Digital Kenyon: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Exchange - Kenyon College
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Digital Kenyon: Research,
Scholarship, and Creative Exchange
The Kenyon Collegian College Archives
3-25-2021
Kenyon College - March 25, 2021
Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian
Recommended Citation
"Kenyon College - March 25, 2021" (2021). The Kenyon Collegian. 2548.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian/2548
This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the College Archives at Digital Kenyon: Research,
Scholarship, and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Kenyon Collegian by an authorized
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contact noltj@kenyon.edu.
ESTABLISHED 1856 March 25, 2021 Vol. CXLVIII, No. 22
CAs frustrated after ResLife suddenly alters hiring process
LINNEA MUMMA facilitated by KSU. They will version” of the form they re- the highlights of being a CA, given an opportunity to weigh
NEWS EDITOR work in conjunction with the ceived in years past. two qualities that CAs must in on these decisions as they
Office of Student Engagement “We hope that the presen- have to succeed in the posi- were being made, rather than
and the Department of First- tations (which are intended to tion and three goals for next give a presentation on their ex-
Year Experience. be valuable, but not high-pres- year. They must then present periences after the fact. The is-
On Monday, the Office of Yoder also explained that, sure!) will give CAs a similar it in front of two ResLife staff sue of unilateral decision mak-
Residential Life (ResLife) sent in order for the CA staff to re- opportunity to ref lect on their members. ing is a point of concern for
out an email to Community turn to the full, pre-pandem- experience and share about “It feels like they’re trying many student worksers, and a
Advisors (CAs) announcing ic size, the Office of Residen- their hopes for continued to push some of us out,” Mur- major point in K-SWOC’s offi-
that next semester, two gradu- tial Life would be increasing work,” Yoder wrote in an email phy said. “It’s very scary for cial list of demands.
ate students from Kent State CA presence in the First-Year to the Collegian. someone that depends on this “It’s frustrating to not be
University (KSU) will replace Quad, with first-year CAs be- Despite Yoder’s claim that income for medication, travel included in these conversa-
apartment CAs, CA staffing ing assigned 20 students in- the presentations will not be home and things that are very tions when we’re the ones that
will increase in the First-Year stead of the typical 40-45. “high pressure,” many CAs necessary for me. I love get- know what it’s like to be a CA,”
Quad and CAs will need to re- She added that this decision expressed concerns that they ting to know my residents, and said Murphy. “We know what a
apply for their positions via a was made, in part, due to the will be. Some were intimidated I love my little niche in the Ke- community is like and what it
virtual presentation. housing study from program by the added requirement of a nyon world. But this [decision] needs. To be left out of that is
These changes in the rehir- management firm Brailsford 30-minute meeting, in addi- feels a little disconnected from disappointing.”
ing process came as a shock to & Dunlavey, which found that tion to a 5-10 minute presen- that.”
many CAs. Though the Office students highly value their re- tation that is meant to include CAs wished that they were
of Residential Life has encour- lationship with CAs.
aged CAs to be in contact with “It is our hope that first-year
As students receive vaccines,
them about concerns, CAs felt CAs will connect more often,
as if there was not a construc- and on a more individual ba-
tive dialogue about the deci- sis with their residents if they
three test positive on campus
sion. are serving a smaller group,
“It was kind of out of left creating vital peer connections
field for everyone,” April Mur- for first-year students,” Yoder
phy ’22, a current CA, said. said.
Many CAs were especially Professor of Anthropology
frustrated with the decision Edward Schortman sent out HUIJUN MAO full benefits until two weeks after the second
to hire graduate assistants to an all-student email express- STAFF WRITER dose of a Pfizer or Moderna shot.
serve in apartment communi- ing concern at the news of the After news of extra doses circulated
ties. CA Katherine Crawford new graduate student hires. throughout the campus community, the Of-
’22 explained that upperclass He argued that, if the College fice of Communications sent an email on
CAs — who have typically wanted to foster community As of Wednesday, many Kenyon students Wednesday to students and faculty encour-
been in their positions for the relationships between students are starting to get vaccinated for COVID-19, aging them to take advantage of the oppor-
longest time — usually serve and their CAs, this decision after Knox Public Health (KPH) announced tunity. As a result, a number of students and
as CAs for apartments, and she was reductive. via social media that their weekly Wednesday faculty received vaccinations at the Wednes-
worries that those CAs will “The CA system is, as I un- vaccine clinic at Mount Vernon High School day clinic. After about an hour, however, KPH
now quit because graduate stu- derstand it, premised on stu- would be open to those 16 and older. posted again on social media saying that they
dents are taking over. dents helping students to navi- KPH expanded vaccine eligibility as a fol- were out of vaccine supply for the day.
“I think that ResLife is go- gate the logistics and culture low-up to the authorization that Gov. Mike Vaccine appointments became available on
ing to lose a lot of their most of Kenyon. This makes a lot of DeWine announced at a vaccination clinic in March 19 for Ohioans who are over 40, as well
experienced CAs because of sense as the CAs know the Col- Youngstown on Monday. He stated that the as those who qualified under previous vaccine
this,” Crawford said. lege’s culture, its distinctive 1,300 vaccination sites in Ohio are to make rollout phases. Additionally, Kenyon student
This news comes a week af- ways of learning and being, any remaining vaccine appointments imme- workers were also eligible to receive the vac-
ter members of Kenyon Stu- that outsiders would struggle diately available to those 16 or older. This cine at KPH before March 29, when it will
dent Workers Organizing to grasp,” he wrote. authorization is intended to ensure the Ohio open up to all students.
Committee (K-SWOC) went Other CAs were confused Department of Health is making full use of The College is working closely with KPH
on strike against unfair labor about the virtual presenta- the state’s weekly allotment of vaccines. on possibly coordinating a vaccination clinic
practices. While Murphy was tion component of the rehir- As of Wednesday, 2.9 million Ohioans have on campus. On Wednesday morning, the Col-
unsure of the impetus for this ing process. According to received at least one shot of the vaccine, and lege sent an email with a vaccine interest sur-
decision, she noted that it felt Crawford, CAs have not had 1,500 Ohioans are contracting COVID-19 dai- vey to gather information from students and
related to recent organizing ef- to reapply for their position in ly. Additionally, Knox County is at an orange employees about how many doses the whole
forts on campus. previous years — they would level for the second straight week after stay- campus will require. In the meantime, the
“It’s difficult for us not to merely have to express inter- ing red for several months. Though cases are Knox Area Transit is providing free transpor-
feel retaliation for unionizing, est in returning. She explained dropping in Knox County, an update to the tation throughout Knox County for anyone
because CAs are so organized,” that the Office of Residential College’s COVID-19 Dashboard on Wednes- who needs to get vaccinated.
Murphy said. Life would typically send out a day showed three new active student cases — “Kenyon’s goal is to get our students ac-
In an email to the Collegian, form that contained questions the first student cases on campus since early cess to the vaccine as quickly as local sup-
Director of Residential Life Jil- about the experience, asking if March. There was also one employee positive ply and opportunity allow,” said Director of
lian Yoder explained that the current CAs were interested in test this week, but according to President Sean Health and Counseling Chris Smith. Decatur
decision to hire graduate as- being rehired for the next aca- Decatur, the employee was already in quaran- noted that he believes that mass vaccinations
sistants was made in collabo- demic year. tine when they received their test result. “should be possible as we look to the near fu-
ration with the Division of In response to criticisms re- “While we have not had a positive for sev- ture.”
