The Collegian and the Idea of Custom

By Anonymous

This week we met in the archives for the first time and were able to view our first objects from the collection. I was able to look through a course catalog from 2007-2008, which was absolutely fascinating. However, what we discussed most in our group was a compilation of The Collegian from 2006-2008. We discussed the similarities in format to The Collegian today (specifically what was then called Gambier Grillin’ and what is now called Class Clash), the Village Record (which was a list of all notable incidents that past week that required police or emergency services), and the coverage of topics still recognizable to Kenyon students today (Campus Auto, Moodle, tuition/budgeting changes, etc.). It was almost shocking how little the Kenyon experience as well as The Collegian had appeared to change. This made the small changes stand out even more, leading us to ask the question: what were the reasons behind the changes that were made and how do they affect the continuity of The Collegian?

In class, we discussed the works of Eric Hobsbawm. We discussed his concept of invented tradition as well as the differences between traditions, customs, and conventions. Hobsbawm defines an invented tradition as being “a set of practices, normally governed by overtly or tacitly accepted rules and of a ritual or symbolic nature, which seeks to inculcate certain values and norms of behavior by repetition, which automatically implies continuity with the past” (Hobsbawm 271). In other words, Hobsbawm posits that traditions are quite arbitrary, but are purposely designed to create adherence, to seem as if they have been around for a long time, and to remain rigid in their method of practice. This is different from a custom, which is also derived from precedent, but is much more flexible in its different iterations. A convention is also different because it does not incorporate ritual and is more functional than symbolic.

The concept of invented tradition, and the definition of custom from Hobsbawm, are incredibly relevant to the discussion my group had regarding The Collegian. The Collegian seems to fit the definition of custom very well. In the 169 years it has been published, it has undergone many changes, both big and small. However, it is built on precedent: the institution, values, norms, and continuity (both implied and literal) that it represents remain mostly unchanged. As such, I am very interested to work with past editions of The Collegian for this project and continue to explore the ties between change and continuity here at Kenyon.


Works Cited: Hobsbawm, Eric. 2011. “From Introduction: Inventing Traditions.” Pp. 139-149 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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