Speaking

“�In�this�environment.�everybody�is�some�sort�of�

leader.�They�are�coming�to�W&L�because�of�their�

leadership.�They�had�to�have�done�something�in�

high�school�that�got�them�here.�So,�wherever�you�

are�here,�you’re�with�other�leaders,�other�people�who�can�better�this�community.”

“�International�students�bring�a�

dynamic�to�campus�that�is�unique.�

They�get�really�involved�in�bringing�

their�heritage�to�campus�and�they�

open�it�up�to�the�students�here.”

“�I�always�think�I�am�educating�the�

future�patrons�of�

the�arts.�We�need�

those�even�more�

than�we�need�per-formers�and�art-

ists.”

“�I�went�to�China�for�five�weeks�last�

spring�term.�It’s�nice�to�have�that�

option�to�go�abroad�but�not�for�a�full�

semester,�because�Chinese�is�not�my�

main�focus.�You�know�what�I’m�saying?�

Accounting�and�business.�But�China�is�

such�a�growing�economy.”

“�The�best�learning�environment�is�when�students�are�

doing�the�teaching�as�well�as�the�learning.�It’s�when�

students�are�sitting�in�a�room,�with�or�without�a�fac-

ulty�member,�going�through�problems,�debating�with�

each�other,�arguing�with�one�another.”“�I�think�students�are�so�happy�

here�because�they�make�bonds,�

they�make�friendships.”

“�I’m�from�Bombay.�We�have�

a�one-week�orientation�for�

international�students,�and�

then�Freshman�Orientation.�We�get�to�know�one�

another�and�make�friends,�

but�after�that,�we�kind�of�

integrate�into�the�W&L�

community.�I�think�that’s�

pretty�cool.”

“�I�worked�in�Belgrade,�Serbia,�with�a�

consulting�firm�two�summers�ago.�And�

then,�worked�with�a�small�non-profit�

based�in�London�last�summer�that�does�

health�and�social�work�in�Russia,�in�the�

former�Soviet�Union.”

“�There’s�a�very�close�community�

here,�and�some�of�the�things�

that�our�alumni�remember�from�

30�years�ago,�I’m�convinced,�

are�the�same�things�our�stu-

dents�are�going�to�remember��

as�alumni�30�years�from�now.”

“�Lexington�is�that�small�town�you’re�

always�hearing�about,�that�your�

parents�are�always�talking�about,�

‘Oh,�back�in�the�day.’�You�have�the�

brick-paved�sidewalks,�but�it’s�

up-to-�date.�You�have�wireless�

Internet�throughout�Lexington.”

“�Service�has�been�a�large�part�of�

my�four�years�at�W&L.�One�

thing�W&L�teaches�us,�in�our�

motto,�is�to�be�‘not�unmindful�

of�the�future.’�We�know�that�

after�our�four�years,�we’ll�be�

called�upon�for�more�than�our�

personal�financial�betterment.�

It’s�about�betterment�of�man-

kind�through�service.”

“�After�my�freshman�year�I�lived�for�a�

summer�with�a�Russian�family�in�St.�

Petersburg�and�took�a�class�that�

was�personalized�for�just�me�and�

two�other�W&L�students.�St.�Peters-

burg�is�a�far�cry�from�Lexington.”

“�You�get�thrown�into�a�situation�

way�outside�your�comfort�zone�

with�ten�other�people�who�are�all�

in�the�same�boat,�so�you�just�

automatically�bond.�I’m�still�

friends�with�about�five�of�the�

people�who�were�on�my�trip.”

“�You’d�rather�fail�an�exam�

here�than�fail�at�integrity.”

“�The�alums�come�back�here�to�

recruit�because�they�know�what�

kind�of�students�W&L�produces.�

“Listen,�learning�doesn’t�stop�when�you�grad-

uate�from�college,�college�is�where�you�begin�

to�learn.�They�call�it�commencement�for�a�

reason.�We’re�trying�to�teach�people�how�to�

prepare�themselves�for�lives�of�learning.�”

“�I�look�for�people�who�are�

talking�about�interesting�

things,�things�I�don’t�know�

anything�about,�because�

how�else�will�you�learn?�”

“�There�are�tons�of�trails�around�here.�A�bunch�of�

my�friends�love�mountain�biking.�I�enjoy�hiking�

and�tubing�on�the�rivers.”

“�I’ll�be�going�into�probably�the�least�honorable�profession�in�the�world—

campaign�politics.�If�I�get�a�job,�maybe�I’ll�try�to�take�some�of�those�les-

sons�that�I’ve�learned�here�of�what�honor�is�into�a�world�that�doesn’t�

really�respect�honor�all�that�much.”

“�It’s�a�cliché�to�talk�about�

“global�citizens,”�but�we�

are�global�citizens.”

speaking

WASHINGTON AND LEEU N I V E R S I T Y

Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116

Washington and Lee University is one of

our nation’s most esteemed liberal arts

institutions. a center of lively debate, a

laboratory for training future leaders, and

a community where mutual trust informs

relationships, W&L looks ever forward

while building on a storied legacy.

In these pages, the people of W&L speak for themselves. Their observations offer a glimpse into who we are, what we care about, and what it means to be part of our world. Their perspec-tives reveal the richness of a culture that can only be described with many voices.

Beginnings 1

Honor 4

Faculty 6

PersPectives 10

Pursuits 12

setting 14

leadersHiP 18

discourse 20

destinations 22

tHedetails 25

aluMniandstudents

Ligia abreu Dominican Republic

kirk adamson Richmond, VA

grace andrews Dyersburg, TN

george arie Petersham, MA

Hayes ashcraft Charlotte, NC

Drew assapimonwait Prospect, KY

Dane Boston Dunedin, FL

Carson Bruno Pittsburgh, PA

nelson Bunn Raleigh, NC

Jordan Campbell Dallas, TX

William Chamberlin Princeton Junction, NJ

John Christopher Fort Lauderdale, FL

Micaela Coffey San Antonio, TX

stacy Doornbos Roswell, GA

shreya Durvasula Princeton Junction, NJ

Lindsay erickson Silver Spring, MD

Melissa ginder Jacksonville, FL

isaiah goodman Richfield, MN

Cale grove Rehoboth Beach, DE

kenneth Hopkins Little Rock, AR

audrey Horn Tenafly, NJ

katelyn Huffman Poca, WV

Femi kusimo Cross Lanes, WV

William Larson Wilmington, DE

Wesley Little Austin, TX

Jennifer Lysenko Voorheesville, NY

Quiana Mckenzie Chicago, IL

Lauren Morea Cold Spring

Harbor, NY

sara Mueller Paradise Valley, AZ

Jon philipson Lakeland, FL

Trent pickle Potomac, MD

Rohan poojara Pune, Maharashtra, India

Christina pratt Baltimore, MD

Rhodes proctor Raleigh, NC

amy Robertson Nacogdoches, TX

Whitney Rothstein Miami, FL

Jennifer sanow Leesburg, VA

Richard saum Pawleys Island, SC

neil sheaffer Plantation, FL

graham sheridan Greensboro, NC

alice shih Austin, TX

katie simpson Scottsdale, AZ

aparajita singh Patna, Bihar, India

Wheeler sparks Dallas, TX

Lauren Travis Pulaski, VA

alex White Baltimore, MD

shane Wilson Chesapeake, WV

Hila Yashar Modiin, Israel

FacultyandadMinistration

Lisa alty Professor of Chemistry;

Chair of Pre-Med Advisory Committee

June aprille Provost

Harlan Beckley Director, Shepherd

Program

george Bent Professor of Art History

Jessica Carter ’95 Director of Web

Communication

Dennis Cross Vice President for

University Advancement

Hank Dobin Dean of the College;

Professor of English

Timothy gaylard Professor of Music

Bill Hartog Dean of Admissions

and Financial Aid

Janet ikeda Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Literature

elizabeth knapp ’96 Associate Professor of Geology

Dave Leonard Dean of First-Year

Students

Holt Merchant ’61 Professor of History

Rob Mish ’76 Director of the Lenfest

Center for the Arts

eric Owsley ’01 University Web

Developer

Larry peppers Dean of the Williams

School; Professor of Economics

Brian Richardson ’73 Professor of Journalism

and Mass Communications

amy Richwine International Student

Adviser

ken Ruscio ’76 President

Lad sessions Professor of Philosophy

pamela simpson Professor of Art History

Rob straughan Associate Dean,

Williams School; Associate Professor of Business Administration

Bob strong Associate Provost;

Professor of Politics

Dawn Watkins Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Jonathan Webster Associate Dean

of Admissions

Tom Williams Former Provost;

Professor of Physics

We thank these Washington and Lee community members who generously contributed their stories, thoughts, and observations to this book.

“�During�orientation�week,�new�students�

get�a�T-shirt�that�says�‘Speak.’�The�

idea�is�to�instill—from�the�very�begin-

ning—a�tradition�here.�Whenever�a�

person�encounters�another,�even�in�

passing,�he�or�she�greets�that�person.”

“�The�funny�part�is�when�

you’re�away�from�W&L—�

like�when�you’re�in�New�York�

City—and�you�say�hello�to�

someone,�people�look�at�you�

like�you�have�three�heads.”

Beginnings

1

“�During�Pre-Orientation,�

you�get�thrown�into�a�

situation�way�outside�

your�comfort�zone�with�

10�other�people�who�

are�all�in�the�same�

boat,�so�you�just�auto-

matically�bond.�I’m�still�

friends�with�the�people�

who�were�on�my�trip.”

2

relationsHiPBuildingat W&L

begins before many students set foot

on campus—through Appalachian

Adventure wilderness trips and

Volunteer Venture service initiatives,

popular Pre-Orientation programs.

2

oneoFtHeMostanticiPated

parts of Orientation is the

Campus Activities Fair

(left), during which represen-

tatives from some of W&L’s

130+ student organizations

compete for the attention

of incoming students.

�“�I�think�orientation�acts�as�a�springboard�

to�leadership,�as�well.�I�was�in�Roanoke�

for�a�week�my�first�year.�Of�the�25�stu-

dents�in�my�group,�I�would�say�half�of�us�

became�Volunteer�Venture�leaders�the�

next�year.”

“�I�think�students�are�so�happy�

here�because�they�make�

bonds,�they�make�friendships.”

“�I’m�from�Bombay.�We�have�a�one-week�orientation�for�interna-

tional�students,�and�then�First-Year�Orientation.�We�get�to�know�

one�another�and�make�friends�and,�after�that,�we�kind�of�inte-

grate�into�the�W&L�community.�I�think�that’s�pretty�cool.”

“�One�of�the�most�rewarding�aspects�of�my�four�years�

at�W&L�was�going�from�being�a�first-year�student�to�

being�someone�who’s�bringing�new�students�in�and�

helping�make�them�comfortable�that�first�week.”

�“�Those�people�I�was�with�my�first�year,�a�lot�of�them��

I�see�around�campus�every�day.�Even�though�we’ve�

gone�on�our�divergent�paths—all�kinds�of�majors,�

all�kinds�of�clubs—we�still�have�that�connection�

from�our�first�year.”

3

4

“�In�front�of�the�dining�hall,�you’ll�just�see�a�

huge�pile�of�purses�and�backpacks�right�at�

the�bottom�of�the�staircase.�People�just�pile�

them�on�there.�And�when�they’re�finished,�

they�find�their�own�and�grab�it.”

Honor

4

“��Generations�of�students�have�kept�the�

promise�to�trust�each�other,�to�respect�

each�other,�to�treat�each�other�with��

civility.�That�makes�the�Honor�System�

work�here�in�ways�that�don’t�necessarily�

work�in�other�places.”

