Student story: Uneven numbers shape camp experience

By Madeline Maloney and Gunnar Hein/Advanced Writing

Forty-four girls.

Eight boys.

One camp.  

The Flint Hills Publications Workshop has been open to journalism students across the states for 53 years. On average, there have been close to 150 students every year. This year is different. There are 52 students.

“There were so many fewer students than I expected,” student assistant Evert Nelson said.

That’s not the only new shocker this year. The amount of boys is significantly smaller than the amount of girls attending the workshop.

“I expected there to be a lot more guys,” senior Autumn Short said.

The difference in numbers has changed the atmosphere of the workshop. This leaves students at a loss how to speak freely to their peers, some said.

“It’s kind of awkward,” senior Alex Leff said with a slight smirk. “I think every one is acting a little bit more shy than they usually do.”

The planned activities have been thrown off. On Sunday night, students left the ice cream social immediately after they ate their chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Students stayed in school cliques.

“I thought that it was kind of awkward because everyone was eating in silence,” sophomore Shelby Simpson said.

Eighteen of 52 students came to the dance Monday night, but few interacted. The girls grooved, but boys were no where to be found.

“It was less awkward,” junior Katie Crandall said. “Us girls could really dance like crazy since the boys weren’t there.”

Tuesday night, the workshop rented two buses. One of the buses turned out to be a waste of money when only 12 girls loaded onto the other bus to go swimming. The boys did not tag along for the pool party, but the girls managed to keep themselves occupied.

“We had handstand contests,” junior Caroline Engle said. “It was awesome.”

What are the social dynamics in the tracks like? Senior Hayden Parks said it’s not easy to stay in touch with “my kind” when he is working in the Photo Journalism track.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Parks said. “Photo journalism has more of an artsy feel. Guys are generally more straight to the point.”

The girls are more at ease while in their tracks due to the lack of the boys’ judgment in the classes, some girls said.

“I feel like my camp experience has changed somewhat because now I can take less time getting ready since there are fewer boys to impress,” sophomore Madeline Fitzgerald said.

The faculty and staff at the workshop also have their own feelings about the uneven ratio of girls to boys.

“Honestly, I felt sorry for the guys,” student assistant Morgan Buchholz said. “I was jealous of their leaders because they only had eight guys on their floor [to look after].”