InGeneral Winter 2023

Issue 20.2

WINTER

InGeneral is Washington and Lee’s only student life magazine. We are an entirely student-run publication (independent of the Journalism Department) dedicated to showcasing the activities, opinions, and interests of W&L undergraduate students. InGeneral is published biannually, releasing one issue at the end of both Fall and Winter Term.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Langley Steuart ‘24

MANAGING EDITOR

Fraley Williams ‘24

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Kaylin Jury ‘24

PUBLICIST

Ellie Thornton ‘23

STAFF

Jenny Helwig ‘24

Catherine McKean ‘24

Lily Schiffman ‘24

Stefanie Chiguluri ‘24

Mads Kwasnik ‘25

Alyssah McGuire ‘25

Jacqueline Welsh ‘26

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Catherine McKean ‘24

Lily Schiffman ‘24

Alyssah McGuire ‘25

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Todd Echols ‘23

Letter from the editor

To submit a letter to the editor or for advertising inquiries, please contact

ATTN: InGeneral Magazine

John W. Elrod Commons

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA 24450

Here at W&L, it is no secret we like to have fun: from the way we beg professors to have class outside to the passionate work students put into various clubs. We grasp at any chance to spice up the monotonous routine of classes. Thinking about the energy that erupts on campus with the spring flowers makes me smile. After a few months of colder weather and nights in the library it is time to come out of hibernation to celebrate our hard work, achievements, and wins.

The Winter 2023 issue brings you fun, spontaneity, and good times. So let the good times roll and celebrate with us. We dive into the liveliness of our campus, exploring behind the scenes of clubs like WLUR 91.5 and sports like the wrestling team. Staff members offer ideas on recipes, new restaurants in town, and places to travel near Lexington that will spice up your spring!

It is time to get out of the January and February rut and be present in the moment. During these colder months, it is common to hear friends complain how there is nothing fun to look forward to. I’ve been there and those words have definitely come out of my mouth when bogged down with work. But when I find myself in this headspace, I try to think of one thing to look forward to that will get me through the day. It can be as small as the new recipe you are going to try or the walk that will revive you after a long day of classes. So don’t wait around for

the good times, make your own fun in the everyday moments.

Whether it is inviting some friends over and cooking together or going for a drive enjoying the scenic views, InGeneral delivers it all. Additionally, what’s more fun than fashion? We cover Professor Staple’s clothing company and review the past fashion of Fancy Dress. So put on a dress or a suit and get ready to dance the night away at the upcoming 2023 Fancy Dress. Dance away the stress and worries and rejoice in the good times.

Thank you to our exec team and our staff members who worked hard to present to you the fun and spontaneity of our 20th volume. Celebrate your achievements, your wins, and celebrate being together because time tends to slip away in college so you might as well let the good times roll.

Cheers,

DEAR READERS, Langley

Front cover illustration by Alyssah McGuire ‘25

WLUR 91.5 FM

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the WLUR studio? We have the inside scoop!

SPRING CITRUS BURRATA SALAD

Mimi Sherrill ‘23 shares an easy and colorful appetizer. Invite some friends over and make this recipe in less than 15 minutes!

THE WRESTLING TEAM’S SWITCH

The last sports team to switch to the ODACs. Hear from current players and coaches about how the switch is affecting the team.

Dispatches from Baker

PROFFESOR SPOTLIGHT

You might know Professor Staples as an English Professor or the editor of the Shenandoah, but have you heard of her clothing company, RummyVintage?

COVER STORY 

Walk through the past decades of Fancy Dress dresses along with fashion predictions for the upcoming 2023 Fancy Dress.

Have you tried Lexington’s new açai bowl place?

Check out its origin story.

TAKE A QUIZ!

From the Lenfest staircase to the Cadaver tunnels, which W&L hidden gem should you check out? Take this quiz to find out!

FEB BREAK CATCH-UP

Tales from students on their travels during Washington Break. From Mardi Gras to traveling outside the country, W&L students do it all.

