Flunk Day 2009

Today is Flunk Day, Knox's campus-wide celebration of spring, with food, games, and music -- all outside on the campus quad.

The student-run Union Board plans the surprise celebration for the campus. Except for a select few -- a student group dubbed "The Friars" -- students, faculty and staff are kept in the dark about the day of the event until the morning of Flunk Day. The students are awakened at dawn with music and a traditional bell-ringing. All classes are cancelled -- and exam dates and paper deadlines postponed -- for a day of dancing in the foam pit, enjoying an all-campus picnic, carnival rides and games.

Faculty and staff also enjoy the day with their colleagues, and many bring their families to enjoy the festivities. Students face off against the faculty and staff in a "Friars vs. Faculty" softball game. Since the day is a surprise, faculty and staff are known to keep shorts in their offices -- just in case.

We hope you can get away from the daily grind, go outside, celebrate Spring, and enjoy your own special Flunk Day. We also invite alumni to share their Flunk Day memories on the Knox College Facebook page.

Above left, the inflatable horse race; above right, one of the winners gets a high-five. The traveling cheering section also encouraged contestants at the jousting ring, below left.
Above right, some of the "Friars" -- Flunk Day is their moment in the sun. Below left, the mud pit is not on the official Flunk Day schedule -- a lot of students found it anyway.
Roy Andersen's pitching paced the faculty team (left) in the annual game with a student team (below, right); the students can return to class Thursday celebrating their first win in years, 11 to 9.