InGeneral Winter 2016

IN GENERAL Volume XIII | Issue II

THE PODCAST CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO Professor Bill Hamilton Talks Biology, Bison + Brews

RECOGNIZING OUR TIES WITH SLAVERY EMILY DANZIG: Snapchat Enthusiast

THROUGH THEIR EYES Three perspectives on negative body image on campus

IN GENERAL CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hendley Badcock ‘16 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Jenna Faude ‘16 MANAGING EDITOR Caroline Sanders ‘17 LAYOUT EDITOR Katie Paxton ‘17 COPYWRITERS Carolyn Holtzman Emma Whittemore Inga Wells Arlette Hernandez Courtney Knight Hannah Falchuck Caroline Leak Caitlin Kaloostian Caroline Blackmon PHOTOGRAPHY Michelle Dreimann (p. 3) Virginia Kettles (p. 4) Ellen Kanzinger (p. 5, 14) Josie Hurst (p. 6-7, 13) Maggie Seybold (p. 1, 8-9) Nicolas Reed (p. 10-11) Katie Pettit (p. 14-15)

INSIDE 03 TFLN: Trips From 04 Last Night Oh Snap! Emily Danzig: 05 Snapchat Enthusiast Popping the Bubble: 06 New Campus Podcast New Norm on Campus: 08 Negative Body Image Saying Goodbye to the Gender Divide

LAYOUT Natania Greenspan Margaret Glaze Lindsay Cates Lauren Wurthmann

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A Regretful Past: Slavery + W&L’s History

Biology, Bison + Brews: Prof. Bill Hamilton 267 Years of W&L Presidents All in a (School) Day’s Work

For advertising inquiries please contact: inGeneral Magazine John W. Elrod Commons Washington and Lee University 204 W. Washington St. Lexington, VA 24450 AD SALES Hayley Price ‘18 Nuoya Zhou ’18

CO-ED LIVING

By Caroline Blackmon ‘19

Three years ago, there was only one co-ed floor out of all four first-year dorms.

Now, only six halls remain single-sex.

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n May 2013, W&L began renovating the freshman dorms. The school tore down Gilliam and gutted Davis. To accommodate the loss of bedrooms in these two dorms, most of the single-sized bedrooms in Graham-Lees and Gaines were expanded to doubles. The university also changed the way it previously segregated male and female first-years by dorm halls and floors.

Dean of First-Year Experience Jason Rodocker said he believes putting young men and women next door to each other helps improve gender relations around campus.

“Research supports that the more friendships you can build your freshman year across gender barriers, the better your experience is later with gender relations,” Rodocker said. “When we were renovating first-year housing, it allowed for a better co-ed housing set-up.”

Resident Advisors and Peer Counselors say that the transition to co-ed halls has gone smoothly. “I just think it keeps it a little more candid,” RA Diana Banks ’17 said. “Everything is a little more fun and goofy. I feel like it lets people feel more open to [making] mistakes and being themselves.”

RA Aalekhya Tenali ’17 and PC Hannah Gilmore ’16 both oversaw single-sex halls in the 2014-2015 school year and switched to co-ed halls this year. For Tenali, the programs she planned with her all-girls hall last year couldn’t always work with a co-ed hall. “Finding [hall

activities] like hiking and movie nights [is now] important to make sure that everyone feels included,” Tenali said. Gilmore really liked the switch to a co-ed hall, mainly because she likes that the first-years have an opportunity to become friends with people of the other gender outside of parties, where alcohol typically plays a large role.

“I’m hoping that the co-ed halls will facilitate meeting a more diverse group of people,” Gilmore said. “I also hope it facilitates friendships that will last longer than just freshman year.”

For first-years, it seems like no matter which hall they’re on, their neighbors end up feeling like family. Abigail Summerville, who lives on a co-ed hall in Gaines, likes that she’s been able to make friends across the gender barrier. “I might not have been friends with some of the guys if they weren’t on my hall, and some of them are like brothers to me,” Summerville said. Pepito Estrada, who lives on a co-ed hall in GrahamLees, appreciates the mix as well. “It’s a definite variety of opinions and points of view,” he said.

“It’s accurate to real life.”

