Denison University — Attraction in Granville Township

I graduated from Denison University in 2004. My experience had two outstanding aspects that would be difficult to find at any other American college or university:

1. The Homestead: an exceptional student-run sustainable living community of 12 in the magnificent Ohio woods approximately one mile (1.6 km) north of the main campus. Before I go much further, I must note that Denison University plans to close the Homestead on its 50th anniversary year, 2027.

Back to my experience: my college memories include building parts of a strawbale cabin, installing solar electrical systems, growing edible gardens and orchards, cooking with my fellow “Homies” (often incorporating homegrown produce), and walking or biking to and from classes. As a student-run community, we used consensus-based decision making whenever possible and worked with various partners and allies on the university faculty and staff. In addition to the students who lived at the Homestead, many others were friends of the Homestead. The Homestead is the OG of learning through living!

Denison University plans to close the Homestead on its 50th anniversary year, which would prompt me to reduce this to a one or two-star review. The Homestead is an essential part of Denison. Whereas only 12 students live there, many others join for work parties, workshops, community dinners, and more. A team of alumni and current Homies are working on a proposal to keep the Homestead alive with modifications for the times. Full disclosure: I am on this team.

2. My senior project (as a Studio Art major): I was the first-ever student at Denison to author a comic book as a senior project. Keep in mind that I attended Denison at a time before incorporating comics and graphic novels into curricula became common at colleges and universities. In late high school, I visited many different liberal arts colleges as a prospective student, and Denison was the only one where I met a professor (Ron Abram) who loved comics and sought to integrate them more strongly into academic programs. Four years later, he advised my senior project—I wrote, penciled, inked, and lettered a science fiction comic book called A Humble Joy, featuring a physicist and his pet guinea pig.

After graduating from Denison, I became part of the first-ever class at The Center for Cartoon Studies and graduated with an MFA in 2007.

I currently work as an interpretive park ranger for the National Park Service.

I cite the Homestead as the experience that made me...

Denison is one of the top schools anyone looking for a liberal arts education could attend. The faculty and staff as well as fellow classmates provide a sense of belonging to anyone and everyone who visits or attends the school. During my four years attending the college on the hill, I made some of the best and most rewarding relationships with classmates, faculty, and staff. I continue to enjoy visiting the campus and love bringing my daughter to show her the great school that I attended.

Besides my personal feelings about Denison, they are always doing their best to stay current with the times. This year, Denison has added many new additions to their curriculum. A new major in global commerce, a data analytics major, a concentration in financial economics and a new major in Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies (one that I am jealous they are offering since I graduated with an BA in Athletic Training). In addition to the new majors they have also added a new concentration in Narrative...

I am thankful for Denison in a lot of ways, but most importantly, my time at the Homestead. Living in an intentional community was one of the most meaningful experiences in my life, and surely shaped me to be the discerning, moral agent I have grown into. Surprisingly, I did not know about the Homestead until I started attending and followed friends to a communal dinner held on a Friday night. Four years later, I spent seven semesters there, including a winter and a summer surrendering the comforts of my parents' house for chickens, gardens, and community. While Denison (in my opinion) should shout from the rooftops about what a unique and impactful living experience they have to offer, they did not. Unfortunately, this trend is continuing and Denison is looking to shut the Homestead down. I am one student among many who owe so much to the Homestead, and I hope the administration knows we are here and ready to support the campus in keeping this unparalleled space for...