Safety investigates public indecency on Kokosing Gap Trail

An individual has been spotted several times since last Wednesday engaging in lewd behavior.

Last Wednesday, April 17, Director of Campus Safety Robert Hooper received a report that a man was masturbating on the Kokosing Gap Trail and had exposed himself to a female student.

Newly ratified bylaws redefine BFC role

Last week, the Business and Finance Committee (BFC) amended one of its bylaws and ratified six new ones.

Curricular review underway

Like iPhone apps and résumés, college curricula occasionally need updating.

Phased retirement for Academic Dean Martindell

Jane Martindell, Kenyon’s dean for academic advising and support, will retire at the end of the 2014-2015 school year after 18 years of working at the College.

Kenyon community bids farwell to distinguished faculty members

  William Scott  Professor of History     The year was 1966 and a U.S. Special Forces trainee named William Scott had become disillusioned with the military. He resigned his commission and returned to school to plan his next move. “The most supportive person” at that time, he said, “was my history professor.

Nugent will return to Princeton, N.J. at year’s end

She sold all of her purple garb, but President S. Georgia Nugent cannot seem to shake this College’s neo-gothic style.

Classes of the ’80s reunited on social media

The wistfulness set in on Dec. 2, 2010 as Larry Friedberg ’84 drove through Palo Alto on the way home from his son’s high school basketball game, “yet another loss.”

BFC acts without StuCo approval

Almost a month has passed since Student Lectureships’ Tuskegee Airmen event, yet Student Council is still talking about it.

After thefts, security cameras installed at KAC

Last Thursday morning, Andy Wheeler, head athletic trainer, spotted an individual in the laundry room hallway of the Kenyon Athletic Center (KAC) attempting to exit the building with a $1,000 set of golf clubs.

Housing admits mistake with NCA/Morgan lottery

This year, Housing and Residential Life received applications from 256 students (52 groups) for the 44 apartments in the North Campus Apartment (NCA)/Morgan Apartment housing lottery.

Phi Kaps charged with hazing

On Monday, April 8, the College filed a cease and desist order against the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity (Phi Kaps) requiring them to suspend any and all chapter activities due to charges of hazing during their pledging process.

Bayleaf to open food cart in Village

A taste of India will soon be coming to Gambier.

Nugent sells clothing to raise money

Peirce Lounge was awash in purple on Monday as President S. Georgia Nugent auctioned off Kenyon-colored jewelry, clothing and household items to raise money for her S. Georgia Nugent Award in Creative Writing.

Quizbowl team places in top 10 at tournament

Kenyon’s very own quizbowl team outsmarted its competition to finish ninth out of 32 teams at this past weekend’s Division II National Academic Quiz Tournaments’ (NAQT) Intercollegiate Championship Tournament (ICT).  

Parents Advisory Council meets to address campus issues

The Parents Advisory Council (PAC), comprised of 52 families with a cap of 100 members, had their biannual meeting on campus last weekend.

Divisive Murray speaks to Rosse

A talk by Charles Murray, who inspired an allstu debate, brought a crowd to Rosse Hall last night.

In the wake of a heated campus debate surrounding his invitation to Kenyon, libertarian and controversial author Charles Murray of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) spoke to a crowded Rosse Hall yesterday. 

AIB considers new system to handle cases

Under consideration is a pilot program to expedite academic infractions hearings.

Members of the Committee on Academic Standards (CAS), which oversees the Academic Infractions Board (AIB), have been discussing changes to the AIB hearing and sentencing process in light of complaints about the current system.

Exeter students headed to Kenyon

For more than 30 years, Kenyon students have traveled to the University of Exeter to take advantage of its world-class research facilities. Now, for the first time, Exeter students will be coming to Kenyon to reap the benefits of a liberal arts education.

Fire Department may merge

The College Township Fire Department is taking steps to merge with Mount Vernon’s.

The atmosphere was somber and the mood reluctant on the night of Monday, April 1 when the Gambier Village Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the efforts to merge the College Township and Monroe Township Fire Departments with that of Mount Vernon.

Film festival showcases global human rights issues

Four films will be shown in the Gund Gallery over the course of the month.

The newly re-formed Kenyon Film Society (KFS) has teamed up with the Gund Gallery to bring to campus four films highlighting human rights around the globe. 

Relay for Life has record-breaking fundraising year

After the Kenyon Relay for Life groups raised a record-high of $48,000 last year, Kiera Busching ’13 and Jen Vihon ’13 knew that they had high expectations to meet once they accepted their positions as Relay for Life Committee co-chairs.

First year of farmhouse a sustainable success

About a mile down Wiggin Street there is a white house surrounded by acres of open farmland.  It is the unlikely residence of five Kenyon students with high hopes and green thumbs.

English department to offer minor

Effective immediately, the English Department will offer a minor for all interested students.

Movement funds safe houses and fair trade incomes

The concert benefit for the Red Thread Movement at the Horn this Friday will feature five Kenyon acts to support Nepalese victims of sex trafficking.

Platinum Chef competition sizzles, challenges cooks to create

Last night, Malone University eked a win over Kenyon College to take home the Platinum Chef award and a $1,500 cash prize at a frenzied cook-a-thon in the Peirce servery between Malone, Hiram College, the University of Mount Union and Kenyon.

Zeta Alpha Pi fundraises for Stop the Clot with 5k

Last Saturday, around 50 students, alumni and community members ran a 5k at the Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC) in support of Zeta Alpha Pi’s second annual fundraiser for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) research.

College chooses Middle Path Partnership

The new plan will end months-long outsourcing debate.

Following several months of discussion between Kenyon’s unionized maintenance workers and the College administration, the College has opted to move forward with the workers’ proposal for improving the maintenance department, known as the Middle Path Partnership (MPP). The decision was announced in a news bulletin on March 28.

Fake IDs on the rise around campus

Since last year, the number of fake IDs confiscated from students has more than doubled.

The Office of Campus Safety has reported nine incidents involving the confiscation of false forms of identification.

Kenyon a top producer of Peace Corps volunteers

A recent rankings report by the Peace Corps revealed that Kenyon has the eighth highest number of Peace Corps volunteers among small colleges and universities, with 16.

Student Council plans agenda for next trustee meeting

Student Council has decided upon several items to discuss with the Board at their upcoming meeting.

Student Council members are readying to meet with the Board of Trustees when the latter visit campus from April 25 to 27 to discuss how students and Student Council will relate to the new president, and how to to keep staff salaries commensurate and competitive. 

Discrimination advisors Speak Out about privilege

Week’s events will raise awareness about privilege.

“If I am privileged, am I obligated to help others?” That question turned this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dialogue on its head and inspired the “Privilege” theme of Speak Out Week. 

Changes made to housing lottery

This year, groups applying for theme and division housing will have to attend the housing lottery on Saturday, April 13 rather than having their housing determined before the lottery.

Despite changes, more students to study abroad next year

Contrary to expectation, changes to the study abroad pay scheme did not affect applications.

Last fall Kenyon’s Board of Trustees approved significant changes approved by the Board of Trustees to the study abroad program.

Rural by Design: program teaches about sustainability

Rural by Design began around three years ago, but its roots go back nearly 20 years to when Howard Sacks, professor of sociology and director of the Rural Life Center, and his students began exploring family farming in the Knox County area.

Kenyon announces 19th president: Sean M. Decatur

Decatur, Kenyon’s first African-American president, will begin his tenure on July 1.

Sean M. Decatur, a chemist and a fierce proponent of liberal arts education, was introduced to the Kenyon community at a ceremony in a packed Rosse Hall.

Drug testing process improves

In the spring of 2008 the Collegian published an opinion article that criticized the Kenyon athletic program’s drug testing policies. 

Special election to include school levy

The Mount Vernon City Schools are set to make some of their most severe cuts to date if voters again reject a proposal for a new emergency operating levy, which will be on the ballot in May 7’s special election. If passed, the levy would inject $3 million of new funding into the district annually, beginning in 2014.

Students aim to reformulate role of safe spaces on campus

On its website, Kenyon advertises what it sees as a primary attraction — “a strong sense of community.”

Tuskegee Airmen event attracts crowd to Rosse Hall

Between 1942 and ’46, 992 African Americans trained to fly planes for the U.S. Army Air Forces on a 5,300-foot strip of asphalt in Tuskegee, Ala.

Creative writing table opens

Living up to its reputation as a writing school, Kenyon has taken on a new outlet for creative writers.

President’s office, among others, to move locations

In the next three months, Kenyon’s senior staff will finalize a plan to relocate the offices of key personnel so that incoming College president Sean M. Decatur can move into Ransom Hall.

DKEs and EDMs host ALS benefit

Last Friday, March 22, the brothers of Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) and sisters of Epsilon Delta Mu (EDM) co-hosted their fourth annual ALS Benefit at the Village Inn (VI).

Committee will study athletics

Made up of alumni, students, professors and administrators, the Committee to Study Athletics was formed last summer with the goal of breaking down the different facets of the Kenyon athletic program and deciding which areas need the most help.

Students weigh in on the search for the next president

The College’s Presidential Search Committee is progressing toward the final phases of the search process, and as it narrows in on top candidates, Student Council wants to make students’ voices heard.

Village Inn sets new entry policy

The Village Inn (VI) has adopted a new policy of checking two forms of IDs, marking hands and patrolling the establishment in efforts to curb the possible consumption of alcohol by underage students.

Unity House promotes ‘safe spaces’ in the classroom

Last October, two pride flags were stolen from Unity House and later found, muddied and torn, behind the F-block of the New Apartments.

Fate of Ransom House up to Gambier Historical Society

“History that’s not remembered is history that is lost,” said Associate Professor of Philosophy Juan De Pascuale. “It’s easy to neglect history, and when history’s lost, it’s really hard to reclaim it.”

Outreach attracts more Chinese students

Increased efforts to recruit students from Asian countries have brought discoveries and challenges.

The bright lights of Beijing and Shanghai are a far cry from the rolling hills of rural Ohio. And, as several Kenyon students could tell you, the move from China to Knox County is not an easy one.

Not just black and white: a history of diversity at Kenyon

When Professor of Sociology and Legal Studies Ric Sheffield tells people he was born and raised in Mount Vernon, they are shocked.

Significant spike in CA applications

Despite recent concerns about how well Community Advisors (CAs) are compensated, 88 applications were submitted for the 2013-2014 school year to fill 46 slots.

Help wanted: professors needed in multiple departments

Of the 24 professors planning to go on sabbatical next year, 12 must be replaced.

Search committees are presently trying to find replacements for half of the 24 Kenyon professors planning to go on  sabbatical next year, an unusually high number.

Gund Gallery gets an endowment

When the Gund Gallery’s board of directors meets in April, its members will ask themselves: Is the Gallery enriching the student experience? And, if the answer is yes, how much will it cost to keep it up?

A ‘Unique’ world: Kluge shares stories

Kenyon’s Writer-in-Residence P. F. Kluge will discuss his global experiences in an upcoming lecture.

