Defining Johnnie culture: past, present, future
This is the opinion of Emmett Adam, SJU junior
On Oct. 13, in a fall student letter from Vice Presidents Mike Connolly and Mary Geller, the CSB/SJU student body learned of a sexual competition in St. Patrick Hall with “the apparent goal to see who could sleep with the most females.”
Last week’s issue of The Record covered these allegations. Additionally, in the weekly Our View piece, Will Schwinghammer, Tess Glenzinski and Landon Peterson published “Speak up instead of staying silent.”
The following opinion seeks to double down on the sentiment of last week’s Our View, speak to the toxic masculinity present in this news and issue a call to action to improve the culture of the St. John’s student body. In light of the vice president’s Oct. 21 action plan, this piece will not directly address the administration.
From all perspectives—religious, Benedictine spirituality, and basic moral ones—reading last week’s account of St. Patrick Hall’s sex competition was horrific. This type of behavior does not promote loving one’s neighbor, fundamental understandings of hospitality or the fair treatment of humanity.
One of the most alarming portions of last week’s news was an anecdote regarding the origin of the college’s involvement with the Patrick Hall situation. According to the piece, administration heard of this behavior from the parents of a student in our community.
Regardless of background, all persons should agree that the role of parenting is supporting one’s children to provide them a foundation for happiness and fulfillment in life. The reality of a parent needing to contact our colleges due to concerns about an alleged sex competition is disgusting.
The St. Patrick Hall situation prompts questions that folks of identities and experiences different than me are far better equipped to comment. This said, this situation prompts essential questions regarding the past, current and future state of Johnnie culture.
**What has positive Johnnie culture looked like?**
Positive Johnnie culture can be seen on both an individual and group basis, pervasive throughout our history.
In reflecting, we must recognize the strength required of the Black Student Union, now 51 years ago, to organize sit-ins lobbying university administration for just treatment. We must recall the organization of Johnnies in forming the Men’s—now Johnnie—Development Institute to be proactive on mental health issues. More recently, positive Johnnie culture can be seen in the mobilization of over 20 volunteers in the Benedictine Volunteer Corps during the pandemic.
On the individual level, we also see prime examples such as Simeon Farquharson ‘21, arguing “St. John’s is the only place where two people can get into an argument about which person is greater—and both people are advocating for the other person” in the 2021 commencement address.
This small example and the aggregate of generations of successful alumni provide a framework to lean on when reaching a breaking point.
**What is the current state of Johnnie culture?**
The recent news from Pat Hall demonstrate a crux in our culture. It is clear our community has gone wrong, needs a holistic revision of its flaws and must improve.
An alarming exercise this situation prompts is considering what cases of sexual assault, rape and other unwarranted behavior go unreported. Additionally, we must consider how the comments we make, actions we choose—or choose not—to take and subtle perpetuations of sexism degrade our community.
We must recognize and rectify these attitudes. Human dignity is not a privilege.
**What is the future of Johnnie culture?**
The severity of these allegations should not be minimized. Simultaneously, with this abhorrent news comes an opportunity for revision and growth. The path of our community for the foreseeable future has a choice to improve or crumble, and I hope we rise to the challenge.
The future of Johnnie culture can be supporting a roommate when they hear their grandmother has lost her battle with cancer. The future of Johnnie culture can be encouraging a club peer to confront substance or mental health challenges. The future of Johnnie culture can be helping your roommate wake up for ROTC training after a long night of studying. The future of Johnnie culture can be listening to your classmate when they confide their sexual identity in your trust.
Finally, the future of Johnnie culture can be speaking out when you hear of someone—familiar or unfamiliar— objectifying, disrespecting or sexually assaulting women. We must dismantle a culture which promotes or allows this behavior to fester.
Johnnies, the choice is ours.