Student Body Begins Exploration of ‘Compassion’ for Interregnum XIV

On Friday, September 15, The King’s College hosted the first Interregnum-related event of the year as Dr. Ethan Campbell, associate professor of English and Literature, led a discussion about Flannery O’Connor, author of one of the Interregnum XIV texts. Approximately 40 students attended and had a brisk, far-ranged discussion about O’Connor’s works, Christian art, and the Interregnum theme of Compassion.

Interregnum, derived from the Latin for “between kings,” is a school-wide discussion and engagement on a particular theme, with common readings throughout the year providing the basis for debates, speeches, and competitions. Throughout the year, the Interregnum Committee coordinates events to stimulate discussion about the theme and the texts.

The Interregnum Committee this year consists of Grayson Logue (PPE ’18), Audrey Cooper (PPE ’18), Hank Jeannel (RTS ’19), and Madeline Marona (PPE ’19), with Courtney Stonefelt (PPE ’18) and Geoffrey Doering (PPE ’18) serving as co-chairs. Marona says of the theme, “I’m excited about this idea of compassion because it’s not a blanket answer to life’s atrocities. Rather, it is a way of living that positions one to be vulnerable, thoughtful, and Christ-like in response to the challenges of this world.” Dr. Matthew Parks and Dr. Joshua Blander are serving as faculty co-advisors for the Committee, and Jonathan Sheaffer (MCA ’12) continues to provide support as the Student Life advisor for Interregnum.

For the common readings on the theme, the Committee selected the novel Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, and the Flannery O’Connor short story “The Lame Shall Enter First,” from her collection Everything That Rises Must Converge. Jeannel says that the Committee is enthusiastic about these readings because they refuse to oversimplify the question of compassion. “O’Connor’s story is about a secular person failing, and Dickens satirizes religious compassion, poking holes and revealing hypocrisy.” These kinds of dynamic texts lead to robust discussions throughout the school year.

The discussion led by Dr. Campbell is a perfect example of the kinds of discussion made possible by having these school-wide common readings. He says that for him, reading O’Connor in college was a “transformative experience.” The discussion began with Dr. Campbell talking about “The Lame Shall Enter First,” but the discussion encompassed many other topics, from the role of sin in Christian storytelling to how a well-crafted piece of art can engage even a hostile audience. Dr. Campbell said, “It’s no exaggeration to say that O’Connor’s work is a part of the reason I became an English professor. Her stories are proof positive that Christian ideas can get a serious hearing from any kind of audience, even one that’s completely secular or hostile to religion – if the art that grapples with those ideas is well-crafted and original.” The discussion was lively and engaging, and the faculty and student body look forward to many more such conversations in the months to come.

Dr. Blander, one of the faculty co-chairs of Interregnum XIV, says of the theme, “There are very few, if any, ethical demands in Scripture more powerful than the demand for compassion. A year of reflection on the topic will enable us to better understand what compassion is, and prepare us to shape the texture and direction of our lives toward the life of compassion to which Jesus calls us. I am hopeful that our discussions this year will enable our students to offer powerful alternatives to current political and social discourse on topics related to justice, compassion, and service.”

The week of Interregnum XIV will begin on April 3, 2018 with a keynote lecture from a prestigious speaker on the theme (the speaker has not yet been confirmed), kicking off three days of competition capped with an award ceremony for both the Interregnum Cup and the House Cup on the evening of April 6. In the meantime, the Committee is already planning more discussions and other Interregnum-related events for throughout the year.