I don't know what to say. Honestly, not our best showing this weekend, Kenyon.
This article is not going to be about the horrible weather we had this weekend. I get it, in this backward-ass state we called Ohio, where the weather in the middle of February was significantly better than the weather from the past month, it's just a toss-up. Mother Nature is totally out of our control, and seeing that three out of the four Send-Offs while I have been here have had inclement weather, we honestly might be cursed.
This article is also not about the performances this weekend neither. I respect Social Board and the efforts they put into finding us a good artist(s) with quite frankly from what I have heard, a shitty budget. With a campus population that is almost impossible to satisfy, it's difficult to appeal to our yuppy masses. Not to mention the fact with all the date changing and small time window to book an artist, Chiddy Bang was not that bad. But seriously, what in the hell was he wearing?
No, this article is being written for me to express my disappointment in the Kenyon student population. What the hell, guys? As we all remember, the administration went behind our backs and unexpectedly changed the Send-Off date, as well as eliminating the outdoor South Quad drinking that we have named "the Playpen." We fought tooth and nail to get Send-Off back to its original date. Although we had the date changed, all the other administrative changes remained the same. However, I was extremely disappointed in the lack of revolution or rebel against these changes. I was expecting to see, regardless of the patrolling campus safety officers, enough students to say "screw it, this is our Send-Off," and join together to make South Quad a more lively environment. Instead, what we got was probably a quarter of the normal size out there, with sporadic cliquey circles.
As you are reading this, you're probably thinking to yourself, "Does this kid really have enough free time to be complaining about a party?" But I am not complaining about Send-Off's party atmosphere. What I am complaining about, however, is our school's (and by that I mean the student's) lack of effective action. I'm not going to beat around the bush, our talk is cheap, very cheap. I remember in February, during the time of the administrative changes, where I would see banners hanging in protest from South Quad buildings saying "Unite or Die," or some bullshit like that. But when the time came to it, there was no "uniting."
Unfortunately, I think what we saw on Friday is the beginning of where this school's social life is going. Luckily, I will not be around to see it come into fruition, but I saw just a small glimpse. Unfortunately, most of the problem is not the student's fault. Changing policies, the Cove being shut down, that is not the students' fault either. But unfortunately, the students are letting this happen, with hardly any push back where we can. That is what I, personally, am disappointed about.
Good luck, Kenyon.
