Issue 22.1
FALL 2024
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.
ED-IN-CHIEF
Madelyn Venable ‘25
MANAGING EDITOR
Alyssah McGuire ‘25
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Mads Kwasnik ‘25
PUBLICIST
Hannah Grace Kornberg ‘27
STAFF
Caroline Cruze ‘25
Madelyn Venable ‘25
Isabella Custard ‘26
Cate Wachholz ‘26
Claire DiChiaro ‘26
Emory Ecleberry ‘27
Katherine Locke ‘27
Vic Ernst ‘25
Mads Kwasnik ‘25
Emma Myer ‘27
Simmons Lee ‘27
Annie Whiteman ‘27
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Madelyn Venable ‘25
Adia Vera ‘25
Alyssah McGuire ‘25
Addi Johnson ‘28
Easterly Yeaman ‘28
Lexie Stone ‘27
Lizeth Moctezuma ‘27
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Aby Joyner ‘28
Letter from the editor
In the spring, I was lucky to study abroad for four weeks in Paris. And while I made sure I completed my assignments, I found myself saying, “Yes, let’s do it. When will I be 21 years old and in Paris again?” Because while Paris wasn’t going anywhere, and I could always make a trip back, I would never be there as 21-year-old Madelyn again.
And this sentiment carried over into the summer for me, as I spent time soaking up my last summer in my hometown. When was I going to be 21 years old and going to concerts with highschool friends again? Life was coming at me fast, so as I continued about my summer, one-specific moment sharply slowed me down, the discovery of my high school senior year time capsule.
And then, the other day, as I sat in d-hall for dinner post-practice and tried to get my teammates to join me, I looked at my senior teammate and said, “When are you going to get to sit down and have team dinner on October 8th again? You only get to have team dinner as a senior on October 8th once.”
All three moments reminded me of the importance of collecting now. What do I want in my W&L time capsule? What needs to be captured now to convey the current essence in the future?
again and again, but you only ever get to be in that moment as the current version of you. You’ll only ever have the knowledge and experience of this moment.
Thank you to all who contributed to the creation and production of this issue, especially my executive team. Alyssah, thank you for you dedication to the magazine and pushing the boundaries of its artistry. Mads, thank you for your diligent mind and pushing the magazine to be the best version of itself. Hannah Grace, thank you for jumping onboard this year and diving headfirst with the magazine’s publicity. I am so grateful to have a team dedicated to contributing and ensuring the vision of the magazine comes to life.
I think sometimes we all need a reminder that life comes at us fast and in the grand scheme things we will remember the random, impromptu long dinner with friends or the pop-up, side-quest adventure than the grade on an essay or a test. These are the moments that make us up more than anything. I hope in the 22nd issue of InGeneral that you find sentiment in the stories being told and as you move into a new chapter this will reign true as a preservation of now. That you will be encouraged to say, “Yes,” to what you will remember most.
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
I hope amidst the rush of the semester and furry of assignments and events that you find time to take it all in. Whether you are a first year or a senior, take a moment to enjoy now because it is the only one you’ll ever get like this. We may get to experience so many events
Happy collecting,
Madelyn
Front cover illustration by Alyssah McGuire ‘25
DEAR READERS,
A DAY IN THE CITY OF LIGHTS
Staff Spotlight on Isabella Custard as she studies abroad in Paris. Spend a Thursday with her in the city of lights.
STUDY ABROAD IN FLORENCE
Staff Spotlight on one of our writer’s, Cate Wachholz, as she studies abroad in Florence, Italy. Go to class and explore the Italian city with her.
COLONNADE TIMELINE
Shenandoah Magazine started as a studentrun literary magazine and now celebrates 75 years of publication as a professional magazine. Learn about how the celebration display in the library came to life.
RATING HARDEN’S COCKTAILS
Looking for your next cocktail at Harden’s and do know which one to get? Read our review of 5 cocktails to find your next drink.
deeper look behind the operation of the popular fruit smooth and acai
Ever wondered how the campus’ most notable feature has changed since 1749? Read to find out the changes through the years.
Hear from the creators of Paws to Connect and find out more about your next fluffy, friend study break.
Read about the popular bakery and coffee
BEHIND THE MIC
Have you heard about WLUR and wondered how to get involved? Or what shows students are producing? Check out this read to find out more about your fellow student-radio show hosts.