“�You’d�rather�fail�an�exam�here�than�

fail�in�integrity.”

“��I�heard�a�story�about�a�retired�federal�judge�who�

has�an�extensive�library.�If�you�borrow�a�book�from�

him,�you�have�to�sign�out�what�you�are�taking—

unless�you�are�a�W&L�graduate.�Then,�you�just�

take�whatever�you�want�and�you�bring�it�back.�It’s�

all�part�of�the�Honor�System.”

“�Our�exams�are�unproctored.�We�schedule�our�own�

finals.�Or,�if�you�have�a�take-home,�you�can�take�it�

whenever�you�please.�If�you�get�a�friend�to�proof-

read�your�paper,�you�just�write�her�name�into�the�

pledge.�We�get�so�much�more�flexibility�and�free-

dom�because�of�the�Honor�System.”

“�The�Honor�System�is�one�

of�the�rocks�of�W&L.”

“�Even�outside�the�W&L�environment,��

I�find�I�can’t�tell�little�white�lies—I’m��

not�joking!”

oneoFtHeleadingvoices in

contemporary philosophy,

professor Lad Sessions (left)

brings a fascination for the

issues and questions sur-

rounding honor to his teach-

ing and scholarly life. His

book-in-progress explores

how the concept of honor has

developed over the ages.

5

6

“�Teaching�ought�to�be�student-centered.�

Student�needs�and�talents�and�interests�

are�paramount,�and�that�should�be�the�

case�anywhere.�It’s�not�always.�But�it’s�

certainly�true�here.”

Faculty

6

7

“�There�are�times�when�I’m�supposed�to�be�the�font��

of�wisdom,�but�I�find�I’m�at�my�best�when�I’m�help-

ing�a�student�find�her�own�way,�and�maybe�encour-

aging�her�to�think�a�little�more�critically�than�she�

has�before.”

“�We’re�going�to�challenge�you.�We’re�

going�to�make�you�think�about�things�

that�you’ve�never�thought�about�before.”

“�Our�department�takes�

students�to�American�

Chemical�Society�meet-

ings.�We�have�them�

present�their�research.�

I�feel�like�that’s�one�of�

the�most�important�

things�we�do�in�educat-

ing�them.”

“�The�professors�here�

want�to�get�to�know�

you.�They�care�about�

you.�They�treat�you��

like�an�adult.”

“�In�my�experience,�professors�do�open�their�

doors�to�students—all�the�time.�You�know,�

there’s�always�a�way�to�get�in�touch�with�a�

professor�if�you�have�a�question.�Even�if�

they’re�not�physically�available,�professors�

will�respond�to�an�e-mail,�so�you�never�feel�

like�you’re�on�your�own�with�your�work.”

8

“�I�walked�into�one�class�and�found�out�

that�my�professor�had�graduated�from�

Chicago�undergrad�and�had�a�doctorate�

from�Chicago�as�well,�and�had�residency�

at�Edinburgh,�Yale,�Harvard.�Unbeliev-

able.”

“�Ours�is�a�model�where�research�is�

brought�into�teaching�and�teaching�to�

research.�Not�just�because�students�are�

doing�research,�but�because�one�informs�

the�other,�is�catalytic,�synergistic,�and�the�

whole�is�more�than�the�sum�of�the�parts.”

“�Here�you�don’t�have�to�get�past�three�or�four�postdocs�and�five�

or�six�research�students�to�get�on�instruments�in�the�various�

science�departments.�We�serve�undergraduates,�and�they�are�

the�people�who�have�access�to�everything�that�we�own.”

“�My�professors�are�great.�I�go�to�their�houses�for�

lunch,�for�barbeques,�for�cast�parties.�I�baby-sit�

for�them.�I�dog-sit�for�them.�I�house-sit�for�them��

if�they�ask�me.”

9

12

perspectives“�The�university�setting�is�definitely�

about�learning�about�other�cultures,�

about�other�people,�and�really�testing�

your�intellect,�your�beliefs.�When�you�

have�to�argue�a�belief,�you�realize�

how�strongly�you�believe�it.”

10

“�International�students�bring�a�dynamic�

to�campus�that�is�unique.�They�get�really�

involved�in�bringing�their�heritage�to�

campus,�and�they�open�it�up�to�the��

students�here.”

“�I�teach�classes�on�the�art�of�Europe.�My�colleagues�

teach�the�art�of�India�and�China�and�Japan.�These�

days,�we’re�teaching�about�the�Middle�East�and�

Asia.�We’re�reading�literature�from�Africa,�from�

Europe,�from�South�America.�We�have�interdisciplin-

ary�programs�that�call�students�to�travel,�to�see�the�

world.�That’s�what�the�modern�curriculum�is.”

“�I�went�to�China�last�spring�term.�It’s�nice�

to�have�that�option�to�go�abroad�but�not�

for�a�full�semester.�Chinese�is�not�my�

main�focus,�but�China�has�such�a�grow-

ing�economy.”

“�The�other�night�we�had�a�Passover�seder,�and�rather�than�it�only�

being�Jewish�students,�we�wanted�to�invite�everybody�at�W&L,�

so�some�of�my�fraternity�brothers�came.�They�wanted�to�know�

what�Passover�was�really�like.”

“�Our�respect�for�diver-

sity�comes�out�of�the�

Honor�System—civility�

and�respect�for�every-

body�on�this�campus.”

“�To�have�an�open��

mind�and�to�be�

exposed�to�other��

people’s�viewpoints��

is�how�you�learn.”

“�Studying�abroad�proved�to�be�an�even�

more�valuable�experience�than�I�could�

have�dreamed.�Being�able�to�see�and�

learn�so�much�not�only�changed�my�per-

spective�of�the�world,�but�of�myself�and�

my�place�in�it.”

“�Two�of�my�best�friends�are�best�friends,�too.�One�is�from�Swazi-

land�and�the�other�is�from�Tennessee.�It’s�just�amazing,�when�

you�get�here�and�you�interact�with�different�kinds�of�people,��

the�kind�of�lasting�relationships�you�end�up�having.”

“�We’re�a�small�enough�school�that�you�can’t�just��

isolate�yourself�with�people�who�are�similar�to�you.�

You�have�to�reach�out.�Otherwise�you�end�up�with��

a�really�small�group�of�friends.”

11

“�Part�of�improvising�for�jazz�is�building�up�

a�language�in�your�mind,�kind�of�like�

having�different�colors�to�paint�with�and�

being�able�to�apply�those�over�various�

harmonies�and�various�chord�types,�and�

so�this�course�outlined�that�and�helped�

you�start�to�compile�your�paints�and�your�

colors�and�know�when�to�use�red�and�

when�to�use�blue.”

“�One�thing�at�W&L�is�that�we’re�com-

pletely�student-run,�student-�

organized,�and�student-funded.��

Our�executive�committee,�our�student�

body,�funds�our�organization.�There’s�

no�administration�overseeing�what�we�

do�as�student�organizations.�What�we�

want�to�be�involved�in,�we�can�do.”

“�It’s�scary�to�work�as�hard�as�you�can,�because��

if�you�fail�there�are�no�excuses.�When�you�have��

a�team�that�gives�everything�it’s�got�and�it��

succeeds,�you�have�one�of�those�stories�you��

can�tell�your�grandkids�years�later.”

12

pursuits

12

“�In�the�W&L�Student�Consult-

ing�Group,�we�do�all�sorts�of�

consulting�work�for�local�

organizations�and�compa-

nies�and�then�also�national�

ones—writing�marketing�

plans,�figuring�out�new�mar-

kets.�It’s�completely�student�

run,�pro�bono.”

“�There’s�a�volunteer�

database�that�we�have�

that�is�growing�every�

year.�I�think�right�now�

we�probably�have�500�

or�600�students�in�it.�

They�matched�up�with�

about�60�to�70�commu-

nity�agencies�that�we�

have�contact�with.”

“�There�is�a�reason�we�have�over�a�hun-

dred�student�organizations,�because�

there�are�niches�for�everyone.�So�you�

have�college�liberals�and�you�have��

College�Republicans,�and�you�have�

Students�for�Choice,�but�there�is�also��

a�Students�for�Life�organization.”

“�The�Commons�theater�is�amazing!�The�

10�p.m.�movie�is�packed�on�weekends—

they’re�current�movies�we�want�to�see.�

It’s�a�nice�way�to�end�the�week.”

“�On�a�campus�like�this,�there�are�so�many�things�happening,�

you�could�literally�spend�every�afternoon�and�evening�of�

every�single�day�and�weekend�at�some�kind�of�event.�There�

is�just�no�way�that�you�could�do�it�all.”

“�Most�all�of�our�parties�are�

open.�They’re�not�exclusive.�

Everyone�goes.”

13

aworld-classFacility and home to

W&L’s departments of theater, music,

art and art history, and dance, the

Lenfest Center for the Arts brings

the world’s premiere visual and

performing artists—in theater, opera,

choral and band music, dance, and

performance art—to the Lexington

community. The center offers more

than 125 performances and art

exhibitions each year.

14

setting

“�The�brick�buildings�with�the�white�columns�

and�the�Colonnade.�The�chapel�with�the�bell�

on�top�that�rings�every�hour.�You�get�the�

sense�that�you’re�at�a�place�that’s�greater�

than�yourself,�that�has�such�a�deep�and�rich�

history�and�a�heritage�that�people�are�very�

proud�of.”

14

1515

“�Lexington�is�that�small��

town�you’re�always�hearing�

about,�that�your�parents��

are�always�talking�about,�

‘Oh,�back�in�the�day.’�You�

have�the�brick-paved�side-

walks,�but�it’s�up-to-date.”

“�Roanoke�is�an�hour�away.�D.C.’s�only�

three�hours.�Charlottesville’s�about�an�

hour�north.�You�can�get�places�if�you�

need�to.�When�you�have�to�go�see�a�

movie�at�midnight,�you�can�drive��

down�to�Roanoke�to�do�it.”

“�I�was�skeptical�at�

first,�but�I�like�the�

small-town�feel,�and�

the�community�really�

understands�the�

Honor�System,�which�

does�extend�beyond�

our�campus.”

“�Lexington�is�a�really�quaint�and�cute�

little�town.�I�don’t�think�anyone�could�

describe�it�as�being�anything�else.�

There’s�red�brick�everywhere,�and�the�

fact�that�it’s�tiny�and�safe�makes�for�a�

really�great�college�living�environment.�

There�are�places�to�go�eat�or�have�a�cup�

of�coffee�or�hang�out�with�your�friends�

two�blocks�away�from�campus.�You�can�

walk�anywhere�in�under�10�minutes.”

QuietandcHarMing,yet

cosmopolitan, Lexington offers

the comfort and pleasure of

small-town life with just

enough bustle for those look-

ing to spend an afternoon or

evening away from campus.

16

“�Every�single�classroom�in�Wilson�Hall�is�

‘smart’—we’ve�got�electronic�synthesizers,�

we’ve�got�computer�labs�for�studio�arts.”

“�I�love�the�mountains.�The�Blue�Ridge�

Parkway.�Hiking�on�House�Mountain.�

Running�on�the�Chessie�Trail.�This�

morning�I�went�for�a�run�behind�

campus�on�the�Woods�Creek�Trail.”

“�One�of�the�ways�that�I�pacify�either�the�stress�of�school�or�having�a�lot�of�work�is�to�go�on�a�run�somewhere�out�by�our�house.�Virginia�is�God’s�country.�I�mean,�it’s�such�a�beautiful�area�around�here,�with�the�rolling�hills�and�the�cow�pastures,�especially�in�the�spring,�when�things�start�turning�green�and�coming�alive.”