TRAVEL INSPO

15 06

06 03 14 16 12

SPEND THE DAY WITH THE EC

ng in to WLUR 91.5 FM

isteners of WLUR 91.5 FM will have picked up on several new and exciting changes made to Washington and Lee’s public radio station throughout the 2022-2023 school year.

The first of these changes is a change in leadership. The station, which seeks to provide listeners with “diverse programming” including music, news, and commentary is now in the hands of W&L’s Journalism Department rather than the school at large.

The second, and perhaps, more important change, is a mass expansion of student shows at WLUR. At the beginning of fall term, there were only seven student-led segments on the air. Now, there are at least 50 shows, with new segments being added every week. The station is also newly available 24/7, with a blend of cohesive music (primarily adult contemporary) selected by the station’s music directors playing when there isn’t a segment scheduled.

Kate Dewing, ‘23, is one of the two student music directors, and has been with WLUR since her first term at W&L. She loves “having that hour or two in the studio to relax” and encourages others to get on the air too - “You have the freedom to make it what you want it to be!”

Kate also enjoys getting to share her music and finds that flexing her “radio personality” for her listeners, which often includes her parents, is always fun. As director, she is happy to help DJs starting out and is very proud of new student programming.

Lily Miggins, ‘24, has also been with WLUR since her first term at W&L, and her show is easily one of the most recognizable on the air. Lily knew she wanted her own segment before she came to school in order to express her passion for playlist curation (she has over 200 public playlists on Spotify!) and interest in the stories behind music.

Now a WLUR veteran, Lily is thrilled that she has inspired others to get on the air and that others are getting a chance to find their voices as DJs. “Radio is a great way to practice public speaking, confidence, and personal development, and it’s such a fun way to spend your time,” she says of her experience. “There is always room for more people in the music world.”

Shannon Tozier, ‘25, started their own segment this fall after spending several sessions sitting in with their friends. They love to share their unique music taste through hours of curated playlists made up of songs and artists that have historically been given “the silent treatment.”

Drew Leydig, ‘25, is WLUR’s newest segment host, and is giving the radio a try after seeing his friends, including Lily Miggins, run their own shows. Although he was a bit nervous, having never DJ’d or been on the air before, he was excited to share new music with listeners and mastered the radio controls in no time. “It’s been great so far!” he said after his first show.

Listeners can tune in to the live broadcast by visiting the WLUR 91.5 FM webpage found at wlu.edu/wlur/music/listen-now. The full weekly program of student segments can also be found on that site as well as on the @wlur95fm Instagram account. Interesting in DJ-ing? E-mail scross@wlu.edu.

what’s playing?

Director’s Pick

Aural Pleasure is Kate’s collection of newly discovered music that she has listened to over the past week. She describes it as “any combination of indie, alternative, and rock with some Motown thrown in - it’s very random, very stream of consciousness, but all linked together.”

Fridays 1-2 PM

Tried and True

Music with Miggs has a different creative theme every week, with themes ranging from movies to roads to names. The curated songs are pulled from every genre under the sun and accompany the stories Lily tells. Her most featured genres are indie and pop, with the Beatles and Rex Orange County often working their way into her playlists.

Thursdays 9-10 PM

Hidden Gems

The Noisy Treatment shines a light on a collection of eclectic “indie” songs and artists (primarily singersongwriters), such as Mantaraybryn, Annika Bennett, and Andrew Montana that have been hidden away by mainstream media.

Fridays 4-5 PM

New and Noteworthy

Drewtunes! is a hand-picked selection of “tubular” music, with a focus on a different genre and group of artists every week accompanied by Drew’s commentary on why he enjoys the songs picked for each segment.

Tuesdays 12-1 PM

CATHERINE MCKEAN ‘24

The Final Switch

The Generals wrestling team was the final team at Washington and Lee University to switch to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference this past year from the Centennial Conference. Head Coach Nathan Shearer said he’s only seen positives come from the switch.

“What I’ve noticed already is that this is the first year our home matches have had a really nice turnout,” he said.

Not only have more students shown up to home matches, but also members of the Lexington Wrestling Club, a youth wrestling group that partners with the Generals, have too.

