The Thrill regularly spotlights a Sexual Misconduct Advisor to raise awareness about the resources available to survivors of sexual assault. Remember, the SMAs are subordinate to the Counseling Center, so anything you tell them is kept confidential. They also have an anonymous hotline you can call if you need assistance: 740-358-1544. Today, we’re featuring Sam Goldstein! Stay safe, and know that there is always someone you can talk to if you need help.
Sam Goldstein ’20 enjoying life at Kamp Kenyon
What are you most excited for in this upcoming school year?
I am honestly really excited to be an SMA; it is such a wonderful and supportive community of people who do it, and I love being able to help people work through difficult stuff. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to give back to the Kenyon community. Aside from that, I’m also hyped to hopefully get involved down at the BFEC, and also for my Expansion of International Society class.
Dogs or cats? Or snakes?
All three. I don’t believe in the dog person vs. cat person mindset (vs. snake person?). I like animals more than I like people anyway.
What did you think about on your walk to class this morning?
I didn’t have class (thank god) but on my walk to Peirce I thought about what my next tattoo is going to look like and where its going to be. I didn’t reach much of a conclusion, but I’m leaning towards something to do with horses (surprise), and probably on my chest or the back of my neck.
What is the best thing you’ve eaten in the past month?
Burritos from my favorite Mexican place in my home town. Not to throw shade on Chipotle, but this place is next level.
What is your “happy place”?
I might as well just out myself as a “horse girl” for anyone on this campus who doesn’t already know that about me; so in a barn, or anywhere I’m around horses, because I think they’re very cool and calming and they tend to be great listeners. Aside from that, I’d say the rugby pitch is pretty high up on the list as well.
What has been your favorite Kenyon memory so far?
Over fall break last year, my friends and I got an Airbnb in Cleveland and went to Cuyahoga National Park and the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was one of the happiest times of my life, and although that wasn’t at Kenyon, I met the people I went with on the Outdoors Pre-O, and a year later, they’re still my best friends.
Why did you become an SMA?
I became an SMA because I had a relatively sheltered high school experience, and when I got to college, the realities of what a lot of people go through in the “real world” were shocking to me. At first I found myself feeling really defeated by the reality of sexual misconduct on college campuses, but when I found out about the SMAs and realized how wonderful a program it is and how many people they’re capable of helping, it felt like a way to channel my negative emotions into something productive.
Its a hard line to walk because it still gets overwhelming sometimes, but I think it’s much better to be a resource for people on this campus and to be able to educate the student body on sex positivity than to just ignore the issue and hope it goes away. People tell me that I’m easy to talk to, and to have the opportunity to put that quality to good use in a position that has the potential to help people in a really meaningful way is a very special thing.
If you were to be a dessert, which dessert would you be?
I think I’m a Sour Patch Watermelon. I know that’s just candy and not necessarily a dessert, but I feel very strongly about it.
What is your favorite breakfast item? Related question: which Parks and Rec character are you?
This might be the most difficult question of the entire interview because breakfast is my favorite meal and I love all breakfast foods so much. I think I have to say eggs though, because there are so many ways you can make them and they’re all so good. The Parks and Rec question is one that I take very seriously, and I’ve put a lot of thought into this in the past. I think I’m a combination of Andy Dwyer and Ron Swanson; I have the stupid goofy sense of humor and love of animals like Andy, but I’m also kind of a no-nonsense person when it comes to stuff I care a lot about, and I legitimately do want to live in the wilderness someday, in true Ron Swanson fashion.
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