Honor.

Honor is everything at W&L

From ‘The Honor System’ on the W&L website:

Honor is the moral cornerstone of Washington and Lee University. Commitment to honor is recognized by every student, faculty member, administrator, and staff member of the University. Honor provides the common thread woven through the many aspects of this institution and creates a community of trust and respect affecting fundamentally the relationships of all its members.

The centrality of honor at Washington and Lee is contained in its Honor System. The Board of Trustees has granted to students the privilege of overseeing the administration of the Honor System. The sole penalty for an Honor System violation is dismissal from the University. These responsibilities are administered by the Executive Committee of the Student Body, a group of students elected annually by their peers.

Academic life is essentially shaped by the commitment to honor. Assuming that students will behave honorably, the faculty grants flexibility in the scheduling of most final examinations, and all are taken without supervision. Take-home closed book examinations are a common occurrence. The pledge, “On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unacknowledged aid on this (exam, test, paper, etc.),” expresses the student’s promise that the work submitted is his or hers alone. Students’ dedication to honorable behavior creates a strong bond of trust among them and between them and the faculty. This student dedication and the bond that it engenders also provide the basis for the faculty’s commitment to accepting a student’s word without question.

The dedication to behave honorably is not confined to academic life. It is expected that students will respect each other’s word and intellectual and personal property in the residence halls and the Greek houses, on the playing field, in the city of Lexington, or wherever Washington and Lee students take themselves. This principled expectation provides the foundation for the community of trust which students seek to create not only in the academic sphere but in life outside it, as well.

The Honor System has been a unique feature of Washington and Lee University for well over a century. Thousands of students have lived under it while in residence, have been morally shaped by it, and as alumni and alumnae, continue to be guided by it in their professional lives. Current students are as committed to it as were those who lived and studied here before them, and they maintain with firm conviction this distinctive ideal of the University.

 

“On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unacknowledged aid on this blog post.” -Ali

SSA5

Aerial Dance at SSA

SSA, full name ‘Science, Society, and the Arts’ is our on-campus conference which allows students and faculty to share their various academic projects with the W&L community. this year it will be held March 7th and 8th and classes will be suspended on the 8th so that all students and faculty can attend.

From the SSA Website: Science, Society, and the Arts is a multi-disciplinary conference involving Washington and Lee undergraduates and law students in the presentation of their academic achievements before an audience of their peers and the faculty. Conference participants share their work via oral presentations, traditional academic-conference-style panels, poster sessions, artistic shows, or creative performances. Students, faculty, and staff may also choose to participate in colloquia organized around common readings proposed by interested Washington and Lee community members.

In Praise of Honor

The subject line in the e-mail from my politics professor said “Stuck in Detroit.” Of course, everyone in my class was ecstatic; whenever a professor gets stuck in another city with no way to get back for class, it’s reason to celebrate (nothing against any professors or their classes). I had yet, however, to read the e-mail, which went on to say that although our awesome professor was unable to be in class, we were “honor-bound” to report to class as usual and do the assigned lesson. Naturally, my first reaction was “ughhhh, class?!” This was soon followed by a simple decision: I decided to go to class.

I showed up to class, and so did everyone else, and that is really powerful. It is not at many schools that students would show up to class despite the fact that their professor is absent. Everyone in my class showed up, and we all helped each other do the lesson, and thinking back on it, it truly is incredible that every person in our class was present. It is testament to the honor of our students and our school.

The “Souper Bowl”

The Weekend Backpack Program through W&L Campus Kitchens helps many in the community

This Sunday the Campus Kitchens at W&L will be hosting a “Souper Bowl” to benefit its Weekend Backpack Program. The event, which will feature soups from many Lexington restaurants, will help to fund the program which provides backpacks filled with healthy and nutritious food to local children for the weekend. This is just one aspect of the extensive CKWL initiative which is part of the Shepherd Poverty Program. You can learn more about campus kitchens here. Also, check out the Souper Bowl press release here!

Tour Guide Spotlight: Sarah Jessee ’14

Sarah Jessee ’14

Hometown: Roanoke, VA

Major(s)/Minor(s): Politics and Philosophy

What clubs/activities are you involved in on campus? Mock Convention – Public Relations Committee, Fancy Dress Committee, RUF (Reformed University Fellowship), greek life (Kappa Kappa Gamma), and Relay for Life.

How are you involved in the Lexington community? Through public relations with Mock Con and Relay for Life I have had the chance to get involved with the community.

What are some of your other hobbies/interests? I played volleyball, swimming, and tennis in high school. I am hoping to go to law school and like to travel.

Favorite weekend activity? Going to lunch or dinner in town with friends. It is a fun way to get away from campus and get to know new friends better.

Favorite thing about Lexington? It’s a small city but everything you need you can walk to. Since the community is so small, it gives a comfortable, homey feel to the city.

What’s your favorite W&L memory? My favorite W&L memory so far is our bid night sleepover. The Cadavers surprised us at the house. It was the first time we had seen the cadavers and it made the night that much more exciting.

What’s the best encounter you’ve had with a faculty or staff member? Going to office hours with my teachers has really helped me understand the subject better but more importantly it allows me to get to know the teachers, and the teachers to get to know me.