Though living with both genders has its benefits, most first-years who live on singlesex halls say they’re happy to live there too.

Reid Ostrom, who lives on an all-boys hall in Graham-Lees, said he doesn’t feel that removed from the girls on the rest of the floor. “I think you grow closer and bond better with the people on your hall, since it’s all guys,” Ostrom said.

“There are no girls to make things awkward or have drama.” Anna Linthicum didn’t initially want to request an all-girls hall, but now she’s glad she did. “We are so close,” said Linthicum, who lives in Gaines. “It was easy to make a close-knit group of girlfriends.” The only

“Boys are really messy, so our common rooms tend to be destroyed.”

–Kat Hageboeck ’19

“Each gender brings a really different energy to the hall, and it makes it more fun to have the other type of energy there.”

–Diana Banks ’17

“I’m really glad I’m on a co-ed hall because coming from an all-girls school half of the reason I have guy friends is attributed to the fact that I’m on a co-ed hall.”

–Morgan Dalton ’19

drawback she has found so far is that meeting other boys was more difficult at the start of school. “It’s [also] harder to get a formal date,” Linthicum said.

It might still be too early to tell how effective mixing sexes in the dorms will be on overall campus gender relations. First-years, however, are clearly still making friends with whoever lives on their halls—even with the looming danger of bumping into girls and guys in towels on their way to the showers.

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TRIPS FROM LAST NIGHT

By Carolyn Holtzman ‘16 They see us at our best and definitely at our worst. They sing “Sweet Caroline” with us, listen to our gossip and break up our fights. Most importantly, they make sure we get home safely every Wednesday and weekend night. John “Trav John” Smith began working for Traveller in 2005, and Dennis Patterson started in 2010. In that time, Smith and Patterson have collected some hilarious stories and memories from their nights out driving. Dennis said one of his most memorable nights took place last year while driving on Furrs Mill Road.

“I . . . had my window down, and I saw something fly across my face,” Patterson said. “I couldn’t tell what it was. I saw it go across the windshield or whatever.

But then I heard it hit the doors, and I happened to look down . . . It was a flying squirrel.” Rebecca Mann ’17 was one of the students on the bus at the time. “Everyone thought it was hysterical,” Mann said. “We asked [Patterson] what he named it, and he responded: ‘Dead’.”

Patterson joked that he was glad the squirrel didn’t hit him in the face when it glided into the bus. “The other drivers were like, ‘That would have been kind of funny if it had hit you upside the head.’ You know, it would be hard to explain getting a black eye or a broken nose from a flying

squirrel,” he said.

Smith has also had his fair share of interesting nights while driving Traveller. Smith said his craziest night took place last year during Grad Week, when he received a call to pick up a group of girls from Red Square.“This was the way I received the call: ‘Trav. John, can you please bring an empty bus to Red Square? We need your help,’” Smith said.

Smith’s bus was already empty, so he drove to Red Square. He did not see anyone waiting at the Traveller stop. “So I called them back,” Smith said.

“I got this little voice saying, ‘Please turn in and drive to the flag pole, turn off all your lights, and we need to get on.’ I thought this was a very strange request. So I did as I was told. Soon as the bus stopped, I heard voices coming down the sidewalk from the Chapel, and four naked girls boarded the bus.

They had been streaking on campus drunk and needed a ride home.” Luckily for Smith, the girls were able to get dressed quickly on Traveller before reaching their house. “With this job, you never know what the next call will bring your way,” Smith added. Both drivers agree that while they’ve seen just about everything while driving Traveller, they still love the job.

“My favorite part is getting to know and help students enjoy their time at W&L,” Smith said. “The students are great to deal with, and I love helping them find their way home after a night out.”

“With this job, you never know what the next call will bring your way.”

- John Smith, Traveller Driver

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OH SNAP! the snapchat enthusiast @emidanzig

by Inga Wells ’16 “I think I spend a lot more time than average on Snapchat.”

Coming from Emily Danzig ’16, known as the “Snapchat Enthusiast,” this is an understatement.

While most of us use the app to send quick threesecond selfies with five chins, Danzig spends up to half an hour turning a single Snapchat into a work of art. Most often, her snaps start out as a picture of herself. Then she embellishes them with “an elaborate drawing and a related pun.” Some of her favorites include “Jawshank Redemption,” in which she imposes a shark onto her own headshot, and a photo of herself as Jafar from Aladdin with the caption “so close, but so Jafar away.”