Writer-in-Residence P.F. Kluge ’64 can’t just visit a place and move on.

Greek Council wins distinguished national awards

For the first time ever, Greek Council received national recognition for its efforts here on the Hill.

Visiting speaker advocates for workers’ rights

Between his sophomore and junior years of college, Baldemar Velasquez joined the Congress of Racial Equality in its campaign for civil rights.

Gambier Historical Society established

The new society aims to preserve Gambier’s rich and vivid history.

On Monday, Jan. 28, five people gathered in Tom Stamp’s living room for the first official meeting of the Gambier Historical Society.

Take two: Kenyon Film Society revived

When Isabelle Wheeler ’16 decided to resurrect the defunct Kenyon Film Society, the initial response was disheartening.

Bailey House in limbo

Months of debate over the fate of Bailey House have thus far yielded no answers as to who will move in.

Trustees hold retreat on campus

On retreat in Gambier last weekend, the Board of Trustees approved a budget, heard lectures on finance and technology and the East Coasters among them made it home before winter storm Nemo came to bear.

Sexual misconduct advisors provide open forum

There were not enough chairs for the roughly 60 people who filed into the Horn Gallery on Wednesday evening for a conversation on sexual misconduct. 

Academic Misconduct Policy Reviewed

The procedure for handling cases of academic misconduct, like plagarism, is being reconsidered.

Changes to the way that Kenyon handles academic misconduct may be in the works as the College attempts to address long wait times and inefficiencies in the system.

Kenyon-Exeter Program Records Increase in Applicants

The Kenyon-Exeter program will take an impressive 24 students to Devon, England next year — by far the largest number the program has seen in nearly 10 years.

Faculty Research Grants in Limbo

The Office of the Provost has proposed restructuring the grants that fund faculty research.

Crime Rate Unprecedented in Recent Years

 On Saturday, Feb. 2 around 2:00 a.m., Kenyon College Bookstore Manager Jim Huang received a call from Safety, who told him that the window next to the ATM had been broken at the Bookstore.

Alumni Discuss OurTime, Political Activism and Public Policy

It has been nearly five years since Matthew Segal ’08 and Jarrett Moreno ’08 graduated from Kenyon.

Horn Gallery Offers Grants for Student Productions

This semester, the Horn Gallery will offer three $250 grants to fund student-produced theater. The money comes out of the Horn’s $24,000 Business and Finance Committee (BFC) Budget. 

Former Student Indicted, Accused of Sexual Assault

Former Kenyon student Stephen Zingarelli, 21, of Mars, Pa., was indicted on Jan. 7 by the Knox County grand jury on one count of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition.

Thomas Turgeon Dies at 70

Thomas Turgeon, emeritus professor of drama and one of Kenyon’s most beloved figures for more than 40 years, died on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at the age of 70. He had suffered from amyothropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since 2006.

Turner ’99 Loved Kenyon

Daniel P. “Dan” Turner ’99, an avid storyteller, dedicated actor and director, and former Kenyon security officer, died on Christmas Eve after a battle with liver cancer. He was fifty-eight years old.

Fate of Gambier Fire Department Uncertain

Despite the number of young boys and girls who dream of being firefighters when they grow up, the Gambier Township Fire Department is understaffed.

Despite Hurdles, Exhibit Survives

She had three months to win over board members, convince donors, secure pieces from galleries and have them shipped to Gambier. The exhibit opens Friday.

Student Council Constitution Updated After Dormant Decade

After going unchanged for 10 years, Student Council met to correct their outdated constitution.

On Sunday Jan. 20, while President Obama was being sworn in for a second term, the members of Student Council were handling the affairs of Kenyon student government.

Print Shop Moves to Farr to Make Room for Health Center

Village print shop will vacate old location in order for new Health Center to move in.

In order to make space for the new Health and Counseling Center, the College plans to move its print shop and mail center from the current Business Services building, located behind the Post Office on Scott Lane, to Farr Hall’s basement.

Kenyon: There Might be an App for That

Kenyon is slowly but surely moving into the age of social media.

Pelotonia Pedals Back to Gambier

The Pelotonia bike ride, which has raised $25 million since its inception in 2008 and partnered with Kenyon last summer, will return to Kenyon next August.  

Greek Presidents Bond, Strategize

From Friday Jan. 18 to Saturday Jan. 19 the 23 presidents of Kenyon’s 13 Greek organizations gathered at Camp McPherson in Danville, about half an hour away from the college, to prepare for the new semester. 

Greeks Request Student Council Vote

In ancient times, they invented democracy. But at Kenyon, the Greeks are disenfranchised. 

Stolen in Olin: Theft Ring Strikes Again

Three laptops were reported stolen from the Olin and Chalmers  Libraries during the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 11.

AVI Considers Ways to Extend Saturday Lunch Hours

 On Monday, the Housing and Dining Committee hashed out a proposal that would establish extended lunch hours at the Peirce servery on Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Kappa Sigma Alpha Sorority Approved by Greek Council

The sorority’s rewritten proposal better defined its identity and resulted in 8-3 Council approval.

Last Monday, Dec. 10, Greek Council approved the sorority Kappa Sigma Alpha in an 8-3 vote, with one group abstaining. 

Trustees Approve Wilson Demolition

The number of student residences will temporarily decrease next month following the planned demolition of the Wilson Apartments.

Bexley Hall’s Uncertain Fate Rests in Hands of Board

For the first time in 40 years, Bexley Hall, the College’s only 19th century brick building, sits largely unoccupied. 

Writing Center Eliminates Fellows in Favor of Liaisons

The Writing Center will institute a Liaisons program next semester to replace its Fellows program, which began in 2011 as an experiment to connect Consultants with specific academic classes, and has since become widely popular.

Despite Aid Pinch, Debt Below Average

On average, Kenyon students recieving financial aid face $20,000 of debt after graduation.

In March, while seniors reveled in their final weeks at Kenyon, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau broke startling news: the outstanding student loan debt in the United States now exceeds $1 trillion.

Taking the Plunge for a Local Charity

  Last Saturday, about 75 Kenyon students supported a good cause by taking a dip in the Kokosing River. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Beer and Sex advisors took donations for the Kno-Ho-Co Ashland Community Action Commission, a local group that provides healthcare products and housing opportunities to residents of the surrounding four counties.

New Sorority Proposal Rejected

A proposal to establish a new sorority, Kappa Sigma Alpha, was rejected seven to five in a vote by Greek Council on Monday, Dec. 3.

Students Go Green With Help From Sustainability Grants

With new Sustainability Action Program (SAP) grants, intended as a grassroots component of the College’s environmental overhaul, Kenyon has been making strides toward more environmentally friendly practices. 

Shawn Kelly Memorial Holiday Party

  On Wednesday, Nov. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 29, Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) hosted its annual Shawn Kelly Memorial Holiday Party in Gund Commons, partnering with Headstart, a leading organization in early childhood development and education. The DKEs provided dinner, cookie decorating and other Christmas-related activities for the party, which is in its 22nd year.

Lights Return for Holiday Season

Upperclass students and community members alike can let out a sigh of relief — the white LED lights lining the trees in the Village will return this week, according to Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Greg Widener.

College Adopts Online Statements

Following in the footsteps of many peer institutions and other businesses, Kenyon’s billing process is heading into the 21st century with new digital student account statements.

Senate Designates Three Smoking Zones

Campus Senate moved forward with its revised smoking policy this week, selecting three designated smoking zones on campus based on the results of a student body poll.

Presidential Search Committee Submits Formal Prospectus

On Nov. 5, Kenyon’s Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Brackett Denniston ’69, vice-chaired by Aileen Hefferren ’88 H’12 and assisted by search consultants from the firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, and a handful of students, faculty and trustees, released a position prospectus, an important next step in the search for the College’s 19th president.
In an email to Kenyon students and employees announcing the release of the prospectus, Denniston and Hefferren wrote, “The prospectus describes the College, its character and its traditions and many strengths. The prospectus also enumerates the opportunities and challenges facing the next president, and lists the qualities the Committee seeks in the best candidates.”

Hospital Transports Increase

The College has seen 10 hospital runs due to substance abuse.

Last year, there were 14 hospital transports related to drug and alcohol use, according to Director of Campus Safety Bob Hooper. This year, there have already been 10, a figure that is raising red flags amongst College administrators.

Vandalism Rates Highest in Recent Years

Over the weekend, three separate incidents of vandalism occurred, contributing to an upward trend in crime and theft that has plagued the campus since the beginning of the year.
Campus Safety apprehended individuals attempting to break into Gund Commons on Saturday night. In addition, a lawn in the New Apartments area was toilet-papered and the front door was ripped off of Taft Cottage B. The cost to replace the mahogany door will total around $4,000.

Student Government Proposes New Constitution

Kenyon’s student government is taking initial steps to rewrite the Campus Government Constitution, which was last updated in 2000, to better reflect the working relationship between Student Council and Campus Senate.

MMAP Defers to Administration

The Maintenance Management Advisory Panel issued its final set of recommendations on Tuesday morning, saying that while the College should continue to consider outsourcing maintenance management as a viable option, it should not consider a partnership with Sodexo Inc., the French corporation whose proposed hiring prompted public backlash and led to the creation of the Panel.

School Levy Defeated in Close Vote

The proposed operating levy is the third to fail since 2010.

The Mount Vernon School District’s proposed new operating levy failed on Tuesday by a margin of just 295 votes, or 2.2 per

Greek Council Okays New Fraternity

Greek Council approved Kenyon’s first new fraternity in more than 50 years on Monday, Nov. 5, in a narrow 5-4 vote, with two groups abstaining. The newly recognized brothers of Sigma Phi Tau plan to request colonization by the national fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau.

Hillel to Open New Facility

The College plans to tear down and erect a new Hillel House, the campus center for Jewish life, to make room for the new Health and Counseling Center on Scott Lane. Construction is slated to begin this summer. The house will be located in roughly the same location as the current Hillel, but with one major difference — students will no longer live in the building.

Rugby Eligible for NCAA Concussion Screening

Brett Williams ’13 doesn’t remember colliding with the defender from Washington University. The football team’s starting running back doesn’t even remember being on the field in St. Louis on Sept. 22 when he suffered the second concussion of his Kenyon career.

Students Track Close Races on Election Night

“When they called the election, the room exploded. It was amazing,” Joumana Khatib ’13 said.

College Seeks to Attract Students With New Scholarships

Continuing a trend at Kenyon and nationally, the College will offer five full-tuition and five half-

In alignment with a trend at Kenyon and institutions nationwide, the College announced this week new full- and half-tuition scholarships, which will be available to the incoming class of 2017.

Sandy Rains Out Joe and Michelle Steps In

Following the cancellation of Vice President Joe Biden’s Tuesday campaign stop in Gambier, students did not have long to mourn before they received a message from the Office of Public Affairs. “First Lady Michelle Obama will visit Gambier on Saturday for a campaign event in the Kenyon Athletic Center [KAC],” the email said.

