Digital Kenyon: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Exchange
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Digital Kenyon: Research,
Scholarship, and Creative Exchange
The Kenyon Collegian College Archives
2-18-2021
Kenyon Collegian - February 18, 2021
Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian
Recommended Citation
"Kenyon Collegian - February 18, 2021" (2021). The Kenyon Collegian. 2544.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian/2544
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ESTABLISHED 1856 February 18, 2021 Vol. CXLVIII, No. 18
College extends quiet period after positivity rate increases
ADAM MARGOLIS As of Monday, there were a an email to students on Tues- recommend an extension of the Unity program; this is just stu-
NEWS ASSISTANT few hundred outstanding results day explaining that community quiet period, rather than a transi- dents organizing to help other stu-
from the third round of testing spread is an omnipresent concern tion out of it as planned. dents. We hope to be operating as
On Friday, the College an- that were not scheduled to be pro- in the midst of a pandemic, but he However, even with the in- soon as possible, but it all depends
nounced that the quiet period, cessed by Everlywell until later remains confident that it will stay crease in cases and extended qui- on how quickly we hear back from
which was originally scheduled to this week. On Wednesday, Everly- low. “Kenyon’s multi-layered ap- et period, Peirce Dining Hall re- AVI management and the Health
end on Monday, will extend an- well notified several students from proach to mitigating transmission mains open for indoor dining and Center,” said Unity House Co-
other two weeks to Feb. 28. This last Thursday’s round of testing will help keep our community the College is still conducting in- managers Micah Smith ‘22 and
followed the third round of CO- that their samples had expired. safe, even as we navigate this tem- person classes. These policies have Rory Drefyus ‘22 in a message to
VID-19 testing, during which the According to Everlywell’s email, porary bump in our testing proto- led to concern amongst students the Collegian.
campus positivity rate nearly dou- that the restrictions are not tight Both Chris Smith and Bonham
bled from just under 0.5% to 0.9%. enough. remain confident that students
As of Wednesday, there were In response to these concerns, will follow quiet period guidelines,
seven new student positives, the College sent out a news bul- which will lower the positivity rate
bringing the student total to 19. letin on Friday outlining ad- and the amount of transmission.
The College reported two of these ditional guidelines to mitigate Smith hopes that the extended
positive cases over the weekend, spread, which included restrict- quiet period will serve as a wake
and the five other positive tests ing students who have been placed up call for students, prompting
were reported earlier this week. in quarantine from entering the them to take the College’s recom-
46 students are currently in quar- severy or dining rooms. Instead, mendations seriously.
antine. they are supposed to pick up their Smith noted that the COV-
There were two new positive meals from the Peirce Pub using ID-19 Steering Committee does
employee cases and nine active a designated entrance, although not plan to extend the quiet period
Gambier cases. There was also a there is no indication of how this past Feb. 28 unless there is a con-
decrease in the number of cases in will be enforced. tinued upward trend in cases, and
Knox County, where there are now “We wanted to be responsive to that there is currently no discus-
97 active cases. student concerns and particular- sion about sending students home
It is unclear if the new cases at ly what seemed to be some rising early this semester.
Kenyon are evidence of commu- anxiety about students interacting “The idea of students leav-
Many samples expired in transit. | REID STAUTBERG
nity spread on campus or if they with one another in the servery,” ing campus — as in, being sent
were brought to Kenyon and went samples only remain stable for a cols,” he said. Bonham said in an interview with home as they were during the
undetected during the first two “limited amount of time.” Most Furthermore, Vice President the Collegian. spring 2020 semester — has not
rounds of testing. test results from last Wednesday for Student Affairs Meredith However, some students are emerged,” he said. “We are really
These new numbers come after arrived this Tuesday. Harper Bonham ’92 noted that still concerned about the poten- hopeful still that we can continue
a large number of COVID-19 tests “With each round of testing transmission of the virus seems to tial risk of exposure. On Friday, to make our ships sail in the same
taken last Wednesday and Thurs- we have sample issues and I com- be occurring mainly within small the leaders of Unity House sent an direction and figure out how to get
day were stuck in limbo at the UPS municate with those students in- groups of people not wearing all-student email announcing that this thing under control so that we
processing center. The tests ar- dividually to provide guidance,” masks, and not through a broad- they would be starting a meal- can get safely to May. That’s our
rived at the Everlywell labs near- said Smith in an email to the Col- er community spread throughout delivery system so quarantined goal since we started this spring
ly two days late due to inclement legian regarding the expiration of the student population. students could receive their meals semester.”
weather. The delay in test results testing samples. Smith was concerned about the without having to go to Peirce and
caused concern amongst studnts In response to the earlier ship- increase in positive cases, which risk infecting others. Ongoing updates about case
about the possibility of undetected ment delays, Director of Health prompted the members of the CO- “While we are organizing the numbers can be found at Kenyon’s
community spread. and Counseling Chris Smith sent VID-19 Steering Committee to delivery service, it’s not an official COVID-19 Dashboard.
Kenyon revises Commencement plans, upsetting students
BEN BRUMLEY Hannah Petrich. A faculty or staff speaker ly to the changes. Some were shocked by the pressed mixed reactions to the decision to
STAFF WRITER will be chosen by the senior class prior to the update, while others, like Jaret Dan ’21, were cancel their graduation event. Some, like
ceremony. unsurprised yet still disappointed by the de- Alexis Reape ’20, believe that, while the deci-
On Monday, Feb. 15, the Office of Cam- The graduation events will continue vir- cision. sion may be disappointing, it was ultimately
pus Events sent an email to the senior class tually on June 12, featuring highlights from “I would’ve liked to know what their rea- a necessary one.
announcing a change in date for the 2021 the May 8 celebration. Graduating seniors soning was for cancelling senior week and “I think now more than ever, it’s impor-
graduation ceremony. Originally scheduled will also receive care packages, meant to be making us have Commencement in the tant to remember that there are circum-
for May 22, the Commencement ceremony a keepsake for their memories and accom- middle of finals preparation,” Dan said. stances where we have to create our own clo-
will now take place on May 8 and will be plishments on the Hill. Decatur said that it was important to host sure,” she said. “Though I wish I could have
held without guests in attendance. In ad- Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commencement while students are still on had the senior spring and graduation that I
dition, the Office announced the cancella- College had stated their intentions to host a campus to help minimize the inflow of out- always thought would happen, I have made
tion of previously discussed plans to host an belated graduation ceremony for the class of side visitors. “Once students start moving in my peace with the reality of the situation.”
