There is no theme. That is one of the great things about this particular event. The themes run the gammut which makes the whole thing so interesting. As for giving others a chance, I would buy that if I had not found out that others who partcipate last year are also doing so this year.

I have come up with two very viable options as to why I was not picked, one of which I can accept the other of which just pisses me off.

First, my topic is highly controversial. I wrote it known this with the full support of my mentor knowing that it would likely be met with a great deal of resistence. We have talked at great lengths about this and discussed that if this paper is rejected it isn't personal. Some people would rather reject something they are uncomfortable with. And for me, I would much rather put something that i feel passionate about out there than bow to the pressure of polite conversation and political correctness.

The second option is that I am not a part of the inner circle and the powers that be (many of the whom participate come from classes within the inner circle) like to pick their little proteges. Again, I am not a puppet and tend to think on the outer edges of acceptance. However, this one does hurt. I do like to push the limits a bit and make people think but I do strive for acceptance and being rejected because I just don't fit in (*cues island of misfit toys song*) is a hard thing for me, particularly right now.

I have not had a chance to talk to anyone about my rejection to determine the reason behind it. Perhaps if I do I will find the real reason (rather than over speculating) and it may turn out to be a decent educational experience.