Shearer said it has also been an exciting season from a competitive standpoint.

“Some of the teams and individuals in the conference are some of the best in the nation right now,” he said. “Being new doesn’t mean it’s going to take a while to be competitive.”

The team left the ODAC Tournament with the team title and 135.5 mat points on February 11th. The Generals tied their regular season record (5-1) with Averett University and Roanoke College. The three teams were named tri-champions of the first ODAC Wrestling Championship

Seniors Ryan Luth and Riley Parker were returning All-Americans for the team. They agree that the switch to the ODAC has been overall positive.

“It’s teams that everyone recognizes now,” said Parker.

“It allows us to wrestle more duals closer to home or at home,” said Luth.

Shearer said they have represented themselves as strong leaders on the team on and off the mat.

“I never think they’re going to lose any time they wrestle,” Shearer said.

Parker (125), Luth (157) and fellow senior Matt Majoy (285) each claimed their weight class at the ODAC Tournament and Luth was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament after recording 18.5 team points from a technical fall, pin and major decision win.

As the Generals wrestlers continue to look toward claiming some national titles in the post-season, they hope the support will extend beyond Lexington. With their ODAC win, they will again face less familiar teams to the studentbody in NCAA regional and national competition.

individuals in the conference are some of the best in the nation right now. Being new doesn’t mean it’s going to take a while to be competitive.

NATHAN SHEARER

PROFESSOR SPOTLIGHT:

WhileWashington and Lee has its run of talented students, our professors are often overlooked. You may think you know everything about the staff here at W&L. But have you ever considered what your professors do off campus?

Meet Professor Beth Staples. On top of being an Associate Professor of English, a mother of two, as well as the Editor of the Shenandoah Literary Magazine, Staples also has a hidden passion for fashion.

Staples owns a vintage clothing company run on Etsy called RummyVintage. She found that opening Rummy was just what she needed to combine her interest in storytelling with fashion.

If you thought that only professional vintage shoppers can find the best of the best, think again. Staples has found everything from a Chanel two-piece suit to a Gucci pullover at a Goodwill while browsing on an average day. And sometimes for Staples, the best vintage finds aren’t exactly what she would wear, but what someone else would find amazing.

While living in Arizona as a graduate student, Staples found herself going to estate sales and thrift shops during her free time to peruse the racks of vintage and unique clothing. Staples would drive north to Suncity, Arizona, a town that was booming with estate sales almost every weekend. Though not an obvious treasure box, these estate sales are where Staples found some of her most prized pieces.

“Finding the right estate sale is just so much fun,” Staples said. “It’s like a peek inside someone’s secret history.”

After collecting a wardrobe of pieces from many decades and histories of their own, she decided it was time to do something with her collection. Staples opened RummyVintage on Etsy in 2012 in hopes of sharing some of the amazing pieces she had picked up over the years.

“Once I told myself I would open an Etsy shop, I gave myself permission to buy anything I liked, even if it didn’t fit me.”

While always having an interest in fashion, Staples found that starting RummyVintage was another way to connect with her grandmother. The name “Rummy,” in fact, stems from her

IN THE CLASSES WE TALK HAVING STORIES.

MAKES ME SAD BEING THROWN THE IDEA OF A SECOND STORIES CONTINUING.

BETH STAPLES & RUMMYVINTAGE

childhood memories of playing the card game with her family and especially with her grandmother who inspired her interest in fashion.

“Everyone in my family knows that if they have something that they don’t want to throw away, they will give it to me. I’m the keeper of the relics.”

Staples decided to host a pop-up shop in Lexington in February hoping to sell some of her vintage finds. Many of the items at the sale had not been uploaded to her Etsy site and were waiting to find new homes.

The pop-up shop was more than a success with Lexington locals and Washington and Lee students pouring into the room with wall-to-wall racks of decade-old clothing.

Staples had many more sales than she anticipated.

“I think it went better than I could have hoped for. I really didn’t know if students would be interested and there were so many enthusiastic shoppers!” she said. “I’m excited to see the clothes around campus.”

