Knox College Top Questions

Describe the students at your school.

Martwain

Everyone at Knox is helpful, respectful and knowledgeable.

Kara

My fellow students at Knox were some of the most dedicated learners and thinkers I've ever met in my life, even now that I've gone on to graduate school.

John

The challenging aspect of attempting to describe the students at Knox is where to start. We have a robust community that features students from over 40 countries and states. Additionally, our students are engaged in pre-professional clubs, cultural clubs, and clubs that are just centered around a shared activity, example: pre-law, pre-health, Lo Nuestro, Asian Student Association, and grill club.

Shayna

Many may wonder if what you are reading in the brochure ad are all lies or is there actual truth to it. Hmm, honestly some of it is and some of it isn't. As a person of color, despite what people may want to believe, it can be a struggle. I'm from a diverse place -- Chelsea, NY (downtown NYC). I've never felt so racially aware until coming to the midwest. It feels like they're so far behind in a lot of regards, but it doesn't mean you cannot have a great time none the less. There are so many clubs, organizations and other type of outlets that you will definitely find a place and group of friends for you. Like any experience, college (for the most part) is what you make it. If you put out positive energy it will come back to you, and vice versa. Overall, I think there is a lot of support shown to differing racial, religious and gender groups. I-fair shows this best. It an event put on every year uniting all the different ethnic clubs on campus. It's a big day. In the beginning its food representing all different ethnic groups and it is so yummy. Then, later on in the evening, performances from each cultural organization (dance, song, etc) which attracts an enormous crowd, including people from the town

Kenton

- Anyone not falling under the 'jock' label or the 'outcast' label will feel out of place at this school. - Many international students, but very little interaction between different cultures, races, and financial backgrounds. - Students are apathetic; mostly leftist and non-religious.

Eden

My class mates at Knox College were all extremely passionate; passionate about learning, about helping one another and their community, about building a strong a community, and there is nothing more inspiring than learning along side them.

Kathleen

Either pretencious or chill but you know them all and just deal.

Monica

The students at Knox are the most motivated and entertaining people you will ever meet, and you will never encounter anyone else like them in the world because their individuality makes them the reason Knox is so incredible.

Karin

People at Knox are "Knox Awkward," which means that even the most "normal"-seeming people on campus are slightly awkward in some fashion; it's a term of endearment, more or less.

Azim

Very smart people who are competetive but there to help you out when you need them.

Sarah

My classmates are open to new ideas, they are opinionated but allow others to express their own opinion, they are also willing and ready to learn.

Carrie

Inquisitive, kind, friendly students who actively pursue their academic interests.

Kelly

A lot of fun to be around, but I don't think they are as intelligent as me.

Jim

Study hard, party harder. My classmates do their work and do it well, but as soon as the minimum threshold is reached, the mask come off and the side the administration doesn't like comes out.

Aurora

Knox students tend to come from really disparate backgrounds, which is great because it really does spur some great conversations. There have been some recent discussions especially about race, which is good because it means such issues are not being ignored. The one thing about Knox students is they tend to be ambitious. This doesn't mean that they will act viciously toward each other to weed out competition, but Knox is not always the best place for the less opinionated, quieter students. On the other hand, most Knox students are horrible procrastinators, generally beginning papers the night before they are due, so they are not too horribly obsessed with school work either. The last thing is that students tend to swing fairly far toward the political left. However, there are certainly some very vocal Republicans at Knox. The one thing you can be sure about is that almost all Knox students are passionately devoted to some cause or another.

Morgan

Divided into cliques but theres one for everyone and most everyone is friendly when it comes down to it.

Jennifer

Most students at Knox are liberal, middle to upper middle class, and from urban areas (with a large percentage coming from the Chicago region). Knox has a very laid back feel and people do what they wanna do, say what they wanna say, and wear what they wanna wear. While the size of our campus definitely leads to the creation of cliques, it does not mean that groups don't crossover and there is definitely a lot of intermixing between social groups on campus. Many students don't desire a post Knox experience that includes sitting in a cubicle playing Solitaire. For the most part, we all seem to have the desire to be movers and shakers who will be able to make a difference even if it means we will be eating Ramen for the next 10 years.

