The events that took place during this year’s Keene Pumpkin Fest as well as the celebration following the Red Sox World Series win have been controversial topics on the Keene State College campus and in the Keene community within the past weeks.
These two incidents have forced various students and faculty to step back and reflect on what it really means to be a prideful member of the KSC community and what can be done for the future.
Professor John Hitchner, a KSC faculty member since 1989 and a resident of the city of Keene, weighed in on the topic.
“Our community has a lot going for it, and that’s only become stronger within the past years. I see a sense of pride inside the classroom and it is very strong. Outside the classroom, however, things are not good,” Hitchner said.
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There are informal slang terms used within the student population to describe KSC in an alternative light as opposed to the academic institution it is known to be.
“Keg Stand College” or “Kinda Sorta College” are two of these terms that students have created to reflect social activities or opinions that some KSC students have of the college.
Campus Teez, a college parody apparel company has created a t-shirt to accompany these stereotypes.
Hanna Desouza, a sophomore at KSC, discussed the relation of school spirit and these terms on campus.
“Keene State does have pride. You see it everyday walking around campus,” Desouza said.
She continued, “But I don’t think the terms ‘Keg Stand College’ or ‘Kinda Sorta College’ aren’t accurate at all. Any college can be a ‘Keg Stand College,’ it’s just what you make of it. What some students choose to do should not reflect the college as a whole.“
English Professor, William Stroup, said the decisions KSC community members make determines what kind of experience they will have.
“Keene can be anything that you make it. That’s really an extraordinary possibility,” he said.
He added, “Sometimes that can overwhelm students, though. There are so many factors that we struggle with, but, over and over again, your life at Keene is whatever you imagine it to be,” Stroup said, “I am proud of our school. I know we face challenges, but I am proud of us.”
This year’s Pumpkin Fest was a success with a record-breaking total of 30,581 pumpkins, as stated in an Equinox story earlier this year.
These numbers displayed a strong sense of community throughout the city of Keene.
However, the city’s sense of community and overall gathering of a good cause is now being juxtaposed with approximately 150 arrests that were made during that weekend, also stated in the Equinox earlier this year.
Several students even tweeted that an outdoor house party contained over 3,500 people.
The incidents after the Red Sox World Series win is not any different.
Students gathered in celebration of something positive, but let it get out of hand when a group resorted to destruction and violence.
This resulted in vandalism to KSC student Samuel Murray’s vehicle, which was flipped before students smashed the windshield in an on-campus parking lot.
While these events may have shaped a conclusion about KSC’s social habits this academic year, some do not believe it is reflective of the campus as a whole.
“Keene State students are very passionate, which is a quality our professors love in our students. Sometimes, that passion gets directed towards things like uncontrollable partying or violence or destruction. That’s when it gets out of hand,” KSC sophomore, Shannon Duffy, said.
“There is a good sense of community among students and I believe the majority are happy to be here. However, I believe some students lack respect for the campus,” Hitchner said.
She continued, “I’d say that the events that happened at Pumpkin Festival or during the riot was the product of a subculture on campus. Unfortunately, that reflects the entire campus.”
There seems to be some hope within KSC students rooted in the pride they hold.
“To be prideful of Keene State is to loudly represent what you do for the campus—whatever it may be. There is so much more to a school than what the news reports of arrests or violent partying. If you love your school, you’re going to want to show it off. Know your boundaries, but show that pride off,” Desousa said.
Stephanie Mccann can be contacted at smccann@keene-equinox.com
