Zonker Harris Day in peril
Hey, so you know that post on the ACB that everyone assumed was a troll? The one about reslife threatening to cut funding for Zonker Harris Day if the name wasn't changed? (Probably to something like, I don't know, DIVERSITY DAY)
I just read an e-mail from one of the WestCo presidents who's in change of ZHD and apparently it's true. Don't know the details yet. More coming.
EDIT: Thanks Anon--
ResLife looked at a wikipedia page outlining Zonker Harris (a character from Doonesbury) and his past drug use, and decided that giving ResLife funding for this would be a bad idea if the name were to stay the same. This really didn't go over all that well, especially considering that Zonker Harris Day is mentioned in dozens of college search guides, and because the character hasn't done drugs in probably fifteen years (in fact, the first time i realized what a huge drug reference Zonker used to be was a strip where he laments the fact that his plants don't talk back to him anymore, to which one of the plants replies "it was the drugs, man.") Psychedelic drug use is no longer associated with the name of the festival. The event named Zonker Harris Day is already synonymous with assorted drug shenanigans, and a name change won't do anything to change that.
Edit Edit: anonymous said...
to the poster: you should really check for validity before posting anonymous details as fact. the anonymous comment explaining "what really happened" is very misinformed. i suggest you take it down from the post, as it will make wesleying look unreliable when the real story is made public.
33 comments:
the details are:
ResLife looked at a wikipedia page outlining Zonker Harris (a character from Doonesbury) and his past drug use, and decided that giving ResLife funding for this would be a bad idea if the name were to stay the same. This really didn't go over all that well, especially considering that Zonker Harris Day is mentioned in dozens of college search guides, and because the character hasn't done drugs in probably fifteen years (in fact, the first time i realized what a huge drug reference Zonker used to be was a strip where he laments the fact that his plants don't talk back to him anymore, to which one of the plants replies "it was the drugs, man.") Psychedelic drug use is no longer associated with the name of the festival. The event named Zonker Harris Day is already synonymous with assorted drug shenanigans, and a name change won't do anything to change that.
Any more persuasive reasons to keep the Zonker Harris Day name would be much appreciated as westco presidents go into a meeting to discuss the issue tomorrow. As it stands so far, without a name change the event will not receive any funding from reslife (which it needs) and will not be able to be a part of WesFest events.
I don't really like ResLife and their policies, but I think this might be relatively reasonable. They're like, we'll pay for your sex drugs and rock and roll fest (not the drugs, you buy those yourself) as long as you don't name it Drugs Day
What 4:44 seems to be saying is, "The event is unofficially Drugs Day in our minds already, so a name change would be pointless." Is this really a "persuasive reason," 5:08? -- or anybody else, for that matter?
Anybody who's never heard of Zonker Harris could look it up on Wikipedia, which was what I did when I first came here and heard about the festival, and read all about how he "is habitually unemployed, and is very protective of his slacker lifestyle." A name change would not, in fact, be pointless, because you're arguing on the false premise that everybody already knows about all the connotations attached to the name.
To make a long story short, for those who TLDR'ed it: Agreed with 5:17.
Keep the name, fund it the way we did Grateful Dead
This is absolutely absurd. Zonker Harris Day has been going on for over thirty years. Someone needs to let alums from the 70's and forward know about this. I think this could really end up being a huge deal. Wesspeak anyone?
I just hope ResLife doesn't end up naming it something really lame.
I think forwarding this to some alums would be a good idea.
As a former WestCo Prez I can certainly say that changing the name of the day would in no way change the connotations of the event or what goes on at those events. Considering we funded ZHD by selling drugs, a name change won't do much...
My guess: The name is not going to change. It's ultimately a WesCo event. And if they wanna keep it Zonker Harris, I don't think ResLife can say no.
ResLife just might not fund it. So it's an issue of funding, and WesCo just needs to make its case. Which I don't think should be that hard to do. There are much better things ResLife can fight us on...