“They all started out as individual Snapchats,” says Danzig (so be happy if you received a personalized one back in the days before stories). About two years ago, she created a Facebook cover photo collage with several of her saved snaps. After that exploded in popularity she recognized there might be some value to her hobby.

Danzig created a website for her work and also included her creations in her art portfolio when applying for the competitive marketing course AdClass last year.

“After reading about different forms of advertising in AdClass,” Danzig said, “I started to realize that what I was doing was a creative and useful resource, not just a procrastination tool—well, I guess it is that too. But still.”

Danzig’s friends used to say she should make a career out of Snapchat, but even this is becoming less of a joke.

“I actually think there is a demand for Snapchat art,” said Danzig. “If you hear of anyone that wants to hire someone for that, hit me up.”

Major companies like Disney and GE have used their own Snapchat accounts and geofilters to launch a whole new media outlet to access a younger generation.

Likewise, music producer DJ Khaled has become popular from his stories about his meals, concerts and elliptical workouts. Although Danzig might not be as popular as he is, she does have a professor and friends of friends who follow her.

Danzig’s favorite Snapchats are done in a series.

She usually starts with a title snap and then will make several more that chronicle an experience in her life (i.e. pulling an all nighter, travelling home for break or studying for exams). She also uses it to promote her dance performances.

“I think Snapchat will continue to evolve,” said Danzig.

“As crazy as it sounds to consider it a legitimate marketing platform, if you think about it, Snapchat has become so much more of a fixture than people thought it was going to be,” she said.

So, if anyone needs to hire a Snapchat artist-inresidence, you know who to call. In the meantime, check out Danzig’s artwork on snapchatenthusiast.tumblr.com and follow her on Snapchat (@emidanzig).

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LIVING ARE WE

BUBBLE IN A

?

By Caroline Leak ‘18

M

any believe a symbolic bubble surrounds the community of Washington and Lee. A student-run podcast, “Popping the Bubble,” has emerged to pierce this cultural phenomenon by challenging a perceived, uncompromising status quo. Sierra Noland ’17 founded the podcast in August 2015. “It was apparent that W&L was lacking non-normative opinions in student media, and I thought that creating a podcast would be a really effective and entertaining way to give voice to the many alternative points of view that exist on campus,” Noland said.

Noland recruited Jack McGee ’17, Shaun Soman ’17 and a few other friends to help make the first episode, “Washington and Lee’s Big ‘But’: The Tour You Never Got,” which got over 600 hits on SoundCloud. This virtual tour opens with a symphony of voices praising the school’s strong academics, attentive professors, Honor System, Speaking Tradition and beautiful campus. After that, the “buts” come in. A common complaint of those interviewed was that they felt like they didn’t comfortably fit in the student body. “I adapted when getting here,” Nicole Eldred ‘18 says.

“When I went home my friends noticed I spoke differently. I was more judgmental and dressed a lot differently.”

The homogeneity of the school, in terms of race, background and wardrobe, and the pressures to adopt certain characteristics are all cited in the podcast. Students have an “obsession to have their shit completely together,” as one student puts it. (Most of the contributors declined giving their full names.) “Honestly, I do not know why I am here,” another

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interviewee admits. Next, the podcast’s hosts, self-described alternates, attempt to explain what causes the campus divide that’s alluded to in the student interviews. Many hosts admit that W&L was not their first choice university. They often cite money as the final factor in deciding to enroll. Soman says “it was quite a surprise” to receive the letter promising a full ride to W&L. After deliberating, Soman accepted the scholarship.

Several interviewees say unmatched aid lured them to the school too. Even though they don’t feel like it is the right match for them socially, they stick around. The podcast mentions that, according to the student review college website Niche, almost half of W&L students receive financial aid.

That could add up to a lot of potentially unhappy students, satisfied with little the school has to offer besides a discounted tuition. At the same time, this flies in the face of the “white and loaded” stereotype that W&L can’t shake.

