Ezekiel Kingsbury, Editor-in-Chief
On Saturday, March 23 at noon, a group of writers known as the “Aardvark Authors” embarked on a challenging endeavor: to write continuously for the next 24 hours, whether for homework or their creative pursuits. This challenge is not to be taken lightly, and attached are before and after pictures of several participants as a cautionary reminder.
Upon entering the Art Haus basement, the atmosphere was lively. Tables were adorned with cookies, drinks, and chips, and the writers eagerly shared their aspirations. However, by the following morning, a sense of exhaustion permeated the room, accompanied by the lingering scent of fatigue and the sight of trash bags strewn across the floor.
Levi Hansen’26, the communications head of the group, set out to write five pages of his novel and finish his homework. The book centers around a man who “works at home, and he has no friends, he just completely isolated himself for his entire life.” 🙁 When I talked to him Sunday morning, he said “You know, it’s not about the destination, but the journey. The point of writing is not finishing a product, but the bonds you form with others.” In other words, Hansen failed. With two pages under his belt, he recounted the events of the night prior: “I can’t line dance. I think like 1 or 2 a.m.… I could not do it. I don’t know the Cupid Shuffle.” The Aardvarks and their compatriots also engaged in Tarot, and according to Hansen, “everyone had the weirdest f*cking readings.”
Sam Feldman’25, unlike Hansen, did not make it through the whole night. The following morning, I saw him at Commons. He told me he hoped to finish all his homework, and that he was at peace. God only knows if his words match his heart.
The Round Table’s very own Vanessa Skildum’27, the president of the Aardvarks, said over the next 24 hours she hoped to get some sociology readings done and write a story she hopes to submit to a magazine about a cute old couple she saw in a cafe once. However, while Skildum accomplished her goals, her fraudulent behavior the prior night seeped through our conversation Sunday, as I told her I had seen her at WBCR fest Saturday night. “Do you think that breaking your oath aids your writing process?” I asked and was immediately met with defensiveness. “I think everybody has their own process and what works for you works for you,” she replied. But Skildum wasn’t a full fraud. She returned to the Art Haus basement quickly and stayed awake working for far longer than most of the attendees, until 7 a.m.
The Aardvarks and their cronies experienced a true hero’s journey, from a place of naive hopefulness to desperate attempts at getting back on track, to line dancing, to passing out on the floor, to waking up the next morning full of dread and a minor trace of pride having finished some assignments. This challenge is not for the faint of heart. The Aardvarks host this challenge every semester. Do you have what it takes?
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