Knox College
Responses from the Student Interview
From a student who identifies as Majors: Psychology and Anthropology & Sociology double major
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: African-American Heterosexual Male
Summary
I’m a resident assistant, I’m a tutor, I [have a leadership position] in the Anime Club, and I have an on-campus job.
Background
Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: African-American
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
High School Experience: Public high school in Broward County, FL with about 900 students in the graduating class. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: No
Majors: Psychology and Anthropology & Sociology double major
Minor: None
Extracurricular Activities: I’m a resident assistant, I’m a tutor, I [have a leadership position] in the Anime Club, and I have an on-campus job.
Have any of your extracurricular activities had a particularly big impact on your experience?
Being an RA has been really fun. It’s allowed me to meet a lot of different students on campus. Once you know all the RAs you kind of know all the different students on campus. The Anime Club has given me a chance to have people of all different diversities and cultures who all watch anime become tighter.
Academic Experience
Can you describe your weekly coursework for your majors?
For Psychology, we have readings, but it’s nothing compared to Sociology & Anthropology where we also have a lot of reading and writing. It’s not too intensive to where I can’t handle it, but it’s enough to keep you well informed with whatever topic you’re going through. In Psychology, we tend to have tests on the readings, but no homework. For Anthropology and Sociology, we’ll have blog posts or reading notes and essays to do. For that, the essays make up the bulk of the grade, while for Psychology, the exams make or break your grade.
Is there anything you feel that either of your majors’ departments do especially well or poorly?
I’d say the Psychology department does a good job of constantly sending out emails for internships and research opportunities. The Anthropology & Sociology department does some of that too, they just don’t reach out as much. I recently declared Anthropology & Sociology, so maybe I haven’t been in the department long enough to get the full sentiment.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
It’s definitely collaborative. Since a lot of our classes are smaller and discussion-based courses, it allows us to work together. There’s less competition within everything. There are of course people who will be competitive, but even when they are, it’s in a helpful nature. It’s not students thinking they’re better than each other. We’re constantly discussing class concepts with each other.
How accessible are your professors?
So accessible. At Knox, we’ll often call our professors by their first names, which speaks multitudes. Anytime can just walk into my advisor’s office who’s known within the psychology world, and we’ll just talk. I’ve spent countless hours talking to them whether it’s stuff in their classes or just a conversation about something.
Do you feel that people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
There is a diversity of thought and people support that. People aren’t really ever unsupportive of other opinions. I’ve had one classroom where there wasn’t too much diversity of thought and everyone was group thinking, however, the majority of classes I’ve been in have had an opposing opinion. We have rules in place to avoid groupthink in the classroom, and professors do a good job offering different perspectives.
How do you like the trimester system? How has it impacted your experience?
Personally, I love the trimester system. It has given me a lot of flexibility. Almost every major is completed here within two years which has allowed me to dabble in things I might want to do. It works perfectly with the curriculum. On top of that, it’s cool because of the breaks it has given me. I’m able to go home for four months over summer break and six weeks for winter break.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
I was originally on the occupational therapy path so I was trying to figure out the easiest way of getting there, which was originally psychology. After doing more research, I fell in love with Psychology as a major. Taking social psychology was a big bonus. Along the lines of anthropology, I took a good course with a good professor and she made me interested in that major itself.
Reasons to Attend
1) The small size lets you get the chance to talk with your professors. [The average class size is 14.]
2) How nice everyone is on campus.
3) How willing every person is on the campus, whether that be staff, faculty, or other students, is to help you in your future and current endeavors. Someone is always willing to offer help.
4) The opportunity for extracurricular activities.
Reasons Not to Attend
1) If you’re coming from somewhere with warm weather, it’s hard to adjust in the winter. It may have an effect on your mental health.
2) If you’re a person who likes being in a big city, it’s going to be hard for you.
3) If you don’t want to place your academics first, Knox is a very rigorous college.
Around Campus
Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Seymour Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: RA for Seymour Hall in a single
How was transitioning from your hometown in Florida to Galesburg, Illinois?
In terms of weather, it has definitely been different. Florida doesn’t really have seasons, however at Knox we have seasons, winter comes, and it snows. During the winter, I adjusted. Living in Illinois is different and I really like it.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
Campus safety does a good job of keeping us safe. I’ve never had a moment where I feel as if any group of students has persecuted another group of students.
Social Opportunities
What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
The Anime Club meets every Friday so I start my weekends off with that. Then half of the term I probably part on Saturdays and other Saturdays I may just hang out with friends. There are always different club activities going on.
Who hosts the parties? Where are they located?
Usually, it’s one of the fraternities, and there are cultural houses. It’s usually a registered party at one of the fraternity houses on campus. As a guy, it’s not an issue because I know a lot of people in the fraternities. Everyone gets into parties and favoritism isn’t played.
How happy are you with the weekend activities or nightlife at your school? Is there anything you would change if you could?
Personally, I’m very happy with the weekend options. The quiet campus is what I’m looking for in a campus. It doesn’t have too much craziness going on. My opinion probably isn’t the most popular one.
Campus Culture
How did you meet your closest friends?
A lot of my closest friends I met through the RA position which I got into my second year. My closest friends my first year I met through my living situation. We’re all living in different places so we see each other when we see each other, but we’re still good friends. Now, I meet people through the organizations I’m a part of.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Knox?
I’d say Knox is a very social campus. Everyone knows everyone, but at the same time, there’s always someone you haven’t met before. Everyone is willing to talk to each other and there aren’t any popular students. Everyone is nice to each other.
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
I’ve had moments with a group of friends sitting at a table and then I realized we’re all of different nationalities. It’s interesting for me to notice that because I didn’t even realize we’re all from a completely different place. 17% of our student body is international and there are no barriers keeping us from talking to each other. We all intermingle and learn from each other. Our campus is very diverse and people are willing to converse with each other. [The undergraduate population is 8% African American, 5% Asian, 15% Hispanic, and 17% International.]
How would you describe the African-American community? How strong is it?
We don’t necessarily have too many African-American people on campus. It doesn’t look too bad on campus because [104] students on campus is a pretty big number when you look at it, but at the same time, it’s a small number. We do have a lot of different cultural clubs that celebrate African-American heritage. I’ve never felt uncomfortable in my skin at Knox.
To what extent do people in Greek life and not in Greek life mix socially?
[19% of men and 12% of women] on campus participate in Greek life. If they don’t, I’d say everyone intermingles. There is no select group of people who stay away from the main group of campuses. Everyone intermingles. One of the bigger fraternities on campus did an event with the Anime Club and it was a social event that got us talking to each other. Something I’ve noticed is in my own conversations, you’ll be talking to someone and know them for six months and then finally find out they’re in a fraternity. It wasn’t just something you could guess about them. There is no stigma behind them.
How do you like the size of Knox? How has that impacted your experience? [Knox has about 1,300 undergraduates.]
I love the size. It’s given me opportunities to have in-depth conversations with people and then be able to see them again, compared to having a conversation and never seeing them again. It’s given me the opportunity to network and work with my professors one on one because they have the time for me.
Careers
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I used the career office for two things. Last year when applying for my leadership positions I had them workshop my resume a handful of times. I also went in recently to have them help me find some research opportunities. They do as good of a job as my professors are doing, but maybe that’s because the professors are within the disciplines themselves.
Financial Aid
Have you used financial aid? If so, accommodating was the office to your needs?
Yes, I have financial aid. There was a time when I would come in every day to ask them questions. It’s a great feeling within the office and it made it easier to come in and talk to them about financial problems. It’s a great office to go to.