event for the class of 2020, whose graduation 2020. However, an email on Feb. 15 from the and out and there are family members com- When asked about the possibility that
ceremony was cancelled last spring due to Office of Campus Events to members of the ing from off campus, the sense is that it is a these plans may change before the spring,
COVID-19. class stated that “it is not realistic to hold a leakier bubble condition overall,” he said. Susan Morse, chief of staff for the Office of
Commencement for the class of 2021 will large-scale, on-campus event for the class of “We want to try to do any larger in-person the President, suggested that this was pos-
be a socially distanced gathering on Samu- 2020 this spring.” gatherings before students move out.” sible but unlikely.
el Mather lawn. In-person attendance will Still, President Sean Decatur is hopeful Dan questioned what he believed to be an “One thing we have learned over the past
be limited to students and faculty, with a that there will be some sort of celebratory inconsistency in College policies regarding year is that change is always a possibility, so
livestream available for friends and family. event for the class of 2020 in future years. “I the presence of visitors on campus, especial- flexibility is important,” said Morse. “That
The College will provide caps and gowns to still think that doing something for the class ly students’ family members. said, I don’t anticipate significant changes to
students for the ceremony, but will not pres- of 2020 is something I would like to do,” De- “Are they concerned about parents com- the plans at this point.”
ent diplomas, instead mailing them after catur said. “I just don’t think the timing of ing for move-out?” Dan said. “There wasn’t a Unless plans change, the end of this se-
the students graduate. In addition, the cer- the pandemic is going to be right in May or problem for move-in and there’s also work- mester will mark the second year of abnor-
emony will include remarks from President June.” arounds for that.” mal graduation procedures since the COV-
Sean Decatur and Senior Class President Students have generally reacted negative- Students from the class of 2020 also ex- ID-19 pandemic began.
2 Thursday, February 18 | kenyoncollegian.com
Academic infractions skyrocket in remote semesters
“Every piece of work you produce is
your own contribution to our collec-
tive scholarly conversation,” the policy
states. “It must represent your own re-
search, ideas, data, words, and analy-
sis.” Academic infractions are clas-
sified according to severity on three
tiers, but only Tier 2 and 3 offences are
presented as cases before the AIB.
Student Council Vice President for
Academic Affairs Delaney Gallagher
’23 speculated about what may have
contributed to this increase in AIB
cases. “There are a lot of stressors from
this pandemic that lead to caving into
temptations that are more accessible in
a remote learning setting than com-
pared to an in person one,” she wrote
in an email to the Collegian.
ALEX GILKEY Because many classes remain remote
AMELIA CARNELL increased last semester, when all final tions of academic integrity are found this semester, Kerkhoff said that pre-
STAFF WRITER exams were administered remotely. during the grading and evaluation pro- venting this pattern from continuing
In the spring 2020 semester, when cess, when an instructor finds plagia- largely comes down to individual ac-
The Academic Infractions Board students began learning remotely due rized material or unusual similarity in tions. “While knowing the policies
(AIB) heard 12 cases in the 2020 fall to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AIB student work,” he said. “I don’t think and understanding how they apply in
semester, compared to the average of heard six cases, which Kerkhoff said remote learning, by itself, has changed a particular class, whether in-person,
three per semester from 2015 to 2019, was “high but not extreme.” the ability of instructors to detect vio- hybrid or remote, is important, in the
said Associate Provost Drew Kerkhoff, Kerkhoff said he was not concerned lations.” end, academic integrity comes down to
who oversees the board. Inappropriate that violations would be harder to de- Kenyon outlines its academic in- taking personal responsibility for our
collaboration on exams in particular tect in a remote setting. “Most viola- tegrity policy on the College website. intellectual work,” he said.
Board increases student charges by 3.75% for next year
SPENCER HIRSCH on July 1, 2021. A third of the campus life experience. “Next Many students across cam- The Board continued its anti-
STAFF WRITER 403(b) accounts with their con- year, we are anticipating a return pus are frustrated by the news racism work as well, including
tributions suspended will be re- to both a full level of campus in of higher total fees. When asked having small group discussions
On Feb. 5, the Board of Trust- stored, with the goal of replacing terms of residency [and] a full about the price increase, Vice facilitated by the Inclusion and
ees convened for their annu- the full amount over three years. level in terms of activities,” he President for Student Affairs Equity Committee. In addition,
al winter meeting. The Board Total student fees during the said. Meredith Harper Bonham ’92 the Board received an update on
approved a fiscal budget of 2019-2020 year were $73,930, but Additionally, Decatur said the explained that it is the Board’s the College’s re-accreditation re-
$167,810,000 for 2021-22, includ- because of COVID-19, the ad- price hike takes into account the “responsibility to ask tough ques- view, which the Higher Learning
ing a 3.75% increase in total stu- ministration discounted the price increase in the financial aid bud- tions and to make sure that they Commission conducts every 10
dent charges, raising the total to for 2020-2021 — including a 10% get for 2021-22. The financial aid are exercising their fiduciary re- years. The process will begin in
$76,620 for the coming school credit to tuition, and a universal budget will increase by 9%, total- sponsibility.” late February.
year. dorm rate at $2,710 (the price of a ing $47,825,000 for the coming Concerning the update from Finally, Associate Professor
The meeting also included an double room). President Sean De- year. According to Decatur, since the Strategic Planning Commit- of Italian Simone Dubrovic, As-
update from the Strategic Plan- catur, when asked about the price 80% of the financial aid budget tee, Decatur said the discussion sociate Professor of Physics John
ning Committee, as well as an change, said the marked increase comes from tuition payments, the touched on the future size of the T. Gilbin, Associate Professor of
approved resolution to reduce the reflects the nature of the pandem- increase in total student charges College, especially within the Psychology Dana Krieg and As-
size of the Board from 43 to 33 ic. “[The] reduction of tuition and reflect the changes to the finan- next 10 to 15 years. The Commit- sociate Professor of Spanish Tra-
trustees over the next four years. fees was an effort to acknowledge cial aid budget, although Decatur tee also reported on diversify- vis Landry received promotion to
Lastly, there will be a 1.25% in- that the experience this year was did not specify why the financial ing programming in the coming full professorship at the meeting.
crease in the general salary pool, different,” Decatur said. This aca- aid budget draws from tuition years, including in computer sci- The Board also adopted resolu-
as well as the reinstatement of the demic year’s total charges were funds. Future, nonspecific oper- ence, computational studies and tions of appreciation for outgoing
College’s contributions to 403(b) reduced, in part, because most ating costs across campus also ac- in regards to the development of trustees John W. Adams P’93 P’13
retirement and retiree health care students were learning remotely, count for the change in total stu- internship and other work expe- GP’21 and Right Reverend Thom-
programs, which will take effect as well as because of the limited dent charges. rience opportunities. as E. Breidenthal.