It is obvious from the items on RummyVintage, that each one has a unique story of its own. Staples realized early in her vintage clothing journey, that shopping vintage was just another way of storytelling.

Being the Editor for Shenandoah and an english and creative writing professor, storytelling is Staple’s forte. RummyVintage is simply another way of storytelling for her, but through clothing.

“In the classes I teach, we talk about objects having stories. Something makes me sad about things being thrown away.” she said. “I love the idea of things having a second life or their stories continuing.”

FRALEY WILLIAMS ‘24

CLASSES I TEACH, ABOUT OBJECTS STORIES. SOMETHING SAD ABOUT THINGS THROWN AWAY. I LOVE OF THINGS HAVING LIFE OR THEIR CONTINUING.

BETH STAPLES

THE MET GALA OF Lexington:

A look into the fashion of Fancy Dress through the decades

In1876, the Southern CollegianWashington and Lee’s former student-led magazine- called the ball a “Fancy Dress Hop”; in 1907, it was dubbed a school dance conceived from a measly $42 of leftover theater funds. With each coming year, the annual Fancy Dress ball at Washington and Lee has increased its volume of budget, music and, of course, its extravagant dresses. Historically known for its rebellious flare-dancing late into the night, thousands of guests, and gaudy attire- Fancy Dress was fun, attractive and adored by all its attendees. As I dove into Special Collections here at Leyburn Library to learn more about the history of this magical night, I realized that to describe these dresses as simply ‘fancy’ is nothing short of a crime. Even as I looked back into the 1920’s, women pushed the contemporary fashion trends of the time; women wore colorful gowns, draped with textures of all kinds, decorated with veils, flamboyant jewelry, and dazzling heels. This was, and continues to be, the Met Gala of Lexington, Virginia.

Much like Vogue’s famed Met Gala, Fancy Dress holds a different and unique theme each year. From 1916’s Court of Louis XIV theme to 1984’s Lost Cities of Gold, each theme holds an authentic flare that is full of historical and cultural significance for all who attend. Washington and Lee’s most classic and lavish tradition never disappoints, and there is no doubt that next year and the years to come will be no exception.

Despite Fancy Dress’ contemporary dress code of prom dress and suit attire, the ball has seen an array of unique dress codes. From theatrical costumes to large crinolines (the big wiring under midevil dresses), each coming theme brought immaculate outfits. Taking a look at the

MADS KWASNICK ‘25

Fancy Dress website itself, it describes the fashion trends reflected in the various themes: “1933’s Ball of the Grandees depicted the royal court of Phillip IV of Spain. Costumes were fashioned after those made by the Spanish painter Velasquez.” Interestingly, the fashion sometimes represented current world issues rather than attention to style: 1939’s Knights of the Golden HorseShoe saw a unique dichotomy between pop culture and political climates. “Students wore costumes reminiscent of the “Roaring 80s” at the 1940 Fancy Dress. Fancy Dress officials dressed up as Kentucky politicians.” While nowadays students dressto-impress more than go all-out with a costume, the element of attire has always been at the heart of this event- we love dressing up!

In the pop culture decades of the 90’s, 00’s, 10’s, the themes both reflected the attraction and growing integration between Hollywood culture and fashion. For example, costumes slowly transformed into the less uniformed, more informal attire we see today. It was less common for Fancy Dress attendees to wear costumes, but rather elegant dresses worn by their favorite Hollywood celebrities.

1990’s Great Gatsby party saw long, elegant black dresses, pieced together with light headpieces and dainty pearl necklaces. The attention to detail draws a distinction between the formerly more gaudy costumes seen in past decades. 2000 was a prime example of the shifting themes from historically derived themes to more mainstream with the theme, Luck

The element of attire has always been at the heart of this event - we love dressing up!

all photos via WLU Special Collections and Archives

and Luxury, Destination Vegas! Attire no longer reflected historical significance best emulated through costume, but rather current fashion trends that spoke to the Vegas aesthetic. While themes still often hold historical, cultural and theatrical significance throughout the 2010s to now, the themes are more for marketing the event itself rather than a dress code.