Looking for fun fall activities in Lexington and the surrounding area? Follow this itenary for a perfect fall day.
deeper dive into W&L’s newest philantrophic club, Ignite. Find out what these students are doing to combat childhood cancer,
CITY OF LIGHT: HOUR BY HOUR
ISABELLA CUSTARD ‘26
Thursdays have easily become my favorite day of the week since living in Paris this semester. With only so much time abroad, students (including myself) find themselves traveling nearly every weekend. While traveling is an exhilarating part of the study abroad experience, I am trying my best to take advantage of my limited time in Paris. Contrary to my schedule the rest of the week, on Thursdays I only have one class in the afternoon, leaving my morning free to wander around Paris and prepare for the weekend. Come along with me on the first Thursday of October.
9h — Wake up and get ready to meet a friend for breakfast in the 6th arrondissement. It’s an easy 25-minute metro ride on line four.
10h — Petit déjeuner et un café au lait at Le Pont Traversé! The location is perfect to start my day.
11h — After breakfast, I walk 20 minutes to Musée Rodin in the 7th arr. There are so many amazing museums in Paris and with my IES student ID I get into all of them for free! While the Rodin’s collection is fabulous (especially if you like sculpture) the museum’s gardens and architectural elements alone are worth the visit.
12h — I had a little more time to spare before heading to class and took a quick metro to my favorite study spot, The Hoxton. A hub for students, The Hoxton is a hotel located in the 2nd arr. that offers a daily free barista drink, an additional 10% off food and drink, and 50% off hotel reservations when you join their 18€ monthly membership. Not to mention, the hotel provides a great atmosphere for productivity. I come here at least twice a week—they make the best chai lattes.
13h – After perusing through a few stores on my walk to the metro, I hopped back on the four towards Bagneux to get to my class in the 14th arr. I’m enrolled in IES’ French Studies program so all of my classes are taught in French at their Daguerre site. Today I had my class on “Les Histoires et Légendes de Paris.” Learning about the history of the city I’m living in has been advantageous, particularly because my professor likes to share insider tips on navigating the city and discovering the best
17h — This Thursday, I had an evening rendez vous for my art history class on Impressionism and Surrealism at Musée Marmottan Monet. The museum’s collection was donated by Claude Monet’s son and sole heir, Michel Monet, when he died in 1966. The collection encompasses a large array of works Monet painted towards the end of his life, particularly those inspired by his home in Giverny.
19h — Following my class visit, I met up with some friends to try Paris’ nfamous steak frites restaurant, Le Relais de Venise de l’Entrecôte. There re multiple locations across the world and in Paris, but we went to the original location in the 17th arr. Because we were a bigger group of six, we arrived shortly after the restaurant opened to skip waiting in line as the restaurant is strictly first come first serve. Le Relais de Venise e l’Entrecôte is known for its simple yet iconic menu: steak frites served with their signature secret sauce.
23h — After a quick shower and nap, my friends and I hung out in our apartment and prepared to head to the club, Boumboum for fun night out before people depart for the weekend.
For anyone who is looking to study abroad, but unsure of which city to choose, I could not recommend Paris enough!
LIVING LADOLCE
A DAY ABROAD IN FLORENCE
CATE WACHHOLZ ‘26
Ciao from Italy! I’m Cate, and this fall semester I have the opportunity to be studying abroad in Florence, Italy. As an art, fashion, and pasta lover, Florence is the perfect city for me. It is big enough to always find something new around each corner, but quiet enough to not be overwhelming. I am a Business Journalism major and Studio Art minor, so I chose to study at Lorenzo de Medici University through API’s business, art, and humanities program. I am taking five classes, Elementary Italian, Fashion Marketing, International Marketing, Basic Printmaking, and a politics class called Beyond Modern Capitalism. Follow me around Florence for a typical weekday in my life exploring the city and attendingclasses!
8:00 AM: Wake up in my apartment which I share with three of my friends from W&L. I get dressed for class and grab something quick to eat.
8:30 AM: My roommates and I walk to our Italian classes which are a 20 minute walk from our apartment across Florence. We usually stop for a quick coffee at one of the many coffee bars on the way if we have enough time.