Student Affairs “in an effort to garding the implementation of eral weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic is still Many students were thrilled about how re-
provide additional support for presentations, Yoder explained active,” Director of Cox Health and Coun- ceiving both doses of the vaccine will allow
student life at Kenyon.” The that the presentation was not seling Chris Smith wrote in a message to the them to feel a bit of normalcy.
graduate students are in their meant to be a “make or break Collegian. “I encourage all students to contin- “I am so excited that I got my shot,” said
first year of the Higher Educa- evaluation” for CAs who are ue consistency and intentionality regarding Katie Mazzolini ’23. “My grandparents live
tion Administration at KSU, currently in “good standing” COVID-19 prevention.” He noted that even in Mount Vernon and have gotten both their
and were selected through a with the Office of Residential if students have received the vaccine, they shots, so me getting vaccinated gets us even
two-tiered interview process Life, but rather an “interactive should keep in mind that they will recieve its closer to being able to hug each other again.”
2 Thursday, March 25 | kenyoncollegian.com
Longtime community member Gambier House
Sonya Dudgeon ’90 dies at 52 innkeeper Betsy
EVEY WEISBLAT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Heer announces
On Monday, March 22, Sonya D.
Dudgeon ’90 died at 52 after living
her retirement
with cancer for many years. At the
time of her death, she resided in New-
AMELIA CARNELL
port Beach, Calif. Dudgeon was a Ke- STAFF WRITER
nyon employee for over 14 years and a
longtime member of the community.
“[Dudgeon was] not only an alum, On March 15, Gambier House innkeeper Bet-
but contributed a lot in admissions, im- sy Heer retired, which she announced in a blog
pacted many students that she recruit- post on the House’s website. According to Heer,
ed to Kenyon and [was] a very beloved the business is temporarily closed, but will re-
member of the broader community in open under new owners.
Gambier and Knox County — so it’s a Heer has served as innkeeper of the House for
really tough loss for the community,” 18 years, and also held a seat on Village Council
President Sean Decatur said. until earlier this year. “It has been an extraordi-
Dudgeon was a native of Gambier, nary adventure for me to meet and get to know
where her family has lived for nine so many wonderful visitors to Kenyon, Gambier
generations. She attended Wiggin and Knox County,” she wrote in the blog post.
Street Elementary School and Mount Heer has served as innkeeper of the House for
Vernon Middle and High School be- 18 years, and also held a seat on Village Council
fore enrolling at Kenyon. She and her COURTESY OF KENYON COLLEGE until earlier this year. Mayor of Gambier Leeman
older sister, who also attended Kenyon, missions staff, Dudgeon worked hard Union College, where she continued Kessler praised Heer’s leadership in the commu-
were the first in their family to attend to bring more international students her focus on recruiting international nity.
college. to the College, overseeing recruitment students. “Her passion and drive for Gambier has in-
As a student in the 1980s, Dudgeon across multiple continents. Her work Those who knew Dudgeon best spired me and I am sad to see her both stepping
was actively involved in the Kenyon extended from there as she served on described her as quick-witted with a away from this iconic business and from village
community. She worked at the Colle- the International Student Advisory wonderful sense of humor. “Her wick- council,” Kessler wrote in an email to the Col-
gian and became editor-in-chief of the Committee and oversaw a 110% in- edly good sense of humor carried all legian. “I know, however, that she has more than
newspaper in her senior year. She was crease in international applicants for of us through the good times and the earned her rest.”
also part of the Student Alumni As- fall 2014. She was also responsible for tough times,” said Beverly Morse, a The Gambier House opened in 1992 and
sociation and participated in the off- hiring, training and managing the longtime friend, colleague and neigh- is the longest continuously operating bed and
campus study program her junior year. Admissions Fellows program, which bor of Dudgeon. breakfast in Gambier, its competitors being the
After graduating from Kenyon with involved supervising over 30 student Her friends remarked on her resil- Kenyon Inn and Rogan House. As Airbnbs have
a degree in political science, Dudgeon employees. ience, genuine friendliness and star- become more mainstream in recent years, Kes-
left Knox County and moved to Wash- “Because she represented Kenyon tling ability to transform moments of sler stressed the significance of supporting tradi-
ington, D.C., where she worked in hu- so well, new students from all around hardship into opportunities for joy. tional bed and breakfasts.
man resources throughout the 1990s. the globe came to Kenyon and called “Even as she fought cancer and all “My hope is they will continue to be a viable
After 9/11, Dudgeon and her husband it home too,” said Jennifer McMahon, the terrible things that accompanied business, especially as we seem to be coming out
at the time moved back to Gambier to lead instructor and director of intro- it, she bravely laughed, and invited her of this nightmarish year where the hospitality in-
raise their children in a more peaceful ductory labs in biology and a close friends to laugh along with her,” Mc- dustry has taken such a downturn,” Kessler said.
environment. friend of Dudgeon for many years. Mahon said. “She somehow managed Kessler also noted that he is optimistic about
In 2005, Dudgeon took a job at Ke- “Not only did she welcome new inter- to convert our grave concerns for her the future of the Gambier House. “I am hope-
nyon as director of campus events for national students, but she remained health into merry visits; I still don’t ful it will remain a village landmark for years
the Office of Alumni and Parent Pro- keenly interested in their progress know how she did that.” to come. In the meantime, the Kenyon Inn and
grams, where she oversaw events like throughout their college career, form- Dudgeon is survived by her par- Rogan House remain charming alternatives for
Reunion Weekend. Three years later, ing deep friendships with many stu- ents, Shirley D. Dudgeon and G. Dan- those wanting a place to stay in the village,” he
she joined the Office of Admissions, dents which lasted long after their iel Dudgeon; her daughter, Eleanor C. said.
eventually becoming the associate graduation.” Broeren; her son, Zachary D. Broeren;
dean and director of international ad- Dudgeon moved away from Gam- her sister, Stephanie L. Dudgeon ’85; Heer was unable to be reached for comment.
missions for the College. bier in 2019 to take a California-based her former husband, P. Robert Broeren
While a senior member of the ad- job as associate dean of admissions at ’91 and her partner, Sean A. Ward ’90.
Editors-in-Chief Mae Hunt, Evey News Editors Linnea Mumma,
Weisblat Amanda Pyne Advertising and Subscriptions
Managing Editor Jackson Wald News Assistant Adam Margolis
Executive Director Elizabeth Features Editors Ariella Kissin,
Stanley Sophie Krichevsky Advertisers should contact the Collegian’s Executive Director via e-mail
Design Editors Emiliana Cardinale, Features Assistant Emily Yourman at ads@kenyoncollegian.com for current rates and further information. All
Reid Stautberg Arts Editors Fredrike Giron- materials should be sent to Executive Director, The Kenyon Collegian, P.O.
Photography Editor Sara Giessen, Grace Wilkins Box 832, Gambier, OH 43022.