Recently, the 2023 Fancy Dress went underway: The Greatest Show. Similar to 1997’s Under the Big Top’s invitation, the invitation presented a graphic of the Colonnade transformed into a red-and-whitestriped circus tent. The event sold over a thousand tickets in just two days, never losing popularity over the years. As students and faculty picked up their tickets, we were given a ribboned wrist band for the

event, along with an option to purchase a package: a shirt, sticker, and other gifts accumulating to about 5 items. My fashion predictions for 2023, like each year past the 80s, are based on what I believe to be the most popular contemporary fashion trends. I imagine long, semi-form fitting maxi dresses with delicate yet intentional textures from stores like Revolve and Lucy in the Sky. While we did see similar visions amongst the beautiful dresses, it would be ludicrous to put all women, in any Fancy Dress event, into a box of fashion conformity. Each woman holds their own unique element to themselves, in addition to their cultures, interests and more. All should anticipate this beautiful night, celebrated with truly special creative expression.

LEX BOWLS MEETS LEX

Lexington restaurants are hard to beat. We don’t have a lot of options, but every restaurant we have is delicious. Until recently, Lexington has lacked some staples, specifically an açai and smoothie bowl place. Yes, we have Food-side açai bowls on the weekend at third year, but those bowls just don’t always hit. Back in October, Lexington got its very first real açai restaurant: Lex Bowls, and soon to follow its second: Appalachian Sage. Not only were we blessed with one açai bowl place, but now we have two incredible options to choose from!

What sets Lex Bowls apart from other places is their actual açai base. Lex Bowls uses pure açai puree, which is not necessarily the norm, as many other açai places add water or mashed bananas for extra flavor and to prolong their supply of açai. I can attest that their açai is delicious and their expansive list of toppings, add-ons and modifications truly lets you customize your bowl.

I got the chance to talk to one of the owners and founders of Lex Bowls and hear a little bit about their mission and how they started. Lex Bowls was created by a husband and wife duo, Amie and Greg Phillips, whose son recently graduated from VMI. They fell in love with Lexington from visiting their son over his four years at VMI and got the idea from their son, who often complained about not having an açai or

smoothie bowl place in town. Knowing Lexington’s lack of açai bowls, they decided to move to town and start their business. Amie is a retired high school math teacher who wanted to change things up by starting Lex Bowls.

Amie’s background as a high school teacher lends insight into the layout of their shop. She wanted a large open-spaced store where people, especially students, could get an açai bowl or smoothie, hang out, chat, and get some work done. Since she was used to being around students, she wanted this to continue. Lex Bowls’ layout has been highly effective for students looking for a place to study, and the free-wifi continues to draw in more students. Local businesspersons also come to Lex Bowls to enjoy a sweet treat and for a change of the office environment.

On any given day, Lex Bowls is filled with students and locals. The initial customers at Lex Bowls were Washington and Lee students, but recently, many SVU students have been making the trek to try the bowls and smoothies as well, seemingly splitting the college customers’ draw between the two universities. Amie said that VMI students are just now finding out about Lex Bowls, which she finds funny and surprising considering “our son went there and is the whole reason we started Lex Bowls.” They are very glad their VMI clientele is increasing, though, nevertheless!

Similar to the old cocktails at Taps, some of the names of the

bowls and smoothies are inspired by various Lexington-y or college-y things. Lex Bowls has options like ‘The General’ bowl, ‘The Keydet’ bowl, a ‘Spring Break’ bowl, and even a new ‘The Hangover’ smoothie. My go-to is ‘The General bowl,’ obviously, with chia seeds and chocolate plant-based protein add-ons; it’s so good! Not only are the bowls delicious, but Amie and the rest of the staff are so warm and welcoming, truly embodying Lexington’s small-town friendly charm. If you haven’t stopped in for a bowl or smoothie while finishing that paper you have to write, then you’re truly missing out!

What sets Lex Bowls apart from other places is their actual açai base.