Dale

The student body seems more like an extremely large family. Knox students are willing to do anything for each other as well as the college community and Galesburg community. The students that come to Knox College are from an extensive array of backgrounds, but this doesn't hinder--it enhances the experience. The Knox student body is focused on their academics, and while they know how to play, they also know how to work.

Dawson

Interested in learning about different people, and integrating them into social groups.

Jay

Since coming to Knox, I've gained a circle of friends from all over the country. Admittedly, there are a number of students from the midwest due to geographic location, but there are exceptions to this rule as well. I know of two students from China. Indeed, these students grew up a couple blocks from each other and they still managed to attend the same small school with a 1300 count student body. We have a very diverse student body, both in race/ethnicity and personality. There is no such thing as an "average" Knox student. A student can do anything on any given day. It is the array of personalities that really make Knox stand out from other schools. No two people are alike and I think that is especially prevalent at Knox. Every person is an individual and has potential for great things. Knox does its best to foster that.

Sasha

no racial problems much diversity great international experience financially everyone is middle class it seems. which is comfortable. politicallly very active campus and it makes u think interactions are there though internationals end up sticking together

Michael

The student body is very open minded. No one should feel out of place at Knox, because everyone is able to find their own nitch. There are still cliques, but they aren't as exclusive or hostile as they were in high school, for example. Everyone is very open-minded and nice. A lot of students are politically active and protesting and debating about issues is common.

Caitlin

It's very easy to interact with many different types of people at Knox. However, if you were sitting in the caf you would definitely notice that all the Beta guys sit together, the Sig Chi guys sit together, the TKE guys, etc. It's not as obvious with the sororities most time, but occassionaly you can spot a table of Deltas or Pi Phis, etc. But it's impossible not to know someone with a different religion, economic status, or just general view of life than you have. It helps to broaden the mind, I think.

Jerry

Before coming Knox, everyone in Knox faculty, students, everyone, they told me it was really diverse. They don't know what diverse means. People here are pretty ignorant. Well, as someone that carries the definition of globalization, I would say anyone that stayed and lived in one place (such as United States) can be considered ignorant. Oh, I don't blame them. If you live in one place all your fucking life, the whole fucking world is gonna be that certain place. But for us, multicultural people, the world is too big. So I guess Knox should stop promoting diversity as part of their education. Before coming here I thought I was going to be surrounded by international students (as it is in Macalester), however, I am surrounded by a sea of white people. Nothing against white people, but talking about stereotypes, white people are known for being ignorant. They say they are not racist, oh, I disagree, Institutional racism is predominating in Knox They don't show it, but you can feel it. Knox is heaven for LGBT and everyone accepts them. Economic classes do not really conflict (there's nowhere to spend money in Galesburg anyways). Most of Knox students are little birds, that were pressured by their parents all their lives, in an attempt to keep them "innocent", and when they come to college, these little birds experience "the real world". So what happens? They loose control. Many of Knox students were either home-schooled, when to a all-girl highschool, never drank, never smoked, never did drugs, and not to mention their virginity. They go through what me and my friends went through 7 years ago, when we were 12. Yeah I know, United States is sheltered. People here grow up slower than in other places. Americans deny this fact. Well, I guess you, that never lived anywhere else, don't sound like someone that should have an opinion about this, do you? I am not saying that this makes us better, but I am saying, we experience things before than most Americans do. So, if you are one of those, one those people that never had a boy/girlfriend, never had true friendship, or you just socially awkward, welcome to Knox. This is the place for you. In Knox you will find your friends, and if you get lucky, you will get laid as well. But be careful, Knox is full of drama kings/queens. As I told you, remember the first time your girlfriend broke up with you? How much it hurt? As mentioned above, people here just started tasting the world. So for those that consider themselves experienced and socially apt, go somewhere else. For those of you that are nerds, like anime, socially-awkward, or people just don't consider you normal, again, WELCOME TO KNOX, you will feel this place like heaven.