Haleblian Opinions Editors Salvatore Yearly subscriptions to The Kenyon Collegian are available for $50.
Social Media Director Joe Wint Macchione, Mia Sherin, Lucy White
Social Media Assistant Caleb Opinions Assistant Mary Hester Checks should be made payable to The Kenyon Collegian and directed to
Newman Sports Editors Jordy Fee-Platt, the Editors-in-Chief. Contact subscriptions@kenyoncollegian.com.
Circulation Manager Jordy Fee- Joe Wint
Platt Sports Assistant Caleb Newman Office: 209 Chase Ave.
Chief Copy Editors Andy Kelleher, Cartoonist Alex Gilkey Mailing address: The Kenyon Collegian, Student Activities Center, Gambier,
Adam Samet Columnists Aaliyah C. Daniels,
Copy Editors Jack Draghi, Tillie Grace Goldstein OH 43022
Wang Crossword Editor Reilly Wieland Business address: P.O. Box 832, Gambier, OH, 43022
Advisor Emeritus P. F. Kluge E-mail address: collegian@kenyon.edu, kenyoncollegian@gmail.com
Faculty Advisor Kurt Pyle
Thursday, March 25 | kenyoncollegian.com 3
Romero '22 takes next step in launch of Yakera aid program
AMANDA PYNE that allows individuals to receive generate in people's lives,” he said. was fired when there was a drought.
NEWS EDITOR donations and cash aid directly, ac- Once they complete the pilot pro- He went to Peru for work, but when
cording to Romero. gram, Romero said that the Yakera COVID-19 hit, he had no choice but
“This is an issue that we’re solv- team will use the data they gathered to walk all the way back to Venezu-
On March 18, the student-led fun- ing,” he said. to build an argument in support of ela. With the money raised through
draising platform Yakera, founded According to Romero, Yakera suc- Yakera’s existence as an organiza- Yakera, he and his family are hoping
by Raul Romero ’22 to help Venezue- cessfully completed its first cam- tion, in order to secure grant fund- to open a small business to support
lans who are suffering from the cur- paign in January, around the time ing from foundations, tech acceler- themselves.
rent humanitarian crisis, launched they began fundraising to launch the ators, individual donors and other “We’re helping people,” Romero
32 new fundraising campaigns. pilot. organizations in order to continue said. “The stories are very heart-
These campaigns are part of Yakera’s The launch of this large pilot pro- developing the platform. breaking, but also full of resilience.”
pilot program, and are focused on gram was made possible through This funding and platform devel- Romero emphasized that the suc-
supporting Venezuelans in educa- initial contributions of $4,630, ac- opment will help expand Yakera’s cess of the pilot run depends on those
tion, healthcare and small business. cording to Yakera’s website. The pi- ser vices to provide aid to more Ven- who donate to fund the campaigns,
Because of constraints put in lot itself aims to raise $16,000 worth ezuelan individuals. Specifically, and called on the Kenyon communi-
place by the Venezuelan regime, aid of aid between all 32 campaigns, to Romero noted that the team plans to ty to contribute what they can.
organizations are not able to oper- be transferred directly to the recipi- develop their own login and vetting “If everyone on campus, which is
ate freely within the country and, as ents. system so that Venezuelans can cre- about 1,000 people, donated $16, we
a result, people who are struggling Romero noted that the pilot is in- ate their own campaigns, rather than could complete all the campaigns
cannot receive the help they need. tended to test a number of key factors have each campaign vetted through and actually achieve this milestone,”
Additionally, other crowdfunding that will determine how to contin- a local partner as in the current sys- Romero said. “At this point and at
platforms like GoFundMe and Kick- ue developing the platform. “What tem. this stage, now more than ever, we
starter are not accessible to Venezu- we’re trying to see here is measuring In particular, Romero highlighted need the support of the Kenyon com-
elans because of international sanc- key performance indicators associat- the story of a father who traveled to munity to make this possible.”
tions and barriers to entry. Yakera is ed with it, test the product market fit Colombia from Venezuela in order
the first crowdfunding organization and see how much of a change it can to make ends meet as a farmer, but
Suspect in custody after Safety asks unauthorized
robbing local credit union wedding party to leave campus
GRANT HOLT ing. BEN BRUMLEY the virus could potentia lly have impli-
STAFF WRITER Shaw was charged w it h t he STAFF WRITER cations for College policy going for-
f irst-degree felony of aggravated ward.
robber y. If conv icted, he w ill face The event led many students to voice
Mount Vernon police of f i- t hree to 16½ years in prison, ac- concern about the campus policy for
cers arrested 39-year-old Jerad cording to coverage by K nox Pag- in-person events. Some questioned
es. The amount of money t he tell- On Saturday, March 13, Campus how effectively or quick ly the College
L . Shaw follow ing an attempted
ers initia lly gave t he suspect has Safet y broke up a gathering of sever- has acted in preventing unauthorized
armed bank robber y in down-
not yet been determined. Nobody a l unauthorized visitors ta k ing wed- events from happening. Others, who
town Mount Vernon early in t he
was injured during t he incident. ding photos on South campus, in front held the initia l belief that the College
morning of Wednesday, March
The MVPD has opened an inves- of Samuel Mather Ha ll and Ascension had anticipated the event, discussed an
17, repor ts K nox Pages.
tigation into t he robber y and w ill Ha ll. incongruence within the enforcement
According to Mount Ver-
likely issue a press release in t he Reports of the event circulated on between student-run events and events
non Police Depar tment (MVPD)
near f uture w it h more informa- socia l media, leading many to initia lly involving visitors.
Chief Rober t Morgan, Shaw, a
tion, according to K nox Pages. believe that it was sanctioned by Ken- However, Director of Campus Events
Mount Vernon resident, entered
This is not t he f irst instance of yon. However, College administrators Howard Grier stated that campus poli-
CES Credit Union on 400 West
a bank robber y in K nox Count y. have asserted that they had no k nowl- cies regarding externa l events have
Chestnut Street, brandished a
One notable occurance was in edge of the event before it was report- remained consistent with COVID-19
f irearm — later revea led to be
1933, when four men attempted ed. safet y guidelines.
an airsof t g un — and demanded
to rob t he old People’s Bank of “A wedding part y came to campus “Kenyon only a llows externa l client
tellers hand over money. He took
Gambier. More recent ly, in Ju ly to have photos ta ken - as many have events when classes are not in session,
t he money and a lso attempted to
of 2020, 31-year-old Joshua Lee done in the past,” Director of Campus so no events are being a llowed this se-
rob a person just entering as he
Cron stole over a t housand dol- Safet y Michael Sweazey wrote to the mester,” Grier told the Collegian. “All
lef t t he bank.
lars from t he Hunting ton Bank Collegian. “[Campus Safet y] Off icers campus events are required to follow
As he f led, he tried to brea k
located on Coshocton Avenue informed them that the campus was the established event guidance.”
