MBAs discover Class 5 rapids are no match for Level 5 leadership
Noah Mayer, WG'07
Issue date: 10/16/06 Section: Insider
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Well, not really. Whitewater rafting can be perilous sometimes, but last weekend's trip involved more fun than danger. The event, organized in part by the Outdoors Club, is fast becoming a Wharton tradition after last year's inaugural event.
The trip began with a seven-hour van ride to the final destination: the class 5+ rapids available only a few weeks a year. With just a few hours of sleep, the group split into two boats to navigate the rapids.
The first boat was guided by an experienced rafting expert. The second boat, with six MBAs, was guided by a slack-jawed hillbilly.
"I couldn't understand a word that came out of his mouth. He kept going on about something I politely interpreted as 'pushing through the right hole.' Everything he said seemed pretty filthy to me." Patricia Tsao '07.
"My Leadership training was not as useful as I thought it would be. It turns out that Leadership gibberish is totally different than hillbilly gibberish. Surprisingly, the core curriculum left me totally unprepared for this challenge," said Matt Kaye '07.
"We all could not stop laughing at the guy, and if there is one thing I learned at business school it is to never repress that instinct," said Giuseppe Sette '08.
Communication difficulties were just the start of the problems on this three hour tour. Mid-way through the rapids a wave quickly capsized the second boat, dumping the entire crew of six MBAs into the river's dangerous currents.
"After flipping we were all isolated and trapped under the raft, which is odd because we should have seen one another under that tiny raft," said David Gold '07.
Sure enough, the Class 5 rapids were no match for the MBA's Level 5 leadership, and all thirteen classmates returned safely to the luxury accommodations. The lavish quarters featured hot running water, clean sheets, a hot tub, silverware, a satellite dish, and other luxuries ordinarily beyond the reach of this correspondent.
The plush accommodations cemented the trip's indubitable success. "The outstanding quarters helped us accomplish all our goals," said David Gold '07.
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