The distinctive and sometimes restrictive social dynamics and pervasive Greek life are more thoroughly disassembled in the most recent episode, “What’s the Rush: An Examination of Greek Recruitment at W&L.” This quickly became Popping the Bubble’s most popular post. Its central theme: how intimidating our Greek System is. McGee, a producer, says the episode generated positive responses from freshmen struggling to figure out the rush process. The episode is littered with bleeps that hide the subjects’ Greek affiliations. Many of them feared negative repercussions from their fraternities or sororities, McGee says.

Independents in the podcast expressed discontent about how central college. “Instead of focusing on the negatives of the campus and the Greek life is to our school overall. “So much of your social life revolves drastic differences amongst student groups, people need to focus on the around what sorority and what fraternity parties you’re going to . . . It’s advantages of the school, the opportunities we have and the insanely just so ingrained that this is how you identify yourself,” one female indeintelligent people that go here,” Dotterer said. “Make changes. Find pendent who was “released” from recruitment says in the episode. “How solutions. Take advantage of the positives.” Such criticism might not have awful of a person am I that not one house wanted me? I have just been reached Popping the Bubble’s producers. rejected by, like, 80 percent of the female population at our school.” Jackie “I’m thoroughly disappointed in the lack of negative responses the Moruzzi ’18, who was not interviewed podcast has received,” Noland says. for the podcast, has a different opinion “Everyone on the team welcomes about her choosing to be independent “I thought that creating a podcast criticism—a big part of our goal at a predominantly Greek university. “I is to start a conversation.” Despite would be a really effective and didn’t want to be categorized,” Moruzzi the podcast’s refusal to continue entertaining way to give a voice to “sweeping stuff under the rug,” as says. “I don’t perceive any of the social hierarchies as boundaries.” the many alternative points of view McGee puts it, the criticisms are Most of the complaints focus on the meant to generate constructive on campus.” stark contrast between the fraternity feedback by initiating a campusand sorority rush, the inability to tell wide discussion. “Our purpose is not - Sierra Noland ‘17 whether friendships with upperclassmen to bash the university in any way,” are genuine and the ever-widening Soman said. “Each of us really loves chasm between genders and friend this school or some aspect of it.” groups. Reaction to the podcast has been mixed. Hearing a nameless voice Musgrave echoes Soman’s sentiments about W&L. “It has its flaws, yes, complain about having to go to his or her second choice school for free but what university doesn’t?” Musgrave said. “W&L has great financial understandably bothers those students who pay W&L’s sticker price of aid and great career outcomes and in general the community is great. Just roughly $60,000 a year. “I think some comments in the podcast overall know what you’re getting into and know that if you’re not the typical were a little harsh, opinionated, ignorant and negative but everyone is W&L student, going here will not be without its challenges. But that entitled to their opinion,” Sara Dotterer ’18 said. doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.” Listen to the podcast. It might delight you Dotterer said she thinks a lot of the problems outlined in the or infuriate you. Regardless, a redefinition of W&L’s social structure will podcast—that students feel pressure to appear perfect, to hide their never happen if each conversation continues to circulate solely between inadequacies, and to fit the mold of certain social groups—exist at every likeminded individuals.

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“WE NEED TO STOP OBJECTIFYING INDIVIDUALS AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON THEIR HUMANITY.” -PROFESSOR DAVID NOVAK, SOCIOLOGY

BODY IMAGE THREE PERSPECTIVES ON WASHINGTON & LEE’S HIGH RATE OF EATING DISORDERS

BY COURTNEY KNIGHT ‘17

S

tudents at Washington and Lee argue this university is unlike any other. We have approximately 80 percent participation in our Greek system, more than 95 percent of our freshmen return after their first year, and the number of W&L women diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia is almost twice the national average.

Negative body image issues exist on college campuses across the country, but what makes the problem so severe here? We examine what might contribute to our school’s high rates from three different perspectives.

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THE CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE

THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

For generations, women in America have been bombarded with images of the ideal female body, from the plastic figures of Barbie to the thin models of Bazaar. As teenagers and twenty-somethings, we believe that being attractive—or at least working towards attaining the “ideal” female body—is an important ingredient in being the best versions of ourselves.

If all women are conditioned to believe this from an early age, something about the environment at W&L must be different to make our statistics so high.