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,
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Design Editors Emiliana Cardinale, Features Assistant Emily Yourman at ads@kenyoncollegian.com for current rates and further information. All
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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
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Newman Sports Editors Jordy Fee-Platt, the Editors-in-Chief. Contact subscriptions@kenyoncollegian.com.
Circulation Manager Jordy Fee- Joe Wint
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Chief Copy Editor Andy Kelleher Cartoonist Alex Gilkey Mailing address: The Kenyon Collegian, Student Activities Center, Gambier,
Associate Copy Editor Adam Columnists Aaliyah C. Daniels,
Samet Grace Goldstein OH 43022
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Meg Dye, Kat Ellis, Celina German, Advisor Emeritus P. F. Kluge E-mail address: collegian@kenyon.edu, kenyoncollegian@gmail.com
Kun Liu, Sam Neilson, Melody Faculty Advisor Kurt Pyle
Wagoner, Taylor Womack
3
Thursday, February 18 | kenyoncollegian.com
Kenyon Review receives $10,000 arts grant from the NEA
The grant will go towards the Review’s print magazine and online journal, as well as paying authors and freelance editors. | SARA HALEBLIAN
GRANT HOLT as freelance editors who select piec- Organizations’ applications for aging editor and before, we gener-
STAFF WRITER es for publication. Serfass stated that NEA grants must be specific, detail- ally get one each year,” Serfass said.
the Review will match the grant with ing how they will use the funds for “They’re a variant amount, so we’re
ISAAC SAGE its own funds. projects. According to their website, very fortunate they like to support us.
STAFF WRITER
The NEA specializes in funding a the NEA’s funding criteria involves This was not a giant surprise, but it’s
wide variety of nonprofit arts projects judging a project’s “artistic excel- always wonderful when we find out
and organizations. Their 2020 grants lence,” based on the quality of the for sure that we received the grant.”
The Kenyon Review has received a included an indigenous dance festival artists involved, and “artistic merit,” The Kenyon Review also receives
$10,000 grant from the National En- and an Appalachian artisan center which centers around the “impor- funding from local arts groups, like
dowment for the Arts (NEA). focusing on the instruction of young tance and appropriateness” of the the Columbus-based Ohio Arts Coun-
Abigail Serfass, managing edi- women. The grant money itself comes project in modern society. A group cil, and are currently in the process of
tor of the Review, said that she be- from the federal government, and ap- of advisory panelists review appli- applying for a grant from the Amazon
gan writing the grant application two plicants must match, from their own cations, which are passed onto the Literary Partnership program, which
years ago. She explained that, in ad- funds, the money given by the NEA. chairman, who makes the final deci- provides grants to nonprofit literary
dition to funding the Review’s print “We’re showing them that we can sion to provide the grants. organizations. If approved, the Am-
magazine and online journal, the support the whole project on our The Kenyon Review is no stranger azon Literary Partnership grant will
grant money will go towards paying own, and they’re helping us complete to this stringent application process. support the Review’s summer work-
authors featured in the Review as well the whole thing,” Serfass said. “All the time since I’ve been man- shop program.
Continued debate over Fire Department merger intensifies
SOPHIE KRICHEVSKY trustees responded that, although
FEATURES EDITOR
not, by any means, rectify the situa- coverage of the Village Council’s Feb-
tion; rather, it only gives the trustees ruary meeting, during which Coun- they have kept the College up to date
grounds to consider the proposal’s cilmember Liz Forman ’73 discussed on CTFD’s financial constraints, they
potential implications. the matter. have not explicitly asked Kenyon for
During its Feb. 10 public meet- In October, the Village Coun- To address these frustrations, the support beyond its $140,000 annual
ing, College Township Fire Depart- cil voted unanimously to support an trustees plan to hold a public forum contribution.
ment (CTFD) trustees approved a emergency tax levy that would tempo- on the proposal in the coming weeks. Still, Vice President for Facili-
motion to continue negotiations with rarily keep CTFD af loat. Come Elec- This tension did not fade from ties, Planning and Sustainability Ian
the Mount Vernon Fire Department tion Day, the Village voted in favor of view. Several volunteers — Kenyon Smith has questioned whether such a
(MVFD) regarding a proposed merg- the levy, garnering support from 81% students and community members contribution would be the College’s
er of the two departments. Roughly of voters. Whether the initial con- alike — vehemently disagreed with last, given the Department’s lack of
30 people were present, the majority versation about the merger occurred Forman’s positive portrayal of the consistent funding. CTFD would
of whom attended in person. before or after this vote, however, is proposal and expressed concerns that need roughly half a million dollars to
According to Township Trustee unclear. operating out of MVFD’s station on keep its doors open.
Barry Bowden, MVFD formally pre- Though the trustees seemed to be- West Gambier Street would slow re- But for now, the ball is in Kenyon’s
sented its proposal to CTFD in Janu- lieve that they had been transparent sponse times in the Village. In the court. “At the end of the day, this is
ary, roughly three months after CFTD about the proposal, attendees’ reac- past, such discussions have called the going to be Kenyon’s choice, because
first introduced the idea of a merger. tions during the meeting suggested future of CTFD’s student program they’re the only ones with the money
These negotiations are the culmina- otherwise. Many CTFD volunteers into question. here,” Village resident George Kop-
tion of years of increasing financial said they had not been informed of CTFD volunteer Melissa Nixon ’23 scick said.
struggles for CFTD, which, by last the possible absorption until recent- asked why the College has not been The trustees said they hope to hear
fall, left both the Department’s bud- ly. One volunteer was especially upset called on to help lift the Department whether the College will provide ad-
get and staff more thinly stretched that he had only learned of the pro- from its financial hole, citing Ken- ditional financial support within the
than ever. Last week ’s motion does posal after reading the Collegian’s yon’s $413-million endowment. The next four to five weeks.