into t he car of an anony mous
in Mount Vernon, according to closed to such activities due to COV- The guidance lays out specif ic re-
Mount Vernon woman who w it-
K nox Pages. Cron subsequent ly ID-19, and they were ver y cooperative strictions on gatherings. Given that ex-
nessed t he robber y and was in
f led to Spokane, Wash., where he and lef t the campus.” terna l groups are not a llowed to have
t he process of ca lling 911. W hen
was apprehended shor t ly af ter by The photoshoot happened at a time events on campus, the rules primarily
his attempt failed, he ran. The
U.S. Marsha ls. A K nox Count y of heightened concern about on-cam- apply to groups on campus. He a lso
woman decided to follow him
grand jur y indicted Cron on one pus events involving visitors. Spring stated that off icia lly sanctioned events
w it h her car and, according to
count of aggravated robber y. semester traditiona lly sees outdoor will a lways have a facult y member or a
K nox Pages, she w itnessed Shaw
Those who have more in- events like photoshoots, tours, sport- student compliance off icer present.
remov ing his shir t, hat and mask
formation about t he March 17 ing events and campus visits from lo- “The College will continue to be vig-
in t he a lley behind Colonia l Cit y
bank robber y shou ld repor t it to ca ls. Notably, the College recent ly an- ilant about COVID-19 protocols for a ll
Moose Lodge. She once again
MVPD. nounced that it would be restricting authorized events,” Grier said. “Anyone
ca lled t he police, who soon ar-
attendance of the 2021 Commencement who witnesses an unauthorized event
rested Shaw w it hout any trouble.
Editor-in-Chief Mae Hunt con- ceremony to students and facult y. In should report the incident to Campus
Of f icers transpor ted Shaw to t he
tributed to reporting. addition, the increasing number of stu- Safet y to help ensure the hea lth and
police depar tment for question-
dents who have been vaccinated against safet y of ever yone on the Hill.”
4 Thursday, March 25
FEATURES kenyoncollegian.com
One wheel, no worries: introducing Kenyon’s local unicyclist
ARIELLA KISSIN
FEATURES EDITOR
Not everyone in the Kenyon
community knows Peter Fornell
’22, but many may recognize him
riding his unicycle around the Hill.
“I feel like I’m bringing joy to
people’s days when they see me rid-
ing by. It brightens my day [as well],”
he said.
As a unicyclist myself, I sat down
to speak with Fornell about his one-
wheeled endeavors. We first inter-
acted at a Horn Gallery concert in
2019, when I saw his unicycle ca-
sually leaning against the building
and felt compelled to ride it around.
At the time, Fornell had just be-
gun learning how to ride the uni-
cycle, which he had bought on a
whim after his bicycle broke down.
Rather than invest in fixing his bike,
Fornell decided to step out of his
comfort zone by shifting from two
wheels to one.
“I didn’t think much of it at the
time,” he said. “I spent a week or
two practicing in the [dorm] hall-
way, but after some time I felt con-
fident to ride it around.”
His first successful unicycle ride
was from Watson Residence Hall
to Peirce Dining Hall, and since
then, Fornell has made significant
progress on his cycling skills. He
recently upgraded from a 20-inch
wheel to a 36-inch one, and is cur-
rently training to develop stamina
for cross-country endeavors. He
typically rides 10 to 20 miles every
other day.
“I’ve taken the step from making
it more of a hobby to a passion,” he
said.
Fornell is currently training to
unicycle the Appalachian Bikeway
this summer, which spans from
Georgia to Maryland. Roughly
800 miles, the trail is physically de-
manding and Fornell thinks it will
take him anywhere from three to
four weeks. He has been preparing
for this journey by taking lengthier
rides around Knox County, with his
longest one so far being the 16 miles
from Gambier to Danville.
Fornell considers professional
unicyclists Ed Pratt and Cary Gray
role models of his, as each of their
unicycling adventures have made
headlines in recent years. Pratt, who
traveled the world on his unicycle,
documented his entire 1,200-day
journey around the globe, which
Fornell has studied at length for his
future adventures. Gray, who had
unicycled more than 20,000 miles
cross-country, has agreed to advise
Fornell about lengthy, one-wheel
trips and is currently building a
structure for the Kenyon junior’s
unicycle that will allow him to carry
several days’ worth of supplies.
Reflecting on the past year and a
Fornell is currently training for his month-long cycling tour of the Appalachian Bikeway this summer.
half, Fornell feels that he has grown
He is often seen unicycling around Knox County. | PHOTOS COURTESY OF PETER FORNELL
significantly, both in his unicycling
skills and confidence. Every week,
he pushes himself to ride on main ing at you, and you’re noticing that bit. I’ve learned to have more fun look forward to, something to im- comes a serious passion, Fornell
roads, alongside cars and up and they’re looking at you.” However, with it — to embrace the ridiculous- prove on, something to strive for,” recognizes the importance of docu-
down hills. Fornell says that over time he has ness of it,” he added. he said. “I think it’s definitely added menting his endeavors. He hopes to
“It’s kind of uncomfortable [at gotten used to the second glances. “It’s always nice to have another a lot to my life.” capture his unicycle tours on his In-
first],” he said. “People are look- “It’s built up my confidence a little passion in your life, something to As his unicycling hobby be- stagram account, @cyclinpete.
5
Thursday, March 25 | kenyoncollegian.com
The Anderson Cup: Meet the Class of 2021’s nominees
THERESA CARR nated a nd t wo rounds of voting took dent Worker Orga nizing Commit tee a rich cu ltura l basis on which ever y-
STAFF WRITER place. (K-SWOC). Felber a lso prev iously one here ca n learn f rom,” Chauna n
Some of t his year’s nominees have worked to streng t hen student rela- w rote in her persona l statement.
enha nced academic life at Kenyon tionships w it h ex isting unions of Additiona l ly, Chauna n is a Kenyon
Students bui ld communit y at Ke- w it h t heir leadership. During her ma intena nce a nd custodia l work- Educationa l Enrichment Progra m
nyon in ma ny dif ferent ways, as t he sophomore year, Hy ma n founded ers at t he Col lege, United Electri- (K EEP) scholar a nd work s for t he
nominees for Kenyon’s highest ex- Kenyon’s scientif ic literar y maga- ca l, Radio a nd Machine Workers of Career Development Of f ice.
tracurricu lar honor, t he Anderson zine Lyceum a nd has contributed to A merica Loca l 712 a nd Internation- W hi le a l l nominees t he Colle-
Cup, demonstrate. This year’s nom- t he Biolog y Student Adv isor y Group a l Association of Machinists a nd gian spoke to felt t hat receiv ing t he
inees are Vineeta Chau ha n ’21, Siga l a nd Biosquad, a peer tutoring group. Aerospace Workers 2794. “It’s rea l ly honor wou ld be mea ning f u l, t heir
Felber ’21, Jonat ha n Herná ndez ’21, In her persona l statement, O’Nea l hard for t he students here to genu- reasons varied. Felber v iews it as a
Miria m Hy ma n ’21, Rya n Nader ’21 at tributes her nomination to her inely get to k now t he ma intena nce sign of suppor t for student work-
a nd Noel le O’Nea l ’21. work w it h t he Phi losophy Sy mpo- a nd custodia l sta f f,” sa id Felber. “I ers on ca mpus. “It’ d be rea l ly nice
The Col lege awards t he E . Ma l- sium, which bega n holding phi lo- t hin k, especia l ly t hrough K-SWOC to see t hat students a nd facu lt y a nd
colm Anderson Cup a nnua l ly to t he sophic ta l k s open to Kenyon stu- a nd t heir unions, our connections sta f f appreciate t he work t hat may-
graduating student who facu lt y a nd dents a nd facu lt y in 2019. are streng t hened because we have be hasn’t been of f icia l ly recognized
t he student body judge to have con- Some nominees’ ef for ts have en- t his shared goa l of workplace de- by t he Board of Trustees a nd senior
tributed t he most to t he Col lege dur- ha nced Kenyon’s connection to t he mocrac y at Kenyon.” sta f f,” sa id Felber.
