Kenyon College Top Questions

Social Board does a great job of ensuring weekend activities that do not involve drinking. There still is a pretty large drinking atmosphere at Kenyon. Most of the student body are frequent drinkers (at least twice a week). I met my closest friends freshmen year. We both signed up for the "wellness" living space, which is designed for students who want to lead healthy lifestyles (i.e. don't drink). If I am awake on a Tuesday at 2am, I am in the math building working on a project/homework assignment. There is no dating scene at Kenyon. You are either in a relationship or you are not. There does not seem to be any way to just get to know the opposite sex in a dating fashion. There are random party hook ups. Theater is pretty popular. Some great speakers do come to Kenyon. I make an effort to see it, but the work load does not always allow that. Fraternities and sororities provide the majority of the parties on campus. However, most of the students are independents. Going off campus typically means going to Columbus (55 min drive) for some fun activity. Otherwise, it is just a quick trip to the nearby town for groceries (10 min. drive).

the only social activity here is having sex and drinking. these events are managed by the frats and sororities. this is really their only function other than raising money. this money is then spent on more beer. if i am awake at any time of the day i am probably studying, checking facebook, or staring at the food on my plate in disgust. people party four times a week. it is also said that if a person drinks more than three times a week, they are considered an alcoholic. i hate to think what percentage of kenyon's population is in this category.

The party scene pretty much gets laid upon the Fraternities, which are not stereotypical fraternities as you will find at larger schools. Most are inviting and friendly, and everyone is looking to have a good time.

Paryting happens every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights and that is about all there is to do at that time. There isn't much to do in Gambier besides party. For some people this is the biggest problem about coming to Kenyon. You can just hang out though if you don't party and chill with people, or go partying and not drink. Guest speakers are fairly common and there is usually at least one a week. Some big events that happen yearly are in no particular order: Summer Send Off, Shock Your Mamma, Phling, First Year Sing, Founder's Day. Frats and Sorority's are not that big on campus, though they do exist.

One group I'm a part of is the Archon Society. We're techinically a co-ed fraternity, but we only became greek recently. Our main focus is community service. I was big into community service in high school and I think it's something everyone should do, which is why I've joined. It's got just under 100 active members, which is good and bad. Good because we get more service done and there are more people to meet, but bad because we're in a greek system with only other small frats/sororities, so we get treated like a small frat, which we're not. The people I know in Archons are really fun, and our officers are for the most part really organized and good as melding the social and service aspects of the frat together. The dating scene on campus is really weird. People either just hook up or are seriously dating. Casual dating is virtually non-existent on campus. Kenyon brings a lot of great speakers/events to campus. This year we've had Margaret Atwood, Christopher Guest, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more come. In the spring, the school also brings in a band for Summer Sendoff. There are also other musical groups coming in and out throughout the year. I think the social committee realizes how isolated Kenyon is, and so tries to bring in the speakers, bands, etc. that we would have been more exposed to if we were in a big city. I think it's great, and I've enjoyed every speaker I've seen.

The swim team is sick. 29 consecutive national championships or something like that. There definitely isn't a jock culture on campus, but sporting event are pretty well attended none the less. Plays, musical performances and lectures draw large audiences too. Students are not overly concerned about there safety. Most dorm room doors are left unlocked despite please from the administration. The college currently does not have any swipe card systems for entrance to forms or the dining halls, but the administration is trying to change that despite heavy student resistance. The frats exist, they through good parties on the weekends, but most students don't pledge. Most students go out on only Friday and Saturday nights.

There is a pretty big social life here at Kenyon. Everyone is entitled to do their own thing of corse. Some of my friends like to stay in and watch movies on the weekends and others like to go out and party. Everyone is very open and non-judgmental on whether you drink or not as well.

Lots of things to do, sometimes it'll feel like there's nothing. Definitely a "rich get richer" thing where you'll only be popular if you're...popular. But great social life at Kenyon. Lots of readers and speakers and dances and such. Also good for the non-drinking crowd.

I would have much more fun here at night if the drinking and partying culture were different. I know I sound condescendent when I criticize this, but I miss living in a place where drinking is not the main thing that makes the difference between a "fun night" and a lame night. I have good friends here who don't need to drink to have a good time, but it bothers me that the majority of students here lean on alcohol like a crutch and are willing to drink in excess and endanger their lives. I like drinking, but it is not a necessity for me, and I where I come from getting wasted is not cool; what is cool is holding up to alcohol and not behaving like a crazy person.

Frats aren't a necessity but do host most big parties/social events. There isn't mcuh to do but party, and the parties can get old after a while. In short, the social life is by no means extravagant.