We, the Community Health Organizers, constructively disagree with the article, “How to Have a Good Convocation,” published on September 1st in The Sophian. Although we recognize that the article was not meant to be taken seriously, all Smith students have a responsibility to model safe and inclusive practices for living in community, meeting new people, partying, and participating in consensual sexual encounters. This is even more important during a pandemic, to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Partying at Convocation is a long-running Smith tradition, and we are by no means trying to shut it down or discourage folks from having a good time. It is a celebration of the beginning of the year and the work we have ahead of us so we want people to have a fabulous time! Everyone has the freedom and choice to celebrate and define that however they want.
Our main issue with the article is that it encourages a lot of unnecessary dangerous behaviors and we feel that it is inappropriate to suggest that students can only have fun by flaunting school policy and engaging in unsafe behavior.
Before we hop into our rebuttal, we want to be clear that it is okay and normal to choose not to drink or to use other substances for any and all reasons—from being sober to simply wanting to abstain. Your body, your choice! Most of us choose Smith College because it is a place where we can find belonging in all of our unique identities. The article robs us of that autonomy by suggesting that there is only one way to have fun or participate in Convocation.
That being said, we do not condone any forms of peer-pressure—everyone should be allowed to make their own choices for their bodies and to do that safely. Although convocation will not officially return for another 365 days, there are lessons to take away from Convocation 2021.
Here are some tips to help us gather responsibly, make friends, and have a safe, inclusive, and fun school year:
- Pre-gaming does not have to include alcohol.
Who says that pre-gaming with alcohol is the only way to get hyped with friends? How about getting ready to go out with friends by making some delicious mocktails, having a dance party to Megan Thee Stallion, or sprinkling each other in glitter? There will be laughter and endorphins galore!
- Alcohol is not the only answer to dealing with a crowded, noisy, over-stimulating environment.
Other options include: Packing a set of earplugs, participating at a distance, stopping by the event for just a bit, or meeting up with friends to do something else.
Be yourself and you’ll find people who want to do similar activities as you do. As cheesy as it sounds, birds of a feather flock together!
- If you are going to drink, be smart about your alcohol intake:
Count your drinks, don’t drink alone, and do not combine alcohol with other substances. Make sure to eat a ton of carbs and drink a lot of water to reduce the negative effects of alcohol.
Also, it is 100% okay to choose not to use substances as a Smith student and there is always the option to go to a party and choose not to drink. Did you know that 28.2% of Smithies never drink on campus? You are not alone, and just because you may not be interested in drinking doesn’t mean that you have to feel excluded! Normalize the phrase “I’m going to the party, but I’m not drinking.”
- Make sure that everyone can give consent for a hookup.
The article states to “choose your drunken hookup carefully,” but let us be clear: a sloppy beer-breath hookup is not a requirement for a good Convocation. Do we really need to remind people that consent is impossible when someone’s judgment is impaired by alcohol or any other substance? Having sex with someone when they are unable to give fully-informed and enthusiastic consent is rape.
Let us reiterate: an intoxicated person cannot give consent under any circumstance!
If you or anyone else sees someone that might be being led out of a party and they are drunk, be an Upstander and intervene, it is the right thing to do. Remember your 3 D’s from the SMART video: Delegate, Distract, and Direct!
- Don’t forget to be COVID safe:
Based on the events at Convocation 2021, we also wanted to emphasize the importance of following COVID-19 guidelines and socialize in a safe, responsible way that prioritizes the safety of immunocompromised members of the Smith community. We don’t think we’re alone in the fact that we want to continue learning and playing together on-campus this year.
Although we did disagree with mostly everything in this article, we agree that it is a bad idea to swim in Paradise Pond since a staph infection is easily avoidable!
At the end of the day, we want Smithies to have as much fun as possible this year, just remember to be safe and think about yourself and others. Having a successful and safe year is the responsibility of each and every one of us.
Sincerely,
Britney Danials and Community Health Organizers
