‘Wheaton Confessions:' Anonymous Admissions from College’s ‘Bubble’

If there is a stereotype for how a Wheaton College student thinks, “Wheaton Confessions” may smash it.

At the public Facebook page, which was launched in February, nearly 700 anonymous submissions reveal students’ various gripes and praises for the school’s atmosphere, crises and declarations of faith from a patently evangelical Christian environment, ruminations on gender and sexuality, and ordinary college-student angst.

The page proudly declares its intention to be a “source into life inside the Wheaton Bubble,” and uses an image of an embarrassed-looking mastodon—a reference to Perry Mastodon, the reconstructed mastodon skeleton found on campus—as its profile picture.

Other students respond, publically. Many of the discussions focus on ways in which the school environment differs from that of a secular university, and with crises involving the school’s strict “covenant” code of conduct. Several concern “same-sex attraction,” race, abortion and other religions. Others gripe about the school’s strict alcohol rules. Responses include both snark and Scripture-laced advice.

Of course, lighter issues are discussed too. Post #528 mentions that the “Spring time for Wheaton” campaign posters on campus seem to recall a familiar melody from “The Producers.” Dating foibles are also a common topic, as are the football team and references to specific professors and campus locations. And there are plenty of posts commending the school and other students as well.

The site also affiliates with an “edgy cousin,” #WheatonProblem on Tumblr (founded in December) which offers a satirical, memetic take on campus life.

Check out a few Wheaton Confessions posts above, and more on the page, which posts new “confessions” nearly every day.