The Tradition of the Kilt
As a prep, I dreamt of the day that I would be granted the privilege of wearing the red and gray tartan kilts on E/a. Although I wasn’t particularly fond of the print itself, the idea it embodied was tantalizing. To be granted the kilt would mean that I made it through the difficult transition and awkward fumbling of prep year, the more difficult workload of lower year, the infamous workload of the 333 history sequence and upper spring and the horrors of senior fall. It would serve as a mark of camaraderie between me and my fellow four-years and symbolize the unique experience we’d all shared after spending nearly a quarter of our lives together. It disappoints me that members of our community would want to strip four-years of this beloved tradition. The kilts do not indicate that the four-years are better than other seniors in any way. They simply acknowledge the unique impact that being at Exeter for four years has on students here.
Four-year students at Exeter have a fundamentally different experience from other students. That’s not to invalidate the careers of three-year, two-year or one-year students. Exeter is life-changing, and all students feel that effect and will be impacted by the culture and environment fostered here regardless of how many years they spend here. Spending four whole years here is certainly difficult, and being a new lower, new upper, new senior or postgraduate all have their difficulties. Nevertheless, the four-year experience is not the same as the three-year, two-year or one-year experience. It’s silly not to acknowledge that and acknowledging that doesn’t mean that the four-year experience is any better or any worse than those of other students.
Four-year students at Exeter have a fundamentally different experience from other students.
Plenty of things that we do on this campus are exclusive in arbitrary ways. Why is the tradition of kilts contested, while it’s acceptable to have all four years pose for a picture, without having a three-year, two-year or one-year picture? If having only four years wear kilts at E/a damages the unity felt in this community and drives people apart, wouldn’t this picture apparently have the same effect? Dorms host exclusive events, requiring invitations for non-members. Should we abolish dorm teas too, to make those who don’t get invited to any not feel marginalized by the event hosted with school funding? Yes, letting some people wear kilts provides a visual marker distinguishing four-year seniors from other students but, non-four-years are not scarred or emotionally damaged by being unable to wear a skirt.
Observing the discussion around kilts, it seems to me that the only students who feel strongly about this tradition are those who wish to continue the tradition of four years wearing them. Not being able to wear a kilt is not damaging to non-four years in any fundamental way, but for many four years they hold a sentimental significance. It holds so much meaning to many four years. Is it really so awful to let us have this one thing? As many campus traditions have fallen to the wayside or changed recently, it’s heartbreaking that four-year kilts may also no longer be a reality for my senior year. This tradition brings more joy to the campus than it hurts anyone. Most students either are in favor of it, or are indifferent. Let four-years have this one thing and feel the glory of having made it through four-years to finally become one of the seniors that we all looked up to as preps.