The Observer, February 8, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 16
Case Men's Glee Club
The Case Men's Glee Club has been aurally pleasing the members of our campus community since 1897 with concerts and, more recently, class-stopping singing valentines.
Singing valentines, a tradition started in the mid-80s, are a campus-wide commodity that anyone may order for a friend, a professor, or even a secret crush. They are delivered to the recipient at the beginning or end of a class for maximum entertainment – and embarrassment.
There are snow showers expected for Valentine's Day this year, but it is unlikely that the inclement weather will justify cancelling school again. Although we will be in class, the members of Case's oldest singing organization will be around to assist us in our romantic endeavors while dressed in dapper dark suits.
Junior John Zamojski will be delivering valentines for his third year this Valentine's Day. During his time in the Glee Club, he has seen singing valentines grow tremendously in popularity. Last year the group had to split into two smaller groups while delivering valentines because of a record number of sales. This year, they hope to beat their record again.
In Zamojski's experience, people's reactions to the valentines are usually positive. "Sometimes the people we're singing to get embarrassed, or don't want it, but then some people completely melt, and once in a while we'll even get professors who really enjoy it."
This year, the Glee Club is working with the faculty to make the experience pleasant for everyone involved. Professors have been informed of the possibility of singing valentines in their classes and were given the option to opt out of the event. Most of the faculty, however, are looking forward to having the men of the Glee Club serenade their students, or on occasion, serenade the professors themselves. Some professors are even sending valentines to their own classes.
The men have a repertoire of eight Valentine's Day songs for senders to choose from. Samples of the songs can be found at the CMGC Singing Valentines website, http://www.caseglee.com/valentines. The website also has a list of classes for which the professors have opted out of having Singing Valentines performed.
Singing Valentines will be on sale until Tuesday at 9 p.m. Five dollars procures a group of well-dressed young men to serenade a person of choice in any class from 8:30 a.m. until around 5 p.m. Cards can be delivered with the songs for no additional charge.
"We pride ourselves on the hard work that goes into planning such a successful and continually growing event that brings the campus together by spreading good cheer and glee throughout many classrooms and offices across Case Western Reserve University," said CMGC treasurer Stephen Trompak.