 

Tour Guide Spotlight: Ali Greenberg ’13

Ali Greenberg ’13

Hometown: Blacksburg, VA

Major(s)/Minor(s): Global Politics & Spanish/Poverty & Latin American and Caribbean Studies

What clubs/activities are you involved in on campus? Panhellenic, Admissions Intern, Mock Convention Facilities Chair and Trustee, Volunteer Venture Trip Leader, Kappa Alpha Theta, R.E. Lee Summer Scholar, Research Assistant

What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Traveling and great food with friends.

Favorite weekend activity? Absurdly lazy Sunday’s, brunch included.

Favorite thing about Lexington? Since I live in town and work at a restaurant in town, I truly have become a townie and a part of the community. When I walk my dog to the Colonnade in the morning, I often pass Professors, fellow students, coworkers of mine, or shop owners that I know. Since my family now lives out of the country it is great to be able to call a town like Lexington my home.

What’s your favorite W&L memory? Spring term in Ghana with Koffi and Kwasi, known here as Prof. Dickovick and Prof. Blunch, and Monday night (wing night) office hours at Macado’s.

What’s the best encounter you’ve had with a faculty or staff member? Anytime I get to hang out with Prof. Dickovick, whether it be during one of the four classes I have taken with him, Spring Term in Ghana, our research work this summer, or helping with his publications this term. Having an advisor who is so invested in each one of his students is an incredible thing and I know that his door is always open if I need, or simply want, to talk about anything.

 

Tour Guide Spotlight: Alexandra Frazier ’13

Alexandra Frazier ’13

Hometown: Columbia, SC

Major(s)/Minor(s): English/Creative Writing

What clubs/activities are you involved in on campus? President, Panhellenic Council; Mock Convention Publications Committee Member; College Democrats Member; Design Editor, Ring Tum Phi; Model United Nations Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Chair; Pi Beta Phi Member

How are you involved in the Lexington community? I’ve recently adopted a Little Sister through the United Way Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, and I frequently volunteer with Campus Kitchens and the Nabors Service League.

What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Traveling, reading and writing, dancing, spending time with my friends, cooking, and “finger painting” on my iPad

Favorite weekend activity? I have quite a few—Sunday brunch at the Bistro, lounging in bed on lazy Saturday mornings, having the time to actually cook for my friends and read the news, bonding with my apartment mates, taking the occasional trip to Charlottesville or DC… it’s wonderful to be able to unwind after a stressful week of classes!

Favorite thing about Lexington? The small town atmosphere and friendly vibe are probably my favorite things about the city. The speaking tradition seems to extend beyond the colonnade, and everyone is just so genuinely nice in town. I practically have surrogate mothers in a couple of the local shopkeepers!

What’s your favorite W&L memory? Orientation week. It was a blur, and honestly I don’t remember half of it, but it was quite possibly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The upperclassmen were exceptionally helpful when it came to navigating campus, and I made friends through the course of that week that I currently live with, rushed with, and will forever be friends with.

What’s the best encounter you’ve had with a faculty or staff member? The best encounter I’ve had with a faculty member was my spring term endangered plant science class with Professor Charles Winder. He made a biology class engaging for a group of non-science majors, and our class was spent outdoors instead of cooped up in a lab. Plus, his Dalmatian is precious!

Looking Forward to Winter Break

While exams and the end of the semester are grueling, we all have a wonderful winter break to look forward to. I know I, as well as my friends (and some fellow tour guides), are looking forward to spending some quality time in Charleston, SC together. W&L has given me the opportunity to make a life-long group of friends. We all love to travel together and attend each other’s events! Trips over break have been a great bonding experience, and have created many long-lasting memories. I’m so glad that I have such a tight knit community of friends and peers at W&L to share my ‘in school’ and ‘out of school’ time with.

Tour Guide Spotlight: Cameron Dorsey ’14

Cameron Dorsey ’14

Hometown: Pepper Pike, OH

Major(s)/Minor(s): Art History/Museum Studies

What clubs/activities are you involved in on campus? Women’s Tennis team, RUF, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority

How are you involved in the Lexington community? Relay4Life participant

What are some of your other hobbies/interests? I love lacrosse, doing crafts, and telling jokes

Favorite weekend activity? Brunch on Sundays

Favorite thing about Lexington? It’s small, but comfortable. It doesn’t overwhelm you and it’s easy to navigate.

What’s your favorite W&L memory? Exam week, the school was distributing stress balls for students. My friends and I decided it was a good idea to relieve our stress by having a stress dodge ball war in the library.

What’s the best encounter you’ve had with a faculty or staff member? After I was involved in a car accident, all of my professors sent me personal emails giving me their condolences and hoping that I get better.

ELF at the Drive-In

Buddy the Elf…what’s your favorite color?

 

As the PR/Programming chair for the Panhellenic Council, I have spent the last two weeks tweeting ‘ELF’ quotes, posting Campus Notices, and advertising around town to get the word out about our fall event. The past few years we hosted a Halloween Carnival for the local children, but this year we tried something different and rented out Hull’s Drive-In for a FREE showing of ELF! Along with the Interfraternity Council, we opened up the Drive-In last night and had over 200 students, professors, and community members come see the show. We collected donations for Toys for Tots and raised nearly $500 for the cause. It was great to see so many people come out to get into the holiday spirit, and I hope this can be a tradition that will grow bigger each year!