Voter Guide

The Kenyon Collegian

All Politics is Local

Following Kenyon’s Campaigners

At a school known for its left-leaning students, the Kenyon College Republicans have taken to hiding in plain sight. Their weekly meetings are held in a small private dining room in Lower Dempsey. You wouldn’t know what the meeting was unless you heard what they were talking about.

Lewd Behavior Reported in Olin Library

Last Tuesday, Oct. 23 around 10:30 p.m., two students working in Olin Library witnessed a man acting in a sexually inappropriate manner and alerted library staff, who called Campus Safety.

Board Finalizes Health Center Construction

Last week, Kenyon’s trustees heard Student Council concerns and okayed building renovations.

Last weekend’s meeting of the Board of Trustees covered a variety of topics, including Middle Path renovations, the construction of the new Kenyon Health and Counseling Center, progress reports on various studies and a presentation from the Kenyon Farm.

Congressional Candidates Present Differing Platforms

Tuesday’s congressional debate between Congressman Bob Gibbs (R) and challenger Joyce Healy-Abrams (D) in Rosse Hall displayed in microcosm the two philosophies of governance that have dominated the national political discourse in the last few weeks.

Surveyors Assess Below Middle Path

As part of the Middle Path restoration project, which will continue through the year, surveyors were on campus last month determining the precise locations of the steam, electrical, water, gas and data lines that run under Middle Path.

Maintenance Panel Holds Final Meeting

The Maintenance Management Advisory Panel (MMAP) met for a final time last night amidst a new flurry of accusations from faculty and staff regarding the College’s  erstwhile plans to outsource certain maintenance employees.

Summer Sendoff Date Approved

Summer Sendoff may be turning into a Friday tradition. Last Sunday, The Business and Finance Committee (BFC) approved $80,000 for Social Board to hold this year’s Sendoff on Friday, April 26. This will be the second year Sendoff has been a Friday event instead of a Saturday one.

Unity House Rallies Support

Two pride flags were stolen from Unity House (North Campus Apartment 3A) on Saturday night, according to a report filed with Campus Safety.

Mount Vernon Voters to Decide on School Levy

“Asking people for more money is not an easy thing to do,” Superintendent of the Mount Vernon City Schools Steve Short said.

From Your TV Screen to Gambier: Raddatz Talks Debate

Few Kenyon parents put themselves in harm’s way as frequently as Martha Raddatz. Mother of Jake Genachowski ’15, Raddatz is a senior foreign affairs correspondent for ABC News, and she visited campus this past Saturday.

Safe Sex and Risque Prose: Kenyon Honors Carl Djerassi

As the father of the modern-day birth control pill slowly made his way down the aisle, a hush fell over the overflowing crowd in the Community Foundation Theater at the Gund Gallery.

CSAD Prepares to Host First Congressional Debate

The Center for the Study of American Democracy (CSAD) will host a debate on Tuesday, Oct. 30 between Rep. Bob Gibbs (R), of Ohio’s seventh district, and Joyce Healy-Abrams, his Democratic challenger. Moderated by CSAD Director Tom Karako, the debate will be at 7:00 p.m. in Rosse Hall.

Chalmers Evacuates for Construction

Part of the parking lot behind Chalmers Library and Storer Hall, and areas surrounding the buildings, were blocked off last Monday, Oct. 22, as the Maintenance Department replaced parts of the two buildings’ heating and cooling systems and installed other components using a large industrial crane.

Land Trust Preserves Kokosing

The Philander Chase Corp. purchased land, in part, to prevent drilling.

Following almost two years of negotiations, the Philander Chase Corporation (PCC), the College’s nonprofit land trust, purchased more than 50 acres of land from the Laymon family, a local Gambier family, in early August.

New Hardware May Solve Internet Slowdown

Noticeably slower Internet access has plagued Kenyon for over two weeks. But after weeks of consulting, the extreme Internet slowdown might finally be cured.

Vying for the Vote

It was a day that would go down in Kenyon history.
On a cold, rainy Wednesday at 3:56 a.m., Gambier residents cast the final votes in an election that made Kenyon — briefly — famous nationwide. It was Nov. 3, 2004, and some Kenyon students could claim the dubious honor of having waited upwards of 11 hours to cast their ballots at the last polling station in the country to close. The Knox County Board of Elections had provided two voting machines to serve the 1,607 registered voters of Gambier Village precinct. Each machine was able to accommodate 45 voters an hour — meaning it would take around 18 hours for everyone to vote.

Franklin Miller, Famed Professor, Dies at 100

Franklin Miller Jr., a professor emeritus of physics and a fixture in the Kenyon and Knox County communities for over six decades, died on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Autumn Health Care Center in Mount Vernon in the company of his family. He was 100 years old.

CSAD Announces New Summer Scholarship

The Center for the Study of American Democracy (CSAD) will offer scholarships to students interested in researching democracy in America during the summer. Tom Karako, director of CSAD and assistant professor of political science, said he has high hopes for the program, which will follow other Kenyon models, including the Summer Science Scholars and Socio-Legal Studies programs. Karako believes the program will add to the already diverse summer options on campus.

Writing Study Advances

On day one, from Quest for Justice to an introductory biology course, Kenyon College is a writing school.
A two-year study organized by Jenn Fishman ’94, associate professor of English at Marquette University, and funded in part by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, aims to construct a definition of what this writing emphasis means for Kenyon and will explore the College’s relationship with writing on every level.

Week Encourages Global Awareness

Baked goods and a study abroad photo display were the extent of the first Global Engagement Week in 2009. In 2012, the week has grown to include film discussions, guest speakers, an international dinner and an off-campus study fair.

MMAP Offers First Recommendation

On Friday, Sept. 28, the Maintenance Management Advisory Panel (MMAP) recommended that “members of Kenyon’s labor unions remain Kenyon employees for the forseeable future,” according to a news bulletin published by the Office of Public Affairs.

Presidential Committee Visits Campus

The search for Kenyon’s 19th president continued on Friday, Sept. 28, with a community forum held in Rosse Hall.

In Election Season, Emails Prompt Administrative Response

LBIS: The College must monitor student use of resources in order to maintain its tax-exempt status.

Vice President for Library and Information Services Ron Griggs reminded community members of the restrictions to sharing political information through Kenyon channels in light of the upcoming election in a student-info email sent on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Study Abroad Language Requirements Change

The Committee on Academic Standards (CAS) approved changes to the language requirement for off-campus study (OCS) on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Kenyon Review Welcomes First Fellowship Recipients

Elizabeth Rogers and Natalie Shapero each have a debut collection of poetry slated for release next spring; each holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree; and now, the pair have something else in common: they are the inaugural Kenyon Review fellows.

Examination of Athletics Programs Takes First Steps

Last April, the Board of Trustees approved Dean of Students Hank Toutain and President S. Georgia Nugent’s proposed study of athletics at Kenyon.

Project Assesses Value of Technology in the Classroom

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? — or at least its “Ask the Audience” technology — is coming to Kenyon.

Intruder Sighted in KAC Locker Rooms

The Kenyon Athletic Center (KAC) increased security measures at the facility last week following two separate incidents of reported public indecency.

Aid Packages Cause Housing Imbalance for Some Seniors

From choosing a roommate to participating in the lottery, housing at Kenyon can cause considerable, sometimes unnecessary, stress. Paying for housing, however, should not factor into that stress, according to Campus Senate Co-Chair Monty Clark ’13.

College Faces Harsh Shifts in Financial Aid

In early February, administrators presented the Board of Trustees with a summary of how the College would spend nearly $113 million over the course of the 2012-13 fiscal year.

Education Key Component in Sustainability Initiative

Kermit the Frog was right: It’s not easy being green. But it’s about to get a whole lot easier.

Take Back the Night Expands Scope of Week’s Discussion

Take Back the Night, a week-long student-run program that strives to open dialogue and bring awareness to community members about sexual assault, began Sunday, Sept. 23.

Kenyon Questions Usefulness of Newly Released Rankings

In U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of America’s top liberal arts colleges, Kenyon ranked 32nd, a spot the College shares with three other schools: Bucknell University, College of the Holy Cross and Mount Holyoke College.

All Things Considered: Knell Discusses Media’s New Role

During a talk in Higley Auditorium last night, National Public Radio (NPR) CEO Gary Knell shared NPR’s unique approach to journalistic storytelling, its dedication to filling in the essential gaps left by others in the news business and its ongoing mission to reinvent itself.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrates Latino History

As part of Adelante’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the society has organized activities geared toward raising awareness of Latin American culture

Recent Series of Thefts Rattles Campus

Over the weekend, items were stolen from two apartments, marking a spike in campus crime.

Last weekend, two laptops went missing from a Taft Cottage and a laptop and cash disappeared from a Morgan Apartment, adding to a spree of recent suspected thefts on campus.

HPV Vaccine on the Rise for Kenyon Men

Gardasil, a vaccine that prevents the sexually-transmitted Human Papillomavirus (HPV),  which can lead to cervical cancer in women, is gaining popularity among men.

Presidential Committee Takes Next Step

The search for Kenyon’s next president is officially under way. The Presidential Search Committee will host a community forum in Rosse Hall at 4:00 p.m on Friday, Sept. 28.

Smoking Policy Stalls, Input Needed

After a complete lack of input from smokers and non-smokers alike, the Council is in the process of designating smoking zones itself. Student Council President Faith McDuffie ’13 relishes the challenge.

Website Makeover Aids Admissions

Over the summer, while students were soaking in the sun or chasing internships, a team from the Baltimore-based company Fastspot visited campus to help Kenyon with a problem: its outdated website.

College Continues Pelotonia Partnership

In the cool early morning hours of Saturday, Aug. 11, around 6,200 people broke a sweat for cancer. They were participants in Pelotonia, a fundraiser that has raised upwards of $25 million for cancer research since 2008 by organizing bike rides around the country. This past summer, the foundation came to Kenyon, bringing along thousands of strangers for one common goal.

Safety Awareness Week Aims to Educate Students

This year, the College Township  Fire Department has already taken five students to the hospital, a benchmark that in past years was not reached until October Break.

Faculty Retreat Develops Ideas for Classroom Curriculum

This August’s faculty retreat brought together 51 professors, three librarians and three administrative staff members to address pedagogy in relation to six categories — writing, oral expression, language and culture, geography and spatial phenomena, visual literacy and new media, and scientific and quantitative reasoning.

UE Local 712 Presents ‘Middle Path’ Plan to Community

As the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 712 (UE Local 712) and the College await the recommendations of the Maintenance Management Advisory Panel (MMAP), UE Local 712’s “Middle Path Proposal,” which was announced in an all-student email (allstu) on Wednesday, Sept. 12, has set the stage for the Union’s next move.

Bloomberg Invited to Give Commencement Address

The College has extended an invitation to Michael R. Bloomberg, the Mayor of the City of New York and billionaire founder of the financial information firm Bloomberg L.P., to speak at the commencement ceremony for the class of 2013, President S. Georgia Nugent confirmed Wednesday.