“�There�are�tons�of�trails�around�here.��

A�bunch�of�my�friends�love�mountain�

biking.�I�enjoy�hiking�and�tubing�on��

the�rivers.”

“�In�the�field�geology�class�you’re�actually�going�out�

to�places�and�seeing�different�rock�formations.�We�

went�caving�and�to�a�lot�of�different�places�along�

the�Blue�Ridge�Parkway.�It’s�cool�that�the�area�gets�

incorporated�into�your�academics.”

“�I�went�to�D.C.�for�the�Power�Shift��

climate�conference�to�lobby�for�the�

environment.�There�are�a�lot�of�trips�

like�that.�And�W&L�students�get�a�lot��

of�internships�there.”�

“�A�lot�of�students�take�advantage�of�the�setting.�

I’ll�drive�to�Goshen�just�because�it’s�so�nice.”

“�Not�many�students�bike�across�

campus�because�it’s�so�easy�to�

walk�from�place�to�place.”

17

1818

“�This�school�does�turn�out�amazing�

leaders.�It’s�not�something�that�

people�are�actively�seeking,�I�don’t�

think,�but�just�the�way�the�school�

trains�you�and�prepares�you.”

18

On�and�off�campus,�W&L�students�are�

leaders—and�often�win�accolades�at�the�

same�time.�W&L’s�team�won�the�10th�

annual�Ethics�Bowl�competition,�spon-

sored�by�the�Virginia�Foundation�for�

Independent�Colleges.�In�total,�W&L�

students�have�won�five�Ethics�Bowls:�in�

2001�debating�Ethics�and�Technology,�

2002�for�Ethics�and�Civil�Liberties�and�

National�Security,�2004�for�Ethics�and�

War,�2005�for�Ethics�and�Politics,�and�

2009�for�Ethics�in�Journalism.�

Leadership

19

MoretHan95Percentof the stu-

dent body participates in W&L’s

quadrennial Mock Convention (right).

ManylendtHeirenergies to

W&L’s myriad community outreach

initiatives, including Campus

Kitchen (below), in which unused

food from the dining halls and

local restaurants is prepared and

delivered to populations in need.

19

“�In�this�environment,�everybody�is�some�sort�of�leader.��

They�are�coming�to�W&L�because�of�their�leadership.��

They�had�to�have�done�something�in�high�school�that�got��

them�here.�So�wherever�you�are�here,�you’re�with�other��

leaders,�other�people�who�can�better�this�community.”

“�If�there’s�not�an�organization�you�like,�you�can�start�

your�own,�and�people�do�that�every�year.�In�a�small�

setting�like�this,�there�is�definitely�always�an�

opportunity�to�make�a�name�for�yourself—even�

your�first�year.”

“�What�Campus�Kitchen�does�is�recycle�unused�

food—from�dining�services,�from�donations—and�

prepare�nutritious�meals�and�redistribute�them�

back�into�Rockbridge�County.�We�distribute�upwards�

of�310�meals�a�week.�We�cook�them,�we�deliver�

them,�and�we�build�relationships.”

“�I’m�in�the�Williams�Investment�Society.�In�the�years�

since�it�started,�we’ve�turned�the�million�dollars�of�

endowment�the�school�gave�us�into�about�1.6�mil-

lion,�I�think.�We’ve�beaten�the�S&P�five�years�run-

ning.�We�don’t�just�make�bets.�We’re�actually�doing�

the�kind�of�stuff�business�analysts�do.�It’s�a�really�

good�experience.”

“�Service�has�been�a�large�part�of�my�four�

years�at�W&L.�One�thing�W&L�teaches��

us,�in�our�motto,�is�to�be�not�unmindful��

of�the�future.�We�know�that�after�our��

four�years,�we’ll�be�called�upon�for�more�

than�our�personal�financial�betterment.�

It’s�about�betterment�of�mankind�

through�service.”

“�You�have�to�expand�your�definition�of�leadership.�There’s�a��

lot�of�service�leadership�on�campus.�Everyone,�it�seems,��

volunteers.�And�that�is�leadership�in�a�sense,�leading�in�a��

different�capacity.”

“�W&L�is�leading,�too.�President�Ruscio�

signed�the�Presidents�Climate�Commit-

ment,�as�well�as�an�international�treaty��

to�become�carbon�neutral�over�the�next�

20�years.�They’ve�really�taken�a�lot�of�big�

strides�to�reduce�our�carbon�footprint.”

19

20

“�The�professors�will�ask,�‘Why�do�you�

feel�this?�How�do�you�believe�in�

this?�Why?’�So�you’re�going�to�have�

to�question�yourself—you’re�going�

to�really�have�to�know�why�you�

believe�something—you�really�have�

to�have�something�to�back�it�up.�”

Discourse

20

21

“�When�you�walk�through�the�Colonnade�

today,�at�any�hour,�you’re�going�to�see�

students�arguing�with�each�other�about�

the�hot-button�issues�of�the�day.�They’re�

going�to�be�writing�about�them.”

“��This�is�a�comfortable�environ-

ment.�People�aren’t�afraid�to�

express�different�opinions�

and,�more�importantly,�listen�

to�different�opinions.”

“�I�don’t�know,�in�our�frater-

nity,�we�get�into�some�pretty�

good�fights.�We�have�20�lib-

erals�and�20�conservatives.”

“�For�Washington�Term,�you�have�about�16�students�

who�are�living�in�apartments�in�D.C.�together�and�

working�all�over�D.C.�So�frequently�at�night,�a�group�

of�us�would�be�hanging�out�in�an�apartment�and�

talking�about�something�that�was�going�on�in�D.C.�

or�something�that�happened�at�the�office.�The�pro-

fessor�tries�to�make�it�about�half�and�half,�Demo-

crats�and�Republicans.”

“�I�have�friends�in�the�C-school�and�the�journalism�department�and�

others�who�are�pre-med.�I�think�that�when�your�friends�are�inter-

ested�in�big�and�different�academic�fields,�you�can�casually�talk�

about�what�you’re�interested�in,�and�it�doesn’t�seem�like�you’re�

having�an�intellectual�discussion.�But�really,�you�have�different�

opinions�and�different�strengths,�so�it’s�under-the-radar�intellec-

tual�discussion.”

“�You�know,�people�talk�about�student�

apathy.�But�there�were�3,000�members�

of�the�W&L�community�sitting�in�the�gym�

listening�to�Jesse�Jackson�speak.”

21

Destinations

“�Listen,�learning�doesn’t�stop�when�

you�graduate�from�college;�college�is�

where�you�begin�to�learn.�They�call�it�

commencement�for�a�reason.�We’re�

trying�to�teach�people�how�to�prepare�

themselves�for�lives�of�learning.”

22

“�A�young�person�living�in�this�culture�on�a�daily�

basis,�being�direct�with�people.�I�can’t�help�but�

believe�that�affects�how�they�leave�here,�in�terms��

of�their�self-confidence.”

“�If�you’re�in�policy�economics�and�politics,�go�for�a�Truman.�We�

won�one�of�those�last�year.�If�you’re�interested�in�the�sciences,�

try�for�a�Goldwater�Fellowship.�We�got�a�Goldwater�last�year.��

If�you’re�interested�in�classics�or�literature�or�history,�apply�for��

a�Beinecke�scholarship—that’s�$30,000�for�graduate�school.��

We�won�one�of�those�two�weeks�ago.”

“�I�got�into�the�New�York�Intern�Program�for�spring�term.�It’s�

mainly�for�businesspeople,�but�anybody�can�apply.�You�go��

up�to�New�York,�still�going�to�classes�and�lectures�and�stuff��

and�writing�papers,�but�you�are�also�working�for�weeks�before�

most�people�would�get�there�to�start�a�summer�job.�It’s�a�huge�

advantage�for�W&L�students.”

“�I�got�an�internship�by�sending�an�e-mail��

to�an�alum.�He�wrote�back,�‘We�don’t��

have�interns,�but�send�me�your�résumé�

and�I’ll�see�what�I�can�do.’�A�week�later��

I�had�an�internship.”

“�The�alums�come�back�here�to�recruit�because�they�know�

what�kind�of�students�W&L�produces.”

“�Leaving�our�school,�looking�back�on�it,��

I�think�we’re�going�to�be�a�lot�more�loyal�

because�we’ve�had�so�many�opportuni-

ties�to�get�involved�and�make�an�impact�

on�campus.”

“�There�is�something�about�this�place�that�is�deep.�

Never�mind�the�kinds�of�slogans�and�branding�that�

everyone�is�striving�for,�there�are�some�fundamen-

tal�core�values�here�that�just�shine�through�in�every�

endeavor.�It’s�not�perfect,�but�it’s�consistent.”

23

24

if the voices, ideas, opinions, and perspectives of the people who make up our community resonate with you, Washington and Lee is worth a closer look. The pages that follow tell the rest of our story: the figures and the facts, the details and the dates.

The Details

vision 26

distinctions 27

students 28

Faculty 29

divisions 30

PrograMs 32oFstudy

oPPortunities 33

studentliFe 34

residenceliFe 36

setting 37

aFterw&l 38

BeForew&l 39

w&lFacts 41

25

26

honoring the past

Named to honor two of the most influential figures in American history, Washington and Lee University is deeply indebted to the values and ideals that defined George Washington and Robert E. Lee as leaders and statesmen of the highest order.

It was Washington’s $20,000 gift of James River Canal stock in 1796 that allowed the strug-gling Liberty Hall Academy (an early name for W&L) to survive financial hardship, but it is his embodiment of the principles of great leadership that still resonates in today’s classrooms.

It was a reverence for the responsibility of educating the citizenry that led Robert E. Lee to assume the presidency of Washington College, turn-ing down more lucrative offers. Lee’s insistence that students behave with honor and civility inspired W&L’s renowned Honor System, and his progressive views on education brought journalism, business, engineer-ing, science, and law curricula to a liberal arts institution.

thriving in the present

Building on the foundation provided by its early leaders, W&L is a modern, vibrant liberal arts university known for academic excellence, close student-faculty relationships, and a rich, broad curriculum. W&L is distinguished by a tradition of integrity, mutual respect, and honor cherished throughout the community and known across the nation. Perhaps most remarkable is that the institution’s core values are upheld by a self-governing student body—respectfully aware of their responsibility as tomorrow’s leaders.

Looking to the future

W&L is committed to its quintessential tradition of preparing students for lives of consequence, motivated by a desire to serve others. Mindful of the challenges presented to today’s students by technologi-cal changes, globalization, and shifting political and cultural realities, the University has committed unprecedented resources to faculty salaries, ensuring that students have access to the best possible teachers, scholars, and lead-ers in their fields. Further, an alumnus’s recent gift of

$100 million has enabled the launch of the ambitious Johnson Scholarship Program, an initiative that supports 44 full scholarships each year, enabling W&L to attract the most promising students to its classrooms.

W&L asks its students to take on the most challenging contemporary questions and problems, supporting their efforts by continually develop-ing the University’s interdisci-plinary programs in areas such as the environment, poverty, and women’s studies and by continuing to enhance and support a variety of programs in international study, travel, and research.

Ever committed to its Honor System, principles of student self-governance, and education in moral and ethical reasoning, W&L provides its students the grounding, perspective, and integrity they will need to take their place as citizens and leaders of the new century.

VisionSeldom does a Latin motto have as much contemporary relevance as Washington and Lee’s. Non incautus futuri, “not unmindful of the future,” serves as a constant reminder that a celebrated legacy of excellence pales in comparison to a University’s responsibility to educate its students for the future. W&L is responsive to an ever-changing world and has remained true to its bedrock principles of honor and integrity, while boldly rethinking the liberal arts education for the 21st century.

