Earlier this week, Student Council began the Love Project, a student initiative designed to demonstrate gratitude and support for various staff departments across the College. The project will continue throughout the remainder of this week, with plans to distribute signed cards and treats to departments across campus. 

Student Council President Ubongabasi Asuquo ’23 founded the Love Project in 2020 as a way to demonstrate appreciation for faculty and staff on campus. “This project started as a means to show gratitude for all [this] work, especially with the difficulty of staffing,” Asuquo wrote in an email to the Collegian. 

Staffing shortages have affected several departments across Kenyon’s campus, including AVI, which is currently understaffed. Other departments like the Cox Health and Counseling Center have faced student criticism due in part to insufficient staffing. Through the Love Project, Asuquo hopes to show student support and increase morale within staff departments that struggle with low staffing levels. Asuquo intends to spotlight the Maintenance Department, Facilities, AVI, the Office of Campus Safety and Library & Information Services (LBIS). 

To begin the project, Asuquo and fellow Student Council members tabled in the atrium of Peirce Dining Hall on Wednesday to collect student signatures for cards that they will distribute to these staff departments. Asuquo plans to table again on Friday to collect more signatures from students who may not have been able to sign on Wednesday. 

Along with cards, Student Council will deliver various treats like doughnuts and fruit to the departments over the next week, beginning with LBIS on Wednesday. Both the Office of the President and the Office of Student Affairs contributed to funding for these treats. 

“[We should] ensure we are being kind and very generous with the people who are still working in those departments,” Asuquo said. “This is a very wonderful opportunity.”