Long before the days of NCA-hopping and taxing walks to Ganter all-campus parties, Kenyon students found fun at Dance Weekends. Starting in 1918 and flourishing into the ’60s, Dance Weekends — which started as spring events though later became biannual — were eagerly marked on the calendar by students and celebrated with enthusiasm and carouse. The affair, which traditionally began after classes on Friday and continued into late Sunday, included the main dances held at Peirce Dining Hall, as well as “combo parties” hosted by different fraternities. In 1954, Beta Theta Pi held a gin and bourbon party, while Delta Tau Delta, Peeps O’ Kenyon and the Archon Society all hosted their own formal cocktail parties. Of course, the weekend wasn’t limited to parties — students could attend a weightlifting competition during Saturday afternoon (beer included for contestants only). 

The Collegian was sure to offer advice to students on proper party conduct, fashion and lingo. A 1949 article explains, “one never ‘goes to a party’; one simply ‘parties.’” However, the author further clarifies that the terms “party-girl” and “party-boy” are “no longer in vogue.” The advice column concludes with a final message: “It is very bad form to walk around sober.” While Campus Safety might not approve of this advice, they may appreciate the article’s disapproval of breaking windows. 

Perhaps more exciting than the elaborate parties was the mere presence of women during these weekends. Kenyon’s then all-male student body usually brought dates from prestigious colleges who were often referred to as “local debs.” A 1960 article says, “For two days studies will be forgotten, Kenyon men will attempt to forget their troubles one way or another, and the appearance of Gambier will be immeasurably improved by the presence of several hundred beautiful women.” In 1953, the Collegian sponsored a pageant to crown the “prettiest girl to grace the dance floor.” Each fraternity president nominated a candidate, who would then “parade in the lounge of Peirce Hall before the eyes of six impartial (we hope) judges.” The Collegian was also tasked with the less pleasant assignment of publishing the parietal rules that forbade women from being in the dormitories past 9 p.m. To counteract this ruling, the Collegian advertised tents, mosquito netting and all other “necessary equipment” for an outdoor date. 

During the Great Depression, when chances of Dance Weekends dying out became a possibility, a 1933 issue of the Collegian released a statement: “These dance weekends are the basis of one of Kenyon’s best-known traditions — a tradition for which, up to this year, the possibility of dying out had not been considered. The Kenyon dances are widely known and the basis of their reputation is due to the fact that they provide some of the best college entertainment in the country.” 

In a particularly ruthless Collegian issue from 1946, students are called out for their drunken tomfoolery during Dance Weekend. In a section titled “C-R-A-S-H,” a student’s car is said to have ended up in a ditch “as a result of his car’s having too much alcohol in its radiator.”

Another section titled “Making the Rounds” reports on the drunkenness of a notable Kenyon alumnus: “The first thing I noticed at the Dekes was Paul New (party) man imbibing.”

Although Dance Weekends are no longer celebrated on campus, the iconic parties will forever hold a special place in the Kenyon archives. So, next time your friend at a big party school tells you about their campus’s exciting nightlife and you feel the green-eyed monster creeping up inside of you, remember Kenyon’s rich party history.