Name: Liam Brodigan
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Amherst, Massachusetts
Intended Major: American Studies “I’m still pretty up in the air— I just want to take the classes that interest me and see what shakes out”
Campus Activities: Men’s Ultimate Frisbee, Fire Department, Kenyon Democrats
Favorite Artist of the Moment: Watsky
Favorite Scent: Bacon
Favorite Vegetable: “Peppers, maybe? Not hot peppers, nothing spicy”
Liam, why did you decide to join the fire department?
I think it is very important to be an active member of whatever community you live in. I’m from Amherst, Massachusetts, which is very different from Ohio as a whole and very different from Knox County. I want to get to know my community, meet a lot of people in it, do something good, and it’s also a lot of fun.
What do you think you’ve learned from being on the fire department about Knox County and Ohio that you wouldn’t have known otherwise?
I think what’s most important to me is just meeting people and talking to them and hearing their individual stories. You can read the Knox County Wikipedia page all you want — it ain’t gonna tell you crap.
What has been the most challenging part about your training?
I don’t think there’s really been something that I’ve really disliked. There are times when I have a lot of homework, and I have to give up a little sleep and a little bit of a social life, but it’s okay. It’s totally worth it.
What’s your favorite type of call?
Here’s the thing: I don’t think there’s really a ‘favorite call’ because when you get called it’s generally something serious or somebody obviously isn’t doing so well. So, you never want to say, “Oh, I really hope I get this call” because you’re kind of rooting for someone to have a bad day.
Aside from your firefighting, you’re also involved with frisbee. Did you play frisbee before you got to Kenyon, or was that a new thing for you?
I come from a hometown where ultimate [frisbee] is our sport, and most people make fun of that, but it is our pride. We’ve won national championships, and the high school coach was kind of one of the founders of modern ultimate. He literally wrote the book on how to coach modern ultimate. I played a year of full ultimate back in my 9th grade year, and I played some summer ultimate back when I was 8, but I had enough friends on the team that I’d occasionally go to indoor ultimate, mainly just because it was a lot of goofing around. I never really played seriously before this year, though.
What do you enjoy most about frisbee?
I really like the team. I originally thought I’d go out for a few days, meet some people, it’d be fun, and I’d call it quits and move on to other things. But however many months later, I still love it. I love the people. We have time where we take it very seriously, but it’s a lot of fun.
What is your favorite study spot?
I really like the third floor of the library. Although, I like Gund Commons and my room as well — really wherever I can get stuff done.
So, final question. We knew this was coming. What is your favorite movie?
Taken starring Liam Neeson (pronounced ‘Nissan’ by Liam). My top five favorites, in no particular order, are Taken, Forrest Gump, Good Will Hunting, the seventh Star Wars movie, and Anchorman.
Thanks for meeting with us, Liam!
Image credits: Liam Brodigan