Tasha

There are a lot of liberals at Knox, but most of them aren't as liberal as they think they are. As a result, Republicans often feel out of place. I would say people who are focused on money and appearence will have difficulty fitting in.

Kate

Knox's student body is overall weird. I say this, because I know I am weird. Little quirks and funny/dorky characteristics lie within each person. I love it and I have made some of the best friends!

Andy

We are intellectually open while at the same time engaged towards higher goals. We are cooperative more than we are competitive. Greek life is perhaps the largest visible divide among students, however the level of involvement within any particular house varies widely, and all parties and events are open to everyone. I would be surprised if there was any one Greek student here who did not have friends who were not Greek, and vice versa.

Brian

I have encountered the type of student at Knox that should feel out of place and it was extremely bizarre that at Knox I would find such a student. At a college founded by abolitionists that bolsters a heavy tie to Abraham Lincoln, they type of student that would feel out of place would be some that is racist. Racism is something that is not tolerated at Knox. Students that subscribe to those types of ideologies should feel immediately unwelcome at Knox College. For most students it is incomprehensible that those types of ideals would be held by someone that is a student at Knox.

Mandy

A large percentage of the student body comes from the outcast high school student role, so there are a bunch of "oddballs" here. That said, the typical, popular high school prep would probably feel incredibly out of place here. Another type of student who would probably not be comfortable here are Republicans. Knox is very much a liberal, left wing school so Republicans are definitely in the minority.

Tyler

This is an extremely diverse campus. There are students from all over the world and from every race you could think of. This is not a problem, in fact, it is a strength of the campus. Everyone seems to get a long. The only real division might be between athletes and students not in sports, but this is not a big problem and there is still a lot of interaction between the two groups. Students come from all financial backgrounds also because Knox is great about financial aid.

Kim

Knox is a very diverse campus. There are students from all over the world. The students are also very active in politics.

Jamie

There are hundreds of clubs that are very open and engaging to all students, and no one would ever feel out of place at Knox. The number of international students is huge, and student networks are very strong. Most students wear jeans and t's or even their pjs to class, but those two girls that wore heels and mini's in november and the guys that would show up dressed for business meetings were well known as well. All different types of students interact and there is not a major clique division. In the dining hall there were never four tables of people I would not feel confortable sitting with. Everyone would know at least one person at every single table. Knox is great with providing financial aid, but since it is a private school, there were many wealthy kids from the Chicago area as well. Students are very politically aware and active, two recent commencement speakers include Barak Obama and Stephen Colbert (who even made a joke on his show about his emeritus diploma, and said he was going to burn it, so Knox responded to it by sending him a metal copy). No one talks about how much they'll earn one day, there isn't that kind of competitveness. Most people focus on what they are learning and doing today, and there isn't much worry about finding a job after graduation.

Ryan

Our campus is very open to all different kinds of people. People who are religious, eco-friendly, "hippies", radicals, LGBT students, etc. Knox is great for people who are optimistic, outgoing, and openminded.

Maria

most of the knox students are from the chicagoland area because the transportation is so convenient. The majority of students here are liberals, but there is a republican group here. Many different types of students interact with each other. There is great diversity here.

Steven

Knox is a very laid-back, diverse community. There are frequent discussions of race, gender, and sexuality outside of the classroom, and this leads to a very aware and open student body. The discussions are often heated, but usually everyone is respectful and there's a genuine desire to reconcile the differences between us. One of the most refreshing things about Knox is the lack of racial cliques. At other schools, there's usually a black table, Asian table ect, but Knox is much more mixed. There are strong racial groups, but they make themselves open to the rest of campus. The campus is historically liberal (founded by abolitionists, a stop on the underground railroad and the first college to grant Lincoln an (honorary) college degree). Conservatism is present, but subdued. Unfortunately, some students are disrespectful toward a dialog with conservatives. Recently, John Ashcroft spoke at campus, and while the majority of the students in attendance were respectful, a handful repeatedly tried to interrupt his speech shouting things like "You're lying!". One student went so far as to ask, "Do you have a soul?"

