Pranks: a history of Kenyon's deviants
From burning furniture to stealing Philander's horse
Erin Mershon
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Features
As finals approach, it's difficult to recall those days when the majority of Kenyon students weren't hunched over textbooks in the library or busily finishing papers in the wee hours of the morning. Kenyon's alumni, however, remember their own glory days spent not in the library, but rabblerousing, scheming and generally creating ruckus. With such a creative and passionate student body, Kenyon has seen its fair share of pranks. Some of the escapades, like the popular repainting of the Beta rock, have no higher aim than simple jest, but others address serious issues of concern among the student body.
Church Rebellion
Richard Rubin '62, now a member of the Board of Trustees, fondly recalls his own role in a 1962 campaign against Kenyon's mandatory chapel requirement. "It was something of a 'cause célébre' at the time," Rubin said. "It struck many of us as a burden that was not justified. One should have the right to elect where they wish to worship."
At the time, with no faith-based organizations like Hillel in place, Rubin and his classmates had no choice in the matter. Each Sunday they would dutifully listen, or, as Rubin noted, "sort-of listen," to the sermon at the Church of the Holy Spirit. Still, many students elected to sit at the top, playing chess or finishing assignments.
Rubin, then the editor-in-chief of The Kenyon Collegian, gathered his editorial staff to discuss the requirement. "It was an infringement on our First Amendment rights," Rubin said. "We discussed it and concluded we would take a stand. It felt like the right thing to do, and we felt strongly enough about it that we wanted to write about it."
The Collegian's stand on the issue quickly raised eyebrows, causing "quite a stir" around the campus. "We took it on as something we wanted to do-a kind of mini-crusade," Rubin said.
At that time, the campus had a much closer affiliation with the Church; Bexley Hall was still the location of a seminary. "There was a very strong consciousness, given the roots of the school and its foundation by Bishop Philander Chase. There was an institutional interest in collaboration with the Church," Rubin said. "It was political orthodoxy."
Church Rebellion
Richard Rubin '62, now a member of the Board of Trustees, fondly recalls his own role in a 1962 campaign against Kenyon's mandatory chapel requirement. "It was something of a 'cause célébre' at the time," Rubin said. "It struck many of us as a burden that was not justified. One should have the right to elect where they wish to worship."
At the time, with no faith-based organizations like Hillel in place, Rubin and his classmates had no choice in the matter. Each Sunday they would dutifully listen, or, as Rubin noted, "sort-of listen," to the sermon at the Church of the Holy Spirit. Still, many students elected to sit at the top, playing chess or finishing assignments.
Rubin, then the editor-in-chief of The Kenyon Collegian, gathered his editorial staff to discuss the requirement. "It was an infringement on our First Amendment rights," Rubin said. "We discussed it and concluded we would take a stand. It felt like the right thing to do, and we felt strongly enough about it that we wanted to write about it."
The Collegian's stand on the issue quickly raised eyebrows, causing "quite a stir" around the campus. "We took it on as something we wanted to do-a kind of mini-crusade," Rubin said.
At that time, the campus had a much closer affiliation with the Church; Bexley Hall was still the location of a seminary. "There was a very strong consciousness, given the roots of the school and its foundation by Bishop Philander Chase. There was an institutional interest in collaboration with the Church," Rubin said. "It was political orthodoxy."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
AJ
posted 5/08/09 @ 11:16 AM EST
Too bad most of this stuff would mean summary expulsion today.
Cleveland Movers
posted 6/01/09 @ 1:59 PM EST
These were some pretty original and clever pranks. Too bad, as AJ pointed out, the consequences for participating in any of those pranks today would be far more damaging to one's academic career. (Continued…)
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