Each year at Ashland University, it seems that there is one freshman student who makes himself or herself known all over the the AU campus. This student is not known for the usual prominences, such as grades, athletics, musical talent or service. There is always something different that sets these students apart from everyone else. Last year, AU welcomed “Barefoot Kid.” This year, we welcomed “That Kid with The Pencil.”

Freshman Benjamin Isaiah Black, or “Bro B.I.B.” as he prefers, has been seen all around campus and he is rarely, if ever, without a gigantic pencil dangling from his ear.

“I love it,” Black said. “In its own weird, twisted way, it resembles who I am. It’s big and crazy. So am I.”

The Pencil is not, by any means, a new accessory for college. In fact, Black has had The Pencil for a few years.

A little over two years ago – two years and four months, to be exact – Black visited a wax museum in New York with YEPAW 365, a year-round leadership development, personal growth and cultural arts program. On the way out, the group stopped at the gift shop.

“There were two things I saw that I wanted, so I bought them,” Black said. “One of them was The Pencil. The other was a sign that read, ‘Jesus Street.'”

The Pencil peaked Black’s interest simply because of its size. He found it weird, as a giant pencil is, arguably, not something you see every day. It also used to be red, but it has seen quite a bit of wear and tear over the past few years.

“Along the way, the paint started to disintegrate,” Black said. “Then, the eraser fell out, but life goes on. Then, the string fell off, and I had to keep fixing it with tape and staples. First it was tape, then it was staples, and now it’s tape and staples.”

As Black mentioned, The Pencil’s string has been broken a number of times. In the most recent pencil-breaking episode, someone allegedly tackled Black with nunchucks. In an effort to save himself, he grabbed his pencil and broke the string.

Black claimed that the attacker then ran away at the sight of him, as he is “big and masculine and ripped, like Shaq meets Arnold Schwarzenegger.”

The credibility of this most recent pencil-breaking story has come into question, as the alleged attacker was never located for comment.

“I’m not lying,” Black said. “Just kidding. It’s different.”

Over the years, The Pencil has become more of an accessory than a necessity.

When he used to actually use The Pencil, Black did not wear it around his ear. A pencil of that size, naturally, came with a sharpener of its own, and he used The Pencil until the fateful day – not long after purchase – when the sharpener broke.

Black has received a number of questions about The Pencil. He wishes it known that, as with any accessory, he does not wear The Pencil at all times.

In fact, if there is an occasion for which The Pencil would be inappropriate, such as during rehearsals, performances or more formal occasions, he does remove it. He also doesn’t sleep or shower with The Pencil.

Black has forgotten this most notable accessory on occasion. When this happens, he is always questioned about its well-being for, as people tend to point out to him, The Pencil is practically a part of him. He has never lost The Pencil, however, though it has been hidden from him on occasion.

He was once asked to use The Pencil for part of an activity at his performing arts school. Black explained that it is important for an actor to be able to enter a scene as though he or she has no idea what is going on, and in order to practice this skill, something valuable was hidden from each student.

“Those heathens took my pencil,” Black said. “I told them, ‘take my lunchbox! That’s important to me,’ but no… they took my pencil.”

Along with the usual questions, Black has received a number of odd comments about The Pencil as well. It is often mistaken for a drum stick, and its origin tends to be of interest as well.

Black has been questioned as to whether or not the unidentified object dangling from his ear is part of a religious practice, or if he is simply from another country in which that is the norm.

Regardless of what people think of him, and whether or not people question its role in his life, Black is quite proud of The Pencil.

“People said it was odd,” Black said. “People said it was weird. As for me – I didn’t care… it’s mine.”