ing t heir time at Kenyon. The honor loca l communit y. Nader was a vol- Though t he impact of a leader- For Hy ma n, t he award ta kes on a
was created in 1935 by E . Ma lcolm unteer EMT for t he Col lege Tow n- ship position is easier to qua ntif y, unique mea ning a f ter feeling discon-
Anderson, class of 1914, who spent ship Fire Depar t ment, a Communit y Herná ndez’s persona l statement nected f rom ca mpus whi le study ing
t wo years on t he Board of Trustees. Adv isor (CA) a nd t his year, t he stu- cites his f riend ly at titude as a con- remotely in t he fa l l. “K now ing t hat,
According to a list of a l l honorees dent Ca mpus Sa fet y a nd Wel lness tribution equa l in impor ta nce to his despite feeling dista nt, I’m sti l l hav-
supplied by Col lege Historia n a nd Cha ir. In t hat role, Nader represent- leadership of t he Queer Mascu line ing a n impact, wou ld be a big com-
Keeper of Kenyonia na Tom Sta mp ed t he student perspective to t he Societ y a nd work as a CA for severa l for t,” sa id Hy ma n.
’73, recent honorees have pursued Cox Hea lt h a nd Counseling Center years as t he reason for his nomina- In Nader’s v iew, t he Cup wou ld
various careers, including in huma n t hroughout t he pa ndemic a nd com- tion. a f f irm his Kenyon years as a time he
rights, public hea lt h a nd STEM edu- municated t he Center’s g uida nce Chauna n cites her presidenc y of ca n ref lect on w it h pride in t he f u-
cation. w it h student government. “I actua l- Sisterhood, a n orga nization t hat ture. “It’s a lit t le ex tra reminder —
Ever y spring, students a nd fac- ly ra n right before COVID was un- connects a nd suppor ts femme-iden- ‘Hey, you k now, you did somet hing
u lt y members are inv ited to submit der way, but it’s been a rea l ly great tif y ing people of color on ca mpus. a nd you made a dif ference,’” sa id
nominations. Dea n of Ca mpus Life experience,” Nadar sa id. “I got to Sisterhood has hosted events in t he Nader.
Laura Ka ne sent t his year’s ba l lot, learn a lot. I got to do a lot. So I’m past year to high light t heir expe- The w inner w i l l be a nnounced
a Google Form w it h persona l state- gratef u l.” riences, including a pa nel series at Honors Day, which t his year w i l l
ments w rit ten by t he nominees, to Felber believes her nomination ca l led Misog y noir. “In my opinion, ta ke place v ir tua l ly on Apri l 13.
facu lt y a nd students on March 10. stemmed f rom her ef for ts to in- suppor ting students of color in-
Voting closed t wo days later. This crease worker solidarit y on ca mpus. ev itably impacts t he entire Kenyon Chauhan, Hernández and O’Neal
year’s process is shor ter t ha n in She founded a nd is on t he steer- ca mpus because it prov ides a n end- were unable to be reached for com-
2019, when 18 students were nomi- ing commit tee of t he Kenyon Stu- less a mount of diversit y a nd creates ment.
L A S S
C ASH
CL piled
by Emily
You rm a n
’24
Senior Class Total: Junior Class Total: Sophomore Class Total: First-Year Class Total:
Com
31 22 31 21
Answer Philip Brain ’21 Rory Dreyfus ’22 Will Engel ’23 Emilia Victoria ’24
In what month is Labor Day? September February September September May
Which fashion designer coined the
Coco Chanel Coco Chanel Judy Garland Chanel Alexander Wang
term “little black dress”?
How many eyes does a bee have? 5 2 6 2 2
In the X-Men movies, who played
Wolverine? Hugh Jackman Hugh Jackman Hugh Jackman Hugh Jackman Matt
Weekly Scores 2 2 3 0
6 Thursday, March 25
ARTS kenyoncollegian.com
Ohio Martinez releases first album as a one-woman band
FREDRIKE GIRON-GIESSEN
ARTS EDITOR
Dani Martinez ’21 (stage
name Ohio Martinez) re-
leased her first full-length
album, titled Sentences and
Figurines, on March 10, 2021
to follow her first EP from
August of 2020. Martinez, an
English major and music mi-
nor, recorded the album from
her basement in New Jersey,
and released it after return-
ing to Kenyon.
She came up with the name
“Ohio Martinez” during her
first year at Kenyon, before
she began writing her own
lyrics and recording vocals.
Martinez said that “Ohio
Martinez is an homage to a
place that was and continues
to be really formative for me
as an artist.”
Martinez has been mak-
ing music since she was a lit-
tle kid when she would write
“funny songs and musical
numbers” with her sister in
the basement. In elementary
school, Martinez began tak-
ing clarinet and piano les-
sons, which became a form of
self-expression in a world she
“otherwise found very dull.”
In middle school, Martinez
began to write her own music
using the same technique she
does now: trial and error.
Martinez recorded the al-
bum entirely on her own,
from instrumentals and vo-
cals to production. It was an
arduous process. “I had to
play every instrument that I
wanted to have included in
COURTESY OF ATREYEE SAHA AND TOBY MCCABE
the song, and sing every little
harmony,” she said. Despite
creating the album on her
own, she credits her patient
friends for helping her finish
composing the songs.
Sentences and Figurines is
a personal work for Marti-
nez, as it follows an intense
emotional trajectory con-
cerning self-image which
can, according to Martinez,
“present itself in a deceiv-
ingly simple way.” She ex-
plained, “The [album] title
was my way of remembering
that every thing is made up
of smaller parts if you look
close enough.”
Martinez recommended
listeners first play the album
through without shuff ling
the songs to absorb the jour-
ney it documents. “I tried to
have the songs parallel a kind
of emotional trajectory by
starting the album with a lot Ohio Martinez is instrument-savvy, playing the clarinet, piano and the guitar. She composed the music and vocals
of pain and confusion, and almost entirely on her own, which is why she calls herself a “one-woman band.” | COURTESY OF DANI MARTINEZ
ending with something hope-
fully more conclusive and re-
lieving,” she said. gressively longer. The first nal song, “Paper,” is just over cerely hope people who listen Sentences and Figurines is
It’s evident there’s a story song, “It’s Never As Bad As four minutes. Though the to my music for the first time accessible on most streaming
behind the making of this You Think It Is” is just un- album is deeply personal to are able to connect with it in platforms, including Spotify
album as the songs get pro- der a minute, while the fi- Martinez, she said, “I sin- some way.” and Apple Music.