4
Thursday, February 18 | kenyoncollegian.com
Kenyon senior’s research finds shortage in County housing
HUIJUN MAO organization recognized that bring- ware. Sellers also separately obtained ics, with the majority of households
STAFF WRITER ing more residents to Knox County data for his demographic analysis in Knox County having two to four
will help bolster the economy. from the 2010 census and annual members with education up to a high
Statistics from the study revealed census estimates. school diploma.
At the Area Development Founda- a relatively slow population growth The study ultimately concluded Sellers found that homes with two
tion’s (ADF) annual meeting on Jan. from 2010 to 2018 in Knox County, that there are just not enough houses to four bedrooms, large living spac-
25, economics major Brian Sellers which recorded only a 1.6% increase, on the market to keep up with de- es, one or more garages and proxim-
’21 presented a study he conduct- compared to its neighbors, Licking mand. Over the last three years in ity to large bodies of water are in the
ed remotely last summer under the County (5.6%) and Frank lin Coun- Mount Vernon, only two new hous- highest demand. “We also noticed
guidance of Assistant Professor of ty (4.4%). Sellers’ study also found es were built. In just the last week that consumers like newer homes,”
Economics Katie Black. The study that one major cause for the lagging in Knox County, there were only 12 he said.
revealed the presence of a housing population in Knox County is the houses for sale, which, according Sellers’ study has provided the
shortage in Knox County and iden- lack of housing stock among all in- to Gottke, is “not nearly enough.” ADF with statistical analysis about
tified which housing characteristics come price bands, which discourages However, a recent audit on the local the types of residential units that
are in high demand. people from moving in as a shortage developable land shows that 3,277 people have expressed the most de-
“Brian’s research has been crucial, of housing can often place upwards houses can be built inside Mount sire for in the past 10 years. This data
critical to our efforts,” President of pressure on housing prices. Vernon without rezoning. may prove to be especially useful to
ADF Jeffrey Gottke said. “The whole month of June was By closely analyzing changes the ADF when working with future
The ADF is a nonprofit organiza- sort of us trying to gather data and in housing market trends in Knox developers and home builders.
tion that aims to bring high-quality calling people,” Sellers explained. County that took place over the last “Our goal is to meet with all of
jobs to Knox County. As noted on Data used in the study came from decade, the study noted which types these stakeholders to see how we
their site, ADF has three central pil- the Knox County Multiple Listing of houses are popular amongst con- can move the needle to address this
lars: jobs, workers and liveable hous- Service, a comprehensive database sumers, and helped to provide ADF county-wide housing shortage for
ing, with all three pillars feeding into typically used by real estate brokers with clear guidance for the planning all income levels,” ADF Vice Presi-
one another. Monitoring the local to share property listings with one of future housing. dent and Administrator of the Knox
economic development is a main re- another. This data was then fed into The consumer preference fits County Land Bank Sam Filkins told
sponsibility for ADF officers, and the geospatial information system soft- closely with local family demograph- Knox Pages.
Student Council Minutes: Feb. 14
These minutes were edited for clarity.
Thursday, February 18
FEATURES kenyoncollegian.com 5
2001 snowball fight led to a dark moment in Kenyon history
ADAM SAMET
ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR
From building snowmen on
quiet weekends to losing power
during blizzards, the Kenyon
community is no stranger to
snow. However, nothing com-
pares to the snowball fight of
winter 2001. What began as an
evening of festivities on North
campus escalated into a standoff
with the Knox County Sheriff’s
Office (KCSO), ending in six ar-
rests and a heap of unanswered
questions.
As reported in the Feb. 1, 2001
issue of the Collegian, just after
midnight on the weekend of Jan.
27, the residents of New Apart-
ment A-1 — who formally reg-
istered their own gathering that
night — contacted Campus Safe-
ty (known as Campus Security at
the time) to close down the event,
a standard procedure. After ar-
riving to North campus, Kenyon
officers heard a different commo-
tion nearby. This gathering was
unregistered and included up-
wards of 50 guests. Campus Se-
curity dispersed the partygoers,
forcing them to leave the apart-
ment they had been partying in.
As the students spilled out onto
the lawn, they continued their
fun with a winter classic: a snow-
ball fight.
What started as harmless play
quickly turned sour when stu-
dents began throwing snowballs
at College property, including
fragile windows. Campus Secu-
rity, now unsure of its ability to
handle the animated crowd, con-
tacted the KCSO for assistance. A series of photos and cartoons published in the Collegian the week of the incident. Nearly 400 students took part in the
By the time Deputies Janet Mon- snowball fight. Five students and one alumnus were arrested. | GREENSLADE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES
roe and Damon Roberts respond-
ed to Kenyon’s call, an estimated
150 students were hurling frozen
handfuls at buildings and each during the excitement for disor- even made snowball fights ille- Werner explained that a clear and tried to deescalate matters
other. It did not take long for stu- derly conduct, but the handcuffs gal for this very reason. “Secu- warning and countdown from 10 on his own. Sensing himself get-
dents to hit both officers in the did not go on peacefully. A num- rity and Safety need to protect preceded the first use of pepper ting worked up, he sat down and
flurry. Whether these snowballs ber of the student’s classmates students from danger. We do not spray. Many students, such as J.P. meditated to temper his nerves.
were intended for Monroe and rushed towards the arresting offi- want to keep students from hav- Magenis ’01, remember the eve- Two officers began taunting him
Roberts is unclear, but never- cer, yelling and pushing their way ing registered parties. We don’t ning very differently. “The person with gibes like, “Who the fuck do
theless, after half an hour of po- through the crowd. At this point, want to invade on their priva- who maced the students was Of- you think you are, Gandhi?” and
lice presence, the crowd calmed details of the following events are cy,” said then-Director of Secu- ficer Shaffer and he didn’t warn “He’s probably praying to Allah.”
down. disputed, but certain key events rity and Safety Dan Werner, “We anyone. He arbitrarily maced a Smith was then arrested for incit-
The police departed, handing are agreed upon. don’t write the rules, we enforce bunch of students,” Magenis told ing to violence, making bail along
responsibility back to Campus As students made their way them.” the Collegian in 2001. While both with four other classmates and
Security. They did not make it far, forward, officers used pepper Why Campus Security con- sides agree that there was a warn- one alumnus.
however, as students regathered spray on the crowd. After five tacted the police instead of en- ing, whether the countdown ac- After the drama of that snowy
and Kenyon called them back just more arrests, at least one more forcing the rules themselves re- tually occurred and how students January weekend, the biggest
20 minutes later. When the police round of pepper spray and a stu- mains unclear. Officers likely responded differed depending on outcome was a cultural fallout.