Off-Campus Study: A New Way to Pay

The College approved a new system to pay for study abroad.

The College is preparing to change the way students pay to study off campus, adopting a policy, approved by the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) and the Board of Trustees, that has become commonplace at other institutions.

‘Occupancy Sensor’ Furthers Sustainabilty Initiative

As part of a sustainability and energy efficiency initiative, the College has installed monitoring devices in student residences that will adjust the room temperature based on whether students are in the room.

Moodle 2.0 Syncs With Turnitin

Kenyon converted to Moodle 2.0, which offers faculty members more ocontrol over their Moodle pages, including an option to use automatic submissions to Turnitin.com, an online plagiarism checker.

Health Center to Relocate Within Next Academic Year

The Health and Counseling Center will move to a new facility by the 2013-14 academic year, following the Board of Trustees’ approval of the plan last April.

Middle Path Rebuilding Project Now in Testing Stage

Following the Board of Trustees’ approval last spring, the College is testing a type of stabilized gravel on three arterial paths that branch off Middle Path. The plan aims to improve campus accessibility while maintaining the Path’s historic and symbolic aesthetic.

New York Times Now Available Online for Students

In conjunction with its paper subscription to the New York Times, which currently delivers 200 copies to Peirce Hall every morning, the BFC has made the Times online content, which sits behind a paywall, available to students free of charge for 200 students each day.

Farewell, President Nugent, Fare Thee Well

On Tuesday, Aug. 14, as exhausted Pelotonia riders summited the Kenyon hill, President S. Georgia Nugent, the 18th president of Kenyon College and the first woman to hold that position, formally announced her decision to step down.

New Policy Addresses Consent

Last May, aiming to craft a policy that better reflected sexual relationships at Kenyon, Campus Senate approved a revised version of the College’s sexual misconduct policy. Drafted over the course of a year, the approved version defines the consent requirement as, “clear, voluntary and knowing” and now includes both verbal and non-verbal consent.

Maintenance Contract, Panel, Respond to Sodexo

After a summer of negotiations between the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 712 (UE Local 712) and the College, the two parties have agreed on a contract that is similar to years past in all but its duration.

As Peirce Cuts Trays, Outrage Fails to Materialize

Upon returning to campus, students found themselves facing the consequence of an economic and ecological decision made over the summer: the trays that had long carried plates of creamy polenta and bowls of tomato soup were gone from Peirce Hall. In past years, trays were available except on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Student Input Needed for Smoking Policy

Passed by Student Council in February 2012 and later approved by President S. Georgia Nugent, the policy revision stipulates that “smoking in areas immediately adjacent to building entrances is prohibited by law,” said Senate Co-Chair Monty Clark ’13.

President’s Office Will Move to Bailey

After almost three years in the Eaton Center at the far north of Kenyon’s campus, the Office of the President is moving to Bailey House, which is located next to Sunset Cottage behind the library.

With New Building, Focus Shifts to the Visual Arts

The Horvitz Center officially opened its doors last Thursday, Aug. 29, uniting Kenyon’s once scattered visual arts department into one location.

Asking for Help: Students Form Peer Counseling Service

Some of us have baggage, but we aren’t comfortable talking about it. But with Peer Counselors — the newest support group on campus — Tim Jurney ’15 and Director of Counseling Services Patrick Gilligan hope to get people talking.

For Employees, Childcare Costs Raise Concerns

From a child’s perspective, the building is a colorful world. Family photographs and student artwork decorate the cupboards. Low windows let students peek into the backyard playground. Every room has miniature tables, chairs and toys.

After Increase in Hearings, Plagiarism Policy to Change

In response to a dramatic increase in academic infraction hearings in the past two years, members of the Academic Infractions Board (AIB) and the Academic Affairs Committee of Student Council are considering implementing changes to the College’s plagiarism policy for next fall. This re-evaluation aims to give the associate provost greater authority in deciding whether or not the AIB hears a case, reform the way Kenyon’s plagiarism policy is presented to first-year students and increase campus awareness of the policy.

Book to Replace Steen as Lords Head Coach

After spending 37 years leading the Lords and Ladies swimming teams to more championships than any coach in the history of collegiate athletics, Jim Steen announced on Tuesday he will be stepping down as Head Coach of the Kenyon Men’s Swimming and Diving Team.

After 165 Years, Jewish Cemetery Comes to Knox Co.

Adolph Wolff, the first known Jewish settler in Knox County, had already immigrated to the U.S. from Germany and worked as a peddler in Mechanicsburg, Ohio before he opened his own clothing store in Mount Vernon in 1847.

Smart to Speak, Visit Campus

Few alumni embody the spirit and potential of Kenyon College students as thoroughly as Shaka Smart ’99, head coach of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) men’s basketball team. 

Students, Colleagues Bid Farewell to Four Retiring Professors

The four professors retiring at the end of this academic year have spent a combined 126 years teaching at Kenyon. They have helped students with projects ranging from writing a children’s book on body image to studying ant habits. They have written books about famous authors and studied ancient French manuscripts. Their future plans include spending time with grandchildren and pursuing scholarly endeavors. Which is to say, their contributions to Kenyon will not be forgotten.

Rich to Depart Kenyon for ISU

Assistant Professor of Drama Kevin Rich is leaving Kenyon for a bigger stage. He will take on the positions of Artistic Director of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and Assistant Professor of Acting at Illinois State University in the fall.

Chalmers to be Remodeled

Olin and Chalmers Library used to be state-of-the-art, but today, the building’s interior— with its worn-out couches and institutional study carrels— is anything but chic. This summer, however, that will all change, as the College plans to remodel the second floor of Chalmers. “It’s really just to give it a little bit of a facelift,” said Director of Library Services Amy Badertscher.

College Approves Farm Purchase

The College’s purchase of a 10-acre farm within walking distance of campus will be finalized today, according to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman.

Despite Bad Weather, Sendoff and Castaway Successful

Through rain, hail and temperatures dipping into the mid-30s, students prevailed to celebrate the end of the academic year this past weekend. Despite the date change from the traditional Saturday to Friday, the Social Board-sponsored Sendoff concert, which included performances from Kenyon bands and the highly-anticipated STRFKR and Big Boi, was an unqualified success, according to Lianne Castile ’13, who co-chairs Social Board with Sarah Schiller ’14.

Four Distinguished Faculty Members Awarded Tenure

The College awarded tenure to four professors this semester: David Leibowitz of the political science department, Maria Mendonça of the music department, Sam Pack of the anthropology department and William Suarez-Potts of the history department. All will be associate professors as of July 1.

Birth Control Policy Raises Debate

Though Kenyon’s current insurance plan does not cover students’ birth control, the new healthcare law may encourage a change.

Trustees Okay New Health Center, Middle Path Renovations

Kenyon will add another summer program to its list of over 40, after the Board of Trustees approved plans to start an adult-education program at its spring meeting last weekend.  The trustees also approved initiatives to build a new Health Center, move forward with Middle Path renovations and begin a study of Kenyon’s athletics.

Department to Offer Chemistry Minor in Fall

Shakespeare devotees who also love the lab can finally create the educational program of their dreams with the newly-announced chemistry minor.

New CDO Director Revamps Kenyon Career Network

Student demand for appointments at the CDO has jumped so much that the Center hired a new assistant director, Karen Sheffield.

Huang Implements Online Changes, Modernizes Bookstore

In his first two years as manager, Huang has introduced rental textbooks and a price-comparison website, and he plans to offer more textbook options for students in the future.

Celebrating Our Planet

Last Sunday’s sixth annual Earth Day Festival at the Kenyon Athletic Center (KAC) celebrated and encouraged living sustainably.

Senate Set to Vote on New Sexual Misconduct Policy

The rules and procedures that govern Kenyon’s approach to sexual misconduct incidents will soon undergo revision to fit new directives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Separate Board to Oversee Gund Gallery

The Board of Trustees voted last weekend to separate the Graham Gund Gallery from the College in a move that will give the Gallery its own Board of Trustees, much like The Kenyon Review and the Philander Chase Corporation.

Student Council May Host Saturday Cookout: CASTAWAY

Future of Event Uncertain, Council Still Negotiating

In an emergency meeting last night, Student Council conditionally approved a proposal to host an event on Saturday, April 28 following the official Social Board Sendoff on Friday.

Shaka Smart to Speak on Campus

Virginia Commonwealth University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Shaka Smart ‘99 will return to his alma mater for the first time in several years to give a talk on May 3.

College to Buy Farm for Student Use

The College plans to purchase a nearby farm on Zion Road Monday where students will live and grow produce for use in Peirce, according to President S. Georgia Nugent.

Campus Safety Moves Forward With Union Plans

A week after Campus Safety officers voted to unionize, both the administration and the officers are looking ahead to negotiating new contracts.

Conference on Democracy Promotion Provokes Discussion

Participants at the second Center for the Study of American Democracy (CSAD) conference last week tackled this question, with varied conclusions

Building a Team: Division III Recruiting in Rural Ohio

For prospective athletes, such deliberation, on the part of Admissions, actually begins before a formal application is even submitted.

Faculty Plan Summer Retreat

Provost Nayef Samhat and the Center for Innovative Pedagogy will hold a faculty retreat in August thanks to a $750,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Poetry Reading Honors Holocaust Remembrance Day

Jacqueline Osherow’s poem “Orders of Infinity” inspired Jess Lieberman ’14 to put together today’s poetry reading to honor National Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Safety to Unionize After Vote

Campus Safety officers voted by a wide margin yesterday to form a union, Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman confirmed to the Collegian.

College Moves to Online Evaluations

Replacing paper evaluations, an anonymous online survey will open April 30 and run through May 6 this year.

Greeks Serve Community

Over 80 members of Kenyon’s Greek community served at various locations throughout Knox County as part of the event.

Pie a CA

Rather than raising money through a t-shirt fundraiser or a bake sale, Community Advisors appealed to a more basic instinct last Saturday, April 7: the desire to throw a pie in someone’s face. The “Pie a CA” fundraiser was “tremendously successful,” said Allison Kramer ’12, a CA and one of the organizers of the event.

Five New Themed Houses to Join Campus Community

Want to drink coffee and write creatively? There’s a house for that.

Two-Year Investigation Redefines Writing at Kenyon

With help from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Kenyon Writes, a two-year investigation of writing at Kenyon, plans to craft a unified definition. 

Campus Safety Officers to Carry Handcuffs

After years of discussion, the College has approved Safety’s requests for metal handcuffs.

Qigong Class Teaches Stress-Relieving Techniques

Kenyon students and faculty have a new way to cope with the stresses of classwork, extracurricular activities and campus jobs: qigong classes at the Horn Gallery.

New Housing Options May Cause Parking Problems

When the 16 Bexley Apartments are torn down to make way for additional North Campus Apartments (NCAs), the parking lot that has served so many students will go with it.