7
Thursday, March 25 | kenyoncollegian.com
The soothing Gabriel Garzón-Montano performs for Horn
BRYN SAVIDGE music for the first time this Saturday may
STAFF WRITER have been left with the impression that
his style is minimal. For longtime fans,
On Saturday, March 20, singer-song- Garzón-Montano’s silky acoustic perfor-
writer Gabriel Garzón-Montano joined mance was a refreshing spin on his most
Kenyon’s Horn @ Home series with a pre- successful hits, including “Fruitflies” from
recorded concert. his 2017 album Jardín, which has received
Garzón-Montano’s music is lush and nearly eight million streams on Spotify.
cathartic, as he is known for meshing clas- Similar to in a live concert, Garzón-
sical instrumentals with funk and hip- Montano was raw and genuine, laughing
hop. While most of Garzón-Montano’s when he stumbled on a line. However, his
songs are normally accompanied by reg- performance was still captivating, from
gaeton and R&B-inspired beats, he sang his vocals to his outfit. He donned a shiny
nearly all of his songs at the concert with- black jacket, silver earrings and a rhine-
out background music. Switching between stone embellishment on his cheekbone.
playing his guitar, keyboard and piano, Garzón-Montano’s performance often
Garzón-Montano provided the audience flowed seamlessly from one song to the
with more intimate versions of his upbeat next, making it difficult at times to deter-
songs. mine where one song ended and the next
Garzón-Montano primarily performed began. While rarely pausing to comment
songs from his most recent album, Agüita, on the songs, his impressive range and
such as “Bloom,” “Moonless” and “With a enticing dynamics kept the audience en-
Smile.” He also included hits from Jardín gaged despite the concert’s virtual format.
and Bishouné: Alma del Huila, his two pre- The performance concluded with “6 8”
vious albums. from Garzón-Montano’s first album, Bish-
Some of Garzón-Montano’s songs are ouné: Alma del Huila, released in 2014. The
sung entirely in Spanish, such as “Mun- song was sampled in Drake’s “Jungle” on If
eca,” a cumbia-inspired track which he You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. As Gar-
introduced as “one angle of the rainbow.” zón-Montano sang with his piano, his fa- Poster promoting the event | COURTESY OF HORN GALLERY
His Horn @ Home performance proved cial expressions conveyed a sense of yearn-
that Garzón-Montano’s talent spans across ing, almost seeming to reflect on his career tano bid the Kenyon community farewell, spend a chill, yet entertaining night at
multiple genres, ranging from energetic as an artist. stating, “have a good night y’all,” and ex- home.
songs like “Agüita” to tender ballads such After 40 minutes of singing, Garzón- ited the frame as his heeled boots clacked
as “Bloom.” Montano improvised a riff on the piano. into the distance. Garzón-Montano’s con- Garzón-Montano’s concert can be found
Those encountering Garzón-Montano’s When the last note faded, Garzón-Mon- cert is a great watch for those looking to on hornathome.com.
CROSSWORD 1
Across
To Eliot, the cruelest mo.
67
68
69
“_______ and Son” (Cat Stevens song)
Genesis rival
“Carthago delenda ___”
REILLY WIELAND ETHAN BONNELL 4 “A ___ Good Men”
CROSSWORD EDITOR CONTRIBUTOR 7 After 1945 Down
14 Appomattox loser
15 Quite a feller? 1 European high points
16 “Top Hat” dancer 2 Andes nation
17 Struts 3 Jay-Z’s debut album
19 Catalog listings 4 The Hero with a Thousand _____
20 “The Usual ________“ 5 Head honcho
22 Words before “note” 6 Metonym for U.K. Parliament
23 Brass-making loc. 7 ___-12 Conference
24 Chem. unit 8 Norway’s capital
26 C minor or major, perhaps 9 Smelled awful
27 Soaks up sun 10 Samples
29 Like loose leaf 11 A Pink Floyd yearning
31 2020 Pixar film 12 Integral of length
34 Mathematician Lovelace 13 Take a break
35 “... my ________ for a horse!” 18 Video game quest-givers
37 Springsteen’s birthplace 21 Aria
38 Tip for a Pilot? 25 Plant group?
39 App Store operating system 27 Citrusy
40 Beastly place? 28 Parting word
41 Children’s card game 29 Barry Sanders’ team
42 It secures locs 30 Ways in or out
43 Belgian seaport 32 Strunk and White topic
45 Early bird? 33 L on a T?
46 “Dune” physician to be portrayed by 35 Car company with hamster commercials
Chang Chen 36 Unkempt hair
48 Oozes 44 Partner of tear
49 Not bounded 47 Biker gear
50 Secretary of the Interior Haaland 49 Punch ingredient?
52 Genre for Jay-Z 51 Park place?
Did you finish this crossword? Email a photo of 53 Apple or cherry pastry 53 Longfellow’s murmuring trees
your completed crossword to 54 Bamboozled 54 Old MacDonald’s property
kenyoncollegian@gmail.com 57 Cookout condiments 55 Olive genus
61 Graduate 56 Il ____
You can also complete this crossword online at 63 Signal for Paul Revere 58 Add booze to
kenyoncollegian.com/section/arts. 64 Du Maurier novel 59 Lover boy
65 Bar rocks 60 Twerp
66 Milne marsupial 62 Make the cut?
8 Thursday, March 25
OPINIONS kenyoncollegian.com
STAFF EDITORIAL
Students and
faculty deserve
a longer spring
break ALEX GILKEY
Kenyon students deserve a break. A real break. WEEKLY COLUMN
The lack of a spring break at Kenyon has been treated as
yet another unfortunate consequence of a difficult semester,
rather than a deliberate choice. While we understand that
the administration is trying to keep the student body as con-
It’s time for a complete overhaul of
tained and safe as possible, sacrificing a critical part of the
semester is not a fair route.
In place of spring break, the College has implemented
the U.S. immigration system
“wellness days” — two individual mid-weekdays at the be- GRACE GOLDSTEIN
ginning and end of March. They are beneficial in theory, but COLUMNIST
less than effective in practice; many students spent their first
“wellness day” cramming work and studying for tests, un-
able to sit back and relax as they would in the two normal I’ve spent the past five months researching immigration detention for an investigative article in the Collegian Magazine. I had to
weeks of spring break. As we argued this past fall, two mid- look up I-130 forms (petition for an alien relative) and analyze anecdotes to gradually piece together the image of a messy immigra-
week days do not afford students and faculty members the tion court system. I was surprised at my own lack of granular knowledge on an issue I really cared about. After talking to a detained
reprieve they desperately need, especially in the midst of an refugee, an ACLU lawyer and anti-ICE activists, having a brief email exchange with ICE and compiling it all into an article, I felt like
ongoing pandemic. I’d only scratched the surface.
