As a liberal arts school, Colby College’s mission is fundamentally different from that of research universities or technical schools. Instead of focusing on teaching specific real-life skills to its students, the College is clear that it believes in preparing students for life, through “acquaintance with human knowledge,” in the words of its mission statement.
It naturally follows that the College has its core emphasis on the humanities, including art as a field of study and art as a cohesive force between different disciplines. Of course, we must not overlook the argument that the College’s model does not best prepare students for the workforce; yet the mission of higher education, especially at a school of this size, does not seem to be as straightforward as it was decades ago. Nonetheless, the wide availability of diverse experiences does not equal a lower level of expertise attainable in a specific field; it is simply a model that does not exclude those of lower priority. The emphasis on arts is not limited to the confines of the campus, either; Colby Arts was founded to enable the economic revitalization of Waterville and to allow for community members to participate in art at the College.
Since the beginning of this new semester, the College has held numerous events to promote artistic endeavors on campus and beyond.
On Feb. 22, a multidisciplinary dance performance titled Native Intelligence/Innate Intelligence was performed by Christopher K. Morgan & Artists (CKM&A) at the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts. Holding the themes of identity and sociocultural issues, the performance used original music and a striking visual presentation to compare the identity prescribed by our own culture with those we gain through experience. The stage included three pieces of double-helical DNA structures descending from the ceiling, each becoming connected to cords carefully constructed by the performers as the show progressed. The performance began with each individual’s account of their own identity, eventually becoming a community identity represented by the connected rope fragments.
On Feb. 28, student designer Jack Richard and collaborators hosted a rerun of the New York Fashion Week at the Foss dining hall, debuting a collection made from upcycled materials. Titled Good Fashion, the fashion show presented student-models wearing unique outfits in the style of a runway walk. Although not hosted or sponsored by Colby Arts or any academic department, this show reaffirmed the commitment to arts by both the College as an institution and its students individually.
On March 1, Battle of the Bands was held in the same location as Good Values, with numerous student bands performing against each other to win the most student votes. The concert included new and returning student bands, including Lyon & Eric, Northern Lights Ensemble, Grey December, The Tributes, Exit 127, and more. While music is not the most common major at the College, many of these student artists participated in the performance regardless of their academic affiliation with music.
One might argue that the most important feature of a liberal arts college is to be able to find enjoyment in virtually any field of study, regardless of the intended major, experience, or maturity of the student. Such freedom is not commonplace in higher education, and the events being held in the new semester seem to support the argument that Colby College is indeed a liberal arts college.
~ Benjamin Ha `27
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