Washington and Lee University Top Questions

There's no accepted social opportunities outside of the party scene. The administration keeps trying and trying in vain. If that's your scene, there's a place for you, safer than anywhere else -- we have a student-run sober-ride system that has made it extraordinarily safe -- and does, as a result, enable the irresponsible behavior. However, if that's not your scene, don't fret! The first week, it's overwhelming, and then you start figuring out that there's plenty of other students like you. I am a senior, and in all four years, I have never touched a drink at a frat party. You say "no thanks" and people respect that. I went out with my friends for a while, but after so many years, now we plan our own parties -- game night w a glass of wine, or a picnic by the river, or a wild excursion, or a movie, or hiking ...

While W&L is a very academically focused school, there is also a big concentration on the social/party life. There are basically 3-4 nights of parties a week. There is always something going on whether it is organized on campus or by the fraternities etc. Fraternities and Sororities in my opinion dominate the social scenes outside of the academic day. However, if you choose not to participate in that or not drink etc. there are campus organized activities and things around town to do. There is somewhat of a dating scence but mostly it is classified as "random hookups". With W&L's strong honor code people can leave doors open, bookbags lying around etc. and know that in 9 out of 10 times everything will be exactly how they left it.

The most popular groups are the sororities and fraternities. Students leave everything open and unlocked. The honor system stays true to its word on this: students do not lie, do not cheat, and do not steal. But don't for a moment think that any of this honor code applies to the raging parties on the weekends. People go out on average 3-5 nights a week. And they go out hard. If you're awake at 2am on a tuesday, you are drunk eating your Domino's pizza, possibly wondering how drinking all those gin buckets at KA earlier will affect your history quiz tomorrow at 11. If you want to do something on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking, it won't involve other people.

Doors are open at all times, all the parties are open, the beer is free and the dancing is fun. There is always an opprotunity to be social, but because it's an academic oriented school, nobody will question you if you stay in the library on a saturday night either. I've gone out Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and then stayed in on Saturday... that's not typical but it's totally acceptable. 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students stay on campus EVERY weekend. More people come to visit us than we go to visit them.

Social life was my biggest concern when I was considering W&L, because I'm not into the Greek system or the partying scene, and I don't drink. People party a lot here, and you could go out every night if you wanted to. I've found that there are a lot of other interesting things to get involved with, though, and I generally feel comfortable with my social life here. My closest friends I met either from my fall term classes or actually during orientation week, and we like to do things like going out to eat, to movies, going to athletic events on campus, and hiking. I like to go see guest speakers and go to concerts and other activities on campus as well. Even though this is a small town, I think there is enough to do to keep you busy as long as you don't write it off immediately as a boring small town. I've actually come to appreciate the relaxed pace of life in Lexington. Greek life is a huge deal at this school, and most people I know are involved with it. I chose not to be because regardless of what the viewbooks and tour guides may tell you, the Greek system is very exclusivist and chooses people based on how attractive and wealthy they are and for other shallow reasons, and I wanted no part in that. Actual quote from a sorority girl before rush week: "Make sure you edit all your Facebook pictures and only leave the pretty ones so you have the best chances of getting in to your sorority." I might also add that though this is not always true, the "snob" stereotype fits people involved with the Greek scene much more than it does independents, likely because of the exclusive, "secret society" ideas the system promotes. Girls join the system through rush week, which is characterized by silly rules which tear down the sense of school community (i.e., freshmen girls cannot speak to upperclassmen that week unless they are wearing a pink scarf or some other identifying object, and you can't discuss sororities or even tell anyone which one you want to join). Even if you are not rushing, people make you observe these "rules," which are far better suited to a junior high clique than a prestigious university. For guys, joining a fraternity means eight weeks of "pledgeship," which is a politically correct word for "hazing." Don't be fooled by the anti-hazing policies--they aren't adhered to. The university also allows the Greek system to hold far too much power at this school and turns a blind eye to these serious issues. We say we value honor and character so highly, but what is honorable about hazing a freshman? We say we are a school of multitudinous opportunities, but yet the sororities are tremendously exclusive and use a lot of slick and polished excuses to limit the opportunities of others. I think it's high time that someone exposed this flagrant hypocrisy. Yet most people are afraid to do so because the Greek system has been allowed to become practically sacred here. It doesn't deserve that position. I could practically write a book about this situation, but that should give you some idea of the real deal.

Because Lexington doesn't have very much to offer college students, fraternity parties and greek life are a very large part of our social scene. People feel very safe here. Doors are left unlocked, valuable possessions are left unattended, and people can walk alone at night.

The most popular organizations are fraternities/sororities, fancy dress committee, and cathekon. I am in Kappa Delta and absolutely love it. It is incredibly rewarding and being on council is a great experience. Students leave their dorm doors open, as well as unlocked all the time. Our honor code is second to none and people simply do not lie, cheat, or steal here, and if they do, they are kicked out. Athletic events are not very big here, but everyone goes to the football games, at least for the first half. W and L always has noteworthy guest speakers come and lecture, which is great. Theater is not very popular. The dating scene at W and L is that you are either not in the scene, or you are hooking up with someone but things are not official, or you are in an incredibly serious relationship. I met my closest friends on the pre-orientation trip before my freshman year and from joining my sorority. If I am awake at 2am on a Tuesday, probably working, on a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, I am probably out. Each year we have different greek affiliated events that happen annually, such as derby days. People usually go out an average of three to four times per week. Fraternities and sororities are responsible for the social scene at W and L. An astounding percentage of students are greek affiliated. Last weekend was the end of spring break, so I was traveling home, but on a typical weekend go out Friday and Saturday. If you want to do something on Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking, you can either go out sober, go to a movie, or go to UVA and have dinner there since they are located in a larger, more populated area with more choices. Off-campus is the country, where everyone lives their Junior and Senior year. When the weather is nice, students tube down the Maury river and go to Panther Falls and jump off of the cliffs/falls there and lay out in the sun.

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There is tons to do at W&L. There are always students around campus and things going on. Students can go to a frat party, a concert, a free movie, or just hang out any weekend. There are guest speakers throughout the week as well as workshops, fundraisers, movies, and parties. Students leave their doors unlocked all the time in the dorms, and often you'll find a group of people just sitting in the hall talking.

Greek life is a very big deal here. Partying is also very common, but as a non drinker I can testify that drinking is not necessary to have fun here. There is a drive in theater nearby which is really fun. It's also fun to go to parties with bands and just dance without drinking. Most traditions center around Greek life, life Sigma Chi's derby days and Lip Sync where all the new pledge classes preform a lip singing routine. I love my sorority and am so glad I rushed. I met a lot of great girls I would not have otherwise known.