Stef

There have been some race issues lately, but I don't have any "experiences" with any. Same with religious, or socio-economic issues. LGBT: I was in the group of lgbt/alliance, but they really didn't do anything productive or interesting in my opinion. There has been another group formed recently, though, so there may be more activity in the future. Interactions: Different types of students interact, depending on your definition of different. With respect to majors/minors: most definitely. I have friends in the music, psych, bio, physics, creative writing, and philosophy depts. Ethnicities: Yeah, to a degree. Greek Life: No, they're pretty segregative. No mixing of outsiders or other frats/sororities. Politically: Conservatives are outnumbered by liberals by quite a large number. I don't really know if there is any activity, because I could care less. But I do know that there was quite a bit of complaint and protesting when Ashcroft came to speak.

Maurice

As a young black man coming from a majority white high school in which most of my frineds were white it was great to get here, though still a majority white institution and make friends with the black students. There is really a sense of comradery amongst the black students here. However being black does not define me in and of itself. I have friends from all over the country and world. it is a great opportunity to learn from them and share my history.

Anna

You will find every possible type of person at Knox. We may be small, but we're very diverse! I have found that the vast majority of the student body is completely accepting of LGBT students, students of other races, international students, diverse religious practices, etc. Students here are also financially diverse. The majority are probably from average, middle class families, but there are many students who are on either the high end or low end of the socioeconomic spectrum. Overall, probably 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students are liberal or left-leaning. This does create some tension for some conservative students, but I haven't seen it as a huge problem overall. Just be prepared for it!

Gene

There are stupid people wherever you go. Some of them are louder than others, but there are a few crazies here at Knox that just love to stir up fights. I hate to say it, but that's just the way it is. Knox is a pretty liberal campus, but other views are respected and encouraged. Once again, there will be crazies wherever you go. There are a couple of visiting professors this year that are pretty hostile towards certain religions, but hopefully they'll be gone by the end of the year.

Kate

Knox is diverse in every aspect. We have a high international student population. My friends come from Spain, Israel, Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and China (in addition to suburbia). These friendships have truly enhanced my understanding of the world. In addition to international diversity, we also have a high percentage of minority students and LGBT students. Almost everyone is on a scholarship here, but familal incomes range from very low to very high.

Margaret

I've found the Knox student body to be very accepting overall. Not everyone is open-minded, but for the most part people want to get to know other people based on their individual characteristics, regardless of the ways in which they are similar or different. I think there is some work to do as far as incorporating everyone all the time because people find comfort in the groups they identify with, so integration of people from certain groups with people of other groups is still a challenge, but overall people are accepting of who other people are, even if they don't necessarily have things in common with them. As a lesbian, I've found Knox to be one of the most accepting places of the LGBT lifestyle of any place I've ever spent a good amount of time. If I were to profile the kind of student who would feel out of place at Knox, I would say that a student who is unable to accept differences in other people would feel very out of place. For example, a student who is so set in their ways as to feel uncomfortable around people with other ideals, values, and lifestyles, would not fit in well here. People of all persuasions are welcome, but not if they are so strict in their ways as to want to impose them on other people. I'd say different types of students definitely interact, but I'd like to see more of it. We're much better off than a lot of campuses, but we have some work to do in that department. A large number of Knox students are from Illinois and the Chicago-land area, but not as many as people think. There are also a lot of students from all over the country, and lots of international students. We seem to be getting a lot of students from the Portland area lately, as well, probably because Knox provides an environment similar to that of Portland, but is far enough away to provide a different setting. Knox gives out a LOT of financial aid, so there is a wide variety of financial backgrounds among students here, and that is something that doesn't really matter among Knox students. I don't even really know who comes from what financial background here, because it doesn't come into play regarding who hangs out together or anything like that. Everyone here has equal opportunities, so money is not important. Students at Knox are pretty politically aware, but not all of them. We've got a good amount of very politically and socially active students here, but we've got our fair share of politically agnostic students. There are republican and democrat clubs, but the campus is primarily liberal and left-minded. I don't hear much talk about what people will earn one day; at Knox, I think it's more about what your are passionate about and what will make you happy in your life, than about how much money you'll make, and I really like that.

