Ken Ilgunas

Because I don’t have to be on campus for the final project, I decided to move back in with David at his home called Acorn Abbey, situated...

When I lived in the arctic, I heard a story about a white man and an Eskimo. The white man, overcome with curiosity, asked the Eskimo,...

I am poor. My last tuition bill ($1,089) is coming up, and my savings continue to dwindle away ($1,933). When I graduate in May, I...

Here’s Part II.

To protest Duke’s recently proposed anti-vandwelling law, I decided to publish a two-part series in Duke’s student-run newspaper, The...

Long Island, New York. The date was November 28, 2008. It was almost 5:00 a.m. on Black Friday—the day when people across the country...

I’m running out of money. I’d like to put the blame on the high cost of education, a tough economy, or some other debilitating side...

Dear Ken, Kudos to you for taking such a daring adventure. I love the book Walden and you are a modern example of it. I am 18 years old...

I am familiar with rejection. I’ve been rejected by colleges (13), potential employers (15+), internships (50+) and women (lost count...

[I wrote the following email to Duke administration–which will probably wind up in the hands of their parking department–to express my...

My parking lot issue is resolved. I had a meeting with a Duke lawyer today. Going into the meeting, I only wanted two things: 1.) I...

I lost. I’m officially getting kicked out of the lot, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I was ready to take a stand. I figured I’d...

Not much new to report. My director has conveyed my message to the powers that be: that I do not intend to move and that I have a Duke...

I've been asked to leave my parking lot. I'm still awaiting more information, but here's what I know so far. 1. A tenant, or tenants, of...

Yesterday I received an email from the director of the liberal studies department–the department that I am enrolled in. “Ken, I have a...

“How many things there are in the world of which Diogenes hath no need!” – Diogenes (upon entering an Athens marketplace) George...

Ah, the first week of classes! There is adventure, hope, romance (electricity!) in the air. Frisbees float above freshly groomed campus...

About half a year ago, a father named Paul posted the following comment after one of my entries: Hi Ken. I’ve been reading your stories...

I am giving away $910.90 and it’s making me sick. In January of 2009—upon enrolling at Duke—I vowed to earn my college degree without...

The day after my article published the phone at the Liberal Studies Department office was “ringing off the hook.” My program director...