Divison III power house swimming program Kenyon College has changed its athletic name from the Kenyon Lords and Kenyon Ladies to become the Kenyon Owls.
Kenyon has not always been known as the Lords and Ladies. In the 1880s, the word “Mauve” was primarily used. Then in the early 1900s, “Kenyon” was used. In 1936, the word “Lords” began to be used and then in 1973 the women’s lacrosse team was referred to as the “Lordettes” but soon after the word “Ladies” began to be used.
In Feburary 2022, the school announced they would begin the process for a new name to according to the school’s website, “better reflect our students today.” The suggestion and feedback form opened on February 21st which received over 2,000 responses and included 200 suggestions for a new name.
The form closed April 20th, and then the suggestions were narrowed down by the Moniker Subcommittee. The Moniker Subcommittee consisted of seven members of the Campus Senate. Notably, also a member of the subcommittee was head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach Jess Book who graduated from Kenyon in 2001.
Ranked-choice voting began on April 22nd and closed May 2nd. The five finalists in the vote were the “Kenyon”, “Owls”, “Oaks”, “Rooks”, and “Thrill”.
A total of 6,914 ballots were cast by students, alumni, current faculty and staff, as well as trustees. Voting continued to a run-off between the final two options, the “Kenyon” and the “Owls”. In the last round, the “Owls” earned 62% of first-choice votes.
The school has said that they will begin using the “Owls” this upcoming academic year. The school also said that over the summer they will be working on the visual identity.
The Kenyon women captured the 2022 Division III NCAA title with a total of 446 points, just five points ahead of second place Emory and 34 points ahead of conference rival Denison. It was the Kenyon women’s 24th NCAA Championship which is the most in any division and any sport in the NCAA.
The Kenyon men finished fifth at NCAAs with 283 points, only seven points behind fourth place team Williams College. The Kenyon men have won 34 NCAA Championship.
The Kenyon women captured the 2022 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title scoring 1958 points. They finished over 200 points ahead of conference rival Denison. The Kenyon men finished a mere five points behind first place Denison at NCACs.
Lords and ladies was a problem because it is gender specific and eurocentric. Can’t have that.
I am sure the mens team is more focused on their 7 year drought of no NCAA Champs. Lords is much cooler
Whooo who who cares…. The college sure doesn’t. Sad and disappointed.
I don’t care. The person reading this doesn’t care. No one needed to know this. This post was a waste of my time.
PS. All the kenyon guys lurking in this comment section need to stop and go work on their relay starts. 🙂
Oh how we’ve missed you. I was beginning to think you had turned over a new leaf and begun to care.
He’s never gone. Bold of you to assume you can get rid of him.
Why choose to invest such negativity into an innocuous article out of dozens this week.
I personally found it worth the read as an aside and I’m not even American.
You must be real fun at parties
Could not disagree more Sheldon. I have gotten so much entertainment telling people that a college legitimately considered naming their teams the Rooks. Joy is everywhere — go find some fella.
Well I think it’s good news. And I care.
I would’ve voted for the Kenyon Grimace. It’s both the McDonald’s mascot their fluffy purple warmups must have been designed after, as well as the face made after they false start on another relay
Those crests are going to need some touch up work at the tattoo place.
Interesting. While I respect your choice, I personally would have voted for the Kenyon Kangaroos. This name is inspired by the animal their men’s team mimicked when they jumped on 40% of their relays at NCAAs!
Kenyon Grimace has my vote.
Although not sure they could afford McDonald’s syndication rates.
The Kenyon endowment is strong but not that strong.
I am sure people on D3 forums will lovingly call them the “Kenyon Hooters” from now on.
Surprised Kenyon McKenyonface didn’t win this one
Thank the lords they didn’t go with “Thrill”
But still… “Owls”? Weak.
Who…who who?
Hoo hoo hoo. Hoo hoo hoo. Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo. Hoo.