• george Washington’s $20,000

gift began a long tradition of

giving to W&L by those who bene-

fitted from its legacy and believe

in its mission. Recently, two of

the largest gifts ever to institu-

tions of higher education have

been given to W&L by alumni.

a statue of a toga-cLad

george Washington (known

affectionately as “Old

George”) was carved by Lex-

ington craftsman Matthew

Kahle in 1844 from a log found

floating in the nearby Maury

River. It stood atop Washing-

ton Hall until 1990, when it

was replaced with a replica for

preservation purposes. Visi-

tors can view the original in

W&L’s Leyburn Library.

“�We’re�so�rooted�in�tradition�and��history,�but�really�our�tradition��is�to�look�to�the�future.”

one ruLe

It was Robert E. Lee, then president of the University, who articulated the “one rule— that every student must be a gentleman.” Lee’s ideal formed the foundation for the W&L Honor System, an all-encom-passing system of trust. Since a central implication is that students will not lie, cheat, or steal, members of the W&L community take one another’s words and actions at face value inside the classroom and out.

Although other colleges and universities maintain honor codes, W&L students insist that theirs is unique among institu-tions of higher learning. The system is entirely self-regulated by the student body, with no faculty or board oversight. Those found guilty of violating the community’s trust are asked to leave the University.

In the classroom, there is never doubt about the authenticity of student work. Professors confi-dently offer unproctored or self-scheduled exams, students don’t worry about leaving their personal belongings unat-tended, and campus buildings are accessible 24 hours a day.

speak

The most visible expression of community trust and warmth at W&L is the Speaking Tradition, a time-honored practice of greeting others when passing on campus. Whether a spoken “hello” or a nod of recognition, the gesture of greeting is but the outward expression of the openness, empathy, and acceptance pres-ent in interactions throughout life in this community. From casual conversations among friends in the Commons to heated intellectual debates between students and profes-sors, an air of civility under-scores all discourse at W&L.

expLore

Students complete two 12-week terms followed by a four-week spring term, a calendar that presents a number of uncom-mon opportunities. Faculty and students alike use the spring term to explore new areas of interest and extend themselves intellectually. The spring term also enables students to pursue international study without having to commit to a full year or semester abroad—though these are options, too. Eight to 12 overseas trips are led by faculty each year to a diverse lineup of destinations. The Washington Term and New York Internship Program provide students access to Capitol Hill and Wall Street, respectively. Students may pursue other internships (getting a four-week head start on peers from other colleges), conduct research, or seek employment.

DistinctionsA confident peer to the nation’s most outstanding institutions of research and higher learning, Washington and Lee is distinguished by a handful of ideals—honor, civility, and integrity among them—from which its singular culture unfolds. Honor pervades every aspect of life, deepening relationships and allowing uncommon intellectual freedoms. Civility and integrity create the conditions for mutual trust, resulting in an open community and a rich, frank exchange of ideas.

27

“�We�are�interested�in�character�education,�even�

though�it’s�not�fashionable.�Outside�folks�come�

here�and�say,�‘You�mean�students�are�talking�about�

questions�of�honor�outside�the�class?’”

• the speaking tradition is second

nature to W&L students, but it

has often come as a pleasant

surprise to visitors. In 1913,

New Yorkers Robert and Jesse

Doremus visited campus and

were approached by a student

who offered to give them a tour.

Impressed by the student’s friend-

liness and generosity, the couple

decided to return the favor—to

the tune of a $1.5 million gift to

W&L—in spite of having no prior

connection to the University.

Today, Doremus Gymnasium,

the main gym, bears their name.

• the W&L honor system is not

a codified set of rules, but a

discretion-based set of responsi-

bilities interpreted by each

generation of students, who are

asked to reflect upon and define

for themselves what constitutes

honorable behavior. Such contem-

plation and the autonomy created

by the student-run Honor System

are part of what makes a Washing-

ton and Lee education unique.

• Living the W&L honor system

for four years pays dividends

to students in their lives after

college. Employers who know

the University count integrity

and character among the most

important résumé items on an

application from a W&L grad.

not afraid to get their hands

dirty, several W&L students

spend their spring term each

year participating in

archaeological excavations,

hands-on explorations of the

past run by the anthropology

department.

profiLe

W&L’s 1,750 undergraduates have a lot in common. They are smart and aspiring, almost all at or near the top of their high school classes. They are diligent and determined, as evidenced by their commitments to pursuing full lives outside the classroom. They are editors of newspapers, captains of athlet-ics teams, stars of the stage, heads of service initiatives, first-chair musicians, travelers of the world, authors of origi-nal research, and achievers at high levels of whatever they do. In short, they are leaders, interested in having their say in shaping the world—the kinds of people who make a college campus pulse with activity.

Perhaps more interesting, however, and more important to the character of the W&L community, is what its students do not share. There are as many points of view here as there are people—from the staunchly conservative to the stridently liberal to the patently apoliti-cal. Equally varied are students’ places of origin. They come from 49 states and 50 coun-tries (85 percent from outside Virginia). Nearly 10 percent are the first in their family to attend college, and 14 percent are students of color. There is also a tremendous breadth of intellectual diversity. Though difficult to quantify, the variety of perspectives is obvious in our seminars but also on our playing fields and at our dinner tables.

The wide array of backgrounds and opinions feeds a culture of discourse and debate—tempered by an air of civility that truly distinguishes the culture of communication here. Students speak their minds, argue their perspectives, and occasionally even admit to a change of viewpoint.

seLf-governance

Washington and Lee students are entrusted with an uncom-mon degree of self-governance. The student-elected Executive Committee (EC) is the student governance body of W&L. Responsible for recognizing and funding student organiza-tions and allocating a sizable student activities budget, its other important work is overseeing and upholding the Honor System. The EC hears honor cases (rare but occasion-ally necessary) and votes on whether or not an infraction has occurred, without faculty oversight or input. These are but a few examples of the tremendous trust placed in students by the faculty and administration.

Johnson schoLars

To ensure that a W&L education is available to the best possible students regardless of financial back-ground, the University has recently launched the Johnson Scholarship Program. Supported by an unprecedented $100 million gift from a W&L graduate, the program offers full financial support to 44 students of exceptional academic and personal promise each year. Recipients have their tuition, room, and board paid for and graduate from W&L free of debt. The scholarship—which is awarded to approximately 10 percent of each class—allows the University freedom in build-ing a community of thinking, talented, open-minded citizens capable of making great contri-butions to the campus and the world beyond.

StudentsIn spite of their eclectic backgrounds, interests, and points of view, the students of Washington and Lee have in common a desire to contribute. They tend to see their college education as an opportunity to lend depth and perspective to their developing sense of engagement with the world.

students choose a coLLege

for many reasons, not the least

of which is the company they

keep outside the classroom.

Our students say a significant

portion of their W&L education

comes from their relationships

with fellow students.

• expected accoLades aside,

W&L’s most recent enrolling class

includes students who were publi-

cation editors (57), Eagle Scouts

or Gold Award recipients (32),

class or student body presidents

or vice presidents (34), and varsity

captains (202). Forty-seven are

first-generation college attendees,

and 84 engaged in significant com-

munity service. The class also

includes a few pilots, black belts,

entrepreneurs, Congressional

pages, musicians, and debate

champions.

• in 1804, then-Washington College

student George William Crump

became the world’s first recorded

streaker. Crump went on to distin-

guish himself by serving in the U.S.

Senate and as America’s ambassa-

dor to Chile.

“�Students�do�have�to�work�hard�here.�You’d�better��be�ready�when�you�walk�into�a�class,�knowing�you’re�responsible�for�the�material�and�will��probably�have�to�speak.�You�can’t�get�away�with��sitting�in�a�corner�not�doing�anything.”

28

profiLe

The members of Washington and Lee’s faculty constitute an impressive body of dedicated teachers, committed scholars, and 24-hour-a-day members of the University community. They are scientists, philoso-phers, journalists, economists, and mathematicians; they are thinkers, authors, artists, and experts; they are mentors and advisors; they are parents and community members; they are professional educators who made the deliberate choice to teach and pursue their scholar-ship at a liberal arts university.

These multiple roles inform one another to the benefit of students. Classrooms are energized by faculty who are actively researching the very subjects they are teaching. Conversely, faculty scholar-ship is enriched by substantial student involvement through-out the academic year and during the summer.

The R. E. Lee Undergraduate Research Program provides funding for students to pair with faculty members for collaborative summer research in disciplines across the curric-ulum—an experience that often leads to student presenta-tions at national conferences or coauthorship on published articles. Faculty also mentor student independent study or student-initiated scholarly work.

Ninety-five percent of W&L professors hold the Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field. They enjoy the luxury of teach-ing in close, familiar settings: 90 percent of classes have fewer than 25 students, the average class size is 16, and the student-teacher ratio is 9 to 1.

ever better

As W&L looks toward the future, it strives to continue attracting the best possible teachers and scholars to lead students in study and research of the most pressing issues of the 21st century.

A portion of the $100 million gift that funds the Johnson Scholarship program is earmarked for the creation of two new faculty positions, both of which focus on the issues surrounding leadership, and for a lecture series to bring leading thinkers on these topics to campus.

Another recent gift of $33 million, which will double through matching funds and is earmarked specifically to support faculty salaries, will enable W&L to recruit and retain the best professors for years to come.

29

FacultyWashington and Lee’s professors choose to make their professional homes here for various reasons. Many value being in a place where teaching is balanced with their research interests. Others are drawn to the freedoms offered by an academic community based on integrity. Some are inspired by the rich intellectual possibil-ities of interweaving law, journalism, business, and the traditional liberal arts and sciences. Others cite the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley or the warmth of the Lexington community.

• W&L facuLty scientists conduct

research at the forefront of their

disciplines, often with the assis-

tance of undergraduates. Current

focuses include object recognition

in natural images, stochastic mod-

eling of muscle contraction and

molecular motors, genetic sequenc-

ing of black widow spiders, high-

speed optical square waves, and

aero-optical density fluctuation.

• across the curricuLum, W&L

professors have earned honors

and funding from many sources,

including the Fulbright Program,

the National Science Foundation,

the National Endowment for the

Humanities, the Howard Hughes

Medical Institute, the Mellon Foun-

dation, and the Folger Shake-

speare Library, among others.

• because they knoW their stu-

dents so well, W&L professors are

better able to teach them and are

well equipped to write informed

letters of recommendation for

graduate school applications.

“�I�can�hardly�wait�to�get�to�work.�It’s�not�work.�It’s�a�

labor�of�love.�I�get�to�sit�around�tables�and�talk�to�

interesting�people�every�day�or�stand�up�in�front�

and�talk�to�some�really�fine�students.”

W&L professors share an

interest in breaking down

the boundaries between

students and themselves.

Classrooms are interactive,

office doors are open, and

stairwells are fair game for

impromptu conversation.

29

the coLLege

All W&L students explore the rich spectrum of disciplines offered by the College, choos-ing among courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, journalism, the natural and physical sciences, computer science, and mathematics. By completing the cross-curricular —but flexible—Foundation and Distribution Require-ments, students train their minds to think broadly and deeply while discovering where their passions lie.

Studies in the humanities, designed to hone critical and compositional language skills, include course work in English and one of seven modern languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish) plus ancient Greek and Latin. Arts offerings include varied curri-cula for the study of music, art, theater, and dance, supple-mented by departmental and student-run ensembles.

Students explore history, philosophy, and religion—learning to think critically about current and histori-cal perspectives, societies, and belief systems. Through study of politics, economics, journalism, psychology, and anthropology, students develop facility with the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of social institutions.