returned, they arrived with two dent breaking their hand, the doubted their ability to handle who told the story. Then-Knox Officer Shaffer, who initially de-
additional Sheriff’s deputies and crowd dispersed by 2:30 a.m. such a large crowd but they didn’t County Sheriff Dan Barber made ployed the pepper spray, is now
two officers from the Danville The police did successfully send seem to take disciplinary ac- his stance clear, saying, “My of- the county’s sheriff and has gar-
Police Department in tow. By this students back to their dorms, as tions of their own before police ficers felt a threat of personal nered a contentious reputation at
point, close to 400 students had the College requested, but their arrived. The initial appearance safety. My officers don’t get paid the College. Not the first nor last
joined the commotion on North actions raised many questions of deputies Monroe and Rob- to be assaulted by anyone, not a unfortunate encounter between
campus. At the sight of six police about why and how the police erts went smoothly, though, with Kenyon student or a Mount Ver- Kenyon students and law enforce-
officers, many students dispersed broke up a snowball fight. their presence being enough to non resident. The use of force was ment, the wild snowball fight of
and watched the action from the While snowball fights have a disperse the crowd. Given this, more than appropriate … As far 2001 left the Kenyon community
perimeter; some others took a reputation as being synonymous why students acted so much more as I am concerned, under the cir- questioning the relationship be-
different route. Amped up from with innocent, childhood fun, hostile the second time police cumstances all the officers acted tween Campus Security and po-
the snowball fight or angry at there was cause for concern that arrived and why backup was re- appropriately.” lice and how much of a bubble the
the presence of law enforcement, night. If the projectiles have ice, quested before the officers even While Barber stood by his offi- Hill really is.
several students became belliger- rock or other debris inside, they returned raised questions. cers, many students were incred-
ent with the officers, getting very can pose serious danger to people The confusion surrounding ulous at KCSO’s actions. Mat- Features Editor Sophie
close and shouting threats. and property. Cities like Wausau, these events only increased as stu- thew Smith ’01 was among those Krichevsky contributed to report-
Police arrested one student Wis. and Severance, Colo. have dent and police reports diverged. in direct contact with the police ing.
6 Thursday, February 18 | kenyoncollegian.com
Instagram account showcases greenhouse in all its glory
KATIE MOST
STAFF WRITER
Every day at Kenyon, Kate Berges ’23
witnesses life, death and rebirth. For the
past semester, Berges has worked as the
student supervisor of the College’s green-
house, which is located at the back end of
Higley Hall.
Though the space is not open for pub-
lic use, there are many ways for all to ex-
perience its beauty and support its growth.
Berges runs the greenhouse’s Instagram
page, @kenyon_greenhouse, where she
keeps the community informed with pho-
tos of plant life, notices for upcoming plant
sales and plant-care tips — or, as Berges
puts it, “how not to kill your dorm plants.”
The Instagram page is a developing re-
source for those who want a peek inside the
greenhouse to learn about plant care. There
is a high demand for houseplants among
Kenyon students and Berges is here to help.
One area of concern for many plant parents
is how much watering different plants need.
On this topic, Berges says, “People water
their dorm plants much more than they
need. If you put your finger knuckle-deep
Kate Berges ’23 uploads posts about Kenyon’s greenhouse endeavors on an almost daily basis. | JOE WINT
into the soil, you should wait until your fin-
ger comes back totally dry before you water was a rough existence and I stopped seeing a little bit extra,” Berges said of this fall’s “We have some agave plants from a profes-
your plants again.” him after break, so I don’t know where he plant sale. “We made close to $200, which sor that left about 20 years ago that are still
The social media presence of the Higley went,” Berges said. was really cool, and we’re using it to fix the growing.”
greenhouse is an exciting new way to con- Berges uses Instagram to inform the moss wall.” Berges is currently working on The work that goes on behind these glass
nect peers through a passion for not only community when overgrown plants are another set of propagations for an upcom- walls creates the opportunity for students
plants, but other greenhouse inhabitants, ready to be propagated and sold. The pro- ing sale, which she hopes to hold in March. to learn hands-on and foster a small piece
too. A post from Nov. 11, 2020, for example, cess involves dividing up plants that are too Kenyon built the Higley greenhouse in of Kenyon’s history for themselves. The Ins-
mourns the loss of Waldo, a small, green big for their pots so that they can be health- 1969, and its enduring success is the handi- tagram account is a new chapter in the leg-
frog found sleeping in the pot of a pitcher ier and have more space to grow. The cut- work of past and present students and pro- acy of the greenhouse, connecting people
plant. The carnivorous pitcher plant serves tings are then sold at plant sales sponsored fessors. The plants that Berges cares for to- and plants.
the necessary function of reducing harmful by the greenhouse, making plant parenting day have a variety of origin stories. “A lot
pests in the greenhouse. Waldo fell prey to accessible to everyone and generating pro- of the collection has been used for differ- Follow @kenyon_greenhouse on Insta-
its specialized leaves, and, though he was ceeds for improvements to the space. “I sold ent biology experiments or for demonstra- gram to stay up to date with operations at
alive when Berges found him, the plant’s se- things based on what you can pay, asking tions. Some of them have been propagated the greenhouse.
cretions had dissolved both of his eyes. “It students if they can cover soil and pots and from professors’ collections,” Berges said.
L A S S
C ASH
CL
Co mpil e d by Wi
lliam
G e rh
ardin
g er ’24
Senior Class Total: Junior Class Total: Sophomore Class Total: First-Year Class Total:
25 18 24 19
Answer Carter Vivo ’21 Elijah Newman ’22 Molly McLaughlin ’23 Lucas Dunst ’24
How many letters are in the
12 ± 5 16 43 21 26
Hawaiian alphabet?
Kenyon College is a
How long is Middle Path, in feet? 3,600 ± 200 feet 2,600 walking campus 5,000 5,280
In which region of Africa is Kenya East Africa
East Africa Eastern East Africa Eastern Central Africa
located?
