Patrick Bateman, vice president of Pierce & Pierce, demigod of murders and executions, face of the human condition gone to hell, claims to not exist.
He has all the characteristics of a human being - flesh, blood, skin, hair - but not one single identifiable emotion, other than jealousy, and disgust.
This characterization in Bret Easton Ellis' novel American Psycho and the 2000 film adaptation that followed, is not far from how the UB community will exist - or rather, not exist - should the vote to increase the Mandatory Student Activity Fee by $15 fail to pass.
Without an increase in the Mandatory Student Activity Fee, multiple functions of the Student Association (SA), from club funding to a Spring Fest, will be spoiled. The Consumer Price Index (basically the cost of goods in this country) is flying north and SA can't keep up.
If the vote fails and SA is left crippled, students will begin to look outward at our neighboring schools the same way Bateman constantly compares himself to his associates in perpetual jealousy. You can almost hear the Batemans in the Student Union.
"I can't believe students prefer the Ultimate Frisbee club at SUNY Albany over ours" and "I'm almost in a panic when I realize that Brockport has a free spring concert, and is obviously more hip than us" are the inevitable assessments to follow.
As Ellis shows in such a relevant fashion, jealousy is in our nature and it's one scary emotion.
How quickly can we slip into frenzy once we start worrying about people other than ourselves, feeling jealous? It's the kind of fast-acting emotion that can spiral out of control, debilitating the likelihood of being happy or simply content.
The man who walks with his chest out because he's looking at himself, and only himself, is living. The man walking with his chest out because he's looking at others and wants to measure up- well, he's just trying to fit in.
Ellis, and I, would argue that there are far more of the latter in this country - that there's a little bit of Patrick Bateman inside every one of us.
That's where next week's vote gains leagues of importance. If an extra $15 a year is the mint gel scrub, the manicures, the Oliver Peoples glasses and the expensive apartment - all it takes for us as a UB community to "fit in" by having great club funding and top-tier free events - then we have to vote "YES."
How many students become acclimated to UB and stay secure here through participating in clubs? Thousands. The experiences they have are irreplaceable.
The number of students who remain comfortable and confident here because we have the big name artists come through and perform for free is even higher.
Crippling the funding SA produces will prime this UB community to look outward in insecurity. And as American Psycho shows, when we're constantly comparing ourselves to others because we're feeling our inferiorities, the downward spiral leaves little room for a positive identity.
There will be an idea of a Patrick Bateman: a Student Association, a UB with content, functioning students. The UB community will have all the characteristics of a vast, multi-dimensional institution. But if we don't keep up with the pricey times and increase the Mandatory Student Activity Fee, it will be "simply not there."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
