At Bryn Mawr’s annual Owls Fest, family and friends of students were welcomed to academic talks, tours, events, or to explore the campus independently. The college also unveiled a new mascot, showcased student life and research, and reestablished recent goals and plans for the future.
The college kicked off Owls Fest weekend on Oct 4 and 5 with an address from President Wendy Cadge in the Great Hall where she discussed the unique aspects of a liberal arts education at Bryn Mawr. She emphasized the school’s mission statement to “cultivate intellectual curiosity, independence, personal integrity, and resilience in a community of passionate, joyful learners,” and to “tend, build, and grow the college’s garden.” Cadge also shared her plans for renovating dorms to install modern facilities and organize residential life around themes of intentional communities, such as the THRIVE Living Learning Community, which houses two communities of first year students with a focus on wellness.
But the renovation does not stop at dorm life—the President aims to create a green campus, exhibit more art pieces like the “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” installation in the Old Library cloisters, and plan a physical space to align with Bryn Mawr’s strategic planning. Students are encouraged to get involved with the campus structure plan here.
Various sports matches, including lacrosse, rowing, tennis, and field hockey, were played over the weekend. At the field hockey game on Saturday, Olly the Owl (she/they) made her first appearance as Bryn Mawr’s mascot and was welcomed warmly by the hundreds of students and families. Presenters shared that Olly—short for Olympia—spent the summer travelling to visit students abroad before her flight from Mt. Olympus to join us at Bryn Mawr College.
Family members could sign up to take guided tours, such as a walk around Bryn Mawr’s campus, get an immersive look at historic Philadelphia landmarks with Bryn Mawr professors, or explore affinity life and traditions at Bryn Mawr. Multiple talks were given over the weekend, where audience members could engage with studies conducted by faculty members. On Friday, Michael Allen, Professor of Political Science, spoke about changing global order and possible results of global shifts, Luca Zipoli, Assistant Professor of Transnational Italian Studies, spoke about cultural exchange and globalization during the Renaissance, Sebastian Anti, Professor of Economics, spoke on the benefits of improved cookstoves in Rwanda, and Pardis Dabashi, Assistant Professor of Literatures in English and Film Studies, talked about secular criticism. On Saturday, Hayden Dawes, Assistant Professor of Social Work, spoke on giving ourselves permission in difficult times, and Lisa Young Larance, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Social Research, talked about the harmful binary of victim versus offender and holistic responses to domestic violence.
On Friday, students also presented summer research and experiences conducted this year. Students worked under the guidance of faculty members to research and present abstracts on various STEM and humanities fields. Faculty members also discussed teaching practices, research opportunities from multiple departments, and the liberal arts experience at Bryn Mawr. Alternatively, families and students could stop by panel discussions on Saturday, including the Global Learning panel, where staff and students talked about study abroad and international internship opportunities offered to Bryn Mawr students. Students also shared their perspectives from previous study abroad experiences and answered questions about their trips.
Families could end their day with performances by student groups. On Friday, the Shakespeare Performance Troupe performed a series of short scenes directed and performed by students in Rhoads Dining Hall, while on Saturday, various chamber groups under the direction of Professor Heidi Jacob and Bryn Mawr acapella groups performed in the Great Hall. Among them was Chantelle Mawoneke, the Bi-College Concerto Competition winner, singing Puccini’s Un Bel Di and Gershwin’s Summertime. She will be performing with the Bi-Co Orchestra later this fall. Afterwards, guests gathered in the Cloisters and could get refreshments while watching a slideshow about the creation of the Cloisters, the Art Remediating College Histories (ARCH) project, and Black history at Bryn Mawr.
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