The university has formally rescinded the policy change and reinstated our senior week traditions. Your collective action proved essential in demonstrating the importance of these performances to our community. We will remain diligent to ensure these activities continue during future commencement seasons.
December 21, 2023
Final supporters
Dear Alumni, families, and friends of A Cappella at Brown,
We are asking for your help in our efforts to preserve a cappella traditions in the face of disappointing university policy changes.
At the end of August this year, we received notice from the Student Activities Office that henceforth, A Cappella senior week and commencement concerts will not be permitted. SAO has cited deeply flawed financial, staffing, and “equity” justifications for their decisions which were made without any input from students. Their reasoning demonstrates a lack of understanding and resource planning that should not fall on students to alleviate.
Senior week is an irreplaceable opportunity for all members of Brown a cappella groupsto remain on campus to rehearse, host social events, bond, and enjoy the last week we have with our seniors before sending them off with a final senior concert. Given the busyness of the end of the school year and the significance that senior commencement concerts hold, we need this extra week to spend together and prepare.
We’re sure you share in our disappointment and frustration about the loss of this tradition, and we are asking for your signature on our petition to bring back a cappella senior week and commencement concerts. With your help, we will be able to show SAO and the Brown administration that many members of the Brown community feel passionately about the preservation of these important traditions.
We thank you for your support, and hope that we will continue to see you at commencement concerts in years to come.
Sincerely, The Intergalactic Community of A Cappella at Brown (Harmonic Motion, The Higher Keys, The Jabberwocks, The Ursa Minors, The Chattertocks, The BrownsTones, The Bear Necessities, The Alef Beats, and The Brown Derbies)
Updates
October 19, 2023
The feedback from alumni regarding these policy shifts has been both consistent and illuminating. I am currently compiling these accounts to present a comprehensive response to the administration. Please continue to monitor this space for news regarding our formal meeting request.
Reached 100 supporters
October 19, 2023
37 Comments
As a Brown and an a cappella alumni, the senior week concert was an integral time for group bonding, recording CDs, and making me feel like part of the larger Brown community. When I was living in Boston, I returned for multiple Senior week concerts and found that this was key to me staying connected to the university.
Senior week events and commencement concerts are VITAL to group cohesion, community building, and cross-generational connections. I truthfully can’t imagine my a cappella experience in college without these pieces. Please preserve this immensely positive and impactful piece of a cappella groups’ expression and community building
Has anyone shared exactly what the SAO’s “ financial, staffing, and “equity” justifications for their decisions”? I am wondering what they are saying would have to be sacrificed (or raised) in order to allow the a cappella community to stay through senior week. And were any other student orgs excluded from senior week?
This is an incredibly disappointing decision by the university. Senior week is a critical part of the a cappella experience and for many students is the only time they ever get to perform for their families on campus. The policy changes also reflect a lack of support for the arts organizations that help to make Brown’s community, culture, and campus so rich
Performing in front of my family was an important and memorable part of my Commencement/senior week experience. What a sham it would be to deprive the current a cappella groups of this chance!
I stayed with the Brown Derbies for senior week all four years of undergrad. We used the week to record our album songs, learn special songs for our senior/commencement concert, and to bond with the group that was an incredibly important part of my college experience. This was frankly my favorite week of the year. Every year. And extended housing through SAO played a big role in this. I didn’t have the money to rent or sublet or hotel, and staying in the dorms for that week with my fellow students that stayed to sing or work, was truly magical. I’ve continued to go back and go to this commencement concert every year since graduation. My partner, parents, and siblings go too. My parents (both alumni) have brought many of their friends as well. For many parents of the group, it’s the only time they ever get to see their children sing acapella at Brown. So yes it is a luxury to be able to stay on campus and practice for this concert, but it was an immeasurably important part of my experience. And Brown is such a special place that it should be able to support that type of opportunity.
This is hugely wonderful part of commencement weekend!
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The university has formally rescinded the policy change and reinstated our senior week traditions. Your collective action proved essential in demonstrating the importance of these performances to our community. We will remain diligent to ensure these activities continue during future commencement seasons.
