The Bennie identity: What does it truly mean?

What does it mean to be a Bennie? What does it mean to be a Johnnie?

As the editorial board reflected on a fitting topic for the “Our View” during the last week of Women’s History Month, we found ourselves discussing the ins and outs of Bennie identity. As a board made up of all Bennies, three of us graduating seniors, we realized that after four years at CSB+SJU, none of us could truly define or articulate what it means to be a Bennie.

As students of both St. Ben’s and St. John’s, it’s easy to find examples of the Johnnie brotherhood. Look no further than hot bread nights in residence halls, McKeown Center community dinners for lower-campus Johnnies on Sunday nights or the overwhelming support for Johnnie athletics. Can this be said for CSB too?

Sure, St. Ben’s has Bennie Day, care packages from CSB alumnae and the candle-lighting ceremonies. However, these examples of the Bennie sisterhood are limited and infrequent.

Celebrations like candle lighting dinners only happen twice—during orientation and the senior dinner. As first-years, Bennies walk into their college experience at one half of a binary campus that seems to emphasize the theme of sisterhood— more specifically, the repeated phrase, “let your light shine.” The messaging was clear—as Bennies, we would develop lifelong friendships as a sisterhood and become empowered female leaders. However, has this identity been evident?

We have all personally heard from Johnnie alums who sing the praises of SJU and the bonds it has created for the rest of their lives in speeches, alumni visits and class presentations.

While there’s no doubt in our minds that many Bennie alumnae feel this way about CSB, it’s not shouted from the rooftops at nearly the same decibel. Johnnie culture seems to be louder—both on and off-campus, during college and after graduation.

Further, a vital part of identity is how we choose to express it. In 2007, then associate professor of psychology Pam Bacon (now associate provost and dean of faculty) completed a study titled “Male and Female Students’ Identification with the College of St. Benedict.” Bacon’s study found that women equally identify with both schools much more often than men do. Women were also more likely than men to display decals and clothing that said both CSB and SJU.

Seventeen years later, how much has really changed? One quick look around Gorecki or a ride on the Link would tell you the same. How many Bennies do you see wearing SJU gear? Can you spot a Johnnie wearing a CSB sweatshirt?

These past few weeks, the editorial board has paid closer attention to how Bennies and Johnnies introduce where they go to college.

In our experience, Johnnies seem more likely to say they exclusively attend St. John’s, while Bennies seem to be more likely to say they go to both CSB and SJU.

As the institutions proceed toward stronger integration, we find ourselves asking the question—is the Bennie identity at risk? As we become CSB+SJU, not just CSB and SJU, the understated St. Ben’s identity runs the risk of being overshadowed by the more distinctive St. John’s identity.

The Bennie identity, as difficult as it is to define, adds richness to CSB+SJU.

If we choose to stick with these terms—Bennie and Johnnie—then let’s make Bennie a significant label.

Bennie doesn’t need to be in the same sentence as Johnnie to mean something.