OUR VIEW: Are the Robins awards truly our best?

This year’s Robins’ Awards ceremony was like every other. A few dozen people got their fill of cheese, crackers and fancy sandwiches in the pre-ceremony reception and an entire section of the seating was virtually empty. Some nominees did not even show up to accept their awards. Perhaps they missed the memo. Perhaps the student body has missed the memo altogether.

    Looking around at all the suits, cocktail dresses and stacks of program booklets, one begins to wonder what the big deal is anyway. All of the names we hear repeatedly throughout the year jump into the spotlight once again. The man and woman of the year and many others come to the stage to accept their polished trophies and say a few words about how surprised they are and cap off the speech with “Go Aggies.” Once the biggest award is announced, it has already been two hours and the crowd is yawning left and right.

    So, who decides which individual or group is worthy of receiving these prestigious awards? Well, the students do, in theory. Students nominate those who they believe fit the qualifications, and student representatives make the final decisions. It would be interesting to find out how many students actually know this tradition exists. We presume the number is rather low. Observing the attendance of the event, it is clear that a very small fraction of students care what the Robins Awards are. The award for Achievement of the Year was a toss-up between Chase Casillas’ leadership in the HOWL and the HURD’s role in rowdy athletics crowds. So, this is really all we have achieved this year? Have we forgotten the displeasure voiced by a large number of HOWL attendees that never made it inside the door? And last we checked, rowdy crowds had more to do with the front row of Section F than “the biggest club on campus.”

    We are not buying it, and while we do not mean to belittle the outstanding achievements of those nominated, we worry this event may be a poor representation of the entire student body. Undoubtedly, the winners of this year’s awards are devoted individuals that deserve recognition, but how many exceptional students failed to even be considered simply by fault of not rubbing shoulders with the right people. Is this event accurately representative of USU’s very best? Maybe, maybe not. Until advertising for Robins Awards nominations improve, and more students involve themselves in the nominating process, this tradition will only remain important to those who spend their time in the TSC.

    We will say, though, that if ASUSU President Tyler Tolson’s wife can play Tchaikovsky on her violin at every formal event the way she did Saturday night, we will feel more persuaded to attend.