To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure if I actually wanted to do this one. It’s been only a few days, but it’s common knowledge amongst all of my friends (and some acquaintances) who live in the Albany/Troy/Rensselaer area in New York State about what has happened. However, the subject of this post is incredibly personal to me. It’s about something that I loved will all of my heart, and how it is now a memory that seems to becoming more distant with each passing year, & 2022 is the year where this feeling will sadly speed up the process. So, let’s not waste anymore time, and let’s get to the matter at hand.
As many in part of Upstate New York may know, the convention known as Genericon was finally & tragically put to rest as of a few days ago on the 24th of April, 2022. It has been hosted at the Rensselaer Polytech Institute (R.P.I.) since 1984/85, although it wouldn't take place for a number of years. I had known of Genericon in my later years at HVCC, with my first visions of it in 2008. Funny enough, it wouldn’t be until January of 2009 when I went to Genericon XXII (22 for those who don’t know Roman numerals), and my mind was immediately blown away. When I stepped foot among the crowd of cosplayers & otaku, the following words popped into my head:
“I’m Home.”
From that time on, some of the best memories were made. From accidentally dousing someone in red Ramune in 2011, to hosting my first ever 18+ panel in 2017 (My first panel ever was in 2014), some of the best moments in my life were cemented firmly in my mind. From that fateful con in 2009 & onward, I have encountered some of my now dearest friends, and most beloved of acquaintances. For one weekend early in the year, all of the horrors of the world would melt away, and instead good vibes & healthy energy would come back in for a time. From 2009 to 2019, Genericon was my weeby home away from home....but sadly this was not meant to be forever.
From 2016 (If I recall correctly) to the moment that I first began typing this, R.P.I. would be under the leadership of Ms Jackson, and has her time there would go on, would gain the moniker of “Comrade Jackson”. From the moment she assumed her position of power, she seemed to make sure that many of the students & various faculty members that would not think her stuff doesn’t stink would have a miserable time while she was there. Student Union was no longer powered by the students, restrictions on protests on campus grounds, and the stranglehold on how the various clubs could operate events. Genericon was particularly savaged, as in the final 2 to 3 years running it was difficult. In 2018 there was that infamous snow storm, which ultimately caused that Friday to be cancelled (Which is a story in & of itself), sending the rest of that weekend into a giant fustercluck. I think I said it then, but I give credit to the convention staff for managed to patch things together as much as they were able to.
The funny thing about that year was the lack of 18+ panels. In 2017, Genericon XXX (30) had the most panels of that kind, but there were hardly any the next year. I hosted one in 2018, so I should know about that! It was around that time where I heard word about the reasoning for this, which supposedly was due to con-goers that weren’t above 18 were getting into 18+ panels & the con staff didn’t notice. I say supposedly, because that was a statement from Ms Jackson if memory serves me correctly, and given what she was doing, it would not be surprising if it was a lie in an effort to obtain further control over the college. Cut to 2019, and if there was an 18+ panel, I never saw it in the con book. After that, we all know what happened: 2020 came and the con was going to happen, but at incredibly mutilated hours. However, the Plague came, and put a bullet in the head of any event in the United States & the world at large. Perhaps surprisingly, it also was supposed to take place in 2021, but I don’t know the details.
The Plague was most definitely a factor in Genericon shutting down permanently, as there wasn’t any money coming in, but I think anybody in the know, as well as former con-goers, had the real answer in their head: Genericon was ultimately shut down due to the actions of Ms Jackson & those that conspired with her. In her mind, if it wasn’t under her complete control, it was a threat to her position of power, and it must be taken out. Genericon was the seemingly last free-spirited thing about R.P.I. by the end of the 2010s, and thus it seems was her final target. Thankfully she is not going to be in power for much longer, as by the 1st of July in 2022, she’s gone. All I will say to Ms Jackson is a simple question......
“Was It Worth It?”
And that’s all I have to say about this subject. I have been thankful for being able to be a part of this convention’s history for the decade I went. I have been thankful for all of the friends & acquaintances I’ve ever encounter on the former-hallowed grounds of Rensselaer Polytech Institute, and I have been thankful for all of the memories made since 2009. I still have all of the convention booklets, and all I have to do is look through them to remember the good times. With that said, I’m beginning to brew up ideas for what’s to come in May, and not long after that.....a very special surprise. See you soon!
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If you would like to read what will now be my final review of the convention, then click on the link below:
Convention Review - Genericon 2019
Well said, this convention was a big event for me over the years and I have made several friends and acquaintances. This will be a missed annual event, however I think that Saratoga Comic Con has taken most of the local Con thunder away as well. I was aware of the background political crap for years and I figured since it did not happen lately that it was pretty much dead. Hopefully the student union comes up with another event that will spark some live into the culture of the RPI campus once again.
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