CITRUS BURRATA SALAD

If you are looking for a refreshing spring appetizer, try this recipe that is full of colorful ingredients. This is an easy appetizer that you can whip up for friends and family in less than 15 minutes! Follow Mimi Sherrill’s ‘23 ‘food blog on Instragram - @mimz_eats - for more inspiration.

INGREDIENTS

For the Salad:

• assorted citrus such as oranges, blood oranges, and grapefruit

• burrata or mozzarella cheese

• fresh herbs such as basil, mint, or dill

For the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup of olive oil

• juice of one lime

• juice of one orange

• 1 tbsp of honey

• a pinch of salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Assemble the salad, layering the citrus on a plate and top with burrata or mozzarella

2. Garnish with fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper

3. To make the dressing, whisk all ingredients together and drizzle on top of the salad

What’s your go-to Coop order?

a. Black Bean Quesadilla

b. Bacon Sunrise

c. Tenders and Fries

d. Oat Milk Latte

e. Grilled Chicken Sandwich

a. Film

d. Lavender

e. Pale Yellow

Which club takes up most of your time?

a. WLUR Host

b. Outing Club

c. Mock Con

d. Fancy Dress

e. Campus Kitchen

When does your first class start?

a. 9:15

b. 1:30

c. 11

d. 8:30

e. 12:15

Who is your favorite W&L icon?

a. Mr. Rupert Johnson

b. Trav Dennis

c. Dudley

d. Pub Safe

e. Tridey

You’re studying. What library floor are you on?

a. Third

b. Leyburn? Never.

c. First

d. Fourth

e. Second

What scent screams W&L?

a. Fresh-Cut Colonnade Grass

b. D-Hall Eggs

c. Gaines Common Room

d. Back Campus Trail

e. Hillel Bagels

What colonnade building are you?

a. Washington

b. Payne

c. Chavis

d. Tucker

e. Newcomb

Where’s your homeaway-from-home?

a. Theme House

b. Gaines

c. Glees

d. Third Year

e. The Creek

Mostly E: Mattingly House Porch

Mostly D: Belfield House Gardens

Mostly C: Commons Roof

Mostly B: Cadaver Tunnel

Mostly A: Lenfest Stairway

WASHINGTON BREAK

As the excitement of returning back to W&L after winter break fades and is replaced with the steady slog of Winter Term, students needed only to keep their eye on one date—Feb. 18.

The 18th was the first day of February Break, otherwise known as Washington Break, which serves as a breath of fresh air after six weeks of hard work. Unlike during Fall Term, where one must fit their plans within the two days they get off from classes, February break provides a whole week of opportunities to travel, learn, or decompress. From traveling to New Orleans for a Mardi Gras Celebration or staying on campus for sports, W&L students do it all.

camping trip. The Outing Club offers students the ability to get outdoors in a range of ways, from short day-hikes to week-long adventure such as this one.

Schima is an exchange student from Germany who is taking classes at Washington and Lee for the Winter and Spring terms. She said that she hasn’t gotten to see much of the United States yet, and is glad that Washington Break provided her with the opportunity to travel while she is here. “This seemed like a good opportunity to do that! And because everything is organized, you don’t have to worry about anything,” Schima said.

Emma Shaughnessy, ‘24, went to New York City as a party of the Advertising, Marketing, and Communications Career trip which took students to New York City. Students on this trip got ot travel to 14 offices and learn from alumni all across these fields. Schaughnessy said that the New York trip has helped her explore her career options.

“I signed up because I know I want to go into a creative field, but I am not exactly sure if that means advertising, marketing, or PR,” Schaughnessy said. “I want to go see

what it’s like to be in an office, and connect with W&L alums.”

Feb Break can be a time not only to explore your interests, but a chance to connect with friends. Since it’s uncommon for universities to have a February Break, W&L students can visit their friends studying abroad or attending other colleges. Whether we went off exploring the world or hung out at home, one thing will be certain—we’re all feeling a little more at ease since returning back from Feb Break.

Although many students opted to either stay on campus or return home between the 18th to the 25th, some took advantage of all that break has to offer. Sierra Johnson, ‘25, went to Colombia to experience the Carnival of Barranquilla with friends from her classes. Carnival is a folkloric celebration in Colombia that features unique cultural expression through dancing, music, and floats.