At W&L, study of the sciences is rooted in lab work and research—hands-on learning by doing that pairs students with professors, not graduate teaching assistants. Courses for non-majors combine science and mathematics fundamen-tals with more universal topics.

Students may elect to double major, to complete one or more minors in addition to a major, or to design their own major in Independent Work under faculty guidance. A full listing of majors and minors is found on page 32.

The faculty of the College encourages and mentors independent scholarly work and offers opportunities for collaborative or independent research. The College curricu-lum also includes courses that prepare students for profes-sional and advanced training in engineering, journalism, law, and medicine.

During the second year, students either select a major in the College or choose to pursue a major in accounting, business administration, economics, or politics in the Williams School.

DivisionsOne of Lee’s most important—and, at the time, revolutionary—contributions to the University was the decision to incorporate programs in journalism, business, and law. In spite of opinions to the contrary, he believed that the study of the professions would be enhanced by consideration within the context of a rich liberal arts curriculum. More than a century later, the fruits of his wisdom are still being realized at W&L.

“�Most�liberal�arts�schools�frown�upon�the�idea�of�having�a�

business�school�or�a�law�or�a�journalism�program�because�

these�are�usually�more�technical�disciplines.�But�if�you�

think�about�it,�these�disciplines�all�depend�on�the�skills�

of�the�liberal�arts—for�instance,�in�journalism�you�are�using�

English,�you�are�using�communication�skills.�And�politics�is�

forever�bound�to�the�fields�of�philosophy�and�rhetoric—

and�other�languages�for�international�politics�students.”

With curricuLa ranging

from the history, practice, and

theory of their respective art

forms, the departments of

music, art, and theater and

dance also stress performance

and exhibition, offering stu-

dents the opportunity to learn

about art while making it.30

JournaLism and mass communications

Part of the College and a fixture of the W&L curriculum for more than a century, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications is the oldest journalism program in the history of education and the only such program within a highly regarded liberal arts university. Students choose to focus on one of three sequences —journalism, business jour-nalism, or mass communica-tions —and in the spirit of the program’s converged curricu-lum, learn the basic ideas and skill sets of print, broadcast, and electronic media.

In addition to instilling the fundamentals of communica-tion and critical thought, the department stresses awareness of the ethical requirements of the profession. This is one of the many reasons that a jour-nalism degree from W&L is so respected, a fact that translates into ample opportunities for employment or advanced study after graduation.

Sweeping renovations to the journalism building have made W&L the first journalism program in the nation to create totally digital classrooms and laboratory systems for its students.

the WiLLiams schooL of commerce, economics, and poLitics

The Williams School offers undergraduate education in accounting, business adminis-tration, economics, and politics in the context of an outstand-ing liberal arts education, emphasizing critical thinking, decision making, problem solv-ing, and effective communica-tion. Rather than requiring specialization, the Williams School encourages students to explore a broad range of disci-plines, practices, and perspec-tives with the goal of becoming liberally educated individuals and active participants in society.

The Williams School is unique in its inclusion of politics and economics under the same umbrella as the more traditional business-related disciplines of accounting and administration. Acknowledging and exploiting the close ties between these disciplines allows W&L to educate business-savvy economists, politicians with an understanding of business fundamentals, and business leaders with a long view of the political and economic contexts of their industries.

This richness of perspective is one of the main reasons that Williams School graduates are so sought after by employ-ers and so well regarded by graduate and professional school admission commit-tees. Interviewers from lead-ing banking, investment, and consulting firms recruit directly from the Williams School, and a well-placed network of W&L alumni has proved consistently helpful in opening doors for graduating students.

Many current students are offered internships during the summers following their junior (or sometimes sophomore) year at such leading firms as J. P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Harris Williams & Co., PricewaterhouseCoopers, or Bain & Company. Many of these turn into full employ-ment after graduation.

The Williams School has a faculty of 49, all of whom hold a Ph.D., and offers approxi-mately 85 to 90 courses each year. Majors available in the Williams School are busi-ness administration, business

administration and accounting, economics, politics, or public accounting. Regardless of major, all W&L students may take courses in the Williams School, and many do.

the schooL of LaW

Among the nation’s best-respected law programs, the Washington and Lee School of Law is also one of the smallest. Undergraduates benefit from access to visiting luminaries (John Grisham and Supreme Court Justice Scalia, among others), pre-law advising, and the occasional cross-listed course. Undergraduate seniors may take elective law courses.

“�So�much�of�what�we�do�in�the�Williams�School�is�a�

combination�of�what�we�learn�from�other�disci-

plines,�so�that�it�truly�creates�a�liberal�arts�field.”

31

• Lee’s tenure as president was

one of rapid change: the College

absorbed the Lexington Law

School and developed programs

in the sciences. Lee inaugurated

studies in business instruction—

the roots of the School of Com-

merce—and in journalism. The

courses in business and journal-

ism were the first offered in an

American college.

• teaching from experience,

law faculty and law students coach

and mentor the undergraduate

Mock Trial team, which is one of

the strongest in the nation.

Small claSSeS benefit students

by providing greater interaction

not only with W&L’s accom-

plished teacher-scholars but

also with classmates. Our alumni

report that the relationships they

developed with faculty during

their undergraduate careers

remain meaningful and lasting

once they graduate.

students graduate from the

Williams School conversant in

the ideas and concerns of their

chosen major but also trained

to think, write, and articulate

their ideas in broad, interdisci-

plinary ways—skills that make

them better economists,

accountants, businesspeople,

or politicians.

31

maJors

Accounting and Business AdministrationAccounting: Public AccountingArt HistoryBiochemistryBiologyBusiness AdministrationChemistryChemistry with Special AttainmentsChemistry-EngineeringClassicsComputer ScienceEast Asian Languages and LiteratureEconomics

EnglishEnvironmental StudiesFrenchGeologyGerman LanguageGerman LiteratureHistoryIndependent WorkJournalism and Mass CommunicationsMathematicsMedieval and Renaissance StudiesMusicNeurosciencePhilosophyPhysicsPhysics-EngineeringPoliticsPsychologyReligionRomance LanguagesRussian Area StudiesSociology and AnthropologySpanishStudio ArtTheater

minors

African-American StudiesArt HistoryClassicsComputer ScienceCreative WritingDanceEast Asian StudiesEnvironmental Studies GermanLatin American and Caribbean StudiesMass CommunicationsMathematicsMuseum StudiesMusicPhilosophyPoverty and Human Capability StudiesRussian Language and CultureStudio ArtTheaterWomen’s and Gender Studies

internationaL study

W&L considers international

travel and study an essential component of an education with relevance in the 21st century. The 12-12-4 calendar provides an excellent opportu-nity for students to spend time abroad without having to miss a 12-week term in Lexington. This option is particularly helpful to varsity athletes or science students with lab requirements. Each spring term, up to a dozen faculty-led trips combine travel with focused study and cultural immersion in countries around the world.

For students wishing to study abroad for a semester or full year, W&L offers affiliations and exchanges with universi-ties in Italy, Australia, England, Germany, Japan, and Scotland. Additionally, the Center for International Education works closely with students wishing to explore other programs or destinations.

Programs of StudyWith all of the opportunities for close teaching and collaborative research afforded by its intimate size, Washington and Lee also offers a curricular breadth that the Washing-ton Post called “the envy of many larger institutions.” Students choose from 38 majors and more than 1,100 courses. W&L also stresses the importance of international educa-tion, encouraging students to explore the world and giving them the resources to do so.

“�Alumni�joke�about�majoring�not�in��

subjects�but�in�professors.”

• recent spring term international

study courses include Drawing

Italy in Rome, Spoleto, Cortona,

Florence, and Venice; Science in

Art in the Netherlands; Japanese

Language and Culture in

Kanazawa; Regional Geology of

New Zealand; Business in Ireland;

and Economic Development of

Sub-Saharan Africa in Ghana.

• W&L offers a number of first-year

seminars focused on a single

topic, issue, or problem. Limited to

15, these seminars are reading-

and discussion-based, enabling

students to develop critical analy-

sis skills that will inform the rest of

their college careers. Past topics

included Anthropology 180: The

Wired Self; Computer Science 180:

Robot and Mind; History 180: The

Civil Rights Movement; Philosophy

180: The Concept of Honor; and

Poverty 101: An Interdisciplinary

Introduction.

a recent $33 miLLion renova-

tion and expansion of W&L’s

science facilities brought the

biology, chemistry, computer

science, geology, physics and

engineering, and psychology

departments under one roof.

The amply equipped labs and

classrooms foster a wide array

of scientific learning and

research.

32

shepherd poverty program

The Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability invites W&L students to add significance to their study by seeking solutions to poverty—in Lexington and throughout the world. Through a combination of course work, service, and personal reflection, students of all majors think critically about poverty and the surrounding issues while devel-oping perspectives and tools that enable productive action.

r. e. Lee research schoLars

Designed to encourage collaboration between students and professors, the R. E. Lee Undergraduate Research Program provides scholarships of up to $3,100 for students to assist with faculty research or to initiate their own research project under faculty supervi-sion. Over a 10-week period, students become familiar with research tools, techniques, and methodology—skills of partic-ular value to those intending to attend graduate school.

professionaL internships

W&L students supplement their classroom learning with professional internships in many fields. Specific opportunities exist in domestic and international business, domestic and international journalism, government, politics, service, environmental science, and research, but students interested in exploring

other areas have access to the support of a well-connected network of W&L alumni and such institutional resources as the internship database of the Liberal Arts Career NetWORK.

Washington term and neW york internship program

W&L’s Washington Term sends approximately 20 students to Capitol Hill each spring for internships at congressio-nal offices, the White House, the Supreme Court, or D.C. non-profits. The New York Internship Program places about 10 undergraduates each spring term at leading finan-cial institutions or govern-ment offices in such areas as investment banking, portfolio management, government, inter-nal auditing, or research. Both programs combine course work and professional experience and provide a potential head start to summer internships.

departmentaL resources

Extensive departmental fund-ing and other resources enhance the learning experience across W&L’s broad curriculum. As examples: journalism students may access fellowships catering to specific international and independent learning opportu-nities; designated funds support

student/faculty neuroscience research and archaeological fieldwork in anthropology; and students in any major can enjoy authentic, instructional ceremonies in the University’s Japanese Tea Room.

WiLLiams investment society

In 1997, Washington and Lee entrusted $1 million of the University’s endowment to the supervision of a student-founded investment group. Since then, the Williams Investment Society grew the fund to a high of more than $1.6 million before the recent economic downturn. The funds managed by the Society have consistently outperformed the S&P 500, and members of the group have appeared on the CNBC program Power Lunch and have met with Warren Buffet.

student consuLting

Bridging the classroom and business worlds, W&L Student Consulting provides pro bono consulting services to business and community organizations in Lexington and beyond. Serving a variety of clients—from local community groups to international entrepreneur-ial ventures—students hone their strategic management and

implementation skills by drafting business plans, consulting on communica-tions, or advising on human resource issues.

W&L devotes considerable resources to bringing the world to Lexington—or, when called for, sending students out into the world. From a landmark poverty studies pro-gram to fully funded summer research alongside leading scientists, from internship programs on Wall Street, Capitol Hill, or overseas to the privilege of having a say in how the University manages its stock portfolio, rare opportunities and responsibilities abound for W&L students. The following are a few of the most distinctive.

“�Every�summer�nearly�a�hundred�Washington�and�Lee�stu-dents�stay�in�Lexington�and�work�with�faculty�members�on�research�projects.�Some�of�their�work�will�contribute�to�faculty�publications�and�grants;�some�of�it�will�lead�to�co-authored�papers�and�conference�presentations.”