For students and faculty, spring break is a necessary op- The U.S. immigration system is a swamp of details, pitfalls and red flags. And it’s designed to be difficult. Imagine approaching it
portunity to take a breather, catch up on work and reconnect as a refugee, someone with absolutely no choice but to flee their home country for the U.S., possibly with their children in tow. After
with family and friends. It is a crucial time at the halfway struggling to escape adversity in one country, and crossing the border into another, they’re faced with an overwhelming bureaucracy
point in the semester when everyone is tired and in danger that’s designed to make them fail. One misstep while seeking asylum, and a cruel, inhumane detention camp or ICE detention at a
of falling behind; it allows us to take a step back, refresh and state or local jail awaits them. Family separation is notoriously rampant. Deportation is traumatic and leaves people in the same unsafe
get ready to finish the semester strong. Instead, we are facing environments they fled in the first place. There’s a common-sense response to the madness: The U.S. immigration court system needs
seven more weeks of classes and, eventually, finals, without a complete overhaul.
a chance to catch our breath. To deprive students and fac- A key feature of the U.S. “border crisis” is how it makes the bizarre and horrific seem normal. Phrases like “family separation” and
ulty of a real break during an academic year that has already “kids in cages” emerged as alarming buzzwords, but now roll off the tongue in conversation. Many Americans are aware of the cases
taken a serious toll on everyone’s mental health is not only of deaths and sexual assault at the border, the dangerous journey to the U.S. for refugees and the carousel of disturbing anecdotes about
unfair, but psychologically harmful. ICE agents during the time of the previous administration. It’s even public knowledge that very young children have been forced to
As midterms loom around the corner, with some having represent themselves, alone, in immigration court. The too-disturbing-to-be-true, overly dark elements of immigration have become
already occured, students are feeling especially overworked, normalized. A system that perpetuates such a level of injustice, and which is so blatantly dehumanizing, clearly isn’t functional or
stressed and exhausted. According to a multi-school survey worth holding onto.
conducted by the University of Michigan, 83% of students While immigration and xenophobia aren’t new issues, they’ve been exacerbated and over-politicized in recent years. The U.S. ac-
said their mental health had a negative impact on their aca- cepted 70% fewer refugees under the Trump administration, and anti-immigrant rhetoric became a key source of political capital for
demic performance during the fall 2020 semester. Half of the conservatives. The Biden administration hasn’t fixed the problem. The new president’s departure from Trump-era xenophobia, com-
students in the survey noted that they grapple with depres- bined with additional COVID-19 related threats worldwide, triggered a spike in immigration that our government isn’t prepared for.
sion, anxiety or both. Many students at Kenyon experience On March 21st, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas declared that the border is “closed.” On top of that, Biden is saddled
such challenges, and they cannot be ignored. with a hostile, overblown ICE, inflamed by Trumpism. Given that it’s a relatively young agency (founded in 2003), with its reputation
Physical health and mental health are innately connect- for violence, it should already have been abolished. Biden has taken steps to slow ICE arrests, but has not shut down the agency.
ed. By choosing not to give students a substantial break this The situation at the border has kept its nightmarish quality, even under a Democratic president. Today, with more and more mi-
semester, the administration has ignored the unfortunate grants appearing at the southern border and a global pandemic in the mix, detention centers are overwhelmed. As of early March, 200
truth that it is difficult for one to be healthy at all under these unaccompanied migrant children were in Customs and Border Protection custody; 2,600 were still waiting for placement in a facility
stressful conditions. suitable for minors. These are record numbers. It’s a crisis of safety for migrants, particularly children, caught in limbo at the border
While we understand that Kenyon does not want stu- during a pandemic. An efficient immigration court system, designed to work for those in need, is urgently needed. The first step is to
dents going home for a long break during the pandemic, reverse the massive attacks on migrants inflicted by the previous administration.
we ask that the administration schedule one or two four- Immigration court handles civil, not criminal cases. But it’s overcomplicated, unsympathetic and unaccountable. What’s needed
day weekends in the rest of the semester. These would be is a more humane system, one which adheres to the United States’ “innocent until proven guilty” principle. When immigration judges
short enough that travelling home or vacationing anywhere disagree, as they sometimes do, on the validity of a person’s claim, the empathetic opinion should prevail. Our current system jumps
would be impractical, but long enough that students and fac- at the chance to remove new arrivals, even on a technicality. If a small procedural error occurs — like a letter holding a court date get-
ulty would have a sustained break time that would truly al- ting lost in the mail — that should be forgiven. Cases must remain open as long as possible. Providing quality representation to every
low them to relax. single asylum seeker and new arrival should be the standard. Proceedings should be transparent. And finally, families should be kept
As students ourselves, we’ve felt the burden of juggling together through the whole process. Even in a system as problematic as the one in place now, people will be safer and stronger together.
our academics, extracurricular activities and social lives for
eight weeks straight. The only appropriate way to ensure the Grace Goldstein ‘24 is a columnist for the Collegian. She is an undeclared major from New York, N.Y. She can be reached at gold-
health and safety of the Kenyon community — students and stein4@kenyon.edu.
faculty alike — is to implement a longer break.
The opinions page is a space for members of the community to
discuss issues relevant to the campus and the world at large. The
The staff editorial is written weekly by editors-in-chief opinions expressed on this page belong only to the writers. Columns
and letters to the editors do not reflect the opinions of the Collegian
Mae Hunt ’21 and Evey Weisblat ’21, managing editor Jack- staff. All members of the community are welcome to express opinions
son Wald ‘22 and executive director Elizabeth Stanley ’21. You through a letter to the editor.
can contact them at hunt1@kenyon.edu, weisblat1@kenyon. The Kenyon Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters submitted
edu, wald1@kenyon.edu and stanley2@kenyon.edu, respec- for length and clarity. The Collegian cannot accept anonymous or
pseudonymous letters. Letters must be signed by individuals, not
tively. organizations, and must be 200 words or fewer. Letters must also be
received no later than the Tuesday prior to publication. The Kenyon
Collegian prints as many letters as possible each week subject to
space, interest and appropriateness. Members of the editorial board
reserve the right to reject any submission. The views expressed in the
paper do not necessarily reflect the views of Kenyon College.
Thursday, March 25 | kenyoncollegian.com 9
Women should not be blamed for the violence of men
MARY HESTER women for their own violent ac- skirts and dark streets are not what is “she was raped,” but not, “he raped nize that this is not a women’s issue.
OPINIONS ASSISTANT tions. People often say, “her skirt was endangering us — men and the struc- her.” The term “violence against wom- All people, but especially men, must
too short,” or “she had too much to tures that support their behavior are. en” talks about the problems of abuse commit to combating the sexist and
drink,” but rarely stop to ask why her When discussions about harass- and harassment without actually call- misogynistic language that creates a
This article contains content that abuser felt it was okay to violate her in ment and abuse are only framed ing out perpetrators, which are often culture where men continue to ha-
may be disturbing to some readers. the first place. around what women can do to pro- men. Even calling women “accusers” rass and abuse women. Comments
Women, especially victims of tect themselves, it suggests that this centers the incident around them. about what women could do differ-
On March 3, 2021, London police abuse and harassment, are regularly reality is inevitable and that the only These experiences do not just happen ently or the passive description of
officer Wayne Couzens kidnapped told that they are somehow responsi- possible solution is censoring the to people; assault is something that violence might seem like nuanced
and later murdered 33-year-old Sar- ble for the actions done to them, and, way women act, dress and live their one actively does to another, and our details, but accepting this kind of
ah Everard, who was walking home as such, must act differently in order lives. It is the violent behavior of men language should communicate that. framing will only lead to its contin-
from a friend’s house. Before the to protect themselves. We are forced that needs to be controlled — not While this conversation has been ued toleration. Until we change the
police apprehended Couzens, they to take self-defense classes, share our ours. The discourse around the topic happening for a long time, it is often way we talk about the experiences of
knocked on Clapham and Brixton locations with friends and walk with should reflect that. led by men who fail to understand the women, we cannot hope to eliminate
residents’ doors warning women not our keys in our hands, all to give our- Even the way language is struc- gravity of this issue. However, things the behavior that endangers them.