“It’s the same week as Feb Break which we found out on accident,” Johnson said. “We were talking one day and we joked about going somewhere all together for Feb Break and we wanted to go to South America, like a Spanish speaking country, that’s warm with beaches.”

Meanwhile, Franziska Schima, ‘23, went to Northern Florida with the Outing Club with a group of 8 students for a snorkeling and

A glance into the unique week-long break offered by Washington and Lee JENNY HELWIG ’24

GET AWAYS:

All within an hour of Lexington, each of these locations offers a variety of activities for anyone who needs a break from school. Often getting off campus is the best way for students to reset mentally. Any of these spots would be a great place to spend a Saturday alone or with some friends.

For the boujee or a special occasion:

Nestled between the mountains of western Virginia, that many of us have come to know and love, is the luxurious Omni Homestead Resort. Located only an hour from campus in Hot Springs, the resort boasts a world-class spa, rich history, immaculate vibes, and a plethora of activities you can’t find in Lexington. If you visit in the summer, you can golf, ride horses, swim in one of the many pools, zipline, or try skeet shooting. Their ski slopes and ice rink are open in the winter, as is the cozy hot tub. Day passes are available for the ski lifts. The spa is available year-round and has a few affordable as well as many high-end services. There are multiple on-site restaurants that offer a variety of cuisine options. Unique Homestead experiences include dancing in the formal ballroom with a live jazz band and indulging in teatime in the lobby. Any time of year, staying at the Homestead is a magical experience.

Cost: $259 minimum (for a one-night stay)

$59 one day skiing lift ticket

For the outdoorsy:

Situated on top of a mountain an hour from campus is Wintergreen Resort. There are hundreds of condos, guest rooms, houses, and suites available for adventurers to stay in and multiple restaurants to enjoy. There are a combined 30 miles of hiking trails at this mountain resort with stunning views of the Blue Ridge mountains. Skiing on the 26 slopes is the main attraction at this location in the winter, and day and night passes are available. For visitors in the summer, there are indoor and outdoor pools and a lake to cool off in. The Plunge is a stretch of high-speed tubing that operates yearround. This resort also has a spa that has more modest prices than other luxury spas. If you’re looking to be active and get out of Lexington, Wintergreen is the place to explore.

Cost: $184 minimum (for a one-night stay)

$40 night skiing lift ticket

$75 8-hour skiing lift ticket

where to go when you need to get away

For those with busy schedule:

Ecco Adesso is a family-owned farm winery 20 minutes from campus. The sprawling grapevines and mountain views are the picture of tranquility. The vineyard offers unique guest retreats, private event spaces, hiking trails with springs and waterfalls, orchards, a wide selection of local snacks and wines. You don’t need to be 21 to enjoy this winery. Pack a picnic at the front desk and soak in the views of the endless mountains while lounging in adirondack chairs. A new addition to the vineyard is the group of bell-wearing sheep that keep the grass short, and visitors have fun observing the adorable sheep as they sip their wine and eat their crackers.

For those who need to clear their mind:

Get into your car. Pile in with your friends. Pack a picnic. Drive to Highway 39. Let the river guide you through the mountains. Stop at a picnic table rest area. Enjoy a meal as the sound of the Maury River lulls you into a more peaceful state of mind. Goshen Pass is one of the most beautiful places in Lexington, and it’s a great spot to put your feet in the river—or you can even jump in. Spend 20 minutes driving or two hours. Letting your mind wander as you watch the river is a good mental reset before finals.

