By Maya Minwary
Assistant A&E Editor
With a name that came from the one of the days of the week and a powerful laugh, it’s hard not to miss Wednesday Rose Kirven.
“I have a tendency to be a loud laugher,” the junior said. “I can’t hold it back. If something is funny, I’m going to laugh, and I’m going to laugh out loud.
“Sometimes, I’m the only who will catch a subtle teacher’s joke,” Kirven continued, “so people turn around to see who’s the only one laughing really loud.”
Contrary to popular belief, she wasn’t named after the morbid daughter in “The Addams Family,” nor did it come from the day she was born (she was born on a Thursday).
But don’t think the name and the distinct laughter are her only claims to fame. Kirven is very involved at Pepperdine, even though she spent her whole sophomore year overseas in London. She is a liberal arts major with an emphasis in theater.
In addition to her studies, Kirven is also part of the Dance in Flight crew, as well as the Pepperdine Improv Troop group. She was among the first students to be the Spiritual Life Advisor in London and she is holding the position for the second year in a row in Towers.
“I had originally applied for the London (Residential Advisor) position, but I didn’t get it,” Kirven said. “I was bummed, but when I became an SLA, I knew it was definitely a place where God has called me at Pepperdine, and that’s why I took the position (of SLA) again. I’m an outgoing person, anyway, so it helps as an excuse.”
While doing these extracurricular activities may be enough for some students, Kirven has used her passion and talent for styling hair to help the community. Kirven has joined a new club on campus called Inner Beauty. Members of the new club will go to battered women shelters and style their hair and makeup. “God’s really going to bless it,” Kirven said.
If your name is not derived from The Addams Family, or the day that you were born, how did you get it?
My mom read a book in which the main character’s name is January and she thought it was beautiful so she gave the name to my older sister. Next came my other sister and my mom named her Summer because (the idea) is similar to January. I came unexpectedly, and my mom couldn’t just name me Susan. Wednesday was the closest thing. My mom thinks “Wednesday Rose” is romantic.
What was it like spending a year in London?
It changed my life. I go through withdrawals sometimes. I’m determined to go back there; my dream is to go back to London and be an au pair for a wealthy family and work in the West End Theatres.
Besides London, what is your favorite city that you have visited while you were overseas?
Salzburg, Austria, particularly because of the “Sound of Music” tour. I grew up watching the movie and all of a sudden, I was in the movie. I sang songs from the musical throughout the bus ride and people were looking at me like they wanted me to shut up. But I was living the “Sound of Music” moment. I danced around the gazebo and across the bridge, and I even dragged my friends to the abbey up on the hill. There was no way I wasn’t going to do it.
Do you have any random obsessions?
Anything sparkly. If it shines, I probably own it — OK, I don’t own all the sparkly things, but the majority of things I own have sparkles to them.
What about a random hobby?
I like making T-shirts. My favorite one that I made so far has to be my “South Ken Love, what, what?” shirt…uh, it’s a London thing.
I hear that you use your own particular phrases, what are they?
Yeah.
“Gull!” can be translated as “gross,” “hooray,” or, usually, “oh-no!”
“Cricket, cricket,” means “awkward silent.”
“Blink, blink,” stands for, “I have no clue in what is going on.”
And, “You love your life!” suggests, “Things are going great!”
If you could kiss any movie star, who would it be?
Christian Bale, the hottest Newsie ever to walk on Disney grounds.
What’s an interesting fact about yourself that no one knows (yet)?
I love the feeling of going to sleep, I love waking up at night, just so I can experience that feeling over again.
I also love cheese. It’s so good, you can put it on anything. Give me a block of cheese, a baguette, and I’m happy.
September 18, 2003