By David Edward Clark and Erica M. Lee

The Exco Fair takes place tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Root Room in Carnegie.  In 1968, Oberlin started Excos, which allow students to teach courses on anything from Calvin and Hobbes to Swing Dance to Korean and the ever popular Sexco.

“Our job as the Exco committee is basically just to fill in the gaps of all the other educational departments at Oberlin.  We just offer courses that none of the other departments want to take, or they just don’t fit in any of the other departments,” said Jacob Myers ‘12, co-director of the Exco Committee and publicist. This year, “We just have so many new courses this semester, and we still have of our old favorites,” said Myers.

“Exco” is short for experimental college, which appeared when students wanted to take classes outside of the curriculum, and there were professors willing to teach them.  Then, classes focused on issues such as civil and women’s rights and has evolved into teaching anything that students are interested in.   “If you’ve ever thought of a class before, it’s probably been offered,” said Myers.

Oberlin is one of the few schools to still have Excos.  “We are the only student-run educational department that offers college credit in the entire world, if I’m correct,” said Myers.  Students can earn up to five credits toward graduation through the department.

“I would say is a good Exco…is something that can really engage students and still be really fun and can keep them coming every week,” said Myers. In closing, “If students don’t want to do that, they’re really missing out on a truly Oberlin experience.”

For a list of this semester’s Exco descriptions, click here.