What is the world’s most consumed
beverage (excluding water)? Tea Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Coffee Coke
Weekly Scores 2 1 1 1
Thursday, February 18
ARTS kenyoncollegian.com 7
Kefa Memeh ’22 showcases her avant-garde makeup looks
| COURTESY OF KEFA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEFA MEMEH
GRACE WILKINS in 2019, Memeh’s creative under- can prints that I draw inspiration she shared, “It’s kind of that thin bies are valid. You just have to
ARTS EDITOR taking gained traction during the from, Asian prints … My friends line between art and makeup … start [creating], based off of what
months of 2020 she spent in lock- travel to different countries and turning my body into my canvas you think and what you love —
down. Her inspiration was rooted [fabrics] are what they bring me.” is something I found so beautiful put aside everybody else and bring
With the pandemic dragging in a deep love for the diversity of Memeh’s looks cover a variety and so inspirational. It’s some- yourself to the forefront.”
on, students continue to find in- different fabrics and motivated by of aesthetics, from avant-garde thing I never thought I’d be able Driving Memeh’s creative en-
novative ways to create in their the lack of artistic materials im- color gradients to minimalist de- to do — breaking conventions and deavors are her dedication to her
spare time. For Kefa Memeh ’22, mediately accessible to her dur- signs to simple print recreations to extending the idea of what make- artwork and consistent support
artistic expression in the midst of ing the pandemic. Memeh’s proj- a striking adaptation of Vincent up is, as well as extending the idea from peers, friends and fans on so-
COVID-19 has taken on its own ect capitalizes on the idea that, as van Gogh’s The Starry Night. She of what conventional art is.” cial media. When asked if she will
distinctive form. Memeh, a studio she told the Collegian, “your face is devotes hours to painting and cu- Memeh has an encouraging continue to post inventive looks,
art major with a passion for pat- your canvas right now.” rating these masterpieces onto her message for other aspiring art- she replied, “1000 percent, yes.”
terns and prints, has received at- As a native of Nigeria, Memeh skin, sharing photos of the final ists and innovators: “It took me a Memeh’s makeup and design
tention on social media in recent says she draws inspiration for her products on her Instagram page. while to start taking my art more work can be found on her Insta-
months for her unconventionally brightly colored and patterned At the heart of Memeh’s ven- seriously. I thought, ‘Oh, I can’t gram accounts @its_kefa and @
colorful and meticulously detailed makeup designs from African ture lies her passion for expanding make a living out of this.’ Or ‘it’s kefaxart, and more of her cloth-
makeup. textiles and prints. As her obses- artistic boundaries. As for what just not enough,’” she said. “The ing- and style-based work can be
Beginning as a concept for a sion with fabrics grew, so did her attracted her most to the concept message I’d like to pass across is found @shopkefa.
digital photography class project collection. “Now I have Mexi- of abstract makeup modeling, that everyone’s dreams and hob-
8
Thursday, February 18 | kenyoncollegian.com
Theater of War Productions hosts informative workshop
FREDRIKE GIRON-GIESSEN
ARTS EDITOR
On Wednesday, Feb. 10, Theater of War
Productions hosted a free virtual workshop
for residents of Knox County and affiliates
of Kenyon College. The company presents
readings of Greek tragedies with contentious
themes, followed by audience discussions
around them. Due to the COVID-19 pan-
demic, it has recently adapted to the virtual
format, and established its virtual residency
at Kenyon in the fall.
Last semester, the company put on two
virtual plays: Antigone in Ferguson, which
introduced the company to Kenyon stu-
dents, and The Book of Job, which starred
Bill Murray alongside Mount Vernon May-
or Matthew Starr. Following each showing,
Bryan Doerries, the artistic director of The-
ater of War Productions, facilitated a panel Audience discussion during virtual residency workshop | COURTESY OF THEATER OF WAR PRODUCTIONS
discussion among select members of the lum seekers and immigration. As Oedipus to hear input from the audience. Instead, Audience members are invited to con-
Knox County and broader Ohio communi- enters the village of Colonus, he sits down, the audience was directed to fill out a sur- tribute to the final showcase of Oedipus at
ties. but is immediately confronted by a villager vey asking about specific issues they would Colonus in whatever capacity they feel com-
Doerries commenced the workshop with and asked to leave. The chorus enters and like to hear addressed through Theater of fortable. This can mean being an audience
an introduction of one of Sophocles’ three interrogates Oedipus about his background War Productions’ model, and if they had any curator, an actor in the online show, work-
Theban plays, Oedipus at Colonus. Doerries and identity. At one point, the chorus says to suggestions for texts to be performed which ing behind the scenes or just attending one
is currently translating the play from Greek Oedipus, “It seems best to me that the people frame the aforementioned issues. meeting about the final show, which is set to
and will present the final product later on in who rule this land should decide what to do “We want to ask who the audience is, premiere in May.
the semester. To get feedback on the work, with you.” what do they need that a specific type of the- “People who are interested in how our
Doerries organized a group of five Ohio resi- After the reading of Oedipus at Colonus atrical intervention might achieve and what model works — whether they’re activists, or
dents to participate in a panel discussion af- by established actors — including Moses texts would serve that?” Doerries said in an they’re theater practitioners, or they’re clas-
ter the reading. Subsequently, viewers were Ingram of The Queen’s Gambit and Frankie interview with the Collegian. The company sics students, or they’re concerned citizens,
asked to give their insight using Zoom’s raise Faison of The Wire — Doerries began the aims to shape each production and subse- or writers, or storytellers — [are] thinking
hand feature. discussion by asking the panel, “What res- quent discourse around issues that are rele- about how our approach to using storytell-
Oedipus at Colonus touches on current onated with you?” An intense, 45-minute- vant to the target audience. In this case, that ing to achieve social impact works,” Doerries
political themes such as homelessness, asy- long conversation ensued, leaving no time audience is Knox County. said.
CROSSWORD
Across Down
1 Labor’s partner
6 Take many courses? 1 Material this puzzle isn’t on
11 Tarnish 2 Still kicking
REILLY WIELAND ETHAN BONNELL 14 HI goodbye 3 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, e.g.
CROSSWORD EDITOR CONTRIBUTOR 15 “No One’s _____” (Eminem) 4 Baldr’s big brother
16 Put away groceries? 5 Party animal?
17 TV trial run 6 Mortal Kombat activity
18 Twilight, to Keats 7 Norse giant of old age
19 A library replacement, perhaps 8 “Move _____”
20 “What did it cost?” response 9 Chekov’s bird
22 “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?” response 10 “That reminds me” initialism
23 A legal matter 11 Singer Cass Elliott
24 Outgoing year, in the Chinese zodiac 12 Elemental building block
25 Island “where America’s day begins” 13 Taylor Swift or King Crimson album
27 First Chinese dynasty 21 Vehicle for De Niro or DeVito, perhaps
29 Mario Vargas and Luis 22 Daughter of Cymbeline, in Shakespeare
33 Camera’s action 26 Supreme Court Justice Samuel
38 “______, cameras, action” 28 AARP concern: Var.