December 21, 2023
Final supporters
Dear Alumni, families, and friends of A Cappella at Brown,
We are asking for your help in our efforts to preserve a cappella traditions in the face of disappointing university policy changes.
At the end of August this year, we received notice from the Student Activities Office that henceforth, A Cappella senior week and commencement concerts will not be permitted. SAO has cited deeply flawed financial, staffing, and “equity” justifications for their decisions which were made without any input from students. Their reasoning demonstrates a lack of understanding and resource planning that should not fall on students to alleviate.
Senior week is an irreplaceable opportunity for all members of Brown a cappella groupsto remain on campus to rehearse, host social events, bond, and enjoy the last week we have with our seniors before sending them off with a final senior concert. Given the busyness of the end of the school year and the significance that senior commencement concerts hold, we need this extra week to spend together and prepare.
We’re sure you share in our disappointment and frustration about the loss of this tradition, and we are asking for your signature on our petition to bring back a cappella senior week and commencement concerts. With your help, we will be able to show SAO and the Brown administration that many members of the Brown community feel passionately about the preservation of these important traditions.
We thank you for your support, and hope that we will continue to see you at commencement concerts in years to come.
Sincerely, The Intergalactic Community of A Cappella at Brown (Harmonic Motion, The Higher Keys, The Jabberwocks, The Ursa Minors, The Chattertocks, The BrownsTones, The Bear Necessities, The Alef Beats, and The Brown Derbies)
Updates
October 19, 2023
The feedback from alumni regarding these policy shifts has been both consistent and illuminating. I am currently compiling these accounts to present a comprehensive response to the administration. Please continue to monitor this space for news regarding our formal meeting request.
Reached 100 supporters
October 19, 2023
37 Comments
Senior week saved my life in 2009. It was my last week at Brown and I was planning to kill myself rather than go back to my hometown. It was the recession. I had no future. But one last week of making music and being in community with my fellow singers was enough to keep me steady. I ended up booking a flight home surrounded by my acapella group, the last night we were all together.
As a Brown and an a cappella alumni, the senior week concert was an integral time for group bonding, recording CDs, and making me feel like part of the larger Brown community. When I was living in Boston, I returned for multiple Senior week concerts and found that this was key to me staying connected to the university.
Senior week events and commencement concerts are VITAL to group cohesion, community building, and cross-generational connections. I truthfully can’t imagine my a cappella experience in college without these pieces. Please preserve this immensely positive and impactful piece of a cappella groups’ expression and community building
Has anyone shared exactly what the SAO’s “ financial, staffing, and “equity” justifications for their decisions”? I am wondering what they are saying would have to be sacrificed (or raised) in order to allow the a cappella community to stay through senior week. And were any other student orgs excluded from senior week?
This is an incredibly disappointing decision by the university. Senior week is a critical part of the a cappella experience and for many students is the only time they ever get to perform for their families on campus. The policy changes also reflect a lack of support for the arts organizations that help to make Brown’s community, culture, and campus so rich
Performing in front of my family was an important and memorable part of my Commencement/senior week experience. What a sham it would be to deprive the current a cappella groups of this chance!
I stayed with the Brown Derbies for senior week all four years of undergrad. We used the week to record our album songs, learn special songs for our senior/commencement concert, and to bond with the group that was an incredibly important part of my college experience. This was frankly my favorite week of the year. Every year. And extended housing through SAO played a big role in this. I didn’t have the money to rent or sublet or hotel, and staying in the dorms for that week with my fellow students that stayed to sing or work, was truly magical. I’ve continued to go back and go to this commencement concert every year since graduation. My partner, parents, and siblings go too. My parents (both alumni) have brought many of their friends as well. For many parents of the group, it’s the only time they ever get to see their children sing acapella at Brown. So yes it is a luxury to be able to stay on campus and practice for this concert, but it was an immeasurably important part of my experience. And Brown is such a special place that it should be able to support that type of opportunity.
This is hugely wonderful part of commencement weekend!
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Senior week saved my life in 2009. It was my last week at Brown and I was planning to kill myself rather than go back to my hometown. It was the recession. I had no future. But one last week of making music and being in community with my fellow singers was enough to keep me steady. I ended up booking a flight home surrounded by my acapella group, the last night we were all together.