Kenyon in the News

The September 26 USA Today quoted Professor of Psychology Sarah Murnen in a front-page story that questioned whether thin models warp girls' body image. "The promotion of the thin, sexy ideal in our culture has created a situation where the majority of girls and women don't like their bodies," Murnen was quoted as saying. "And body dissatisfaction can lead girls to participate in very unhealthy behaviors to control weight gain."

President S. Georgia Nugent was quoted in the September 26 edition of Inside Higher Ed , which discussed a new study suggesting that young professors care more about professional climate, the nature of their work, and tenure systems than they do about compensation-a message that the online newsletter called encouraging for colleges unable to match the high salaries offered by the wealthiest institutions. Nugent noted several strides at Kenyon: a commitment to keep faculty salaries in the top quintile nationally, more funds for faculty research and international travel, plans for a child-care facility, and increased vacation time for staff between Christmas and New Year's. "If faculty were people who really care primarily about money," Nugent was quoted as saying, "they wouldn't be in this business."

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jennifer Britz was quoted in the September 24 Columbus Dispatch in a story about Harvard and Princeton's decision to drop early admissions. Those institutions "have the power to shift the whole framework," Britz was quoted as saying. "They will still get great kids. For other schools, not necessarily Kenyon, there are risks involved."

Kenyon was mentioned in the September 21 New York Times . An op-ed essay by Rodney LaBrecque, head of Wilbraham & Monson Academy, called for returning AP courses to their original purpose-placing students in more advanced courses, not helping them in college admissions. LaBrecque pointed out that Kenyon pioneered advanced placement in the 1950s, following up on a Ford Foundation study. Kenyon developed courses and tests through which college-bound students could accelerate their studies by doing sophisticated work in high school.