Many recent Student Council meetings have ended with the approval of a new student organization. Several of these organizations fill a highly specific niche on campus, and they are often driven by a deep passion for the cause, activity or affinity group. After some questioning and deliberation, the majority of these clubs hear the same response: unanimous approval. This means more clubs lining the tables of the Involvement Fair, more emails about events at every hour of the day and… less belonging?

Don’t get us wrong: Having lots of opportunities on campus for students to explore their passions is a good thing. Playing a club sport, writing for a literary magazine or cooking up meals from a variety of cuisines are all activities that Kenyon students can explore on the Hill. Clubs offer students experiences that largely don’t exist within the classroom and can be the basis for lifelong friendships. And the structure of a student organization, with funding from the Business and Finance Committee and the support of the Office of Student Engagement, is appealing and often necessary — take it from us.

Still, the more clubs there are, the fewer students there are to be involved in each one. Devoting time to an organization with a dwindling roster can often end up feeling like a losing effort, leading the few remaining members to jump ship entirely. Being able to nurture a community and allow members to take on leadership roles can be hard when people don’t stick around for long. And though having groups fill specific niches is important to support the many interests and identities of the Kenyon student body, this oversaturation of the ecosystem can sometimes lead to too much overlap between organizations. Finally, as the number of clubs on campus increases, the more organizations there will be to draw on the BFC’s already limited pool of funds.

The next time the Student Life Committee opens applications for new student organizations, consider whether your club will truly add to the community. More isn’t always better.

Sincerely,

Audrey, Katie and Annalia

This editorial was written by editors-in-chief Katie Sparvero ’25 and Audrey Baker ’25 and managing editor Annalia Fiore ’25. You can contact them at sparvero1@kenyon.edu, baker10@kenyon.edu and fiore1@kenyon.edu, respectively.