DKEs, EDMs Host Third Annual ALS Benefit at VI

Now in its third year, the Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE)-hosted benefit raises money to help fight the disease and raise awareness about its effects, which can be expensive to treat.

Harry Potter Day

This year, Harry Potter Day is part of a month’s worth of events that extend into April, honoring the world of Harry Potter at Kenyon and beyond.

Student Council Elections Leave Five Positions Open

The chair of Buildings and Grounds position, among others, is unfilled.

The Student Council election results were announced last Monday, April 2. “I’m really excited and I feel confident that I can do a good job next year,” Student Council President-elect Faith McDuffie ’13 said.

Students Wear Hoodies As Part of National Protest

In an effort to send a message of solidarity to the family of Trayvon Martin, who was wearing a hoodie when he died, Tess Waggoner ’13 organized Hoodie Day, a last-minute social justice event.

Phi Kappa Sigma Hosts Interview Skills Workshop

The brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma hosted an interview skills and resume-building workshop led by Scott Ford ’85 on Saturday, March 31. Ford, the Human Resource Manager for University Circle Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, has offered this workshop in conjunction with the fraternity for several years.

AVI Considers Limiting Disposable Cups

In order to cut costs and produce a smaller ecological footprint, AVI is discussing a cutback.

Despite their popularity, however, AVI is considering drastically limiting their supply for next year.

Despite Explanations, Raises Breed Discontent

In comparing their raises to the faculty’s raises, some staff members feel undervalued.

The unsigned letter, typed in a clean sans-serif, is four pages long. It is dated March 2, 2012 and addressed to the chair of the Kenyon College Board of Trustees, Barry Schwartz.

And it is to the point. The second sentence of the second paragraph of the message, which the Collegian has confirmed was written by a College staff member, reads as follows: “As an employee associated with the College for nearly two decades, I have never felt the campus awash in a current of such utter negativity.

New Conservation Project to Save College $600,000 a Year

Updated lighting fixtures and shower heads will help reduce energy consumption by 26 percent.

Spring break marked the beginning of Kenyon’s “Energy Conservation Project,” which will retrofit the entire campus with new light and water fixtures and other systemic components over the course of the next year.

Month-Long Exhibit Honors Harry Potter at Kenyon

An exhibit from the National Institutes of Health and even beer tastings bring Harry Potter to life.

From parchment to butterbeer, from trivia to potions, Kenyon has opened its doors to the world of Harry Potter for a month-long exhibit called “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine,” which connects author J.K. Rowling’s fictional tales with real-life texts and early medicinal remedies.

Who’s Who in the Current Student Government Elections

Students can vote in the online elections for campus positions through tomorrow, March 30.

Sarah Baldessari ’15 and Andrew Gabel ’15 both have a lot on their plate. The two first years are each running for several student government positions next year.

Camerra-Rowe to Speak at Commencement

The senior class elected Pamela Camerra-Rowe, the John B. McCoy Bank One Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor of Political Science, to give this year’s Baccalaureate Address.

Admissions Shorts Place ‘Fun Spin’ on Kenyon Culture

“Lab Dance” is one of six short films posted on thumbsup.kenyon.edu, Kenyon’s new website for admitted students in the Class of 2016.

Warm Weather Cancels Plunge

Citing warm weather, Beer and Sex cancelled their annual Polar Plunge fundraiser this past weekend.

Times Praises Kluge’s New Novel

Saipan is a lot like Gambier for Writer in Residence P.F. Kluge.

Plans for Bexley Art Building Uncertain in the Short Run

Short-term possibilities include a multi-purpose space for students or a computer lab.

As construction continues on the new studio art building, the College is considering both short-term and long-term plans for Bexley Hall.

Talk Challenges Middle East’s Representation in U.S.

From schmaltzy mass-market romance books to pop-culture staples like the Disney film Aladdin, the ubiquity of representations of Islam and the Middle East in almost every single medium of American culture points to a fascination, even an obsession, with Islamic civilization.

Alumni Challenge Fund Encourages Thanks to Donors

In an effort to recognize and thank alumni for donating money and supporting Kenyon, the campus is celebrating the third annual Kenyon Fund Day today. The Office of Annual Giving encourages students to stop by the Peirce atrium during lunch or dinner to write a thank-you post card to alumni who have donated to the fund.

Fourth Annual Social Justice Week Promotes Activism

Kenyon’s fourth annual Social Justice Week, dedicated to raising awareness and activism in the College community, will bring a barrage of events on social justice culminating on March 30.

Fracking Hits Knox Co.

As farmers in Knox County are considering whether to allow fracking on their land, the debate is coming to Kenyon.

Application Ratio Reaches 60-40

Women are surpassing men — in number of applicants to Kenyon, that is.

Kenyon Takes Survey to Assess Spectrum of Student Experience

The National Survey of Student Engagement pollsto keep track of trends in higher education.

In an effort to help the College measure how its students learn and develop, first years and seniors are now taking a new version of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

An Interview With: Candidates for Knox Co. Sheriff

The Collegian spoke with Republicans David Shaffer and Roger Brown, both of whom are running for Knox County Sheriff.  No Democrat filed to run for the position, which will be open following Sheriff David Barber's retirement. The Republican primary will be held March 6.

Jody Vance, Welcoming Face at the SAO, to Retire This Week

For the first time in five years, Jody Vance's warm smile will no longer welcome visitors to the Student Activities Office (SAO).

Author Michael J. Rosen to Visit Campus Over Break

Author Michael J. Rosen, who has written over 75 children's books, young adult novels and cookbooks, will visit Wiggin Street Elementary School on March 6 and 7.

Phase I of NCA Construction Nearly Complete

Construction on the second part of Phase I of the North Campus Apartments  is almost finished, and Phase II will begin next spring, according to Director of Facilities Planning Tom Lepley. The new Studio Art building is also in its final stages, and Lepley said drywalling will begin when workers install the plumbing and electricity.

Student Concussion Policy to Change

Autumn Anderson '14, a post player on the women's basketball team, didn't immediately notice anything unusual after a teammate's elbow hit her head, hard, during a practice in early February. "I became a little bit disoriented when it first happened, but I thought I had just been hit in the head and it was just going to be painful for a bit," she said.

Student Activities Director Searches Student Offices in Peirce

Christina Mastrangelo, director of Student Activities and Greek Life, has been conducting searches in the Peirce Hall offices of several student groups without many of those groups' knowledge or consent. The Collegian, Greek Council, Student Council, Social Board, the Black Student Union, The Observer and HIKA all have offices in Peirce.

Sheriff to Retire; Primary Next Week

Two candidates, both Republicans, will compete for the position.

For the first time in 20 years, Knox County will have a new Sheriff.

Board Rejects Housing Appeals

One of Kenyon's most storied fraternities is losing its most storied space.

2012: Greek Rush by the Numbers

More women rushed this year; some groups cite higher pledge numbers.

More female students than male students chose to rush Greek organizations this year, a departure from past trends. Of the 160 students registered for rush this year, 88 were female, according to Christina Mastrangelo, director of Student Activities and Greek Life.

New Language Table Promotes South Asian Culture

New languages will echo in Lower Peirce this semester. The Hindi/Urdu table will offer a weekly opportunity to speak these languages during lunch in Peirce Hall and has already garnered a following among students and faculty.

Winners of “Big Idea” Entrepreneurship Contest Announced

The contest What's the Big Idea?, sponsored by Kenyon's Innovation Greenhouse, a division of the Career Development Office, awarded $500 to four separate business plans last month: SocialBuzz, Reserve Green, Ski ID and Aquaponics.

Scarred Justice Screening Examines Unsolved Crime

In 1968, nine National Guard officers opened fire on a group of black men and women outside a segregated bowling alley in Orangeburg, S.C., injuring 28 and killing four in what is now called the Orangeburg Massacre.

Three Instruments Stolen From Locker

Campus thefts increase with three student-owned instruments stolen from Storer Hall last week.

A flute, a trumpet and a cornet went missing from Storer Hall last week, adding to the number of recent thefts on campus.

Off-Campus Study Decisions Released

This year's off-campus study application process saw more students apply and more asked to revise their applications than in years past, according to Director of the Center for Global Engagement Marne Ausec.

James P. Storer, Trustee Emeritus, Dies at 85

Trustee emeritus, generous donor to the College and patron of the arts James P. Storer '49 H'85 died on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the age of 85.

Kenyon Takes Survey to Assess Spectrum of Student Experience

The National Survey of Student Engagement pollsto keep track of trends in higher education.

In an effort to help the College measure how its students learn and develop, first years and seniors are now taking a new version of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

Rep. Bob Gibbs Visits Campus

Congressman Bob Gibbs, who represents Ohio's 18th District, will speak with students on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10:00 a.m. in Peirce Lounge.

An Interview With Adam Swartzbaugh

Adam Swartzbaugh came to Kenyon last Friday, Feb. 17 to give a talk, "Getting Into the Right Kind of Trouble and Back Out Again," about his experiences traveling in South Asia and founding the GENESIS Network, an organization that uses social media to sponsor economic development, education and child rescue projects in Burma and Thailand, among other countries.

Polar Plunge Dives Into the Kokosing for a Good Cause

The Beer and Sex fundraiser is back this Saturday, with proceeds going to the Kno-Ho-Co Clinic.

This Saturday's third annual Polar Plunge will allow Kenyon students to support a good cause while also testing their cold-weather fortitude.

In Shift, Kenyon to Begin Offering Internship Credit

A new four-week-long course will allow students to gain credit for internships beginning this summer

The Career Development Office (CDO) has spearheaded a new policy that will grant academic credit for internships to students who have taken a class specifically engineered to focus on internship experiences.

Africa Study Abroad Panel Seeks to Educate, Inform

An upcoming Center for Global Engagement (CGE) panel will aim to dispel the exotic myths surrounding the countries of the African diaspora.

Kenyon Dems to Host Obama 2012 Campus Kickoff

The Ohio branch of Obama for America and the Kenyon Democrats will host a campus kickoff this Sunday, Feb. 26 to encourage students to get involved in President Obama's re-election campaign.

President Nugent to Approve New Smoking Policy

President S. Georgia Nugent said she plans to approve the revised smoking policy Campus Senate passed on Feb. 9, allowing it to go into effect by Jan. 2013

Senate Passes Revised Smoking Policy

Campus Senate passed a revised policy for the College's regulation of smoking on campus on Thursday, Feb. 9, with 10 senators in favor of the measure and one member choosing to abstain.

Faculty, Staff to Receive Pay Raises

In addition to a one-time $4,000 lump-sum raise for each full-time and tenure-track faculty member, the Board of Trustees has approved a 2.8 percent increase in the salary pool for these faculty, according to President S. Georgia Nugent.

Valentine’s Day Ball a Success Despite Horn’s Size

Despite receiving only $2,000 of the $5,000 they solicited for the Black, White & Red All Over Ball, the Horn Gallery and the Peeps O' Kenyon turned their Valentine's Day formal into a colorful success, according to Kat O'Hara '12, co-manager of the Horn.