Clinical Psychologist Christy Barongan of the University Counseling Center claims that W&L’s student body is of a different physical caliber than other comparable universities.

“There is an even higher value placed on body image and attractiveness here than there is in our culture in general, as evidenced in the low number of people who are overweight compared to the general population,” Barongan said based on her observations from working at W&L. Does this mean that W&L attracts students who are in good physical shape or that students try to prevent any further weight gain that can naturally occur in college? To understand how our school’s environment could heighten the issue, it is necessary to understand how W&L’s large and powerful Greek system plays a role.

The majority of social activities here are parties at fraternity houses where alcohol is provided. This atmosphere places a focus on W&L’s hook-up culture above everything else.

“Most social activities [at W&L] are controlled by fraternities, so women base their self-esteem on whether men find them attractive to a larger degree than they would ordinarily,” Barongan said.

The preparation work for these parties begins in the daytime when women are exercising and making decisions about what to eat. Working out at the gym is no longer about being healthy but instead having the “right” body.

“Seeing other people restrict [their diets] or exercise excessively can be triggering to people with eating disorders,” said Barongan. “Since women primarily eat with other women, there is a lot of evaluation about what and how much people are eating.”

Madison Penegar ’18 personally battled with anorexia. Penegar’s struggles began in high school where she was surrounded by competitive pressures in everything from the price tag of her clothing to the prestige of her college acceptance letters.

When Penegar arrived at W&L, the stressors in her life began to multiply. While the transition from high school to college can be difficult for a lot of students, Penegar was faced with W&L’s intense rush process on top of trying to figure out how to fit into the seemingly perfect student body.

“Competing against others for the ‘best body’ doesn’t compare to your losing sight of the important things in life,” Penegar said.

Penegar is currently happy and healthy. She credits the university’s counseling services department as a major contributor to her recovery.

In addition to the University Counseling Center, the campus chapter of Active Minds provides additional support for students struggling with mental health issues and tries to remove the stigma associated with such issues. Every March, Active Minds hosts an Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Lydia Barit ’16, the president of Active Minds, cited the high standards of W&L academics as a large role in eating disorders across the student body.

“When assignments stack up, finding time to eat becomes harder, and when the amount of work someone has gets out of control, he or she may look to eating habits to regain control.”

With women in particular, Barit echoed the harmful effects of the sorority lifestyle.

“Eating disorders can be contagious, and the amount of time we spend with each other in the [sorority] house and on the Hill coupled with the competitive nature of sorority life can magnify their spread.”

While counseling services and student groups can be life changing for individuals who struggle with eating disorders, Penegar’s experience speaks to a much larger cultural issue that goes beyond the individual.

Change, especially at a school so rooted in tradition, takes a lot of time; however, having these insights can help women to better navigate the social sphere of W&L.

THE CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE The nature of W&L’s social scene breeds an incredibly competitive culture where women vie for male attention and focus on maximizing their sexual desirability. This behavior reemerges during rush and does not end after receiving a bid. After a girl is in a sorority, rivalry between sororities takes over and the social scene continues to encourage women to compare themselves to one another.

Sociology Professor David Novack began teaching at W&L in 1976 and has since been observing campus culture, including body image and respect issues. He suggests that these collective issues can be changed by our individual actions.

“We need to stop objectifying individuals and instead focus on their humanity. The challenge is to develop strategies to see people as human beings with feelings and needs,” said Novack.

“COMPETING AGAINST OTHERS FOR THE ‘BEST BODY’ DOESN’T COMPARE TO LOSING YOUR SIGHT OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE.” -MADISON PENEGAR ‘18 INGENERAL

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A REGRETFUL PAST

Acknowledging Slavery Within Campus History

by Arlette Hernandez ‘18

T

he Colonnade often stands as a symbol for W&L. You pass by it everyday, admire it, post pictures of it on Instagram, but this string of buildings also marks us in a very different way.

Many professors theorize that enslaved people built the campus’ first buildings like Robinson Hall, but this speculation has yet to be confirmed by research.