to leave home by themselves until the selves the illusion of safety. However, tured when talking about abuse are finally starting to change. The
suspect had been found. these precautions are simply fleeting against women deflects accountabil- collective uproar in the wake of the Mary Hester ’22 is a political sci-
“Don’t leave home by yourself” fixes for a societal and institutional is- ity from men to women. In conversa- murder of Sarah Everard proves that ence major from Bloomingdale, Ill.
reminds me of the all-too-common sue where the true solution is far out- tions surrounding abuse people too people are ready for the real solution: a She can be reached at hester2@ken-
phrases used by men to scapegoat side any one person’s control. Short often use the passive voice. We hear cultural change in which men recog- yon.edu.
Kenyon needs student performances back on campus
ANNA HAMPTON to; there’s nothing else here. The work is inven- chose this place, you chose to join a commu- tral Park is going to be the artistic hub of the
CONTRIBUTOR tive, sometimes brilliantly fresh, and above all, nity that’s constantly responding to the world city this summer, especially as more and more
a source of community. I think about last year’s through an artistic lens, and you feel its benefits of the population becomes vaccinated. She
On Sunday, March 21, the sun finally came Mamma Mia! shadowcast frequently. Noth- every day you’re on campus. painted a picture of a utopic Woodstock of a
out. Peirce lawn was full of students sipping ing feels more Kenyon than New Side and Old If student performances are going to come season: free, shared art made by the commu-
coffee and safely enjoying each others’ compa- Side students coming together for dress-up and back, they need more administrative support. I nity and open to all, as long as masks remain
ny, and the next few months may feel very sim- dancing. am currently directing a play in the Pine Grove in play. This is the kind of Kenyon I hope for
ilar. Spending time outdoors is the safest way to The campus is opening up, and students are with performances in April, and correspond- this semester. Bringing performances outdoors
see friends right now, and after a Zoomed-out clearly craving connection. I’ve heard of more ing with Noelle Jordan, the manager of the is necessary, given the reality of the pandemic,
semester we’ve all realized that nothing com- than a few parties, and the bar at Chilito’s ev- BFEC, has been an absolute joy. Her under- but it’s also an incredibly exciting opportunity
pares to being together in person. Something is ery Friday and Saturday night is (apparently) standing of the value of the project has shaped to break down the walls that separate social
missing, though: live shows and performances. an anti-masker’s delight. Flouting the rules is and propelled our rehearsal process. groups on this campus and make students’ ar-
There is hesitancy on campus, from stu- bad, yes, but people need to connect and be It would make a world of difference if other tistic work open to all.
dents and administrators alike, to host these together. Performances are the perfect way to productions received the same level of sup- We’ve been stuck indoors, alone, for so
kinds of events. But if we can be outdoors, dis- find community in a safe way: At a concert on port from the College. We are all navigating a many months — now that the sun’s out, it’s
tanced and masked in a big, open-air space, a hazy weekend afternoon, it’s much easier to challenging period, and while administrators time to start sharing.
what’s stopping us from putting a few people enforce social distancing than it is at an NCA have done a wonderful job setting standards This is a call to all Kenyon creatives: Get
up on stage? Kenyon needs performance and at 1 a.m. for events on campus, there is still a collective your stuff out there! I want to see concerts on
music groups to share their work with the Whether you contribute to the arts on cam- attitude that performances shouldn’t really be the Quad and stand-up in front of Old K. I
community, and everyone needs to pitch in. pus or not, they are an integral part of your happening. We need the administration to want to see a play behind an NCA and a dance
Kenyon culture relies on live performances. Kenyon experience. Kenyon defines itself by shift their stance from mild apprehension to concert at the BFEC. Go forth and do it safely
My non-COVID semesters here were defined claiming a kind of “poet aesthetic” — a roman- full-blown enthusiasm. Performance is a nec- — we need you.
by hitting up a play, an a capella performance tic writerliness fueled by our rural Ohio oasis. essary part of Kenyon life, and safe, outdoor
and a Horn show all in the same night. The In selling itself to applicants, Kenyon identifies events are worth pursuing. Anna Hampton ’22 is a drama and Ameri-
rhythm of being a Kenyon student relies on a with Allison Janney, John Green and a long I spoke with a downtown New York the- can studies double major from New York, N.Y.
student body that makes its own fun. We have list of other successful alumni creatives. If you atermaker this week. She told me that Cen- She can be reached at hampton1@kenyon.edu.
Letter to the editor:
Kenyon Fund is all-encompassing
Dear Editors, specific groups such as under- nate to have alumni in the posi- students are able to forge those
represented students (Lowry tion to make major gifts to the same close connections with Rebecca Hoyt ’99
As officers of the Kenyon Scholarship) and first-generation College for capital projects or professors, make lifetime friend- Class Agent Chair, KFEC
Fund Executive Committee students (Hannah More Scholar- endowed scholarships. We vol- ships in residence halls and ignite
(KFEC), we appreciate the op- ship) as well as general scholar- unteer with KFEC because we the passions that they’ll take with Katie Goldman ’16
portunity to dispel some com- ship support and other causes or understand that giving at all lev- them after life on the Hill. We Member, KFEC
mon misconceptions about the — to correct the article — “spe- els provides funds that directly encourage all our fellow alumni
vital role alumni giving plays for cial” interests at Kenyon, includ- allow the College to provide for who are in a position to do so to Lizzy Siphron ’17
the College that appeared within ing green initiatives or mental the needs of the current student join us in supporting the Kenyon Member, KFEC
the original version of the article health resources. (A full list can body including — most impor- Fund today.
“K-SWOC urges alumni boy- be found at gift.kenyon.edu.) tantly — financial aid.
cott.” Most notable is that gifts These annual fund gifts make There are no doubt many Sincerely,
to the Kenyon Fund are, in fact, up 5% of the College’s operat- causes worthy of support today. Editors’ Note: The article “K-
the best way to support today’s ing budget each year. This year, But when we look at our own Maraleen Shields ’00 SWOC urges alumni boycott” has
students — including scholar- nearly $44 million — or almost lives and the immeasurable posi- Chair, KFEC since been corrected and updated
ships and financial aid. Further- 27% — of that budget goes to fi- tive impact Kenyon had upon online to accurately reflect the dis-
more, alumni gifts to the Ken- nancial aid. them, we want to do all we can Kyle Laux ’03 tribution of funds within the Ken-
yon Fund can be designated for Kenyon is extremely fortu- to ensure that current and future Past Chair, KFEC yon Fund.You can also read