9:00 AM: I arrive at my Italian class which I take twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Today we went on a field trip to the Mercato Centrale, an indoor food market with local vendors and food stalls. Our class did a scavenger hunt around the market and practiced our Italian. We are learning how to order in restaurants right now!
10:15 AM: After Italian, me and some friends like to go get an early lunch at one of our favorite cafés. Today we went to, Ditta Argitianale, they have the best iced lattés! We eat and do some work before our next classes.
12:00 PM: My next class is Fashion Marketing which is a 2 and a half hour class I have once a week on Tuesdays. I head straight to my next class after this.
3:00 PM: My last class for the day is my 2 and a half hour International marketing class where we analyze the marketing strategies of global brands.
5:30 PM: I am finally done with class for the day! But, today I have to attend open studio time for my Wednesday Printmaking class to stay on top of my projects. I work on my project for a bit before walking back to my apartment to get ready for dinner.
8:00 PM: Me and my roommates usually cook ourselves dinner during the week, but today we decided to treat ourselves and go out for dinner! We chose a contemporary Tuscan cuisine restaurant called Babae and the pasta and drinks were delicious!
10:00 PM: Post-dinner gelato (my favorite combo is nocciola (hazelnut) and pistachio) and homework after a eventful day in Florence!
No day in Florence is quite the same and I enjoy discovering new things in the city every day! I have had an amazing time in Florence so far, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the semester holds!
TIMELINE OF THE W&L COLONNADE
The Colonnade – a set of five, red-bricked, white-columned, Neoclassical style buildings – is the prized centerpiece of Washington & Lee’s campus. While the buildings now exist in perfect harmony, it took over a century for this architectural gem – and our overall aesthetic - to truly emerge. Let’s take a glimpse into how the five buildings came to be…
After helping with Thomas Jefferson’s historic Monticello, local architects Jordan and Darst added Washington Hall to what was then Washington College’s campus. They both introduced the college to Classical Revival architecture style and (no pun intended) laid the foundation for the group of buildings which now form the Colonnade. Their temple-front form resembles Jefferson’s design plans for the 1785 state capitol.
1830
Six years passed, and Washington Hall was finally met with a sibling of sorts. The “Lyceum” – now Payne Hall – went up directly south of Washington Hall, and it served the students as an academic building of lecture halls.
A1841
What is now the Colonnade was really starting to evolve. Hyphens (or links) connecting all three buildings were created, unifying the structures. In addition, porticoes were added. This update marked the beginning of the iconic W&L columns that now abound campus.
s Washington College grew, so did its campus. Robinson Hall was built on the northside of Washington Hall. Unlike Payne, Robinson Hall became the primary dormitory for students living on campus. We now know Robinson Hall as Chavis Hall.
LEXIE STONE ‘27
Over a century after Jordan and Darst brought Washington Hall to Lexington, Virginia, the Colonnade was completed with the building of Tucker Hall. The fifth and final structure was built to match Newcomb Hall, and the perfect balance of the campus was completed.
1909
AIn
the Archives
We took a peek into Washington and Lee’s Special Collections, and this is what we found!
fter around 30 years, it was time to finally entirely bring Newcomb into “architectural harmony with the group of academic buildings adjoining it”. The university’s Board of Trustees voted to add a pedimented portico with six white columns.
1881
It took nearly 40 years to add onto the threebuilding structure that made up the colonnade. Newcomb Hall was built on the south side of the Lyceum, and, despite its lack of columns, maintained the stylistic analogy of the other three buildings.
Amongst the important stylistic updates that were made to aid in perfecting the colonnade and differentiating it as one of the nation’s most exemplary pieces of architecture on a college campus were the additions made to Washington Hall. The octagonal cupola – modeled after the Tower of Winds in Athens, Greece – was affixed on top on the building. More importantly, though, was the addition of the George Washington statue, crowning the new cupola. A local cabinetmaker, Matthew Kahle, carved the figure.
Washington and Lee’s first editon of the CALYX was created in 1895.
Washington and Lee costume and makeup class brought “Albert Einstein” to teach a Physics class in the 1970’s.
The earliest known photo of the streets of Lexington was taken by Adam H. Plecker in 1866.
We Tried 5 Cocktails From HARDEN’S
Harden’s opened in Winter 2023 and has been known for its upscale bar food, but what menu. The menu features signature cocktails with Lexington and W&L themes. The menu is divided into four categories named by the owners: the classics, vintage, new kids on the block, and what we drink at home. We tried five different cocktails- three classics and two new kid’s on the block- so you can get a taste of what Harden’s has to offer.
