Flunk Day 2007

The Union Board in Seymour Union, 2007

Flunk Day 2007 occurred on May 8. But it is tomorrow.

Scares

The scares of the 2007 season have been many, due to the fact that Flunk Day is so late. Flunk Day is later this year than it has been in at least the last four years, and has yet to occur as of May 6.

Thursday, April 10

This scare was started with a single text message sent from Eric Langston to Jake Kuhnline, which was prompted by a conversation with Peter Westphaelen in the Gizmo. Eric Langston proceed to convince Tom Fucoloro to send out an email to TKS and Graham Troyer-Joy to send out an email to WVKC regarding Flunk Day proceedures. The rumor was further stoked by planting the "Is it Flunk Day tomorrow?!?" seed with select people within numerous organizations, which caused it to resurface and reinforce itself.

The date may seem dubious, due to a number of factors. For one, the flunk day safety email had not yet been sent out, but due to the fact that in 2006 the safety email was not sent out until the day before (supposedly to prevent scares) it was widely rumored that this was simply a scare-busting tactic.

The cold weather was also cited as evidence to support the date--Campus Life wouldn't have to worry about the mud pit, the logic went.

Likewise, nobody would have their stash of alcohol yet, and sudents wouldn't be able to get drunk until stores started selling liquor at 7 am.

None of these propositions proved true, and the scare was widespread enough to merit the following email from Xavier Romano:

Date: April 11, 2007 3:40:17 PM CDT

From: vsibley@knox.edu

Subject: Today is *NOT* Flunk Day!

[From Dean Xavier E. Romano]

Every year I wonder if I need to send this not out but, alas, some wonderful first-years have asked if Flunk Day scares are an "excused absence" and the answer is--as always--a resounding "NO."

So remember that Flunk Day scares are neither encouraged nor are they grounds for an excused absence--so go to class!

It's too cold for Flunk Day, so if the weather does not improve, we will just have to postpone until Fall Term :-) ! A long way of saying that when it is Flunk Day, you will know it...trust me...

-Xavier

Dean of Flunk

Monday, May 7

Some people thought the Chinese Ambassador wasn't really coming. But Paige Harrison said he was, because Ann Taylor bought new cups, and would not lie to her about something like that.

Roger Taylor informed The Knox Student about the Ambassador's visit about a month ago, so it was, in fact, very unlikely that his visit to the campus was simply a giant ruse.

Monday, May 14

A Flunk Day organizer said it was two weeks after the first planned date.

Actual date

Flunk day 2007 occurred on May 8.

Rumors For

His Excellency, Zhou Wenzhong, the Ambassador of China is supposed to stay overnight Monday. This is, perhaps, unlikely for a man of his stature. It is hard to imagine the Chinese Ambassador staying in the Best Western Prairie Inn.

Additionally, Madeline Weiland was also asked to babysit for professor Jason Helfer as he claimed to be hosting the Chinese Ambassador for dinner on Tuesday, however, he has since canceled these plans.

A student had a friend call from Colorado and tell the Office of Admissions that she was visiting Augustana and Monmouth on Tuesday, May 8 and she was wondering if she could come by Knox and get a tour. Reportedly, admissions responded by saying "Uhhh, no, that won't work out." When the student asked why not, they said "Well Tuesday is our spring carnival, we call it Flunk Day."

Rumors Against

The Environmental Racism class has a very big day trip to Chicago scheduled May 8, and it cannot be canceled.

The baseball team has an away game May 8 against Grinnell College that has been rescheduled twice already. (This could be for or against. Basically if someone says "it can't be Flunk Day Tuesday because the baseball team has a game, you can respond that it was already rescheduled twice so it could still be Flunk Day because they rescheduled it and may not have been able to avoid it.)