74FALL SOCIAL CLUBS All Knighters in Allen IN THE FALL OF 2021, members of men’s social club Knights returned to the third floor of Allen Hall, known as Camelot, after the five-year ban by the deans was lifted. The new Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) Karie Fager and new generation of Knights members hoped for a more stable fiefdom of Camelot than earlier years. Camelot was a Knights tradition for 23 years before the ban was placed, and it housed as many as 50 Knights members in the past. Members of Knights took part in so many antics in previous years that administration shut it down. Senior Cody Porter, member of Knights and the resident assistant (RA) who oversaw Camelot in the fall of 2021, talked about how different it was to be an RA than previous years. “I’m friends with all of them, so it’s a different kind of relationship,” Porter said. “It’s not as much of an administrative role as it used to be.” Porter said that although Camelot might have gotten out of hand before 2016, the best part of its return was bringing Knights closer together. “Once the doors close at midnight, and we’re not allowed to leave, we’re all still up there hanging out, and it just brings a better sense of closeness and community,” Porter said. Junior Knights member Greg Egli agreed that having Camelot back brought Knights closer together. Egli joined Knights his freshman year and took his sophomore year off during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being gone for a year, he found it good to be back and live closer to his friends in Knights. “I have friends walk in his room throughout the day, and most of us keep our their doors ajar to encourage more time together,” Egli said. Fager said she was optimistic about the new living situation. Although she was not the RLC when Camelot was previously banned, she said she had experience with other clubs having similar living situations. “I’ll think they’ll do fine because it’s a completely different group of guys,” Fager said. “I know Cody is a really good RA, and he wants them to all be able to live together because it’s fun to live with your friends and your club brothers.” WRITTEN BY CHRISTIANE DAVIS Members of men’s social club Knights bring back a cherished tradition. “KNIGHTS LIVING TOGETHER is a luxury that we have the pleasure to experience this year and hopefully many years to come,” junior member Mason Shappley said. “From the stories of past, there was a climax and a downfall of what Camelot was back in the mid-teens that brought some discouragement and frustration among many. However, the club persisted through and continued to create and thrive despite the shift in residency. We are excited to continue its legacy and have some fun. Energy, collaboration and excitement abound in this space, and we can’t wait to fill it up even more. GGK.”
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