How about, as an argument against the reslife namechange - the student body will make things very unpleasant for them.
just get all the dealers on campus together and start a massive drug fundraiser
It's a silly, petty, cosmetic change, and is very short sighted. There are 30 years of history (and alums) involved here. Are we going to change every time the potential for potentially negative press arises? Oh no, people might think our school is fun!
i hate where wesleyan is going.
i cannot wait to get out.
it seems that it is more important to retain the name (and hence, spirit and history) of zonker harris than it is to receive the funding. money can be got in other ways, n'est-ce pas?
to the poster: you should really check for validity before posting anonymous details as fact. the anonymous comment explaining "what really happened" is very misinformed. i suggest you take it down from the post, as it will make wesleying look unreliable when the real story is made public.
Can we call it Honker Zarris Day? That way the lore can still get passed down, but any random parent who googles it will have no clue what it means.
Plus, Honker Zarris just sounds hilarious.
Xue, I love how the title includes the phrase "in peril". Totally underused term of distress.
can't you compromise and call it ZD in the handbooks and such?
I just got here and I can't help but agree with 8:47: I hate where Wesleyan is going. The name clearly shouldn't be changed at all, and to people who say it doesn't really matter, I would reiterate the comments of previous posters and say: yeah, history and continuity do fucking matter.
But I also agree with Zach; Honker Zarris sounds awesome.
anonymous said...
to the poster: you should really check for validity before posting anonymous details as fact. the anonymous comment explaining "what really happened" is very misinformed. i suggest you take it down from the post, as it will make wesleying look unreliable when the real story is made public.
You, are right.
oh yeah... and FUCK!
I don't think this is a big issue at all. Am I alone in this opinion?
why don't we just change the wikipedia article?
Changing the wikipedia article would be... sacrificing free knowledge for our own selfish purposes. That feels wrong. (And, Wikipedia editors would catch it pretty fast.)
WestCo could attempt to fund it by itself, but if it went that route, it should try to remember that the excitement from this year to help out won't carry over to every future year.
Contacting alums is a really great idea, though, for anyone who is passionate about this.
Personally - I think the spirit of Zonker Harris day couldn't really be lost by a name change. And, I do think ResLife has a point - sponsoring an activity in which even the name has drug references is a bit sketchy. (I do like the Honker Zarris idea, though :P ! Google searches will find nothing!)
(Though, also to be fair, lots of people - probably most - enjoy Zonker Harris and Duke Day immensely while completely drug-free. So I would hope that it wouldn't get shut down entirely, or given no funding by ResLife or whoever is giving funding no matter what. Not that this seems to be on the table.)
honker zarris day is a perfectly reasonable (and, typically Wesleyan) compromise. ResLife would be foolish not to accept it.
But, in case they don't, how much money are we talking about?
--a former Westco president
I suggest someone reach out to an alum and get them to send out an email to the alumni listserv, unless WestCo has their own alumi listserv
about $1000...
sounds like you'll need a website.
I always throught that Duke Day was the "real" drug event. Has Wes gotten so stupid that "Honker Zarris" would make the authorities happy? Of course, in the 80's the WSA would have a keg just to get people to come to their rallies.
Anyhow, I have fond memories of sitting in those beech trees. I'd kick in $50 to keep Zonker Zonk'd (or Honker Honk'd).
- A former EastCo president
they've been pushing westco around all year. its a symbolic issue, but an important one nonetheless. if westco wants to be more than just nominally self governing, it's going to have to stand up to the administration sooner rather than later.
I read today's Argus article and it does seem to be part of a much wider "War Against Stupidity" that seems to have become a pet project, of sorts, of the new prez.
I haven't met the gentleman yet, and, he seems like a decent guy. But, he seems to be missing the point.
Someone, somebody, some *thing* is going to sponsor a party on Foss Hill this year, one that coincides with WesFest. Let them. Let them call it whatever they want.
To the rest of campus, it's still going to be Zonker Harris Day; the brand is that strong.
Your job will be to make friends with the local peasantry -- figuratively speaking -- and, lend them a hand in the fields -- again, figuratively speaking.
In other words, make sure they plan the kind of gig you want it to be.
A geezer like me, shouldn't have to quote Mao to you.
you cant say 'honker zarris' will be ungoogleable--your very comment on this web site is googleable. you are contradicting yourself as soon as you press 'publish'. honker zarris leads, laser-like, to the implication that it is a whitewashed name for a character with drug connotations.
personally i think names are arbitrary--a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, you know? cmon, they know people are doing drugs on the lawn and dont bust them. thats huge. let them PC up the name. they accept wes students' desire to change the language for their purposes, sometimes, students could compromise on this one.
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