Summer Sendoff Moved to Friday

Student members of Social Board made the unprecedented decision to move the College's annual Summer Sendoff event from a Saturday to a Friday this year, which provoked a mixed reaction from the student body when the Board announced it last week.

‘Vibrant’ Prof Harvey Lodish ’62 Returns to Teach on Stem Cells

Most of the year, Harvey Lodish '62 teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For two weeks this spring, however, the renowned molecular biologist and author ditched urban Cambridge for rural Gambier.

Speaker Inspires Through Charitable Action

While riding from Vietnam to Thailand on an old Russian motorcycle, Adam Swartzbaugh was hit by a truck. Though he had to spend two weeks recovering at a hospital in Bangkok, the experience changed his life.

Kugle Speaks on Various Islamic Views of Homosexuality

Much of the understanding of homosexuality within Islam rests on interpretation, according to Scott Kugle, associate professor of South Asian and Islamic studies at Emory University, who facilitated a discussion on Feb. 12 and gave a talk Feb.13 at Kenyon.

Social Board Announces Sendoff Bands

After years of low student turnout at the Summer Sendoff concert, Social Board directed energy, funds and resources toward booking a band with a big name for this year's event. Big Boi, or Antwan André Patton, a rapper, songwriter, record producer and actor, will headline Sendoff this year, performing on Friday, April 27 at 10:00 p.m. on Ransom Lawn.

Senate Passes Revised Student Council Elections Policy

The Student Life Committee has revised the Student Council elections policy, moving nominations and elections earlier in the semester and requiring a group meeting for all potential candidates

Kenyon Gmail Safe from Changes

Kenyon students who have a Gmail address in addition to their Kenyon email should take note: Google's privacy policy has changed, and it affects important aspects of Gmail's user experience.

Council Distributes Sustainability Grants

Although Kenyon has taken on a number of environmental initiatives, it still pales in comparison to the efforts of other liberal arts colleges in its category. Kenyon staff and students on the Sustainability Council are looking to change that.

Horn Gallery Receives Funds to Replace Mics

The Business and Finance Committee recently approved a supplemental budget request for $2,400 for the Sound Techs, enabling the purchase of essential equipment that was stolen from the Horn Gallery two weekends ago.

Up and Coming Clubs and Kenyon

The Humanist Association at  Kenyon The Humanist Association at Kenyon is a new group that plans to provide a place for humanists and those who want to discuss a variety of social and philosophical issues. "A humanist can cover a really broad range of categories.

Meet the Greeks

Kenyon’s fraternities and sororities have their own traditions, legacies and legends.

These are not the kind of facts printed in the rush booklet or said at the first meet-and-greet, but it is this trivia that makes Kenyon's Greek system exceptional, even at an institution already rife with tradition.

Five Departments Seeking Tenure-Track Professors

Once again, Kenyon is hiring.

Without Bexleys, College to Confront Limited Housing

Next year, the College will have fewer extra beds available than it has had in years.

Trustees Approve Annual Budget

The Board approved increases in faculty salaries, the financial aid budget and dorm renovations.

Kenyon's Board of Trustees approved a budget last weekend that will allow the College to raise faculty salaries, offer more financial aid and renovate residence halls, according to President S. Georgia Nugent.

“Visits” Series Explores Kenyon’s Local Food

A single nationally recognized local food program made up 40 percent of Peirce Hall's food last year.

Interdisciplinary Programs to Prepare Students for Life after Kenyon

Two new academic programs are hoping to broaden the horizons of Kenyon students this semester, while preparing them for a changing world after graduation.

Students and CCO Revitalize Kenyon’s Christian Community

In an effort to revive and streamline Christian life on campus, leaders of Koinonia, campus Bible study groups and discipleship groups are bringing their programs together under the name "Be."

Sendoff Rumors Prompt Inquiry

In a move that is raising questions about its jurisdiction over student organizations, Student Council requested a last-minute meeting with Social Board leaders this Sunday to discuss a rumor concerning Summer Sendoff.

Financial Aid for CAs to Change Next Year

ResLife is addressing issues with compensation that discouraged students from applying to be CAs.

As next Wednesday's deadline for Community Advisor applications approaches, the Office of Housing and Residential Life is trying to iron out changes to CA compensation.

Mics Worth $3K Stolen From Horn

Ten microphones, estimated to be worth about $3,000 total, were stolen from the Horn Gallery last weekend. The Horn is working with Campus Safety to locate the missing equipment.

Construction Update

Studio Art Building Work on the Horvitz Center for the Visual Arts is progressing on schedule, according to Director of Facilities Planning Tom Lepley. Workers have installed the roof, all windows and temporary heating so that interior construction can continue during the winter.

Gambier Mayor Looks to Finish Park, Conserve Water

Mayor Emmert plans to improve Gambier’s sidewalks, reduce water use and move forward.

Gambier Mayor Kirk Emmert will lead a series of initiatives in the Village to improve water loss, sidewalks and the waste-water system this year.

Sustainability Proposal to Save College $12 Million

Kenyon will embark on an estimated $6 million effort to increase its energy conservation efforts.

Kenyon will embark on an estimated $6 million effort to increase its energy conservation efforts this year.

Honduras Study Abroad Trip Canceled

Last minute safety concerns prompted the College to cancel the Kenyon-Honduras Archaeology and Anthropology Program scheduled for this semester.

DKEs, Betas Work to Remove Sanctions

As rush begins, fraternities on probation work with the administration to improve pledging.

Despite their probation statuses, both the Delta Kappa Epsilon and Beta Theta Pi fraternities will accept rushees this spring.

Troutman Says Goodbye to Kenyon, Hello to New Opportunities

After five years of living and working alongside Kenyon students, Associate Director for Housing and Residential Life Matt Troutman has decided to move on to a bigger city, though he hopes to return in the future.

Artist Re-Imagines a Classic

Matt Kish considered his exploration of Captain Ahab's final sea voyage the last great test of his artistic abilities, an all or nothing personal challenge that would determine whether he would ever draw again.

New Coach Optimistic for Upcoming Football Season

The Lords football team welcomed a new head football coach, Chris Monfiletto — known to his players as Coach Mono — last week.

Pelotonia Saw a Clear Partner in Kenyon

One day in late July, three men from the charity bike ride Pelotonia drove into Gambier on a quiet reconnaissance mission.

Kathryn Currier, Renaissance Woman, "Kind Soul," Dies Unexpectedly

A tireless learner, a thoughtful friend and a passionate equestrian, Kathryn Elizabeth Currier, a first-year student, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Dec. 8 after falling ill in her room in Lewis Hall.

Search for Football Coach Draws 124 Applicants

Following Ted Stanley's resignation after nine seasons as the Head Coach for football, President S. Georgia Nugent and the Board of Trustees established a committee to find a replacement for the position. The Lords, who are seeking to rebound from two consecutive winless seasons, will meet the new head coach early in the spring semester. In the meantime, the search has received 124 applications to date. 

Kenyon Ranked Fifth “Druggiest” Campus in U.S.

A recent study conducted by the news reporting and opinion website The Daily Beast has given the College a new standing in the world of drug culture: Kenyon has been named the fifth "druggiest college" in America, coming behind Bryant University, Dartmouth College, Denison University and the University of Colorado-Boulder, which earned places fourth through first, respectively.

AIB Infractions Still High

Kenyon's Academic Infractions Board (AIB) reviewed a record-high 19 cases last year.

President's Committee on Arts, Humanities Taps Lynn for Poets Program

David Lynn, professor of English and editor of The Kenyon Review, is helping put Kenyon on the map.  The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, of which First Lady Michelle Obama is Honorary Chair, chose him to participate in the National Student Poets Program. He was selected based on the recommendation of his friend Robert Casper, head of the Poetry and Literature Center in the Office of Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress.

Student Lectureships Hosts Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist

If Buzz Bissinger's Twitter persona is indicative of anything, Kenyon could be in for quite a Thursday night.

Student-Professor Collaboration Garners National Attention

Research in the psychology department has sparked national debate.

A study co-authored by Professor of Psychology Sarah Murnen, Professor Emerita of Psychology Linda Smolak, Samantha Goodin '10 and Alyssa Van Denburg '12 has recently garnered national media attention, including mentions in Time and The Huffington Post.

BFC Funding 2011

Even the largest student organizations saw their budgets shrink this fall, but the Business and Finance Committee (BFC) allocated over $127,000 to student organizations for the coming semester, meeting 77 percent of budget requests. This figure represents a massive jump from this semester, when they met only 36 percent of requests.

Phling Pie Cut Into Small Slices

Organizations across campus have banded together to win funds previously reserved for Phling.

After receiving six applications, the Phebruary Phunds Committee announced that collaborative proposals to hold a semi-formal party and to bring rapper Mike Stud and DJ gLAdiator to campus received the $10,000 made available after the cancellation of Philander's Phling.

Middle Path To Be Resurfaced

It took a core-sampling machine to answer the perennial question: does Middle Path need paving?

Gender-Neutral Housing Coming This Spring

In addition to new apartment options, Kenyon students will soon gain an even greater variety of housing opportunities. The College gave gender-neutral housing a try this year, offering students the choice to live with roommates of the opposite gender. Because of its success and an overwhelmingly positive response to discussions regarding this issue, Kenyon will offer gender-neutral housing in many upperclassmen areas next year.

Two Arrested in Caples in Drug-Related Incident

The Knox County Sheriff's Office arrested two men, both non-students, in a "drug-related incident" in Caples Residence Hall last Thursday, Nov. 10, according to Director of Campus Safety Bob Hooper.

Liberal Arts Grads Satisfied, Research Groups Says

Kenyon students tend to hope they're getting something more out of their educations, and a new study from the Annapolis Group provides the data to back that hope up.

Alumna and Non-Proft CEO Will Deliver Commencement Address

After more than a year of deliberation, Senior Class President Christian Martínez-Canchola announced last Saturday that Aileen Hefferren '88 will deliver the 2012 commencement address.

Senate Review Sexual Misconduct Policy

Forums invite students to weigh in as the College considers amendments to the misconduct policy.

Campus Senate opened its quadrennial review of the College's Sexual Misconduct Policy in a forum on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Students and administrators offered insights and concerns for Senate to consider as it updates the policy.

Coach Stanley Resigns After 9 Years

Ted Stanley, who served for nine seasons as Kenyon's Head Football Coach, resigned from the position on Monday, Nov. 14, bringing an end to his career's parabolic trajectory following a 26-7 loss to Denison on Saturday and two consecutive winless seasons.

College Expands Institutional Research Position

The College recently revamped the position of Director of Institutional Research.

Forums to Address Sexual Misconduct Policy

The Sexual Misconduct Policy Review Committee will hold two forums next week to answer questions about Kenyon's current Sexual Misconduct Policy and discuss potential changes.

Students Approve Activities Fee Increase

The student body has passed the Student Activities Fee Referendum, raising the student activities fee from $135 to $150 per semester for the 2012-2013 school year.

