Causing a Ruckus

Every one to two years I seem to come across something that just isn’t right, and it needs to be fixed.  These tend to be systemic problems that I notice.

For instance, a few years ago I decided that the way the MIT varsity football team was treated by the administration wasn’t right, and everyone was losing because of it.  The team wasn’t getting the support it needed.  The athletes were frustrated.  Great football players (yes, there are some great athletes at MIT) regularly quit because it seemed like such a joke, and it wasn’t worth their time.

The football team had a group of committed athletes that were there to win and represent their school.  The situation wasn’t right.  I soon found myself on the Athletic Director Search Committee and in administrators’ offices telling them that this was garbage, and it needed to change.  I know I made myself heard loud and clear.

One of these administrators turned to me and said, “You’re the first person to come to me with these complaints in the last 8 years.”  Things had changed and progressed.  MIT students once fought for a chance to just play football.  Now, myself and others at the time, wanted the ability to win and only be held back by our own commitment and ability.

Things have changed a lot over the last 4 years for the football team and MIT athletics at large.  There’s a winning attitude now.  It wasn’t because of me.  But, I was a part of it on several levels.

When you need something changed, you need to shake the cage.  People live in their own world.  And that’s understandable to some degree.  Just don’t be afraid to cause a ruckus and make your world a part of theirs, whether they like it or not.

That said, I’m wondering if it’s about time to cause a ruckus again….

-Kevin
4.9.2010