Opportunities

an additionaL advantage

enjoyed by students spending

spring term in W&L’s Washing-

ton Term Program is the four-

week head start they get on

internships over students from

other schools—an advantage

that translates into greater

experience and opportunity.

• impacting campuses and com-

munities beyond Lexington, the

Shepherd Program offers Alliance

Internships (funded in part by a

Congressional grant) that partner

W&L students with peers from

Berea, Morehouse, and Spelman

Colleges for eight-week summer

internships with agencies in urban

and rural communities through the

Eastern United States and Latin and

Central America. Alliance students

confront such issues as education,

health care, and housing.

• a sampLing of recent R. E. Lee

research projects: “Recent

Developments in 17th-Century

Dutch Art and High-Valent Iron

(IV) Complexes of a Tetradentate

Triamide Macrocyle” (chemistry);

“Virtual Exploration of Archaeol-

ogy on Washington and Lee’s Col-

onnade” (anthropology); “How Far

from Normal Are You?” (math);

“Much Ado about Nothing” (poli-

tics); and “Some Aspects of

Honor” (philosophy).

33

arts

The fine and performing arts are a mainstay of life at W&L. Dozens of department- and student-run ensembles, scores of performances each year, and prominent displays of art across campus ensure that the University’s intellectual life is interwoven with artistic expression.

The expansive Lenfest Center for the Arts offers a variety of theaters, concert halls, and galleries for performances and exhibitions by student and visiting artists. Its robust, eclectic lineup of events can be viewed online at lenfest.wlu.edu.

music

Students enjoy performing with or listening to an exciting slate of musical ensembles—the University-Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra, the highly selective Chamber Singers, the jazz and wind ensembles, the University Chorus, a gospel group, a Christian band, and three a cappella groups. The recently built Wilson Hall offers students a world-class facility for music and performance. Several music ensembles regu-larly tour the United States and international destinations.

theater and dance

At home in the fully equipped Keller Theater, student actors put on a diverse body of perfor-mances each year, a lineup that includes large-scale mainstage plays and musicals, dance concerts, an annual playwright festival, a series of student-directed one-acts, and student-produced workshop productions.

W&L offers beginning and advanced students of dance the opportunity to learn and perform modern, ballet and jazz. Regular student performances are supplemented by perfor-mances and lectures by visiting dancers and choreographers.

fine art

The W&L campus is a testa-ment to the community’s commitment to the fine arts and to the quality and volume of student artwork being produced here. In addition to the frequent exhibitions of paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs in the University’s galleries in the Lenfest Center and Wilson Hall, artwork and sculpture can be seen in academic buildings and public spaces across campus. The Williams School’s Huntley Hall houses two galleries featuring the work of profes-sional artists. The Reeves Center and Watson Pavilion feature a world-renowned collection of Asian art and Chinese export porcelain.

service Leadership

Many at W&L feel that selfless service is an important aspect of leadership. Supported and enriched by the Shepherd Program, a number of campus

organizations strive to create opportunities for community outreach and visibility for the issues surrounding poverty, hunger, homelessness, and other social problems.

The Nabors Service League is an umbrella organization for service-based outreach at Washington and Lee, connect-ing students with service opportunities in the Lexing- ton and greater Rockbridge County communities.

The Community Academic Research Effort (CARE) provides free research and analytical study in an effort to assist community agencies in overcoming socioeconomic problems in Rockbridge County. Projects are faculty-run but executed by students, often as part of a University course.

Part of a larger national effort, Campus Kitchen at W&L adopts a holistic approach to combating hunger by collect-ing unused food from dining halls and local restaurants and preparing nutritious meals for the hungry, homeless, and elderly of Rockbridge County, while also providing compan-ionship and education about nutrition to the people it serves.

Student LifeCampus visitors often get the sense that Washington and Lee is a bigger place than it actually is. For a university of only 1,750 undergrads, W&L boasts more than 130 organizations and activities—groups spanning the arts, media, cultural awareness, politics, religion, service, advocacy, leadership, outdoor life, and athletics. It would take a longer book than this one to do them all justice. Some highlights are included below, but to learn much more, visit go.wlu.edu/studentorgs.

“�There’s�a�place�here�for�everybody.�There’s�always�

somewhere�within�the�W&L�community�you�can�fit.�

You�can�search�out�people�who�really�speak�to�you,�

and�really�understand�you�and�get�you.”

from music to theater to

dance to fine art, extracurricu-

lar arts energize campus. All

are welcome, and the vast

majority of participants are

non-arts majors.

34

mock convention

Following William Jennings Bryan’s visit to campus in 1908, students staged a mock politi-cal convention in his honor. Held every four years since, W&L’s Mock Convention is remarkable not only for its accuracy in predicting the eventual nominee—correct 12 of 14 times since 1952 and 18 of 24 overall—but also for the extent of community involve-ment. More than 95 percent of the student body participates. Known and respected nation-ally, the Mock Convention has attracted a star-studded lineup of guest speakers—Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Newt Gingrich, Geraldine Ferraro, and Jesse Jackson among them.

The convention itself is just the tail end of a two-and-a-half-year process of planning and research—education by

immersion in the nuances of the American political process. It is a key demonstration of the ability of W&L students to come together in matters of civil discourse; staunch Democrats and Republicans cross party lines for what is commonly regarded as the best civic educational exercise at any college in the nation.

media

W&L offers outlets for self-expression across a variety of media. In addition to a weekly newspaper, students produce a news magazine, a journal of economics and politics, a journal of student and faculty scientific research findings, a

literary journal, an interdisci-plinary topics journal, and a yearbook. Beyond the printed page, students work at a cable TV station and an award-winning weekly news website, Rockbridge Report (rockbridgere-port.wlu.edu). Though enhanced by the presence of the journal-ism department, these initia-tives are managed, staffed, and produced by students, and any interested student, regardless of major, may participate. They also may work at the campus radio station.

athLetics

Washington and Lee athletic teams, known as the Generals, compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in the NCAA Division III—which means that athletes can train and compete at a high level without sacrificing their academic experience. The teams are competitive, enjoying a better than 65 percent overall winning percentage last year, sending five teams to postseason national playoffs, and secur-ing conference championships in six of 23 sports. A full list of men’s and women’s varsity sports can be found on the inside back cover of this book.

Nearly three-quarters of all students participate in some sort of organized athletic activ-ity. The rich array of intramu-ral and club sports include baseball, boxing, cheerleading, cycling, eventing, fencing, ice hockey (men’s), lacrosse, mixed martial arts, polo, rowing, rugby, running, soccer, squash, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball.

“�Sports�are�another�niche�on�this�campus.�You�have�

your�set�of�friends�from�this�club�or�this�fraternity�or�

that�sorority,�and�then�you�have�your�sports�team,�too.”

• to ensure that the WorLd beats

a path to W&L’s door, the student

organization Contact brings a

robust slate of prominent speak-

ers to campus each year. Guests

run the spectrum from science

personality Bill Nye to NAACP

chairman Julian Bond.

• given W&L’s spectacuLar

setting, it’s not surprising that

the Outing Club is one of the most

active organizations. The moun-

tains and streams of the Appala-

chian and Blue Ridge Mountains

are favorites for hiking, camping,

and fly fishing. Goshen Pass, 15

miles west of campus, is a spec-

tacular river gorge populated by

tubing enthusiasts on warm fall

and spring days. Whitewater raft-

ing on the Gauley in West Virginia

is only a couple of hours away.

• the drive to Washington, d.c.,

Richmond, and Roanoke takes 3,

2, and 1 hours, respectively, so

the urban pulse is always avail-

able to students interested in a

weekend getaway. In truth, off-

campus forays are relatively rare:

the campus teems with things to

do, and students report that they

usually don’t feel the need to leave.

• in spite of the university’s size

relative to many of its competitors,

Washington and Lee varsity ath-

letes have earned 692 All-America

Citations in school history. W&L

lacrosse players alone have

garnered All-America honors a

staggering 176 times since the

program became a varsity sport

in 1947.

35

the neW hiLLeL house that

opens this fall at Washington

and Lee will not only provide a

space for gatherings, including

religious services for Jewish

students, but also features a

kosher café.

first-year Living

Students spend their first year living on a hall with 12 to 20 students—mini-communities that provide a first family as college begins. Each group is supervised by trained, upperclass residence life staff members who are available for advising and support and who plan a range of activities for the group—from orientation sessions early in the year to social outings or group dinners in Lexington.

Approximately 40 percent of new-student rooms are singles; the rest are doubles. Roommates are assigned based on a compatibility questionnaire.

In keeping with W&L’s prin-ciples of student self-gover-nance, each first-year group is

responsible for drafting a state-ment of social responsibility that determines such issues as quiet hours and intervisitation policy. Substance-free hous-ing is available to interested students.

Sophomores also live in campus housing and choose from a number of options, including apartment-like suites in which groups of friends can live together. Many elect to live in one of the campus-owned fraternity and sorority houses. Others apply to live in one of the four themed houses.

Juniors and seniors may live on or off campus and often rent apartments in downtown Lexington or houses in the surrounding countryside.

greek Life

Like so much else in this community, Greek life here is a civil affair—inclusive, egalitar-ian, and welcoming. About 80 percent of Washington and Lee students choose to join a fraternity or sorority, adding to the many overlapping identi-ties that describe each student here. Greek life at W&L offers the opportunity for students to come together around shared

interests, enjoy discussion and debate during meals, band together for community service, or compete on the field through intramural sports. W&L’s Greek system is distinguished by a culture of inclusivity and is notable for its socioeconomic and ethnic diversity, within each house and across the system. Most Greek social events are open to all students, and members of different Greek organiza-tions—as well as students who choose not to join—have the same opportunities and enjoy the same rich, multifaceted social lives.

W&L’s Greek houses, all of which are University-owned, have undergone substantial renovations within the last decade. As a result, they are comfortable, attractive places to live or just to hang out.

dining

The Marketplace, located in the Elrod Commons, is open 7:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and offers a wide variety of food selections including a full-service salad bar, specialty sandwiches with panini grills, pizza station and entrees to include vegetarian alternatives and ethnic cuisine.

All first-year students are required to have a full-meal plan which offers an unlimited number of meals per week in the Marketplace. Special dietary needs may be brought to the attention of the Marketplace Chef and will be addressed on an individual basis.

The Marketplace promotes sustainability and supports local foods initiatives.

Residence LifeWashington and Lee students enjoy life on a comfortable, walkable campus, eclectic cuisine at the Elrod Commons and elsewhere in Lexington, and a range of residential options. Over the course of four years, a student might live in a residence hall, the Outing Club House (or another themed house), a fraternity or sorority house, and an off-campus apartment—a range of experiences that offers variety and a helpful transi-tion to the excitement and challenge of independent life after college.

“�I�don’t�know�if�I’ve�known�anybody�in�my�entire�four-year�

career�who’s�transferred.�It�seems�like�everybody�who�

comes�in�really�commits�themselves�to�the�community�

and�loves�it�and�stays.�And�everybody�takes�something�

different�out�of�it.”

• W&L boasts some of the finest

athletic and fitness facilities to

be found at the Division III level.

Resources from the turf fields to

the indoor tennis center to the

newly renovated state-of-the-art

fitness facility (upper right) are

available to varsity athlete and

casual participant alike.

• students With shared interests

may live together in W&L’s themed

houses: the International House,

the John Chavis House (named for

the University’s first African-Ameri-

can student), the Outing Club

House, or the Casa Hispánica.