Election Results

The following Gambier politicians have won uncontested elections: Kirk Emmert —  Mayor of the Village of Gambier Tom Stamp and J. Kachen Kimmell — Gambier Village Council Doug McLarnan — Township Trustee Martha M. Rambo — Fiscal Officer, College Township The Mount Vernon School Renewal Tax Levy and the College Township Fire Department Tax Levy have both passed.

Forum Debates Future of Smoking at Kenyon

Campus Senate is currently considering a new, less restrictive alternative to last year’s.

With Campus Senate's current consideration of a smoking ban, many students, faculty and staff have been wondering: should smoking at Kenyon be banned, regulated or left alone?  The Center for the Study of American Democracy sponsored a forum on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Peirce Pub to discuss the issue. The forum included a panel of three students and two faculty members.

Nite Bites to Offer New Late-Night Snacking Options for Students

Hungry, tired students trapped in the library will no longer have to forage in basement vending machines for late-night snacks. Beginning Monday, Nov. 14, Kenyon's own Entrepreneurship Club will open Nite Bites, a late-night food service located in Peirce Pub and operating from approximately 11:00 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Schools Face Levy and Funding Issues

In the midst of recent spending cuts for local schools, the upcoming Nov. 8 election will include a renewal levy for Mount Vernon school funding as part of the ballot.

Candidate Supports Religion in Schools

Six Mount Vernon Board of Education candidates will contest three seats in the local election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The candidates, Margie Bennett (incumbent), Jeffrey Cline, Marie Curry, Cheryl Feasel, Jolene Goetzman (incumbent) and Stephen Kelly, are all non-partisan, but some of their campaign promises have become controversial.

Kenyon Celebrates the Opening of New Apartments

Construction on two more North Campus Apartment units ended in time for the trustees’ meeting

Members of the Board of Trustees, professors, deans, students and President S. Georgia Nugent convened around the new North Campus Apartments this past Friday, Oct. 29 to watch the cutting of the purple ribbon and listen to the vast list of benefits that this new housing option will bring to Kenyon College. 

Board of Trustees Preview

The trustees have an exceptionally full agenda for their October meeting this coming weekend. Rather than tedious negotiations, however, the Board will spend much of its time in celebration.

New North Campus Apartments Open

Two new North Campus Apartment buildings will become available for student housing starting next semester. This addition includes six new apartments, two with four singles and four with one double and two singles. Juniors and seniors, both those on campus and currently abroad, are eligible to apply for these four-person apartments for this spring.

Funding for New Student-Run Events Replaces Phling

Insufficient student involvement in Phling’s planning led to the end of a 16-year tradition.

One of Kenyon's most popular events may have seen its final days. Philander's Phebruary Phling, at least as students have come to know and love it, is no more, according to Associate Dean of Students Tacci Smith. Since Phling's inception in 1996, its goal has been to provide a student-run escape from the winter weather.

Professor McKeown Takes Leave of Absence

Professor of Political Science Alex McKeown has left the College, and Professors of Political Science Abbie Erler and David Rowe have taken over his classes. "[McKeown] took a leave of absence, and it was the appropriate thing to do," Provost Nayef Samhat said. "The leave is an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons. … He is not scheduled to teach next semester."

Middle Path Will Never Be Paved

Lately, the buckets of rain soaking Middle Path have been making the walkway even more difficult to traverse — large puddles necessitate waterproof footwear or above-average jumping ability. The problems have inspired rumors of the College paving over Middle Path. According to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman, however, drastic change is not in the cards for the beloved pathway. "It's never going to be paved," Kohlman said. "It's a main part of the College."

American Red Cross Calls Blood Drive a Success

Delta Tau Delta has received the results of its latest blood drive, held on Friday, Sept. 30. "We collected 58 units, saving up to 174 lives," Senior Donor Recruitment Representative for the American Red Cross Annette Titus said. "Congratulations! You rock," she wrote in an email to Delta Tau Delta Community Service Chair Kris Reslow '13.

Mount Vernon Dairy Queen Closes for Unknown Reasons

The Dairy Queen Grill & Chill at 1600 Coshocton Ave. in Mount Vernon closed recently. Employees of restaurants and stores near the Dairy Queen do not seem to know why it closed, and there is some confusion as to exactly when it closed. It was still open on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 15.

Animals Escape from Nearby Farm

Nearly 50 exotic animals escaped from the Muskingum County Animal Farm in Zanesville, Ohio on Tuesday, Oct. 18.

Rick Hodes Inspires Students with Stories of Ethiopia

The speaker addressed the costs and difficulties of medical care from Africa to the U.S. in lectures

Internal medicine specialist Dr. Rick Hodes spoke at Kenyon on Monday, Oct. 17 about his 20 years in Ethiopia treating patients with ailments including rheumatic and congenital heart disease, tuberculosis and cancer. 

Kenyon Moves to Web Registration 10 Years After It Became Available

Next week, Kenyon will join most other colleges in the nation in switching to online course registration. "I think it is the right decision in the end," Registrar Ellen Harbourt said. "I think we'll have growing pains, but we'll figure it out. I think in a year or two, everyone's going to be like, ‘Wow, we did that on paper?'"

College Reviews Football Program

The administration has formed a committee in reaction to the Lords’ two-year losing streak.

The 1972 Lords football season was the stuff of football myth: a 7-0-1 record, a shutout over Case Western Reserve University on homecoming weekend. That season, tight end Mike Duffy caught 35 passes for six touchdowns, and in one moment of fourth-quarter magic, after fighting back from 14-0, Giovanni DiLalla booted a 35-yard field goal for the win. But all seasons, even glorious ones, end. Today, Duffy is a lawyer in Chicago, DiLalla sells copiers in Cleveland and the undefeated team they left behind is struggling.

Legal Scholar Tackles Sexual Misconduct Policies

Gill Gualtieri '12 presented her Summer Legal Scholars research project on college sexual misconduct policies on Friday, Oct. 14 to the Kenyon Athletic Center theatre. Gualtieri's project was entitled "Writing Sexual Misconduct: Articulation, Enforcement, and Revision Pattern for Sexual Misconduct Policies at GLCA Institutions as Related to State Laws." The College is a member of the GLCA (Great Lakes Colleges Association) and its sexual misconduct policy is due for review by the Campus Senate this year.

Students Lose Hot Water

Last week's steam shutdown had south campus residents nervous about their hot water supply. Some students lost hot water temporarily, but the repairs went smoothly, according to Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Gregory Widener.

“Everyone is Gay” Founders Advocate for LGBTQ Rights

"This is a safe space, you guys," read the stickers promoted by Kristin Russo and Dannielle Owens-Reid, founders of the website Everyone is Gay. The pair handed out its own variation of the "safe space" stickers distributed by the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) when the two spoke in Peirce Pub on Tuesday, Oct. 11 to an overflowing crowd.

Henry’s Plans to Reopen After Facing Health Violations

The Mount Vernon Indian restaurant closed when it failed a health and fire safety inspection.

Henry's Copper Curry was closed on Friday, Sept. 30 after an annual health and fire safety inspection revealed several violations. Though the Curtis Inn that houses Henry's is under state jurisdiction, the Mount Vernon Fire Department and the Knox County Health Department were included in the inspection.

Government at Work

Forum discusses the role of local politics.

Last night, the Center for the Study of American Democracy and the Rural Life Center cosponsored a local politics forum in the Gund Gallery Auditorium. Featured speakers at "Democracy and Local Politics in Knox County" included Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis, Gambier Mayor Kirk Emmert, Knox County Commissioner Teresa Bemiller, and Knox County Democratic Party Chair Meg Galipault.

Kenyon Becomes Movie Set Again

The first morning of October Break is usually a quiet time for Gambier, but shouts of "camera, speed, action!" resonated across campus this past Thursday, Oct. 6. Old Fashioned, an independent film based in nearby New Philadelphia, Ohio, spent the morning filming several brief scenes at Kenyon with about a dozen students and staff participating as extras.

AVI Chef Leaves for New Position

Executive Sous Chef Jake Owen has been promoted to Executive Chef in Charleston, W. Va. and will soon be leaving Kenyon.

Lawrence Lessig Accuses U.S. Congress of Corruption

American political activist and Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig stressed the need for a constitutional convention to address rampant congressional corruption during his speech at Kenyon on Tuesday, Sept. 27

Robert Rubin Discusses Troy Davis and Voting Rights

Guest speaker Robert Rubin advocated for full voting rights and equal opportunities for all in his lecture, "Civil Rights in the Post-Obama Era," at Kenyon this past Thursday, Sept. 22.

Ralph Lauren Removes Tie from Website

    Ralph Lauren has not yet contacted the College about the alleged use of the Kenyon shield on the clothing company's "Eating Club University Tie," according to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman ("Kenyon May Enter Lawsuit with Ralph Lauren," Sept.

Stolen Computer Returns to Campus

The computer taken from a construction trailer on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 20 is no longer missing ("Theft in Bolton Theater," Sept. 22, 2011). A Knox County Sheriff's deputy found the computer on Lower Gambier Rd. and returned it to the College, according to Director of Campus Safety Bob Hooper.

Panel Addresses Political and Personal Immigration Issues

Kenyon has been buzzing with talk of the arrest and possible deportation of Kenyon alumnus Marco Saavedra '11. In light of the situation and in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Martin Luther King Day of Dialogue Planning Committee and ADELANTE sponsored a panel on Thursday, Sept. 22 called "Talking Immigration: Personal, National, Institutional Perspectives."

Delta Tau Delta Blood Drives Begin

Delta Tau Delta will hold its first American Red Cross blood drive of the year on Friday, Sept. 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Gund Commons. Students can sign up in Peirce Atrium this week from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. daily, according to Delta Tau Delta Community Service Chair Kris Reslow '13.

Kenyon Earns "Artistic Colleges" Rating

The Daily Beast, a website affiliated with Newsweek magazine, recently ranked Kenyon 12th on its list of the 25 most "artistic" colleges. Rankings were determined based on data from CollegeBoard, according to The Daily Beast website. The website states that only "selective schools," meaning "four-year schools that admit less than 50 percent of applicants," were considered.

Senate Reconsiders Campus Smoking Ban Proposal

Former Campus Senate Co-Chair Gavin McGimpsey '11 proposed a campus-wide smoking ban to Senate last semester. Thanks to the surrounding controversy, however, the proposal was tabled until now.

Kenyon Admissions Process Favors Men

In a 2006 New York Times op-ed, Jennifer Delahunty, Kenyon's dean of admissions, wrote, "two-thirds of colleges and universities report that they get more female than male applicants, and more than 56 percent of undergraduates nationwide are women." There are more men than women at Kenyon. And while the College has maintained a female-to-male ratio of 53 to 47 since 2008, today, nearly 60 percent of all undergraduates across America are women.

Peirce May Run Out of Cups

The College has decided to not buy more plastic cups.

Every year students take plates and plastic cups out of Peirce Hall, and every year the College pays to replenish the supply. Starting this year, however, when the cups disappear, the College will no longer replace them, according to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman.

