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September 01, 2005

Reflecting on GQ's Article - Rob Shuck Should be an Event Coordinator0.00

Though I’ve always been drawn to the articles written in GQ, this month’s feature on the eternal college student Rob Shuck had my eyes glued to the pages. It’s not the quality of the article (though written very well), but the story that kept me wanting more. If you’re not familiar with the piece, it can be summed up by saying it’s the story of a man who has spent the last dozen years as an undergrad at Cornell University.

A member of the Greek system for the last twelve years, Shuck has made a name for himself that has people around campus whispering about that guy who lives in the frat house basement. He still parties, dates and attends class all without a care in the world. In a way, he’s living out the dream that every college student at some point or another has who can’t bare the thought of moving on. Rob Shuck is the real National Lampoon's Van Wilder. He's the most popular person on campus, has the most friends and the best late night stories from the fraternity formal 10 years ago. Every weekend he strengthens his relationships over a few kegstands and a game of beer pong. In the PR world, that's just good networking.

Let’s block out the keg parties, sorority girls and meal plans for a moment. Sooner or later his luck that he's had with the stock market will run out and his finances will need replenishment. I’d love to hear the explanation he would share with his future employer (if that ever happens) when he speaks on behalf of his education and prior work experience, or quite simply what he’s been doing for the past several years. This is the point where he takes out his little black book that has accumulated hundreds of names after all these years and asks for assistance as he continues the job search.

I think in some ways, I could have stayed in college for another semester or two, delaying the eventual reality of the “real world,” but an additional eight years? Shuck is stuck in a place that has parents everywhere cringing at the thought of tuition and fraternity houses. Graduation is no longer a goal, but a finish line at the end of a race that he refuses to complete.

Hey, I was stuck on college too for a little while, but mingling with masthead editors over a sponsored open bar at chic night spot Cain beats helping to carry a drunken sorority girl out of the fraterniy house anyday.

Then again, who are we to judge someone that has spent the last dozen years waking up happy each morning and whose biggest dilemma is whether he should purchase Bud or Bud Light for Friday night’s kegger?

Posted by Ryan Michael at September 1, 2005 10:15 AM