Interested students may apply for

residence in any of these houses

after their first year.

spacious and comfortabLe,

the Elrod Commons is home to

dining facilities, the campus

bookstore, a convenience

store, a theater, offices for stu-

dent organizations, meeting

rooms, lounge spaces, and an

outdoor amphitheater.36

campus

From the stately white pillars of the Colonnade to the state-of-the art multimedia labs in the journalism department, W&L has been a careful stew-ard of tradition, while pouring enormous resources into facili-ties and equipment for research, teaching, performance, living, and recreation.

The 55-acre central campus is adjoined by 40 acres of play-ing fields and an additional 210 acres of University-owned woodland, streams, and coun-tryside. Students can walk from any campus residence to anyplace else on campus in about 10 minutes.

In recent years, W&L has undergone significant construc-tion and renovation—includ-ing a new student center, fitness center, performing arts complex, and athletic fields—as well as substantial improve-ments to the journalism facility and Williams School. A wireless network enables flexibility for student comput-ing. Upcoming renovations to the athletic facilities and the Colonnade will continue to create more opportunities for students.

Lexington

With a population of about 7,000, Lexington is the perfect complement to W&L—inti-mate, friendly, and accessible. On the banks of the Maury River, the town is energized by a constant influx of tourists and college students; Virginia Military Institute also calls Lexington home. The historic district offers a hospitable mixture of coffee shops, art galleries, and boutiques in keeping with its small, college-town feel. Those looking for a dinner out have their choice of Mexican, Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese, American contemporary, pub fare, or Southern buffet, as well as the usual fast food options. The center of the W&L campus and

the heart of Lexington are sepa-rated by a five-minute walk, and students and faculty make up a good portion of the daily foot traffic.

the shenandoah vaLLey

Lexington sits at the foot of House Mountain in the Great Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. The surrounding countryside is rich with outdoor opportuni-ties. Road or mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, caving, fly fishing, white-water rafting, tubing, hiking, skiing, and spelunking are all popular outdoor pastimes, as is loung-ing in the sunshine on the banks of the Maury River.

SettingStudents choose W&L for many reasons, not the least of which is the chance to spend four years living and learning in a place as beautiful as it is historically significant. They are inspired by the lush green lawns and red brick buildings of campus, by the bustle and charm of Lexington’s downtown district, and by the character of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with its rich historical traditions and unmatched opportunities to enjoy life outdoors.

“�Lexington�is�great.�There�are�restaurants.�There�are�cafés.�

There�are�places�to�go�eat�or�have�a�cup�of�coffee�or�hang�

out�with�your�friends�two�blocks�away�from�campus.�You�can�

walk�anywhere�in�about�10�minutes.”

asked to expLain their choice

of W&L, many students point

to the intangible benefits of

beauty. Architecture buffs,

nature lovers, or those who

just like clean air and relative

calm find inspiration and focus

in and around Lexington.

• Lexington’s charm is WeLL-

knoWn in Hollywood. Brother Rat,

starring the late President Ronald

Reagan, was filmed here, as was

Sommersby with Richard Gere and

Jodie Foster, as well as parts of

Spielberg’s War of the Worlds.

• the W&L outing cLub makes it

easy for students to get outside,

supplying equipment, teaching

classes, and organizing outings,

both locally and farther afield—

sea kayaking in the Everglades or

skiing in the Colorado Rockies, for

example. One year a group sum-

mited Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro.

• notabLe historicaL sites in Lex-

ington include Stonewall Jackson’s

home and grave, the George C.

Marshall Museum, Sam Houston’s

birthplace, and Robert E. Lee’s

office, preserved as he left it in Lee

Chapel. Visiting Lee enthusiasts

leave apples on the grave of Lee’s

horse, Traveller, which is just out-

side the chapel museum.

• the W&L campus boasts the

longest non-suspension concrete

footbridge in the United States.

37

38

aLumni

About 25 percent of graduating W&L seniors head directly to graduate or professional school. Of the rest, 95 percent typically have jobs within six months of graduation. A handful each year pursue some of the world’s most prestigious postgraduate fellowships. In the past few years, W&L alumni and under-graduates have won Truman, Goldwater, Luce, Watson, and Beinecke scholarships and a number of Fulbright fellow-ships. Some join such service-oriented programs as Teach for America, Americorps, or the Peace Corps, and others choose to travel.

W&L students and alumni enjoy high rates of acceptance to graduate schools. Typically, more than 90 percent of appli-cants to programs in law and in medical, dental, veterinary, and other health professions gain admission. Applicants to human- ities, social science, arts, science, and mathematics programs are admitted at similar rates.

career services

Career Services at W&L is a full-service career counsel-ing and support center that combines personal advis-ing with online job search resources. Career Services offers self- assessment tools, interview training, help with cover letter and résumé writing, and strong relationships with employers who come to campus to recruit and interview W&L students for full-time jobs and intern-ships each fall and spring. Career Services resources and programs are available to interested students as early as their first year. The office maintains active memberships in the Selective Liberal Arts Consortium and the Liberal Arts Career Network, affording students exposure to employers in major job and internship

markets such as Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

aLumni netWork

The Washington and Lee alumni network is another formidable career resource for graduating students. W&L alumni represent a body of successful women and men in every field, most of whom share a spirited devotion to the University. Alumni have a strong record of hiring fellow graduates. Particularly in professions that prize integrity most highly, alumni seek students or recent graduates for internships or full-time jobs.

After W&LGraduates leave Washington and Lee broadly and deeply educated, capable of thinking critically and communicating their ideas and opinions with confidence. By virtue of four years spent steeped in a culture of honor, they are well-grounded people of integ-rity and character. Even if they don’t yet know what they want to do with their lives, they know who they are and what they value. They are part of a growing family, 23,000 strong, who embody and champion the ideals of their alma mater.

“�This�education�isn’t�about�the�first�job�you’ll�have�

out�of�college,�but�the�last�one.�We’re�educating�not�

for�entry�level,�but�for�advancement�and�leadership.”

• W&L graduates are successfuL

in many fields but boast particu-

larly impressive numbers in civic

and institutional leadership.

Alumni include 27 U.S. senators,

67 U.S. representatives, and 31

state governors; four Supreme

Court justices; and seven Ameri-

can Bar Association presidents.

Forty-six have gone on to become

college or university presidents

(including W&L’s own Ken Ruscio).

• the quaLity of a W&L education

has been recognized by many of

the world’s leading postgraduate

fellowships: the University has

produced 99 Fulbright scholars, 13

Goldwater fellows, eight National

Science Foundation fellows, 15

Rhodes scholars, six Truman

scholars, and 10 Watson scholars.

aLumni of note incLude:

• Dr. Joseph L. Goldstein ’62 Nobel Prize winner, medicine

• Roger Mudd ’50 news correspondent

• Cy Twombly ’53 abstract artist

• Kerry Egan ’95 author

• Alex Jones ’68 Pulitzer-Prize winning former New York Times reporter

• Kelly Evans ’07 Wall Street Journal columnist

• Bill Johnston ’61 former New York Stock Exchange president

• Meriwether Lewis 1790s explorer

• Lewis Powell Jr. ’29, ’31L Supreme Court justice

• John M. McCardell Jr. ’71 president, University of the South

• Sascha Burns ’83 political strategist, commentator

• Cecily Tynan ’91 Philadelphia news anchor

• Terry Brooks ’69L fantasy fiction author

• John Warner Jr. ’49 retired U.S. senator, former Navy secretary

• Tricia Coughlin ’95 TV/Web producer

• Walt Michaels ’51 former New York Jets head coach

• Bill Miller ’72 chairman, chief investment officer, and portfolio manager, Legg Mason

• Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon ’93 poet

• David Low ’78 astronaut

• John Chavis 1795 missionary, preacher, and possibly the first black graduate of any American college

• Mike Henry ’88 TV writer, and voice actor for Family Guy, The Cleveland Show

• Meredith Atwell Baker ’90 Federal Communications Commis-sioner

ceLebrated author Tom Wolfe

’51 (The Right Stuff, Bonfire of

the Vanities) remains a

devoted contributor to his

alma mater. Wolfe’s lecture/

seminar series brings luminar-

ies to campus—such as writer

Christopher Buckley (Thank

You for Smoking).

visiting

Much of what is most exciting and unique about Washington and Lee can only be under-stood when it is experienced firsthand. Interested students are warmly invited to visit—to take a campus tour, to interview with an admissions officer, to sit in on a class, to walk the streets of Lexington, to soak in the majesty of the Shenandoah Valley, and to participate in the Speaking Tradition while strolling the same pathways that two centuries of students have walked. A visit usually helps answer the basic question of whether W&L is a good fit.

admissions

Washington and Lee is a highly selective institution, admit-ting only 1,262 of the 6,626 students who applied last year. Successful applicants must demonstrate an outstanding record of achievement in a rigorous high school curricu-lum, competitive standardized test scores, compelling letters of

reference, and excellent writing ability in the form of a personal statement. Beyond admitting intellectually capable students, the Admissions committee strives to assemble a class of students who demonstrate leadership, passion, talent, and potential in a wide variety of areas. Applicants should care-fully document their extra-curricular involvement and achievements.

In addition to the regular deci-sion application option, W&L offers two rounds of binding early decision for students whose first choice is W&L.

financiaL aid

Washington and Lee seeks to ensure that a W&L education

is affordable for all admitted students regardless of financial background and will provide more than $29 million in undergraduate financial aid this year. All admitted students who meet our financial aid deadlines receive an aid pack-age that covers their family’s full institutionally determined financial need with grants and a work-study job, not loans. Students wishing to apply for aid must submit the College Scholarship Service PROFILE and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). About 40 percent of the student body receives financial assistance from the University.

Johnson schoLars

Made possible by a $100 million gift from a W&L grad-uate, the Johnson Scholarship Program awards full scholar-ships to 44 students in each class—students with superla-tive intellectual and personal promise. Johnson Scholars pay no tuition, room, or board and graduate with no loan debt. Applicants wishing to be considered for the Johnson Scholarship should submit the separate application, along with their complete admission appli-cation, by December 1.

For the right student, four years here can be transformative. Those who think they might be a good fit should visit campus. Those interested in applying should challenge themselves, work hard, and pursue their passions with conviction. Those worried about the high cost of private education should rest assured that W&L offers aid to cover the financial need of all admitted students and also awards full-expense Johnson Scholar-ships on the basis of academic and personal merit to 44 students in each class.

“�When�I�visited�campus,�it�was�about�20�degrees�and�

snowing,�and�the�campus�was�beautiful�with�snow.�

The�red�brick�with�the�white�contrast�was�just�beau-

tiful,�and�I�was�like�‘Yeah,�I�could�definitely�spend�

four�years�here.’ ’’

Before W&L

• about 80 percent of W&L

students were in the top 10

percent of their high school classes,

and the majority followed their high

schools’ most advanced curricula.

• deadLines:

Regular Decision: Jan. 3

(for April 1 decision)

Early Decision I: Nov. 15

(for Dec. 22 decision)

Early Decision II: Jan. 3

(for Feb. 1 decision)

Johnson Scholarship application

due date: Dec. 1

Early Decision I, need-based finan-

cial aid due date: Dec. 1; Early

Decision II: Jan. 15

Regular Decision need-based

financial aid due date: March 1

the speciaL character of W&L

must be experienced to be fully

understood, so a visit is

strongly recommended. There

is plenty of natural beauty and

historical interest to keep par-

ents occupied while students

stroll the campus.

Washington and Lee university is located in

Lexington, Virginia, just off I-81 and I-64.

Driving from the north Take the first Lexington exit

and follow Route 11, which becomes Main Street,

past Virginia Military Institute to the W&L campus

(8 miles from I-81).

