Reaching Out

GAMBIER, Ohio (April 6, 2004) For Kenyon students, community and caring don't end at the crest of the Gambier hill. That's why the College's activities for Take Back the Night, a national event that calls attention to sexual-assault issues, reach beyond the campus to embrace the surrounding area.

At Kenyon, Take Back the Night entails a week of activities, culminating on Friday, April 9, with Light Up the Night, an annual carnival that raises funds for the New Directions Domestic Abuse Shelter, serving Knox County, Ohio. Food, movies, games, and music will draw hundreds of participants to the event, which runs from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

"The carnival is one of the biggest parties of the year, which speaks volumes about how passionate Kenyon students are about social issues," says Sarah Bill, Class of 2005, one of the event's organizers.

More than sixteen student organizations came together to plan Take Back the Night, which began on Sunday, April 4, with a march. Other activities included workshops on self-defense and sexual misconduct. Among the campus groups sponsoring events are the Kenyon Men against Sexual Assault, the Ultimate Frisbee Team, the Kenyon Film Society, the Sexual Misconduct Task Force, and all of Kenyon's Greek organizations.

"Take Back the Night is a great opportunity for all of the organizations on campus to come together and create an atmosphere that is safe, fun, and productive for everyone in the community regardless of their specific interests," says Kelly Smallwood, Class of 2005 and cochair of the Take Back the Night carnival committee.

Take Back the Night, with its many events and its final carnival, is just one example of the ways that Kenyon students create activities that resonate throughout the campus and beyond. Clubs and organizations abound at the College, encompassing every imaginable interest and giving students great opportunities to hone their leadership and organizational skills.

"Kenyon provides an environment where any student can get involved in virtually any activity, and the entire process is very user-friendly, whether it comes to working with other students or working with the administration," says Smallwood.

One of the nation's leading liberal arts and sciences colleges and home to the Kenyon Review, Kenyon College offers 1,594 students a challenging educational experience enriched by a culture of friendship. Graduates of the College have included actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and author E. L. Doctorow.