The Review

Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Editorial

As I sat at Spring Commencement last May in the box seats of the football stadium, my parents stressed how much they liked the seats. My sister Karen, who was graduating, received the box seats because she was a Spirit Ambassador for two years during her time at the university.

It was my goal for the semester - become a Spirit Ambassador.

My mother called me weekly, telling me to look out for the application process and not to miss the important deadlines. The day applications were available for download, my mother called me, telling me it was available and to fill it out as soon as possible.

After looking through the application, I knew I was the type of candidate Delaware was looking for. I am a spirited guy and after talking to a few friends, I figured I would be great for the job.

Then I saw the one sentence I was dreading. It was one sentence that could make or break my chances for Spirit Ambassador.

"Finally, I understand that the Spirit Ambassador Selection Committee will contact the Judicial Affairs Office to review my University of Delaware disciplinary record (if any), and I consent to this review."

There was no other choice. I had to put my signature on the application. The selection committee would inevitably see the one blemish on my record - my one and only strike.

By strike, of course, I mean the infraction of the university's Code of Conduct. I violated the alcohol policy last Spring Semester and, as a result, have been on disciplinary probation ever since. I already attended my substance abuse education class, paid my fine and told my parents.

Sadly, I knew this one strike could destroy my chances at becoming a Spirit Ambassador. While the application says to describe the actions of my disciplinary infraction as directed later in the application, it never actually indicated where to write it.

After filling out the proper paperwork, I submitted my application and played the waiting game. A week and a half later, I got an e-mail message saying I was denied.

My opinion? It was the strike.

I completely understand why a strike is a red flag for any selection committee but I think more needs to be done. The Spirit Ambassadors never brought me in for an interview and never asked me for more regarding the incident.

For an organization that prides itself as being a voice for the university and the community, the Spirit Ambassadors failed to find out anything else about my strike before rejecting my application.

I admit I made a stupid, immature and irresponsible mistake but I never thought it would affect my Spirit Ambassador application more than one year later. I take responsibility for my actions and admit it was a mistake.

However, an interview would have allowed the selection committee a better understanding of the person I am and how I feel about my strike. Instead, no interview was given and no more information about my strike was made known to the committee.

I do not want the Spirit Ambassadors or other university committees to change the way they operate. I am not looking for a revolutionary change but I think boards like these need to find out more about their applicants.

Interviews would be a way to go about doing this, allowing applicants and committees to meet, face-to-face, to discuss issues. An interview with the selection committee would have allowed my strike to be more thoroughly defined and would have added clarity to the situation.

Of course, no interview was given and my application was placed in the rejection pile and not the accepted pile. Strikes are serious business and I understand the infraction is not viewed positively in the eyes of the university and organizations on campus. However, clarifying the strikes of applicants could improve organizations, allowing better candidates in, even if they do have a judicial history with the university.

Being a Spirit Ambassador has been a goal of mine since I arrived at the university. Sadly, one mistake has cost me that opportunity.

One strike and I am out.



Brian Anderson is a copy editor for The Review. His viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of the Review staff. Please send comments to bland@udel.edu.

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