According to “African Americans at Washington and Lee,” the university-published online timeline, John “Jockey” Robinson significantly transformed our history in 1826. An Irish immigrant and indentured servant, Robinson made a fortune after a life of trading horses, distilling whiskey and operating a plantation. Following his death, he bequeathed to Washington College his entire estate, including 1,000 acres of land (now Buena Vista) and 84 people. Robinson left his slaves with the understanding that the school would hire them out as laborers and refrain from selling them until 50 years after the bequest.

According to a list the Washington College Board of Trustees compiled in 1834, the college owned 67 slaves and hired out 28 additional slaves for that year. Two years later, the college broke the rules of Robinson’s bequest

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and sold 55 slaves to Samuel Garland, a Lynchburg slaveholder, and five more to local residents. The total profit of the college’s sale was valued at $22,515.41 in 1834.

While the school’s intentions behind selling the Robinson slaves are unclear, several facts persist. The institution is responsible for the physical dislocation of several people while also benefitting from their sale.

President Ruscio has addressed this part of our history. In the fall of 2013, he established a special working group to look into the history of African Americans at W&L. Elizabeth Knapp chairs the group, comprised fully of staff and faculty members: Thomas Camden, Julie Campbell, Theodore DeLaney, Jeffery Hanna, Holt Merchant and Barton Myers.

According to DeLaney, President Ruscio created the working group after reading Craig Steven Wilder’s Ebony and Ivy (2013), a book discussing the relationship between slavery and academic institutions like Brown and Harvard. Wilder’s book generated Ruscio’s desire for W&L to also be a part of the larger movement examining institutional history.

“We had gotten to this point of combustion because we had not been discussing [our past]. The purpose of this group initially was to do the

homework,” Camden said.

The group’s first action was creating a timeline stretching from 1795 to present, depicting the institution’s African American history. Since early 2015, the working group has discussed building a monument.

“We wanted to have a marker that told about the slaves. The plan was [to have] a marker with a metal reproduction of those ledger papers [with their names],” DeLaney said.

The location was one of the most difficult aspects of this project.

Originally, the group wanted to place the marker inside Robinson Hall, but a plaque celebrating the foundation of Kappa Alpha Order already exists there. Because law prohibits the modification of national historic landmarks, the placard cannot be placed on the exterior of the Colonnade buildings either.

After months of discussion, the group decided to place the marker on a raised flowerbed off the rearmost side of Robinson Hall. Earlier this term, the plaque was raised. One of the most appealing features of this location is the opportunity for further development.

“Since there is a space between where it would be placed and Tucker Hall . . . the community could think about [installing] a memorial garden, and maybe right across the sidewalk there could be a reflection area,” DeLaney said.

Both Camden and DeLaney confirm that there is more work to do moving forward. Professor DeLaney has applied for a research grant to help him further investigate the African American past within our university’s archives. He has selected two students to assist him with the project this summer.

Before the working group’s timeline, very few people even knew about the Robinson slaves.

“All these years the information about the estate and how much it amounts to has been here,” Camden said. “It’s in the papers but very few people ever took into account that humans were a part of the horses, sheep, cattle, land, equipment, stills—they were all lumped together.

Human beings.”

Still, the marker and archival research are only the first phases of a larger mission. “[Our hope is that] in the coming years, memorialization will take the form of something more than a physical item. [It can be] an annual symposium or a musical event or an art expression . . . something students could be involved with annually,” Camden said.

Camden said the group also wanted the construction and dedication to happen before President Ruscio leaves and classes end to honor his leadership in the efforts.

The university does not know when or even if this reconciliatory work can ever reach a conclusion, but it has taken an important step by addressing the issue and initiating a dialogue on campus.

“My ancestors may not have owned African slaves—they weren’t even here [in the U.S.], but I have still inherited culpability,” English Professor Lesley Wheeler said. “Because of this job and this paycheck, I have amends to make.”

President Ruscio, in his message to the community on July 8, 2014, urged the W&L community to tell the whole story, no matter how uncomfortable.

“At Washington and Lee, we learn from the past, and this is an episode from which there is much to learn. Acknowledging the historical record— and acknowledging the contributions of these individuals—requires coming to terms with and accepting our responsibility for a part of our past that we wish had been different but that we cannot ignore.”

The Colonnade often stands as a symbol for W&L. You pass by it everyday, admire it, post pictures of it on Instagram, but this string of buildings also marks us in a very different way.