Hendrick’s, muddled cucumber, black pepper, lime, and sea salt, this cocktail is perfect for those who want a refreshing drink without the sweetness. At $12 a drink, it’s a middlepriced drink on the menu, but to me, it’s worth every cent.
is nicely balanced by the tajin rim. If you’re skeptical about trying an exoctic drink, this classic cocktail is a safe bet.
that the sweetness overpowered the hint of lime. If you like a sweet drink, the General is for you.
seemingly sweet components, the lime nicely balanced the sugars and left an overall tropical flavor. But what set this cocktail apart was the egg white froth: the presentation and taste were beautiful.
If you love bananas, this drink is for you. Made with banana bourbon, liquor 43, fino sherry, and saline, this cocktail was super sweet and fruity. Our favorite part was the presentation with the bruleed bananasafe to say we thought the drink looked better than it tasted.
MADS KWASNIK ‘25 & VIC ERNST ‘25
The Appalachian Sage Vision
Lexington’s Most Popular Health Food Spot
Since opening in 2022, Appalachian Sage in the downtown Lexington area has been a town favorite. Providing not only a variety of delicious smoothies, açaí bowls, cold-pressed juices, and loaded toasts, the locally-owned small business has curated a serene interior focused on wellness through crystals, sage, and more. The delicious, fresh, nutritious food, coupled with an expertly-curated environment, makes the business a study and homework hotspot for Washington and Lee students. We conducted an interview with the brains behind the operation, Sarah Littlefair to give you a little more detail about the restaurant:
What first inspired you to open this business?
“There was nothing like it in Lexington. I am super passionate about superfoods, especially cold pressed juice - that’s my jam. I wanted to bring a new vibe to downtown Lexington. You go to any other major college town and you’ll find açaí and smoothies. When students found us, it didn’t take long to grow in popularity, and we love our W&L students… the cadets love us, too, and we weren’t expecting to have such a huge local following the way we do. It’s nice when you’re pleasantly surprised by that.”
How have your first few years open in Lexington been?
“It’s been lots of learning, very busy, and we’ve established a good customer base. Business in a seasonal college/tourist town has its challenges, but we have a super supportive community and local following. Our locals just love us, so I’m grateful for that.”
What would you say are your most popular items, and, in turn, what would you recommend?
“Lexington proper is everyone’s favorite and definitely our most popular— Açaí base, fresh blueberries, sliced strawberries, homemade granola, Peanut butter drizzle, sliced bananas, and a sprinkle of cacao nibs. My favorite is our cold-pressed juice, but it’s hard to pick just one. It’s a great way to get a ton of nutrients in your body with just one shot. I can drink a green juice and get more vegetables in my body than most people would eat in one week. It’s hard to pick a favorite smoothie, too, because we are constantly try to change our variety of smoothies.”
My personal favorite is a build-your-own açaí bowl with sliced strawberries, granola, hemp hearts, and extra peanut butter.
Appalachian Sage is located at 9 East Washington Street, next to ZunZun, and open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Make sure to check them out!
CAROLINE CRUZ ‘25
THE PERFECT FALL DAY IN LEXINGTON
CHARLOTTE HEAD ‘27
Without a doubt, fall in Lexington is the most beautiful time of year. The crisp air, orange and red leaves, and spooky decorations on the charming local houses make me feel like I am either in an episode of Gilmore Girls or Charlie Brown. As someone from New Orleans – a city with two seasons - hot and hotter- I am obsessed with the fall aesthetic in Lexington. So, I have crafted a perfect fall day for everyone to take advantage of the best time of the year.
Coffee in town
Starting off the day, I went to Cupcake heaven to get a classic fall coffee. It’s cozy and charming and the delicious sweet smell is welcoming. They have all of the seasonal flavors, particularly pumpkin spice. However, I just get a classic iced latte.
Bread day
Every other Saturday, Season’s Yield farm hosts “Bread Day” to sell their pastries, coffee, pizza, and tacos. All of their baked goods are fabulous. I got their made-to-order pesto pizza. To make visits to the farm more special, they have chickens, puppies, kittens, live music, and activities for all ages.
