Pets of Gambier: A Photo Essay

Drama cats. Presidential dogs. A flock of peacocks. Meet some of Kenyon's most beloved residents.

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Wild at Heart

Six alumni who work with animals share their favorite tips, tales and tricks of the trade.

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At the Species Boundary

English professor (and dog lover) Jim Carson probes the significance of animals in literature, drawing on insights from the emerging field of animal studies.

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Authors on Animals

A conversation between Laura Hillenbrand '89 H'03 and Julie Barton '95.

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Also In This Edition

Porch reading is a popular spring and summer pastime in Gambier.

The Kenyon Review gathered students and community members to read poems by Robert Lowell '40 and share stories the about the author, a seminal figure in modern American poetry, in honor of his centennial.

The Lords captured second place at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championship, while the Ladies finished third. The men’s result marked the 38th consecutive season they occupied one of the top two spots, and the women have finished top-four for 36 consecutive seasons.

Kenyon in Quotes

"I didn't grow up very political, but when I went to college in Ohio, a swing state, I quickly realized how much my vote mattered." – Matthew Segal '08, co-founder of Our Time and ATTN:, in Forbes.

Alumni News

Bleeding Purple

Donna Bertolet Poseidon '75 reflects on the evolving role of Kenyon in her life.

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Society & Politics

A Piece of War

Were politics ever stormier than they are now? Kenyon's archives offer answers.

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Web Extra: Student Art Spotlight

"Steward," a pen and ink series by Addison Wagner '18, pairs endangered species alongside children to highlight the importance of environmental literacy and stewardship in younger generations.

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View larger images: Tiger | Rhino | Bird

Dungeons, Dragons and Decatur

President Sean Decatur, who has admitted to spending much of his adolescence engrossed in the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, recently dusted off his dice to play for charity. Kenyon’s Tabletop Club hosted its second annual "D&D-Cat" event, referring to the nicknames for both the game and the president.

As several students and faculty crowded around
the Cromwell Cottage dining room table to do battle with monsters and cast magical spells, more casual fans watched the game's progress live on Twitch.tv.

By selling the opportunity to give players an extra dice roll, or boost their health and magic reserves, the Tabletop Club managed to raise several hundred dollars for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.

A Downtown Facelift

Gambier’s downtown revitalization, which is part of a long-term plan that already has upgraded Middle Path, will add student housing and retail space this summer. New student apartments are nearing completion, the Village Market is moving to its new location at the corner of Brooklyn Street and Chase Avenue, and major work will begin this summer on Farr Hall. The Kenyon College Bookstore will temporarily move into the space vacated by the Village Market and Gambier Deli, and will remain there through the fall, as crews renovate the space the bookstore has occupied for decades.

Class Notes

Recent Class Notes
’92

Joshua P. Rupright, San Francisco, describes “a fun and productive 2023 connecting with fellow Owls! SF sight-seeing and dinner with Tiel Arnot ’91, seeing Guy J. Tino perform in Connecticut, and hosting a great crew for the 1st Annual Memorial Day Weekend Goonfest at the ShermShack.” Attendees included Christian L. “Smitty” Smith, Joshua Zuckerberg, William B. Gregg ’91, Stephen M. Wrinn ’91 and Silvio A. “Sandy” Spadavecchia ’89. Also “a frothy summer afternoon hang with Jay B. Khetani on his back porch in Concord, Massachusetts, dinners in NYC with Richard A. Thompson III, golf in White Plains with Richard C. Mathes
’89, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Fest with Joshua W. Danson ’94 and generally keeping it hazy here in S.F. with Alexander W. Kriney. Who’d I miss? Finley is a senior at Kent but unfortunately she shows no interest in Kenyon for next year. Griffin just started seventh grade at the Cathedral School for Boys and is enjoying his time in the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys.”

’73

“Great to see classmates at our 50th this spring! I even stayed on campus, which brought back a lot of great memories. Up here in Michigan, I’m a substitute teacher three days a week and still volunteering at the Sloan Museum in Flint on Thursdays. I have even subbed in kindergarten and first grade.”

— Jeffrey L. Bennett
’88

Shelley G. Swank-Anderson and Kevin J. Anderson are empty-nesters now that son Scott is off to DePauw. “He was admitted to Kenyon, but really likes the vibe of the Tigers, so he is the only Anderson who is not a Lord/Lady/Owl. It’s fun learning other colleges’ traditions! We actually own black and gold fan gear now! Our daughters, Kiele L. Anderson ’21 and Leah N. Anderson ’23, struggle to cheer for DePauw teams, except men’s tennis, because they do still strongly root for their brother! Formerly a goalie, Leah was named NCAC Defensive Player of the Year, and in Kiele’s senior year she won the ’21 Falkenstine Award. Kevin still works as a banker in Peoria, Illinois, and I try to be helpful in the community with Meals on Wheels and substitute teaching. I am considering getting more involved with the local Multiple Sclerosis Society, as time and confidence permit.”

Past Editions