Am I being a Jerk???

[buffywannabe]

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The other day the volunteer coordinator at the hospital I volunteer at emailed out a bunch of volunteer activities from the community that needed help. One was helping out with a cancer run. So I went to the first meeting and found out that there were only 5 other people offering to work on this. Plus they were all undergrads and this was for an undergrad interest group. I am faculty! I felt so old and stupid. Anyway I really don't think thier ideas are going to work and feel like I really shouldn't be on the committee anyway. Because there were so few people there the head person wanted us all to be a chair of a committee. I picked up a chair but am wondering if it is mean to back out. It was just yesterday. This is the city of my most wanted college I don't want to be a part of a flop. Plus I don't want to spend a bunch of time working on something that won't be successful. I just went to the meeting to feel it out and a feel like I got roped into something I really don't want to do.

What do you guys think? Am I a jerk for quitting?

 

[Bacchus]

No, but you could always put a good-faith effort in instead of damning the process from the start. You've successfully scuttled it in your mind.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

So basically you don't really care of the event is successful or a flop, you just don't want to be associated with it if it's a flop? And you're questioning whether or not you're sounding like a jerk? Wow.

Look, not everyone has to care about everything. If you're not passionate about the cause, that's one thing. But to say that you're too good for it because it's a bunch of pre-meds who are going to ruin it and you don't want to be part of their team, is very jerkish. In my opinion anyway.

 

[buffywannabe]

I would love for the event to not flop, but a lot more people are needed. I was thinking I would take on a small role because I am busy with lots of other stuff, but now I got sucked into a huge role. Just for everyone's knowledge, they aren't premeds. I have nothing against premeds, I just feel stupid hanging out with people in an undergrad club doing a fundraiser targeting undergrads.

 

[nick_carraway]

I would love for the event to not flop, but a lot more people are needed. I was thinking I would take on a small role because I am busy with lots of other stuff, but now I got sucked into a huge role. Just for everyone's knowledge, they aren't premeds. I have nothing against premeds, I just feel stupid hanging out with people in an undergrad club doing a fundraiser targeting undergrads.

Why don't you simply back out and say that as a faculty member, you don't feel that you should join an undergrad group or that you don't have the time to be a chair and don't want to be a liability. To make it up to them, suggest that you'll tell some students you know about the club.

 

[aphios5]

...this sounds like a great opportunity to show the undergrads that not all faculty are elitist, academic segregationists who aren't willing to roll up their sleeves and STILL give it the good ole college try. Granted your heart isn't in it and you don't want to be apart of a potential "flop",but I'm sure they could learn a lot from you, your ideas, and past leadership experiences....

Just a thought.

 

[NeuroChaos]

I always thought the SDN mantara was "Do what makes you happy. Period". Clearly, you donot feel comfortable being part of the group. Donot Join the group if your heart is not in it. From your description, it does not seem like a group w/ high potential, but if any of the 3-4 UGs are passionate they will be able to make it through; you should get out now if you do not want be part of it; Pure and simple.

 

[flip26]

I always thought the SDN mantara was "Do what makes you happy. Period". Clearly, you donot feel comfortable being part of the group. Donot Join the group if your heart is not in it. From your description, it does not seem like a group w/ high potential, but if any of the 3-4 UGs are passionate they will be able to make it through; you should get out now if you do not want be part of it; Pure and simple.

Man, if they are serving donots, I am there!

 

[MiSfiT2013]

Man, if they are serving donots, I am there!

 

[Bunny Fru Fru]

I agree with you Buffy, find a way to politely back out. You are not a jerk, IMHO.