JACQUELINE WELSH ’26

SPEND THE DAY WITH EC MEMBERS:

EC MEMBERS

JAMES TORBERT ‘23 & PEYTON TYSINGER ‘23

ELLIE THORNTON ‘23

A Day with Executive Committee President and Vice President: James Torbert and Peyton Tysinger

As Seniors, the year buzzes with graduate school applications, job interviews, theses, capstones, and the final push to complete majors and minors. Peyton Tysinger and James Torbert face the same Senior-year stressors but have one huge distinction from the rest of the study body: James and Peyton act as the President and Vice President of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee represents the student body, presides over our renowned Honor System, and manages student government and organizations. With the rest of the E.C., Peyton and James help students navigate anything from the worst-case scenario, an honor violation, to an exciting milestone, a new club. Both participate in other extracurriculars, like greek life, sports teams, and different academic societies on campus. A typical day with these two is undeniably packed, but both strive to incorporate balance, time for friends, and physical activity among classes, homework, and E.C. duties.

JAMES’ DAY

JAMES’ DAY

In addition to being the President of the Executive Committee, James is completing his senior thesis for his philosophy major as well as completing his capstone project for the law, justice, and society minor by spending a semester with the Community Practice Legal Center at Washington and Lee’s Law School.

MORNINGS AFTERNOONS

focuses on proper nutrition and wellness. “All in all, it’s a very wholesome class and a good break from the day,” James says. Next he has his PHIL 493: Decision Theory class until 3:00 for his philosphy major. After class, he has a little bit of free time to do homework and work on his thesis. Because of evening EC meetings, dinner is on the earlier side. James frequents Evans Dining Hall or Fieldside to catch a quick oncampus meal.

James will normally start off his day with coffee and breakfast at the Tea House. Especially after Coop and D-Hall closed for renovations, the Tea House has become the new goto for morning coffee and a bite to eat. He then heads to his class at 9:45, Religion 104: Secularity, Disenchantment, and Religion. After class, he normally eats lunch at his fraternity house.

After lunch, James goes to his PE class, Health and Wellness. “Each class brings something different: a spin class, a TRX workout, or a walk around campus. This P.E. also

EC BUSINESS

EC meetings can take up most of the evenings; even after a long day of classes and work, the EC meets to tend to our honor system, support student organizations, or address any issues of student government. The Executive Committee dedicates enormous energy and time to representing the student body, and it’s one of James’ favorite parts of the day.

PEYTON’S DAY

PEYTON’S DAY

Also a Senior, Peyton acts as the Vice President of the Executive Committee. Peyton brings infectious positivity to everything she touches on campus… and she has a hand in many things here. From the women’s field hockey team to the Connolly Entrpreurnership Society, Peyton dedicates herself fully to each endeavor, making her an irreplaceable member of all her teams.

MORNINGS

The morning commences with a cup of tea. For this VP, the day starts early on account of morning classes. So, Peyton packs up her cup-to-go and heads to campus.

CLASSES

This semester, Peyton is taking two ECON classes to complete her major. The rest of her schedule consists of Puzzles and Code Breaking, and Graphic Design, two classes Peyton refers to as fun and different from her typical courses. In between classes, Peyton tutors for ECON 100. Students come and go with questions, and Peyton spends the downtime completing some of her own work. Now that Peyton has reached the end of her ECON major, she cherishes the opportunity to help students either exploring or entering the Economics department at Washington and Lee.

In the course of a typical day, various students will message Peyton with questions about student organizations and spending budgets. Peyton oversees all of the finances for the Executive Committee, so she serves as the point person on all related matters. She relays information, helps solve issues, and constantly communicates with the Executive Committee Treasurer, Diya Shreenath, and the Executive Committee Studen Organizations liaison, Chaeyon Jang. She nimbly navigates as many issues as possible, often leading to impromptu meetings with the rest of the E.C. If any honor code violations arise, Peyton, James, and Eli Samson quickly convene to discuss. Peyton’s Executive Committee duties require immense communication and a passion for serving the W&L community; lucky for us, she dedicates a significant amount of time each day tending to E.C.’s business and keeps things running smoothly for the student body.

EVENINGS

Time permitting, Peyton squeezes a workout into her busy schedule. But, as James mentioned, E.C. evening meetings can take up significant time. A typical evening includes a few hours of meetings, but when Peyton finds herself with an open night, she enjoys cooking a good meal or spending time with her roommates. Peyton finds balance in a busy schedule, and makes time to unwind with friends.

EC MEETING in progress

John W. Elrod Commons Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450