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Professor Profile:

Bill Hamilton

Washington and Lee Biology Department Chair Bill Hamilton doesn’t just admire plants. He has focused his whole career on them.

By Caitlin Kaloostian ’17

A

fter obtaining his Ph.D. at Syracuse University, Professor Bill Hamilton began researching herbivore and plant interactions.

The majority of his present research is based on the bison of Yellowstone National Park and their relationship with the grasslands.

By frequently visiting various research sites throughout Yellowstone, Hamilton has proven that bison and other large herbivore grazing promote new growth in its grasslands.

In the 2004–2005 school year, Hamilton took eleven W&L students to Yellowstone during spring term as part of a pilot project. Their mission: to investigate the interactions of bison and elk with grasses. Since then, he has taken over nine spring term classes, approximately 74 students, to Yellowstone in order to assist with his research. His and the students’ findings actually impact management decisions within Yellowstone. These are impressive contributions, considering Yellowstone is the world’s first national park.

Hamilton said he most enjoys spending time with W&L students in

areas of the grasslands many people never get to see.

For him, the most rewarding part is watching each student have that “aha moment” with nature in the park.

“The moment may be [watching] a sunrise, or seeing their first wolf, bison, or elk,” Hamilton said. “Or they begin to understand why I do the research that I do. It differs for each student.”

Hamilton’s fondest memory was from his first year visiting Yellowstone when a bison chased him. He didn’t find it very hilarious at the time, but he survived with a great story to tell.

Hannah Gilmore ’16 travelled to Yellowstone with Hamilton during her sophomore year. “My favorite part of the trip was the scenery and wildlife,” Gilmore said. “I had never been in that part of the country before and it was an incredible opportunity overall. I especially loved the baby bison!”

When Hamilton’s not trekking through Yellowstone or leading a lab or lecture in the Science Center, he works with plants in a completely different way at Blue Lab Brewing Company. “I started home brewing after taking Organic Chemistry,” he said. In 2010, Hamilton and a friend founded the Randolph Street microbrewery, where they turn grains and hops into a variety of craft stouts, porters and ales. “It is a way to be more artistic with plants,” Hamilton said. “Brewing is part science and part creativity.”

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The Presidents of

Washington & Lee

By Hannah Falchuk ‘18

After December 2016, Washington and Lee will bid farewell to Kenneth P. Ruscio and welcome Will Dudley as president of the university. As we look toward the future, take a moment to study some of our past principals, rectors, and presidents—all of whom contributed to the school’s curriculum and community, sometimes in surprising ways.

Robert Alexander | 1749-62 Robert Alexander came to the colony of Virginia from Ulster, Ireland, and founded Augusta Academy as a pre-collegiate training school for ministers.

Samuel Legrand Campbell | 1796-99 Samuel Legrand Campbell oversaw the fortuitous receipt of George Washington’s gift of stock for the school’s endowment. He also fought the General Assembly to keep the school a private institution, even though only seven students were enrolled.

Henry Vethake | 1834-36 Mathematician and economist Henry Vethake, was known for setting a staunch standard for student discipline. Ironically, he left the college after an expelled student physically assaulted him.

George Junkin | 1848-61 Leading up to the Civil War, George Junkin advocated for the Union and spoke out against slavery. His opinion was not the majority. Amid student secessionist fervor, he resigned from the presidency and moved to Pennsylvania.

William Lyne Wilson | 1897-1900 William Lyne Wilson quit his job as Postmaster General of President Grover Cleveland to become president of the university.

George Hutcheson Denny | 1901-11 Perhaps George Hutcheson Denny had the most fun while he was president. Fancy Dress and Mock Con both began during his presidency.

He also oversaw the creation of another W&L mainstay: the Executive Committee.”

Henry Lewis Smith | 1912-29 During World War I, Henry Lewis Smith suggested that the U.S. Army use small balloons to send issue announcements to the German population. He was awarded $250 from the National Security League for his contribution.

John William Elrod | 1995-2001 John William Elrod encouraged the school to recruit female students, faculty and trustees after coeducation was announced in 1985.

