Anyone who has been on Ashland’s campus long enough knows about it, and new students surely will soon, whether they have seen (or most likely heard) it — the Philosophy Club Scream. 

Every Thursday the Ashland University Philosophy Club and any students who want to join gather at the flagpole in the Quad to collectively scream at exactly 3 p.m. every Thursday. 

But why do they scream? “No reason,” is the answer the group gives to this question before screaming each week. 

“I think it’s an experience worth having because the sensibility of it is nonexistent; therefore, I think it offers us insight into why humans do weird, unnecessary things,” said Seth Bowyer, a student who recently took part in the scream.  

The Philosophy Club Scream has an extensive history at Ashland University. 

“We were in a Philosophy Club meeting somewhere around 2016, 2017, it’s been that long, and we were just trying to think of things to do,” said Faculty Adviser of the Philosophy Club Dr. Louis Mancha. “Up to that point, most of the Philosophy Club activities were just academic activities, and we wanted to do some fun things,” he continued. “Some kid, I can’t remember who it was, just sort of said, ‘Hey, you know, like why don’t we scream,’” he said, explaining how the idea of the Scream originally came about. 

The undetermined meaning behind this event allows participants to give their own meaning to it, and its time of 3 p.m. on Thursday is designed to be as convenient for students as possible.  

For more information on the Philosophy Club and other organizations and events on campus, visit Engage Ashland.