Kenyon Kulture: Governed by Tradition or Custom?

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 During our visit to the special collections and archives this week, my group and I examined a variety of artifacts relating to Kenyon student life. Among them were issues of The Kenyon Reveille and The Collegian from 2007, which offered a fascinating glimpse into how much Kenyon has changed over nearly two decades. We noted several clubs, organizations, and events that have since been discontinued, such as a hockey club, the Harcourt Rummage Sale, Philander's Phebruary Phling, and ballroom dance. At the same time, many aspects of student life have persisted over the years, and we could see how they may have changed or shifted. Some traditions have stood the test of time, remaining central to Kenyon’s student culture. Greek organizations, a capella groups, student bands, and various clubs have endured, adapting while staying deeply rooted in the campus community. 

This week, we focused on examining traditions – what makes them endure, what gives them meaning and what makes them last. Hobsbawm explains that traditions and customs differ. While customs allow for flexibility and change, traditions are governed by strict established guidelines. The consistency of traditions fosters a connection to the past, a continuity that affirms their validity. Unlike customs, the traditions do not adapt to modern times but instead reaffirm the values and precedents of the past. Creating a new tradition without historical roots would be challenging because it would lack the continuity that comes from previous generations’ involvement.

From the artifacts we studied, it's clear that many of Kenyon’s recurring student life events don’t qualify as traditions. Although some events occur annually, they are not governed by rigid rules. Instead, they reflect the evolving interests of the student body. Observing events hosted by Greek life and student clubs, we saw that while they repeat every year, they are not bound to a set structure. For example, events like the Phebruary Phling, which has been discontinued, no longer offer the continuity that characterizes tradition. The Reveille also discusses a newly instituted performing arts festival, which was described as a new “tradition”. However, having been established only two years prior, the festival lacks the historic precedent needed to establish continuity with the past. In this case, Hobsbawm’s argument holds true. Without a long-standing history, the festival cannot truly be considered and accepted as a tradition.



Hobsbawm, Eric. 2011. “From ‘Introduction: Inventing Traditions’.” Pp. 271-274 in The Collective Memory Reader, edited by J.K. Olick, V. Vinitzky-Seroussi, and D. Levy. New York: Oxford University Press.

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