14 INGENERAL

1776-96 | William Graham While the colonies fought in the Revolutionary War, William Graham presided over Augusta Academy. Once the nation was established, he began presenting degrees.

1799-1829 | George Addison Baxter George Addison Baxter led the school for a 30-year term but eventually resigned because of the school’s dramatic decline in enrollment. After reaching a high of 60 students, the number dropped to fewer than 20.

1836-48 | Henry Ruffner Henry Ruffner had served as an interim president twice during the school’s early years before his full-time appointment. He left the office during a publicized debate with a local minister over the school’s refusal to include gospel education in the curriculum.

1871-97 | George Washington Custis Lee While many know that Robert E. Lee was president, few know that his son, George Washington Custis Lee, left his position as a VMI professor to become Washington College’s president upon his father’s death.

1900-01 | Henry St. George Tucker Henry St. George Tucker helped raise funds for Tucker Hall in memory of his father, the law school’s first dean. He later served as President of the American Bar Association and now lends the first half of his name to the local Henry Street (punny, eh?).

1911-12 |

Henry Donald Campbell and John Lyle Campbell

For some, W&L is truly a family affair. Henry Donald Campbell and John Lyle Campbell, professors and brothers, served jointly as temporary interim presidents of the school. One brother handled academic, faculty and student affairs, while the other managed the business side.

1959-67 | Fred Carrington Cole Fred Carrington Cole was president when the Board of Trustees finally allowed integration.

2006-16 | Kenneth P. Ruscio President Ruscio’s tenure will be remembered as one of growth and enrichment, particularly as he oversaw the beginning of the Johnson Scholarship Program, the renovation of the Colonnade and enhancements in the University’s energy conservation.

By Emma Whittemore ‘16

PLAY HARD, WORK HARDER W

hen most students finish their last class of the day, they head to the library or crawl into bed and watch Netflix. But some students in Lexington walk over to Main Street for their after-school jobs that offer extra cash and other perks.

For some, this means markdowns on merchandise. Madison Cole ‘17 said she gets a discount at Gladiola Girls, a women’s clothing store that opened last fall.

Cole’s job as a salesperson also adds to her resume. After working for SeaCoast Sports and Outfitters on Kiawah Island, SC, this past summer, Cole said she knew retail would be a good fit for her in Lexington. “I wanted to work in a store where I liked the stuff,” said Cole.

Most working students clock hours in Lexington’s restaurants, which offer a different range of benefits. Sarah Arrington ‘18 started waitressing at Napa Thai, which opened in January, because she wanted extra spending money. Arrington heard that the new Thai restaurant was looking for servers when she dined there with some of her friends.

“The owner asked a group of us if anyone wanted a job. The opportunity presented itself, so I took it,” said Arrington.

Arrington says that having a job also makes her plan out her homework for the week so that she uses her time more wisely. Aside from the practical benefits of learning how to manage her school, work and social schedules, Arrington also enjoys the complimentary Thai cuisine. “I know that when I go to work I’m going to have a good dinner because their food is amazing,” said Arrington.

Others in the restaurant industry opt for positions with shorter or more accommodating shifts.

“I want to waitress but seven hours is a lot on a school night,” said former Bistro on Main hostess Christina Cheadle ‘16. Cheadle now works with the catering team at the House Mountain Inn because the hours are more flexible.

Kelly Douma ‘16, who during high school worked as a bonnet-wearing waitress at a colonial restaurant near Monticello, is now a

hostess at Southern Inn. She works five-anda-half-hour shifts, three or four times a week.

Douma considered bartending because of the higher wages, but the shifts available were not as reasonable given her school schedule. She said she would have to work until 2 or 3 a.m. during the week.

Greeting diners at the restaurant has opened a few doors for Douma. While working at Southern Inn, Douma met a professor from Pennsylvania State University with whom she has since set up graduate school interviews.

Working as a hostess on Main Street is supporting other students’ academic endeavors as well.

Katie Monks ‘18, began working as a hostess at Haywood’s Piano Bar to fund her semester abroad in Asia, but she’s noticed an academic boost from having a job too. Monks said that during her first semester working at Haywood’s she saw a significant jump in her grades. “They were the best grades I have ever gotten at W&L because I have to balance my time,” said Monks.

INGENERAL

15

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