Reflection on this inaugural event

Mondays are hard. Mondays after the first weekend of the row being open are harder. What way to make it better than donuts with the dean of the sophomore class at 8 AM on this said Monday morning to kick off Sophomore Week. 

If you’re not an early bird, come out to the Mungo Student Center at 6 PM to “meet” your sophomore delegates that you’ve been in classes with, lived across the hall from and ate in Burwell with, for some cookies. Like, why Wofford? 

I’ve truthfully wrestled with this so-called “Sophomore Week” for a while now, as it threw a fork in my article for the previous issue and a deep internal conflict within myself. However, I will admit that I admire and very much respect the Wofford administration for taking some initiative and deciding to throw all this together, but I’ve got a few snags about it all. 

Three of the eight events planned for Sophomore Week were open to the entire school. 

Now, I do recognize that planning things for college kids is much like herding cats, with participation being a hard thing to come by if an event doesn’t include booze and the row. And I do love inclusivity just as much as anyone does, but how is this supposed to make sophomores feel special? 

I thought the whole purpose of this week was to make the sophomores feel seen, heard and loved. How do school wide events, that everyone is invited to, accomplish that mission? 

The communication for Sophomore Week I felt was lacking. I wish it would have been portrayed as a bigger deal than some sophomores felt like it was. 

I had multiple friends ask me what it even was; they had no idea when and where it was all happening. Why wasn’t it more strongly advertised in the daily announcements? Where were the posters that are taped everywhere for every other event?

Wofford, if you want people to attend, we need to bump up that advertising. 

Nevertheless, sophomores have felt the attempt of love and are just ready to get into a real routine, which is a very difficult thing to manage. This feels like our first year of “real” college, so it’s definitely taking lots of time for all of us to adjust. 

After the “cookies with the candidates” event during Sophomore Week, Anna Troutt ‘24, sophomore class delegate, said, “It’s been very difficult for sophomores this year to balance getting into social events for the first time and our difficult class schedules, but it feels good to be seen and known by the college!” 

“While it is a very busy time, I am very thankful for Sophomore Week and the work being put in to show us appreciation,” said Troutt.

Truthfully, at the class photo and banner signing, sophomores felt seen by Wofford and recognized for their value and contribution to this community. It felt right to have a class photo taken, and I commend Wofford for getting that together. 

The nature and root of Sophomore Week is something that many Wofford sophomores appreciate and recognize. It takes time, diligence and thoughtful work to plan out events for this class on a school wide scale. 

To Wofford, sophomores thank you for recognizing the incompleteness felt by the class of 2024 and we realize that there is simply not much else you can do. You can’t erase a global pandemic and give us our freshmen year back, so cookies will just have to do.