Goat Yoga
High Five Farm hosts goat yoga through the W&L Outing Club. At this event, you can be in nature playing with baby goats while being present and mindful with yoga poses. Not a ba-a-a-a-ad way to relieve stress!
Drive in the countryside
One of my favorite activities to do any time of year, but specifically fall, is to go on a drive, listening to my favorite music in the Rockbridge area countryside. I drive aimlessly and take in the beauty of the landscape, farms and animals that live on them.
Hike the back campus/Woods Creek Trail
One of the best ways to get active while appreciating the wonderful autumn weather is taking a long walk on one of the W&L trails. Whether you are at the lookout over the Maury River on the Woods Creek trail or watching sunset near the gazebo in back campus, you can take in the beauty that we call home.
Hulls Drive in
To end this perfect fall day with a punch, go to Hull’s Drive in to watch a spooky movie right from your car. Hull’s is one of the only working drive in movie theaters in the country, so we need to make sure to appreciate this unique opportunity. This fall they are showing Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Hotel Transylvania, and Mama Mia (still a great movie even if it is not a Halloween movie).
GNITING CAMPUS
W&L’S NEWEST PHILANTHROPIC CLUB FIGHTING PEDIACTRIC CANCER
MADS KWASNIK ‘25
At Washington and Lee University, most students love to be involved in as many clubs as they can. From Traveller, the University’s safe ride program, to the General Activities Board (GAB) that brings performing artists to campus, there’s a place for anyone and everyone. While these clubs bring great things to W&L and the Lexington community, some students wanted to think bigger: large-scale, non-profit philanthropy and charity.
In 2023, current juniors Leyti Ndiaye and Cassandra Dalton had an idea: they wanted to bring Four Diamonds, a non-profit chapterbased organization that raises funds for families fighting pediatric cancer, to W&L. After much planning, W&L’s IGNITE chapter was officially created during the winter semester of 2023.
Since Four Diamond’s main chapter is at Penn State, IGNITE has known from the start that their ideas had to be tailored more towards a much smaller, private liberal arts school. Within its first year, IGNITE has done
everything from collaboration with local shops such as Cupcake Heaven, to selling hotdogs at Fraternity events. Their main goal, however, is one that shoots for the stars: forty-thousand dollars by the end of this school year! While this goal might seem lofty for a new organization, the students running IGNITE are up for the challenge.
The club has been working closely with virtually every club, sports team, and academic department to make their dream come true. They constantly are tabling, setting up events of all sizes, and recruiting as many new members as they can. This exciting new club is doing amazing work, and if you’re reading this, you are invited to join them in their fight against pediatric cancer!
Follow IGNITE’s progress on Instagram: ignitewlu
LEAVING A PRINT ON LEXINGTON
“WHAT. A. DAY. UGH! Classes aren’t over and I have SO much work. I just need a brain break.” Did I catch your attention with that stereotypical comment from just another day of a “work hard play hard student”? Well, if I did, you’re in luck!
Seems like PAWS TO CONNECT has got you covered. Locals bringing their dogs so students can take a mental break from their work and boost their serotonin? How awesome. Sounds like the best thing ever to me- and it is! Located right outside of Grace Episcopal Church is the Lexington community’s way of providing students with the opportunity to take a break and pet some pups. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30am- 1:30pm, the friendliest people and their dogs gather at the church steps waiting for students to come socialize and take a much-needed mental break.
After asking sophomore Kelsie Meeker what she thought about the event, she stated, “I completely forgot about Paws to Connect until walking past it the other day. After revisiting the church steps recently, I was immediately greeted by a local woman handing out cookies, a smile, and pets for her dog. It was such a stress reliever and was so amazing. I hope dog lovers begin interacting with these locals and sweet dogs more. They’re seriously such great people for caring so much about students’ and their mental health.” Well, it seems like a catch to me. What a better way to spend your class transition than going to pet some dogs? While you’re there, make sure to chat with the people who take care of these sweet pups, they’re pretty awesome too! (Look out for Nelly and her owner- they’re there almost every event day rain or shine.)
Generals! Let’s get out of Leyburn for a few minutes and take advantage of what our incredible community has to offer for us.
FARM FRESH FINDS
The Lexington Farmers’ Market is a lively community hub located in downtown Lexington. Every Wednesday from 8 am to 12:30 pm, the large lot on N. