Author: Henry Meier
During the first three years of a typical Oxy student’s career, senior comps is one of those mystical tales you hear about but never encounter-much like the ghost in Chilcott, or the secret tunnels under the campus, or the days back when Oxy had presidents for more than a year. But when senior year strikes, the harsh reality of comps comes smashing down on like you like a (young) Shaquille O’Neal, two handed, Phi Slamma Jamma, backboard breaking, monster dunk. It’s not pretty. After the initial shock hits you, three things usually happen: 1) you start crying, 2) you call all your friends and complain, and 3) you go set up a four person tent (really just for you and all your books) in the library and proceed to leave only to go get coffee and/or alcohol, depending on how bad/good things are going.
Depending on the major you have chosen, the faculty in your discipline will choose various ways to test your knowledge in your given field. Some give tests, others assign papers, and presentations are almost always involved. It does seem, however, that the professors in all majors have agreed that there should be a healthy dose of pain involved in the process-regardless of whether you study physics or sociology. While I have no proof, I am almost positive that the faculty council gets together every year and asks, “How can we make students more miserable in their last year at Oxy?”
Senior comps do present some unique opportunities for students, however. In my own personal experience, comps was the perfect excuse for me and the rest of the male philosophy majors to grow out our facial hair for an entire semester (we offered to support the female philosophy majors in a similar endeavor but they turned us down), a process both indescribably awesome, and indescribably awful.
Comps is also the great unifier for the senior class. While we are all engaged in different projects, all you have to do is mention the “C” word to a fellow senior, and no words need to be spoken (even though they usually are)-you hug it out and go your separate ways. While it certainly is depressing when you walk into the library for the 37th straight day, it makes it better seeing the faces of your peers (huddled underneath their tents) looking just as pained as yours. Without a doubt, comps brings the senior class together in ways that no barbeque, luncheon, or ice cream social ever could.
While all the seniors I asked about their comps related to me how arduous and stressful it has been, they also mentioned the sense of accomplishment and pride that they feel at the culmination of the process. That is the beauty of senior comps. At the end of all the blood, sweat, and tears (ok, maybe just tears and a little sweat), most individuals have something that they can feel truly satisfied about. Seniors can leave Oxy saying that they did something most other collegiate graduates have not experienced. Have four presidents in four years? Well yes, that too. But Oxy graduates also have the pleasure to say that they completed a senior comprehensive project that reflects the four years they have spent at Occidental College.
Henry Meier is a senior Philosophy major. He can be reached at hmeier@oxy.edu.
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