Trustee Barnard’s Planned Club Reform

BY SONNY FITENI

Over the 2019-2020 winter recess and amidst CCO assignments to uppers, Trustee Howard A. Barnard ’77 released a statement calling for a reevaluation of student turnover processes. Among the most contentious of these changes are a mandatory faculty interview and what he calls “Vibe Check.”

As part of these changes, prospective co-heads in organizations like The Exonian and Mock Trial would be at the mercy of an independent body of teachers and staff. This group would gauge candidates for qualities like people skills and personability. Whatever that means. Starting in the fall, anyone with any form of managerial aspirations must submit themselves to periodic surveying by a randomly selected peer for their general opinions of the student. This is the essence of the true “Vibe Check.”

In typical Exonian fashion, students were outraged. Many in the prep and new lower camps were concerned how this might affect their runs for CCC. Chess Club is at a loss for how anyone could be their co-head. When pressed about his opinions regarding Barnard’s statements, prep James Jones answered in a bit of confusion. “Do you mean the purple dinosaur?”

Among incumbent club leaders and seniors, a cry to preserve all the traditions of our proud institution was heralded. Mock Trial cohead Samuel Farnsworth voiced their own worries about incorporating a faculty component to the process. “Part of the Exeter experience is being able to count on your friends, or ummm, newly made acquaintances, to hand you key board positions,” the cohead reflected. “I just don’t think that’s something that we should seek to change.”

Ewald senior Jack Zhang also had a few disgruntled words for the trustee. Unfortunately, Zhang’s comments cannot be released at this time. In general, polled reactions to the decision said, “This is really really bad.”

Anne Brandes, Erin Choi and Felix Yeung could not be reached for comment, despite Yeung’s commitment to be more approachable.