After attending Kenyon for almost three and a half years now, I’ve started to notice things that are just “so Kenyon.” I don’t know if everyone else has noticed, but Kenyon is an interesting place. That’s what makes it a great, exciting, sometimes confusing. Here are ten things that I believe are quintessentially Kenyon:
1. Harry Potter Day
I don’t know any other school that has an administration that organizes Harry Potter Day. For one day, Kenyon has the Hogwarts houses, with seniors being Gryffindors (obviously) and first-years being Slytherins. Even Peirce joins in on the fun, creating Pumpkin Pasties and Treacle Tart. The Great Hall is strung with floating lights, and if you’re lucky, a drama major will run through, in full costume, yelling “troll in the dungeon.” Kenyon gives us one day a year to pretend we received our letters addressed, “Dear witch or wizard…”
2. A Capella Groupies
Have you ever tried getting a seat at a Kokes concert? If you don’t show up at least half an hour ahead of time, you’ll find yourself sitting on window sills, the aisles, or listening from Rosse Hall lobby. I think Kenyon may be one of the only schools that has a bigger turnout for a capella concerts than for football games. Not that we don’t love our Lords! There are people who organize their entire social calendar around when the Kokes, Creeks, and Chasers perform. I’m 99 percent sure that more upperclassmen attend the cabaret at the beginning of the year than first-years. A capella at Kenyon is not just an activity; it is a lifestyle.
3. Peirce-giving
Now, I know other schools have holiday meals. But are they named after the one and only dining hall? Do people at Michigan State start lining up at 4:30 outside the dining hall doors to make sure they get all the thanksgiving food that was painstakingly prepared for students’ consumption? I think not! We at Kenyon treasure Peirce-giving like it is a holiday of its own. The seasoned attendees remember to wear pants with stretchy waistbands, while the first-timers are constrained by their denim. Peirce-giving is the most wonderful time of the year.
4. Gourdzilla
We, at Kenyon, have the weirdest fascination with oversized gourds. The amount of giant pumpkin pictures that hits Instagram when gourdzilla arrives is amazing and slightly obnoxious. We’ve even named it. Who names a pumpkin?! Until I came to Kenyon, I had never seen such a large group of people enthralled with such a large pumpkin. I honestly don’t know whether to be proud or concerned.
5. Chef Megan
I don’t think any other school in the world has a chef that is as active on social media as Chef Megan. Chef Megan is awesome, especially since she basically created her own hashtag (#chefmegan). Whether it’s completing the Ice Bucket Challenge or turning down for brunch, Chef Megan is killing it in Peirce with her witty hastags and her amazing hash brown triangles, more commonly known as HBTs.
6. Kenyon Speak
At this school, we have three Gunds, a Mather and a Sam Mather, two libraries in one building, new apartments that, most definitely are not new, and North Campus Apartments that are new. What we call things at Kenyon makes no sense. We have our own language. You better know that Smather is in the Squad (science quad for all the plebeians) and Mather is a first-year dorm. I don’t think a single person knows the difference between Olin and Chalmers libraries. We call it the library. No one differentiates between the two. You must always clarify which Gund you are talking about because no one wants to wander into the Gunderworld by accident. When people come to visit, they generally understand about a quarter of what we’re talking about.
7. Kenyon cats
We have the weirdest infestation of cats on this campus. I’ve visited other college campuses, and they may have overly friendly squirrels, but not cats. The Kenyon cats are literally everywhere. You’ll find them in front of the cottages on the way to Peirce, slinking out from behind cars in the parking garage, and hanging out in the New Apts parking lot. They just appear and disappear at random and at their will.
8. First Year /Senior Sing
Every year, Kenyon’s new first-year students endure heckling, noisemakers, and obnoxious upperclassmen as they attempt to sing some of Kenyon’s finest songs. Every year, Kenyon’s senior class sings those songs again, together. Instead of noisemakers, they are forced to endure tears and reminiscent smiles. Farewell, Old Kenyon, fare thee well.
9. The Workout to Workout
Almost the entirety of Kenyon College is placed on top of a hill. One thing that did not make it on the hill, though, is our beloved KAC. To workout, one must traverse down the KAC hill and then up the KAC steps. After an hour on the elliptical, one must then hike (literally hike) back up to campus. The KAC hill is something that is a deterrent for some and a challenge for others. To those who brave the KAC hill in the winter, you deserve some serious snaps.
10. Kenyon College Bookstore
Our bookstore is America’s longest continuously running college bookstore. They give us free coffee during finals week, because they understand what it’s like to have four 8:30 AM finals. They even have ice cream happy hour! What school has ice cream happy hour? Our bookstore encapsulates Kenyon. It’s a place where you can stay for hours and will always be welcome. You can eat, drink, or nap there if you so chose. It’s like a second home. Kenyon Bookstore, you’re the real MVP.
This is my personal list of 10 things that are so totally Kenyon, but I don’t know if everyone agrees with me. If not, tell us, what do you think is so typically Kenyon?
Image: kenyon.edu