What Makes a Legend?

Why Paul Newman is having a moment. Again.

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A Natural Evolution

A conversation with outgoing president Sean Decatur about science, higher education and his groundbreaking new role at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City

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The Long (Book) Goodbye

The art (and math) of building a bookshelf bucket list.

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Also In This Edition

A new addition to Kenyon's public art collection is a commissioned sculpture, "Pivot," by American artist Richard Serra, the result of a gift from Graham Gund ’63 H’81 and his wife, Ann.

In February, the Kenyon College Dance, Drama and Cinema Club presented “Battlefield,” directed by Professor of Drama and Film Jonathan Tazewell ’84.

Kenyon in Quotes

"My dream for higher education in general is that we get back to a sense of education being part of the solution to making the world a better place." — President Sean Decatur

Arts & Culture

Book Shelf

Explore new releases from members of the Kenyon community.

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Lost and Found

On a college campus as lively as Kenyon's, it’s only natural that some things should go missing — and on the flipside, be discovered in unexpected places. Here’s a highlight reel of the season’s lost and found, sourced from campus listservs.

Two interlocking gold rings found in Chalmers. Said the finder: "XO + I like your style."

A TI-89 calculator. Mislaid during finals week, with an exam the next day. Good enough incentive for anyone to offer a $20 finder’s fee.

A "magical device" was left in the Student Accessibility and Support Services suite in Chalmers Library. The staff member who found the item asked the owner to reach out with a description to claim it. Whether it was an artifact imbued with rare mythic properties or merely a Magic 8 Ball, that’s between the owner and the staff member.

A K-Card. "I have managed to lose my K-Card on the first day of my last semester at Kenyon," said the owner, who later retraced their steps to successfully retrieve it.

Paint. Gund Gallery is no stranger to hosting a variety of this artistic supply within its walls, though they’re typically seen rendered onto canvas rather than still in the container. The finder of this oil paint (a yellow ochre hue) dropped it off at the front desk, mercifully unopened.

A library paper cutter (green). Whoever "borrowed" the cutter for any mysterious slicing and dicing needs is encouraged to return it to the circulation desk at their earliest convenience.

Class Notes

Recent Class Notes
’04

Mara D. Bernstein reports that after 15 years as a student and employee of Indiana University, she joined Breakthrough Collaborative in 2022. “Breakthrough Collaborative works toward equity in edu-cation through joyful summer and school-year programs,” she explains. “Not only do Breakthrough affiliates around the country prepare young people for college success, they also prepare young people to enter the teaching profession.” Mara connected with John B. Hiester ’02, the executive director of Breakthrough Silicon Valley, and many other alumni who are experts in education around the country. Mara and Jada Bee — “the most amazing wife ever” — are turning their Bloomington, Indiana, home into an urban farm.

’83

Willing L. Biddle updates, “After 30 years of building a real estate investment trust focused on shopping centers in the New York area, we sold the company to a larger REIT, and I am lucky to be able to retire. Looking forward to the third chapter in life with many adventures and friends!”

’63

“In late August, our children made us an amazing 60th-anniversary party. All 12 grandchildren took part, alongside old and new friends. President Biden and Jill Biden sent us an engraved congratulation card.” After a fall cruise and then a family Thanksgiving in Atlanta, Neal was headed to Belize in late January. “Grandson Kio’s high school graduation in mid-May, the Kenyon Bicentennial Celebration in Gambier, and our grandson Max’s graduation in June and our grandson Max’s graduation in June at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. It is good to have so much to look forward to.”

— Neal M. Mayer, Millsboro, Delaware

Past Editions