You would think MBAs would have better alcohol tolerance.

Longtime readers may remember those Stanford MBA student incidents (”Stanford GSBers Behaving Badly” and that “Tahoe Gal” snafu — never did find out exactly what happened with that one) some of our users tipped us off to. Perhaps not surprisingly, a reader sends us info on a similar incident involving some misbehaving Kellogg business schoolers and a certain $8.3MM T-Rex.

Some of the behavior sounds downright n00b. Could this freshman-like overexuberance be the “banker effect” — tons of young, inexperienced and overworked ex-analysts flooding these classes? Aggressive behavior towards a long-dead animal does seem sort of banker-esque. You know, maybe they were just trying to impress a cute girl. But that’s just speculation…

Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2008 12:54 PM

To: class09and10@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Subject: Student Conduct at Social Events

Students,

During our time at Kellogg, we have many opportunities to
strengthen the “Kellogg” brand. Our relationships with one another and
the time we spend together, both at Jacobs and away from campus, often
provide great benefits to students and the school. Unfortunately, there
are also times when students’ conduct can have a negative impact on the
brand. Since CIM Ball, there have been many rumors about what occurred
that evening. KSA would like to provide clarification as well as provide
a few reminders:

The Field Museum made the decision to shut the bar at CIM Ball
down early because of student behavior, NOT because they ran out of
alcohol. A few examples of such behavior included:

o Students were throwing things at a historic artifact: Sue,the Tyrannosaurus Rex, which The Field Museum purchased for over $8.3 million

o Students were vomiting on themselves and on the Field Museum Floors

o Students were spitting at people

o Students attempted to smuggle in a substantial amount of alcohol (large trash bins full of bottles and cans and flasks)

o Students passed out in high-traffic areas

o Students arrived at an open bar event already too overserved

While these examples apply to a very small minority of students,
it only takes a few negative incidents to tarnish our brand. It is
pretty embarrassing that the Field Museum will refuse to host future
Kellogg events unless they can treat it like a high school prom, with
breathalyzers, high security, and chaperones.

The goal of social and cultural events is to have fun, but a
formal event at historical landmarks in Chicago should not be treated as
a night out at the Keg. Not only will few venues be willing to host
Kellogg events, but this type of behavior can decrease the value of a
Kellogg MBA for us and future students.

We ask that you bear this message in mind at future social,
cultural, and recruiting events, and that you treat students, event
organizers, and the host property with respect.

Thank you,
[redacted school administrative official]