39 Coffee choice 30 Type of rug, or hairstyle
40 WWII grp. 31 “Don’t look __ __”
42 Lions and Tigers and Bears 32 Alternate Soviet transliterated abbr.
43 Beyond good and evil 33 Ohio’s is non-rectangular
45 What an arm wrestling champion is, perhaps 34 Break a leg?
47 City of Rousseau 35 Oodles
48 Famous West 36 Subject (or effect) of some tests
49 Repeated word in Doris Day’s signature song 37 Throw, as an anchor
51 Sophomore fall paradise 41 Staunch supporters
53 In the style of 44 For the most part
56 Is possessive? 46 Receipt, in Reims
50 Leafy retreat
52 Baseball great surpassed by Bonds
53 Garlic sauce
Did you finish this crossword? Email a photo of your completed crossword to 54 Squanders
crossword@kenyoncollegian.com. 55 On edge
56 “That’s rich!”
You can also complete this crossword online at 57 Grace period?
kenyoncollegian.com/section/opinion. 59 River that flows through Bern
60 “And miles __ __ before I sleep” (Frost)
61 Experimental conditions, per IUPAC stp
62 Cold war grp.
Thursday, February 18
OPINIONS kenyoncollegian.com 9
STAFF EDITORIAL WEEKLY COLUMN
Class of 2021 Capitol insurrection might
Commencement date diminish the far right’s
is a misstep infatuation with police
Kenyon recently announced that it intends to move the class of GRACE GOLDSTEIN
2021’s Commencement from May 22 to May 8. The executive staff COLUMNIST
of the Collegian is disappointed by this decision.
The choice of date is questionable, at best. Not only is May 8
the Saturday before final exams, but it’s also three days before When domestic terrorists stormed the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021,
classes end. Seniors need to pass their exams and finish their se- they thought the police were on their side. Then the tear gas hit. That po-
mesters before they can realistically feel free to celebrate the end lice response, while minimal, shocked rioters into reality. It will undeniably
of their Kenyon career; this date does not accommodate this im- change the relationship between the far right and law enforcement for the
portant studying time. foreseeable future.
Even in a year as difficult as this one, other colleges and uni- It’s not a stretch to say that up until Jan. 6 the people who stormed the Capi-
versities have announced their intention to hold graduation cel- tol believed they had an unspoken understanding with the police. After all,
ebrations after the semester ends. For example, Oberlin College many cops voted for Trump, and some inf luential police unions endorsed him
has announced its plan to have its Senior Celebration on May 14, in 2020. They weren’t entirely wrong about this allyship. Some Capitol Police
after their final exams end on May 13. Similarly, The Ohio State officers held gates open for the insurrectionist mob, while others took selfies
University plans to have its commencement ceremony for its class with the terrorists.
of 2021 on May 9 after its last day of exams on April 30. But other officers responded with logical tactics — although it’s fairly ob-
President Decatur has said that this move to May 8 was in- vious that if the protestors had not been mostly white and all pro-Trump,
tended to hold an in-person gathering before the “bubble” is bro- the crackdown would have been faster and much more severe. A few officers
ken during finals week as students move in and out. While we are responding aggressively to domestic terrorists on the Capitol grounds isn’t
more than sympathetic to Kenyon’s concerns about health and nearly enough to overshadow the awful actions of their corrupt colleagues,
safety, we do not see the issue in hosting a responsible, socially assisting rioters on Jan. 6 or harassing and murdering people of color over the
distanced gathering at a more convenient time. course of U.S. history. But it was enough to alter much of the far right’s per-
Moving the date of Commencement from May 22 to May 8 also ception of cops.
means that seniors will not be able to receive their diplomas on This shift in the ideological landscape couldn’t have come at a more defini-
the day of the ceremony, because they will have not yet finished tive moment. After a summer that brought the necessity and underlying eth-
their studies at Kenyon (diplomas instead will be shipped to stu- ics of police under the scrutiny of popular culture, the dynamic between cops
dents after the semester). While it is true that Oberlin will also and civilians is now highly malleable. If there are members of both sides of
not be presenting graduating seniors with their diplomas on the the spectrum that hate cops, one because of a fantasy and the other because of
day of the celebration, other schools, such as the University of a tragic reality, this institution which once seemed untouchable may now be
Notre Dame and Kean University, will be handing out diplomas operating on borrowed time.
on the day of graduation. White nationalists can’t conceive of a police force that isn’t unequivocally
In an article published in Inside Higher Ed, President of Kean on their side, and isn’t willing to actively enforce their racist, fascist agenda.
University Lamont Repollet recalled his own experience as a col- After the events on Jan. 6, The Nation reported members of pro-Trump mob
lege graduate receiving his diploma. “It was the greatest moment screaming profanities at police SUVs, and describing them as “security guards
in my life,” he said. “If we can give that to our students, all stu- for Washington,” not “real police.” Trump’s base has always made a point to
dents, but more so those individuals who had the perseverance support law enforcement. Right-wing culture has long involved defending —
and the grit to finish, that’s important.” and even thanking — cops under scrutiny for racial profiling, harassment and
We agree with Repollet, and are saddened to learn that Kenyon murder. Following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by po-
seems not to have considered the importance of this significant, lice, the “Blue Lives Matter” sentiment among conservatives became increas-
yet poignant, moment in one’s college career. ingly prominent. The insurrection at the Capitol has quickly and indefinitely
Surely Kenyon College, with a student body of nearly 2,000 changed that.
students (almost 5,000 students fewer than Kean University’s Ultimately, the far right will have to make a decision about their stance on
student population and almost 7,000 students fewer than Notre the police, who they can no longer boil down to what some in the opposition
Dame) and a graduating class this year of only 335, can plan a safe call “bad apples,” and others recognize as the unacceptable norm. More likely
post-exams graduation ceremony, complete with the distribution than not, a political breakup of epic proportions is in order.
of diplomas.
By May, the class of 2021 will have just successfully completed
an immensely difficult academic year. Kenyon’s 2021 Commence-
ment does not give seniors the chance to freely celebrate their
accomplishment without anxieties about final exams and the end
of classes.