Driving from the south Take the second Lexington

exit (I-64 west) and follow directions to Route 11

south and the W&L campus (2 miles from I-64).

By air The Roanoke airport is served by Delta, North-

west, United, and US Airways. From there, follow

I-81 north about 45 miles and follow the directions

(above) for driving to Lexington from the south.

CANADA

ME

VT

NH

OntarioQuebec

NewBrunswick

Columbus

Cleveland

Charleston

81

81

95

95

64 64

79

77

77

Louisville

Richmond

Charlottesville

LEXINGTON

Roanoke

Norfolk

PhiladelphiaPittsburgh

Washington, D.C.

Boston

Hartford

Charlotte

Charleston

Atlanta

Knoxville Durham

New York CityPA

NJ

MA

DE

MD

VA

WV

OH

KY

TN

NC

SC

GA

NY

39

In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable non-discrimination laws, Washington and Lee University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information in its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment. Inquiries may be directed to the Provost, June Aprille, Washington Hall, (540) 458-8418, who is designated by the University to coordinate compliance efforts and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, as well as those under Section 504 and other applicable non-discrimination laws. Inquiries may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

— w&l facts —

W&L 10/11

history

The ninth-oldest institution of higher education in the country, Washington and Lee University recognizes and embodies the direct contributions of two of American history’s most selfless and influential figures, George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

campus

Washington and Lee’s historic, continually updated campus in Lexington, Virginia, consists of 55 acres, plus 40 acres of playing fields and 210 acres of woodland, streams, and countryside.

students

Undergraduate—1,759 students from 49 states (85 percent from outside Virginia), representing citizenship in 50 countries Ratio of men to women is 50:50 U.S. ethnic minorities: 11 percent

The School of Law—400 students

facuLty

Of the 182 undergraduate faculty members, 95 percent hold doctorates or terminal degrees. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1. The average class size is 16. Twenty-eight percent of classes have fewer than 10 students, 90 percent have fewer than 25 students, and 97 percent have fewer than 30 students.

divisions

The College—This is where all undergraduate students begin with a broad study of the liberal arts and sciences (arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences). W&L is the only top liberal arts college with a nationally accredited journalism program.

The Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics—Here, students study politics, economics, accounting, business admin-istration, and public accounting. W&L is the only top liberal arts college with a nationally accredited business school.

The School of Law—This school is among the nation’s top law schools.

degrees offered

Undergraduate—Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science with special attainments in chemistry, Bachelor of Science with special attainments in commerce

The School of Law—Juris Doctor, Master of Laws

programs of study

The University offers more than 1,100 courses and 38 majors:

Accounting and Business AdministrationAccounting: Public AccountingArt HistoryBiochemistryBiologyBusiness AdministrationChemistryChemistry with Special AttainmentsChemistry-EngineeringClassicsComputer ScienceEast Asian Languages and LiteratureEconomicsEnglishEnvironmental Studies FrenchGeologyGerman LanguageGerman LiteratureHistoryIndependent WorkJournalism and Mass CommunicationsMathematicsMedieval and Renaissance StudiesMusicNeurosciencePhilosophyPhysicsPhysics-EngineeringPoliticsPsychologyReligionRomance LanguagesRussian Area StudiesSociology and AnthropologySpanishStudio ArtTheater

Minors are also available in African-American studies, art history, classics, computer science, creative writing, dance, East Asian studies, environmental studies, German, Latin American and Caribbean studies, mass communications,

mathematics, museum studies, music, philosophy, poverty and human capability studies, Russian language and culture, studio art, theater, and women’s and gender studies.

student Life

W&L offers more than 130 student activities and organizations, including drama, music and dance; media, including yearbook, newspaper, and WLUR, our campus radio station; political action and advocacy organizations; cultural awareness groups; groups with religious focus; service-oriented clubs and initiatives; Outing Club; and the nationally celebrated Mock Convention, among others.

Eighty percent of all students are members of one of W&L’s 16 fraternities and eight sororities.

residence Life

40 percent of rooms for first-year students are singles; students must live in on-campus residence halls or Greek housing (all owned and maintained by the University) through sophomore year.

athLetics

The Generals play in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, NCAA Division III. Five of W&L’s 23 teams and 15 individual athletes went on to NCAA post-season play last year.

Varsity sports—men’s and women’s basketball, cross- country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field (indoor and outdoor); men’s baseball, football, golf, and wrestling; women’s field hockey and volleyball; and equestrian (coeducational).

Intramural and club sports—baseball, boxing, cheerleading, cycling, eventing, fencing, ice hockey (men’s), lacrosse, mixed martial arts, polo, rowing, rugby, running, soccer, squash, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball.

after W&L

Typically, about 89 percent of W&L students graduate in four years. Approximately 25 percent of W&L alumni go directly to graduate school; overall, within a year of graduation about 95 percent of W&L alumni are employed, are in graduate school, or are otherwise productively occupied.

financiaL aid, schoLarships

W&L will provide more than $29 million in aid in 2010–11. The comprehensive Johnson Scholarship Program provides full scholarships to 44 students in each class. All admitted students meeting financial aid deadlines receive an aid package covering the family’s institutionally determined need with grants and a work-study job, not loans.

appLying

deadLines

Regular Decision—Jan. 3

Johnson Scholarship—Dec. 1, nonbinding

Early Decision, Round I—Nov. 15 (for December 22 decision)

Early Decision, Round II—Jan. 3 (for Feb. 1 decision)

Required—SAT or ACT (and its writing test) and two SAT subject tests of applicant’s choosing

Of the 6,626 students who applied in 2009-10, 1,262 were admitted for a class of 478 stu-dents. Typically, 80 percent of enrolling students are among the top 10 percent of their high school classes.

visiting campus

Washington and Lee University is located in Lexington, Virginia, just off I-81 and I-64. A visit and inter- view are highly recommended.

contact us

Washington and Lee University Office of Admissions 204 W. Washington St. Lexington, VA 24450-2116 [email protected] www.wlu.edu (540) 458-8710

(540) 458-8062 fax

“�I�always�think�I�

am�educating�the�

future�patrons�of�

the�arts.�We�need�

those�even�more�

than�we�need�per-

formers�and�art-

ists.”

“�Generations�of�students�have�

kept�to�the�promise�to�trust�

each�other,�to�respect�each�

other,�to�treat�each�other�civilly.�

That�makes�the�Honor�System�

work�in�ways�that�don’t�neces-

sarily�work�in�other�places.”

“�I�think�students�are�so�happy�

here�because�they�make�bonds,�

they�make�friendships.”

“�We’re�going�to�challenge�you.�We’re�

going�to�make�you�think�about�things�

that�you’ve�never�thought�about�

before.”

“�If�you�graduate�from�W&L,�you�know�

you’re�always�going�to�be�a�General�

and�you’ll�always�have�that�group�of�

people�to�support�you�in�whatever�

you�choose�to�do�next.”

“�I’ll�be�going�into�probably�the�least�hon-

orable�profession�in�the�world—cam-

paign�politics.�If�I�get�a�job,�maybe�I’ll�

try�to�take�some�of�those�lessons�that�

I’ve�learned�here�of�what�honor�is�into�a�

world�that�doesn’t�really�respect�honor�

all�that�much.”

“�I�think�that,�in�terms�of�getting�involved�and�finding�a�niche,�

it’s�not�going�to�be�hard�at�W&L�because�there�are�so�many�

activities�here�on�campus.�There�are�more�than�a�hundred�

campus�organizations.�You�know,�everything�from�student�

government�to�musical�groups,�to�the�student�newspapers.”

“�We�may�be�in�the�midst�of�a�third�

great�awakening,�and�if�we�are,�

students�are�participating�in�it.”

“�Ours�is�a�model�where�research�is�

brought�into�teaching�and�teach-

ing�to�research.�Not�just�because�

students�are�doing�research,�but�

because�one�informs�the�other,�is�

catalytic,�synergistic.�”

“�We�do�give�them�an�

opportunity�to�get�a�

wonderful,�wonderful�

education.�You�can�

avoid�it�if�you�really�

want�to,�but�it’s�getting�

harder�and�harder.”

“�Our�students�embrace�that�

responsibility,�they�take�on�

that�obligation,�and�they�

become�adults�very�quickly�

as�a�result.”

“�The�Honor�System�is�liberating�to�fac-

ulty,�because�when�Joe�or�Sally�comes�

in�and�gives�you�some�excuse�for�miss-

ing�class,�you�just�say�“ok.”�You�don’t�

then�question�them.”

“�When�a�student�

submits�work,�I�

know�it’s�the�stu-

dent’s�work,�I�trust�

that.”

“�When�it�comes�to�socializing,�eventually�you�run�into�

somebody�that�you’ve�never�met�before�and�then�you�

make�a�connection�and�then�you�just�become�friends.”

“�Fundamentally�the�values�

of�Washington�and�Lee�

have�not�changed,�the�

atmosphere�has�not�

changed.�This�is�still��

an�environment�where�

friendships�are�made.”

“�I�think�when�your�profes-

sors�know�you�more�as�a�

person,�they�understand�

you�more�as�a�student.”

“�Inside�the�classroom,�I�think�

that�at�a�liberal�arts�institu-

tion,�diversity�of�opinion�is�

one�of�the�most�important�

things�that�you�can�experi-

ence,�and�I�mean�I�think�that�

most�of�the�people�who�

come�here�aren’t�afraid�to�

express�their�opinion�in�the�

classroom.�I�think�that’s�a�

good�thing.”

“�There�are�professors�who�I�go�

and�talk�to,�sit�down�and�talk�

about�everything�from�base-

ball�to�world�politics.”

“�And�yeah,�the�school�can�be�small�sometimes,�but�

the�reason�I�liked�the�

small�size�is�because�of�

the�individual�attention�

you�get.”

“�There’s�a�very�close�community�

here,�and�some�of�the�things�

that�our�alumni�remember�from�

30�years�ago,�I’m�convinced,�

are�the�same�things�our�stu-

dents�are�going�to�remember��

as�alumni�30�years�from�now.”

“�Leaving�our�school,�looking�back�on�it,�I�

think�we’re�going�to�be�a�lot�more�loyal�because�we’ve�had�so�many�opportuni-

ties�to�get�involved�and�make�an�impact�

on�campus.”

“�There�is�something�about�this�place�

that�is�deep.�Never�mind�the�kinds�of�

slogans�and�branding�that�everyone�is�

striving�for,�there�are�some�fundamen-

tal�core�values�here�that�just�shine�

through�in�every�endeavor.�It’s�not�per-fect,�but�it’s�consistent.”

“�I�think�the�biggest�kind�of�

diversity�we�have�is�intel-

lectual�diversity,�and�that’s�

really�where�it�should�be.”

“�After�my�freshman�year�I�lived�for�a�

summer�with�a�Russian�family�in�St.�

Petersburg�and�took�a�class�that�

was�personalized�for�just�me�and�

two�other�W&L�students.�St.�Peters-

burg�is�a�far�cry�from�Lexington.”

“�You’d�rather�fail�an�exam�

here�than�fail�at�integrity.”

“�The�alums�come�back�here�to�

recruit�because�they�know�what�

kind�of�students�W&L�produces.�

“Listen,�learning�doesn’t�stop�when�you�grad-

uate�from�college,�college�is�where�you�begin�

to�learn.�They�call�it�commencement�for�a�

reason.�We’re�trying�to�teach�people�how�to�

prepare�themselves�for�lives�of�learning.�”

[email protected]�www.wlu.edu

(540)�458-8710

WASHINGTON AND LEEU N I V E R S I T Y

Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116