David Kemp? DK? DKap? What’s the Name?

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.

Last September, the Gazette asked you what you planned to call the soon-to-be-finished David Kemp Hall. Overwhelmingly, readers told us they could imagine calling the dorm Kemp or New New Dorm. But now that the dorm is actually inhabited, different names seem to be popping up every day.

0 Comments

  1. All the cool dorms have one name. DO NOT call this dorm David Kemp. Kemp is prefereable. DK acceptable.

    Love,

    The Queen of Kemp First

  2. The RAs had a long, strenuous decision-making process concerning aspects of Swarthmore that are not to be repeated. Simply let it be known that “Kemp” is the decided name and “DKAP” can be used only when speaking of sister dorms.

    New New Dorm is silly. Kemp was named before it went up, and going out of one’s way to force a feigned ambiguity makes us appear the childish younger sibling attempting to follow the path of our cool older sister, New Dorm. And why bother when we have a smooth name like “Kemp?”

  3. It ideally should be referred to as David Kemp/DK or the best dorm on campus.

    …I personally don’t like calling DK “Kemp” because if Alice Paul gets 2 names we should too. We’re just simply that awesome 🙂

  4. Your dorm was broken in by geriatrics and middle school jocks. Get over yourselves.
    If I ever catch someone using DKAP, or DK, I will never speak to that person again.
    Those who know me probably understand why this is actually desirable.
    Kemp doesn’t even have an “A” in it. Where did DKAP come from?
    I’ll tell you where it came from. Idiots.

  5. “Kemp” is just a phase. Soon enough DK will realize it’s time to grow up, just like its older sister AP. “New Dorm?” Do any of the freshman even know what dorm that is?

  6. Isn’t it interesting how the two dorms specifically named for women – Mary Lyon and Alice Paul – are the ones least commonly referred to by their whole name? ML and New Dorm/AP. Although I think Willets is for a married couple.

  7. I think it’s somewhat more likely that it is because they are the only two pre-existing dorms with two names. Note:
    Dana, Hallowell, Parrish, Willets, Worth, Lodges, Wharton, Mertz, Palmer, Pittenger, Roberts, wherever else people live
    vs.
    Mary Lyons, Alice Paul.

    Simplicity > patriarchy.

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