David

Very diverse, and very outspoken. A bit on the extremist liberal side, which can get really annoying sometimes, but all in all it's good.

Emily

One thing that is rather irritating about Knox is that you can NEVER tell what the weather is from looking at what people are wearing outside. We've got all kinds. Some people bundle up when it's 60 degrees and some wear shorts and sandals in snow. I think we have a really diverse student body, but it's not hard to find people with interests similar to your own.

Anita

Because of our diversity there are a lot of different kinds of people at Knox so what might be considered weird or different at other schools is widely accepted. Really the only people who might feel out of place are Republicans or conservatives. Basically, any kind of person you can think up, they are represented here.

Kelsey

The Knox community has a bunch of individuals, people who know who they are and how they express themselves. Students who just want to go to college to get the skills to do a job and then be done with it would feel out of place at Knox. Most people, if they don't already know where they're going, are actively searching for their place in life. Most students wear jeans to class, but on nice days, dresses, shorts, and capris make appearances. There are the fashionable, eccentric, and scrubby all across campus. Students are predominantly liberal from usually a bit more affluent backgrounds. They come from all across the United States, and we also have a greater than average percentage of international students, largely because Knox treats them so well.

Ben

Knox students are very accepting of other racial, religious, LGBT, socio-economic groups. I do not know anyone who feels out of place here. Some people try to start trouble about people not being accepting enough. However, I feel this is a misplaced discussion. Knox students try to believe that they know a lot about other cultures but they do not. As I said before they accept others but they simply do not know much about them.

Lauren

Knox is diverse, in some aspects. Students argue - especially when it comes to politics. If you're way conservative, you may feel out of place. At the same time, however, it is important to note that Knox students are open to hearing new opinions. They may not agree, so prepare yourself to defend your position. Students where anything and everything to class. I saw a guy wearing a dress the other day... In the Caf, you've got tables for jocks and all of the frats and sororities. If you don't play sports or aren't in a frat/sorority...you sit wherever else. As much as [especially] sororities comment on how "open" they are, they really aren't. They'll be nice to you all the while encouraging you to join their sorority.

Emily

One complaint I have about the Knox student body is that different groups of students move very much in their own circles. Although I do feel there is no "typical" Knox student, we have our cool kids and hippie kids and weird kids, etc. At times it can feel like being in high school again. The Greek kids and Jock kids (many of whom coincide) sit on the opposite side of the cafeteria from the hippie liberal kids almost uniformly and there is not much interaction between the two groups. People of different ethnicities or countries of origin hang out almost exclusively with each other. I keep getting the feeling that I may only think of Knox as a liberal hippie school because those are the people I hang out with and there is another whole Knox world out there who would have a completely different picture of the school social life than I do.

Andy

There's a group here for everyone. Almost any major issue, there's a group devoted to it. Any major political movement, there's a group. Anything you are passionate about, there's a very good chance you'll find at least 20 others who feel the same. Knox seems to be a very mixed group of people, and almost everyone will interact with each other at some point. We're pretty much a huge group of eccentric people. One of our star football players is a regular at the local poetry slams and writes with most amazing poems. No one is sure which he is praised for most often. His playing, or his poetry.

Levi

Knox's student body is liberal and is generally pretty accepting. It is an extremely diverse school for its size. I chose Knox because of its diversity and I have not been disapointed. It is a great place to meet different kinds of people.