We ask Kenyon’s administration to reconsider their decision
about Commencement for the class of 2021. We understand that The opinions page is a space for members of the community to
discuss issues relevant to the campus and the world at large. The
COVID-19 has made all our lives exceedingly difficult and that opinions expressed on this page belong only to the writers. Columns
institutions of higher education must make some sacrifices. But and letters to the editors do not reflect the opinions of the Collegian
staff. All members of the community are welcome to express opinions
Kenyon is a college that values community, a campus full of peo- through a letter to the editor.
ple who genuinely care about one another. In that light, it is espe- The Kenyon Collegian reserves the right to edit all letters submitted
cially disappointing that the administration announced this de- for length and clarity. The Collegian cannot accept anonymous or
cision without consulting the graduating class and their families. pseudonymous letters. Letters must be signed by individuals, not
organizations, and must be 200 words or fewer. Letters must also be
As the administration has frequently said, if we are truly to get received no later than the Tuesday prior to publication. The Kenyon
through this pandemic again, it will take a community effort. Collegian prints as many letters as possible each week subject to
space, interest and appropriateness. Members of the editorial board
Let’s celebrate having completed this awful year, and let’s do it reserve the right to reject any submission. The views expressed in the
together joyfully after the semester ends. paper do not necessarily reflect the views of Kenyon College.
The staff editorial is written weekly by editors-in-chief Mae
Hunt ’21 and Evey Weisblat ’21, managing editor Jackson Wald ‘22
and executive director Elizabeth Stanley ’21. You can contact them
at hunt1@kenyon.edu, weisblat1@kenyon.edu, wald1@kenyon.edu
and stanley2@kenyon.edu, respectively.10 Thursday, February 18 | kenyoncollegian.com
ALEX GILKEY
No shame in your game: why swiping on Tinder is a
practical way to find your Kenyon match this semester
MIA SHERIN ing for a romantic relationship, I would long-term relationship began as a Tinder it’s simply a useful tool to suss out who on
OPINIONS EDITOR encourage you to opt for a masked walk match. While many people start swiping campus is looking for a connection, mes-
outside or a FaceTime date. And, if you’re just to get some action, others are swip- sage privately to see if you vibe and then
really just that horny, you can always put ing to date, receive external validation discuss how you can comfortably and
Kenyon’s top-notch creative writing edu- or, most commonly, for entertainment. safely connect.
When I pulled into the Lowry Cen-
cation to use and give sexting a try. Simply having a Tinder account is not the There are plenty of other fears that
ter on Jan. 26, I couldn’t wait to get on
When speaking with fellow Kenyon equivalent of sending out an “I’m horny” I hear from those who are hesitant to
Tinder. I had spent most of the past year
students about why they were hesitant to allstu. sign up for Tinder: “What if I run into a
living at home, watching Bridgerton un-
join Tinder, the most common response Secondly, I would remind those who match on campus?” or “Why can’t I just
comfortably with my parents and single-
I received was, “I don’t want people to are on Tinder for casual sex, specifically meet someone naturally?” While these
handedly funding the triple-A battery
see me on there” — translation being, “I women, that there is nothing embarrass- are valid concerns, the awkward campus
industry, so some harmless swiping was
would feel embarrassed if people knew I ing about pursuing sex simply because run-ins are inevitable and a small price to
the thrill I needed. What surprised me
was on Tinder, looking to hook up with you are horny. After living through al- pay, whether you matched on Tinder or
wasn’t the local Ohioans proudly holding
someone.” Tinder has always been stig- most an entire year of a global health made out in a crusty Old K basement pre-
up their dead deer or the Kenyon boys us-
matized, and while it’s common to feel crisis that eliminated all opportunity for COVID. If I can coexist peacefully with a
ing bad photos of themselves to make it
embarrassed or ashamed of having an ac- physical touch, it would be shocking if Kenyon student after saying, “Cancel Ka-
clear they’re not taking Tinder too seri-
count, these feelings rely on stereotypes you weren’t. Remember that if someone vanaugh, am I right?” in the middle of a
ously, but the fact that many of my Ken-
and internalized misogyny. For women sees you on Tinder, you see them too. hookup, then you can manage a servery
yon friends were hesitant to join the app.
in particular, it’s not a stretch to imagine And if we are not shaming men for being run-in with a Tinder match, especially
They all wanted to meet someone and had
that this hesitation is deeply rooted in the on Tinder just to get laid, there should be with masks making each person less rec-
no problem looking over my shoulder as
fact that women have always been made absolutely no reason women cannot have ognizable.
I swiped, but felt like creating their own
to feel ashamed of their sexuality, like it is the same motivations. And to those who wish you could have
account was awkward or embarrassing.
something that should be hidden or kept Another reason I would encourage a meet-cute rather than a manufactured
As a Tinder fanatic who believes in the
private, rather than advertised on class- you to hit download and start swiping? Tinder match, I would suggest a shift in
practicality and usefulness of the app, I
mates’ phone screens. Women are too of- Because, right now, Tinder is practical. perspective. Downloading Tinder is not
strongly believe that there is no shame in
ten slut-shamed for being sexually open Given that the pandemic has eliminated giving into the artificial dating world, but
joining Tinder and hope to empower my
or for expressing their sexual desires. parties and other impromptu gatherings, rather it is an empowering way to take
peers to start swiping today.
Therefore, it makes sense that women also there are few ways to meet people while control of your dating life. And if you’re
By no means should you be breaking
feel nervous to be seen on an app that is social distancing, unless you’re bold someone who struggles to take your de-
quiet period guidelines and putting our
stereotyped as a place where people look enough to walk up to your crush in the sires into your own hands, don’t sweat it.
community members at risk for the sake
for casual sex. servery (which I can say with absolute All you need is a confident pointer finger.
of a Tinder date or hookup. It’s not worth
But to those worried about “being seen certainty that zero percent of men at Ken-
it. However, you can still chat, browse,
on Tinder,” I say this: Firstly, Tinder is yon are). Swiping through Tinder doesn’t Mia Sherin ’22 is an English major
and swipe through Tinder without need-
not just a tool for finding casual hook- have to mean that you will immediately from Wilmette, Ill. She can be contacted at
ing to meet up in person. If you’re look-
ups. Like many people I know, my last meet up with a match and swap DNA — sherin1@kenyon.edu.You can also read
