Knox College was founded in 1837 by abolitionists and was one of the first schools in the nation open to both women and people of color. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln denounced slavery in a U.S. Senate debate with Stephen Douglas on the steps of the college’s Old Main building; Old Main is the only remaining site of a Lincoln-Douglas debate and is still used as a classroom and office building. Knox granted Lincoln an honorary doctorate, his first academic degree, in 1860.
Diversity at Knox College
Students who value diversity will feel at home at Knox College. The nearly 1400 students hail from 47 different states and 48 different countries, and 90% of the student population lives on campus in residence halls or apartment buildings and houses owned by the college. The over 100 clubs and organizations offer something for every student, from the traditional Greek social organizations, to the many literary magazines, to the wealth of clubs dealing with politics, social issues, religion, and the arts.
Opportunities Abound at Knox
Knox College features countless opportunities for independent research within its 38 majors and 52 minors, and off-campus programs are plentiful (Knox College features 31 off-campus programs in 21 countries). Knox also boasts a 12:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 18, thus ensuring that students will get individual attention from Knox’s accomplished faculty (several of whom are Knox alums themselves). In addition, Knox has several distinctive programs, including the only Repertory Theater Term in the nation during which students devote ten weeks to preparing to stage two theater productions.
Knox’s Unique Academic Calendar and Top Academic Facilities
Rather than the traditional two-semester school year, Knox operates on a 3-3 academic calendar; students take three courses during each 10-week term. Each course, however, is the equivalent of a full semester course. Students can, therefore, study topics more intensely and in-depth, making full use of Knox College’s superb academic facilities in the process. Seymour Library, for example, was ranked as the third best college library in the nation in 2001 by The Princeton Review. Knox also owns a biological field station, cutting edge scientific equipment, and a nationally recognized student-run radio station, WVKC.
A Unique Campus With Unique Traditions
Knox College has several unique traditions. An annual tradition is Pumphandle, at which the Knox community forms a line on the south lawn of Old Main. One by one, each person moves down the line, shaking hands with each person until everyone has shaken hands with everyone else. Another popular tradition is Flunk Day, a date in the spring known only to a select few. On Flunk Day, students are woken up early in the morning to the news that classes are canceled for the day in favor of listening to live bands, playing in the mud pit, and just generally having a blast.
Brush Elbows With the Famous and Powerful
Since Lincoln, Knox has bestowed honorary degrees upon two other U.S. presidents: Bill Clinton (2007) and Barack Obama (who was awarded his degree in 2005 while serving in the U.S. Senate). In recent years, Knox has garnered national attention for its high profile commencement speakers/honorary degree recipients, brought to campus largely through the efforts John Podesta (Knox alum and Clinton Chief of Staff). In addition to Presidents Clinton and Obama, recent speakers have included Stephen Colbert and Madeleine Albright.
Students Will Flourish at Knox College
Students interested in a rigorous, unique college experience would do well to put Knox College on their list of choices. Knox combines the convenience of a relatively small town (Galesburg, Illinois, population 33,706), boasting 17 restaurants within walking distance of campus, with the opportunity to meet and study with people from across the nation and around the world. Knox College offers students the opportunity to expand their horizons, cultivate their interests, have fun, and be fully prepared to face today’s global job market upon graduation.
Links:
 |
