will be a paid job, so it's most definitely something to consider. I won't be putting forth effort and putting up with people's shit for nothing.
I'm glad it went well. Must've been aggravating in the extreme!
I'm glad everything worked out for you, but I would be angry and frustrated too having to deal with that kind of crap from people! Just shows how irresponsible a lot of folks are.. I wouldn't blame you if you did decide to step down from the senate and committee; seems like it's more trouble than it's worth.
You did the right and mature thing. Kept after folks until you were able to get the whole mess together. The irresponsibility trend now in folks makes it so hard for those trying to do the best they can in life.
Just should have sent emails inviting them to a party sense they or some spent the weekend drinking. In college it a great way to get stuff done.
"committee you are invited to my place for drinks and food at..." *sigh, project complete. :)