Journalist Robin Wright Discusses Islamic Rebellions

Robin Wright, the first speaker in this year's faculty lectureship series, gave a presentation at Rosse Hall titled "Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World."

Student Suspected of Setting Fire in Mather Residence Hall

First Year Allegedly Ignites Dorm Posters, Suspended on Arson Charges

The Mather Residence Hall was evacuated due to "deliberately set" fires at 12:29 a.m. Oct. 8, according to an email sent from Campus Safety later that day. The primary suspect, Joey Allen '14, a McBride resident, was apprehended by Safety officers in the McBride common room at approximately 1:24 a.m. He was taken away in a golf cart to the Office of Campus Safety for questioning. The Knox County Sherriff's report alleges that he was arrested At 2:03 a.m and was jailed on charges of arson, inducing panic and marijuana possession.

Wellness and Fire Department Gain Division Housing

For the first time, Greek life is not synonymous with division housing on the Kenyon campus. After a long tenancy in themed housing, students who are a part of Wellness and the College Township Fire Department have received division-housing status through the Board of Division Housing.

South Campus May Face Hot Water Outage in October

Steam will be in short supply on south campus from Oct. 5 through Oct. 9. The life cycle of the piping system for south campus is nearing its completion, so steam must be shut down while necessary repairs take place. The shutdown will reduce hot water and building heat in the residences of Hanna, Manning, Leonard,Bushnell and Old Kenyon.

Archons at the BFEC

Over 20 members of the Archon Society weeded the strawberry patch and cleared trails at the Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC) for their biannual BFEC volunteer day last Saturday, Sept. 17.

U Car Offers New Rental Service

Now, the wide world of rural Ohio is accessible even to those Kenyon students without their own car. U Car Share will now provide a Ford Focus or a Nissan Cube for trips to Mount Vernon or Columbus.

Underage Students Receive Citations at Hospital

Contrary to popular belief, underage students who seek help through the Good Samaritan Policy may face punishment under Ohio law.

Theft in Bolton Theater

Five computers are missing from Kenyon’s campus as of Tuesday night.

Four computers from Bolton Theater design studio and a laptop from a construction trailer were stolen during the night of Tuesday, Sept. 20, according to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman.

Kenyon May Enter Lawsuit with Ralph Lauren

Alumni noticed similarities between a tie from Ralph Lauren’s Rugby Collection and Kenyon's shield.

Kenyon will soon begin legal proceedings with the Ralph Lauren clothing company in response to its alleged use of the Kenyon seal on its "Eating Club University Tie," according to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman. "It seems fairly evident to me that it's the same shield," he said.

SAO Spends $40k on New Website

The Student Activities Office adopted OrgSync, a new web system chosen to replace Community.

Using funds raised through the Student Activities Fee, the Student Activities Office spent $40,000 on a three-year contract with OrgSync, a website designed to manage student organizations.

Alumnus Saavedra Released from Jail

Marco Saavedra '11 was released from jail last Thursday, Sept. 8 after his arrest in Charlotte, N.C. As part of a protest against several recent policies affecting immigration enforcement, he publicly revealed himself as an undocumented immigrant.

AIB Hears Record Number of Cases

Last year, a total of 19 students faced charges of academic infractions.

Professors begin each year by urging students to respect academic integrity. This year, however, many of their usual speeches were accompanied by warnings about last year's record-high number of Academic Infractions Board (AIB) cases.

Shuttle Hours Reduced

On Sunday, Sept. 4, the Student Council voted to suspend operation of the shuttle on Mondays on a trial basis. This decision means that, beginning in October, the shuttle will run only three days a week.

Nugent Reflects on Memories of 9/11 at Campus Forum

"I have never spoken publicly about this before," began President S. Georgia Nugent at Sunday's 9/11 Personal Reflections discussion in Peirce Pub. "My husband, Tom Scherer, was in Tower Two … when the planes hit."

Bikes Taken

On Monday, Sept. 12, Village of Gambier officials cut locks and confiscated  three bikes that were locked to signposts around town.  According to a long-standing village ordinance, the Village can confiscate bikes found in these areas and bring them to the Village Garage.

Kenyon Librarian Wins Information Technology Award

Meghan Frazer, digital resource librarian, has worked to tell the untold stories of blacks in Knox County to a largely white Kenyon population.

News Brief

Update: Saavedra on his protest and his arrest

 Marco Saavedra '11 talks about his arrest in Charlotte, North Carolina after he revealed he was an undocumented immigrant during a protest there last week.

The Kenyon Review Offers New Writing Scholarship

This year, thanks to a generous contribution by an anonymous donor, Kenyon will begin offering a merit-based writing scholarship aimed at attracting some of the nation's best young writers.

Kenyon Grant Creates Center for Innovative Pedagogy

In the past, many faculty members have felt Kenyon lacked inter-departmental discussions about teaching, according to Center for Innovative Pedagogy (CIP) Director Joseph Murphy.  "People felt we weren't setting aside enough time specifically for sharing expertise or concerns," he said. "The Center is primarily designed to address that hunger to learn more about teaching and learning, at Kenyon and in the larger education community."

Origin of Kenyon’s Torah in Question

Rabbi Menachem Youlus called himself the "Jewish Indiana Jones," but he may be little more than a charlatan. Youlus' "Save a Torah" organization claimed to have spent thousands of dollars recovering and restoring Torahs that had been taken from Jewish communities during the Holocaust. One of these "recovered" scrolls was purchased by Kenyon parents Michael and Deborah Salzberg, who donated it to the College in the fall of 2007. At the time, Kenyon Hillel Director Marc Bragin told the Kenyon College Alumni Bulletin that this scroll was a "story of survival."

Banned Blood Protest Energizes Kenyon Students

Whether you have type O, A or B blood, the Red Cross wants and needs it. After all, a pint of blood can save three lives.

Why, then, were 11 people — 33 saved lives — turned away from Kenyon's perennial spring blood drive, on Friday Feb. 25 in Gund Commons? Ali Thieman '13 presided over a protest in the entryway of Gund Ballroom to raise awareness of this very issue.

The Right to Choose Starts with the Walk for Choice

Kenyon students participate in a wide variety of activities, including those that are typical of "the college experience" — attending fraternity parties and lectures by guest speakers — as well as those that are somewhat less common. (Raccoon dinner, anyone?)

Lecture on Swedish Health Care Emphasizes Need for Change in America

While the debates over health care policy rage on in Washington, D.C., some of the issues posed by legislators were brought to Kenyon on Monday night, Feb. 28. 

Professor Ahmet T. Karamustafa On Sufism

Professor Ahmet T. Karamustafa came to campus last Thursday, Feb. 24 to speak on "Musicians of the Soul: Mevlana Rumi and the Mevlevi order" as the first in a series of lectures about Sufi mysticism.

North Campus Housing Application Requires Minimum GPA, Good Judicial Standing

Despite the bitter winter and the seemingly permanent construction zones between Bexley Apartments and Caples Hall, the wait is finally over. Kenyon's newest housing project, the aptly named North Campus Apartments,

SMA Hotline Gains Temporary Funding

Kenyon's Sexual Misconduct Advisors announced their new anonymous hotline on Tuesday, Feb. 8, with the goal of making advice and consultation more comfortable and accessible.

Rural Life Center Sponsors Talks

The Feb. 10 common hour event "Wild in the Kitchen" was the first of three conversations in Professor of Sociology and Director of the Rural Life Center Howard Sacks' Visits program.

Administration Considers Changes to Sendoff, Party Policy

Summer Sendoff: most Kenyon students would agree that it is one of the most enjoyable days of the year. But it is also inarguably one of the drunkest — a full day of drinking on South Quad, followed by an evening dancing to an expensive band. But all of that might change soon.

Gambier Grill and Village Market Scrutinized by Sheriff’s Office

Knox County Sheriff's Officers conducted a surprise ID check on the night of Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Gambier Grill, according to eyewitnesses and the owner of the establishment, Andy Durbin.

Panel Discusses Egypt in Tumult

"There are a number of futures open to the Egyptian people," Professor of International Studies David Rowe told a standing-room only crowd of students and faculty interested in better navigating the mass protests in Egypt. Rowe moderated the faculty-led "Egypt in Tumult" panel on Tuesday, Feb. 8 in Peirce Lounge.

Trustees Approve Apt. Locks

Last Friday, Feb. 4, the Kenyon Board of Trustees approved the College's budget for 2012, along with several other projects, including a plan to update the locks on apartment-style campus housing.

Library Hosts Community Events

The library is partnering with Wellness Housing and the Kenyon Film Society to host its second game night of the school year on Friday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m.  Game Night is another initiative the library has carried out to improve the use of Olin and Chalmers facilities.

Bookstore Implements New Textbook Policy

Late last semester, Bookstore Manager Jim Huang sent an email advising students of changes to the Bookstore's textbook system that would begin after winter break. With the start of classes a few weeks ago, these new policies, which include online K-Card use, electronic textbooks and rental options, are now in effect.

Ice Storm Cuts Electricity for 13 Hours

Last Wednesday, Feb. 2, Kenyon experienced a blackout rivaling the fabled September blackout of '08, which many juniors and seniors still remember fondly.

Kenyon Student Arrested on Theft Charges

Cash and Property Stolen From Multiple First-Years

Michael C. Morales '14, of Miami, Fla., was arrested Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011 by the Knox County Sheriff's Office and charged with one count of felony burglary in the string of robberies that struck the first-year quad in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 22.

Former Village Market Employee Arrested over Threats to Students

John Freeman, Gambier resident, former employee of the Village Market and familiar face to many students, was arrested in December after threatening to shoot Kenyon students so that police would shoot him.

North Campus Housing to be Completed by Fall 2011

Art History Bulding, Other Campus Construction Projects Also On Track For Fall Completion

Despite the challenges posed by winter weather, the College's three main construction projects are all proceeding well and on schedule, according to Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman.

"Freezing for a Reason": Beer & Sex Sponsors Second Annual Polar Plunge

Nearly 200 members of the Kenyon community "plunged" into the Kokosing River for the second annual Polar Plunge on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010, an event planned by Kenyon's student-run Beer and Sex program.

MLK Day of Dialogue Promotes Awareness

Kenyon College students and faculty gathered in Brandi Recital Hall to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a Day of Dialogue at 4:10 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17.

Dorm Locks: What You Need To Know

In addition to other recent security changes, UPS, FedEx and other private carriers are no longer able to deliver packages to residence halls.

Santa's at the Bookstore

The Mount Vernon Players came to Kenyon on Dec. 14, 2010, to spread holiday cheer at the College Bookstore. The Players read four classic Christmas stories out loud to local children — and even to some Kenyon students.

Residence Halls Will be Locked 24/7 Under New Policy

President Georgia Nugent sent an e-mail to students, parents, faculty and staff on Nov. 30 announcing that residence halls will be locked and will require K-Card access 24/7 beginning next semester.