Washington and Lee University
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: Economics (and I have taken many Art History classes)
Extracurricular Involvement:
Off-Campus/Internship Experiences:
Favorite Class: Economics of Social Issues – Professor Goldsmith is a genius. I’ve never had so much fun and learned so much at the same time.
Favorite Campus Landmark: The President's House. When serving on the EC, we would eat breakfast with President Ruscio once a month. This building will always remind me of eating breakfast and chatting with President Ruscio about everything from our weekend plans to the thirty year plan for the University.
I never believed in love at first sight until I saw Washington and Lee as a prospective student. I knew instantly that this was where I had to go to college. It was more than just the gorgeous Colonnade, the deep-rooted history, and the close teacher-student relationships that I had heard so much about. When visiting the campus, I saw something in the students that I couldn’t explain. It wasn’t only that they clearly were happy at a college that was both academically challenging and socially enjoyable; it was something I didn’t find anywhere else. What enticed me above all other factors was W&L’s philosophy about student self-governance--in particular, the student ownership of the honor system.
When talking to students while touring the campus, I quickly learned that they felt comfortable leaving their laptops or wallets anywhere on campus, with the assurance that they would find their belongings just as they had left them. Students also were able to schedule their own exams and were completely trusted by their professors. It was unlike anything that I had previously experienced, and I knew that I had to become a part of W&L's honor system.
After being accepted, I talked to a good family friend, an alum from the class of 1985, about W&L’s unique system of student self-governance. He recommended that I run for freshman representative of the Executive Committee (EC)—the student organization that oversees the Honor System. I was honored to serve as a class representative for the next two years, adjudicating honor trials and representing my class, and I became secretary of the EC my junior year.
During my junior year, I learned about the Student-Faculty Hearing Board (SFHB). This is an important organization that hears cases involving sexual assault, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and individual hazing, but historically, it has been under-utilized by the student body. Few students know of the board’s existence, and therefore hardly any cases come before it. I realized that there was a serious demand for such a group, and decided to apply for the position of student-chair. I have been serving in that position since April of 2007, and our sixteen member board has begun to tackle many of these issues. While we still have a long way to go, I have enjoyed the experience of being involved in something completely new--a board I believe is very important within our community.
The word honor is synonymous with Washington and Lee University, where integrity is placed above all else. I'm happy that I have been a part of preserving our unparalleled honor system and tradition of student self-governance during my four incredible years here.
