By Marika Garland

Professor of Political Science Alex McKeown has left the College, and Professors of Political Science Abbie Erler and David Rowe have taken over his classes. “[McKeown] took a leave of absence, and it was the appropriate thing to do,” Provost Nayef Samhat said. “The leave is an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons. … He is not scheduled to teach next semester.”

Samhat said he worked with McKeown’s department to find his replacements. “Professors wanted to serve the students, as we would expect from Kenyon faculty,” he said. “People have had to take a leave of absence for personal reasons in the past. It’s rare, but it happens.”

Students in McKeown’s classes have had to purchase new textbooks after the change. Samhat made special arrangements with the Bookstore for this situation. “I approached the Bookstore manager [Jim Huang], and he has been extremely accommodating,” he said.

McKeown declined to comment for this article.

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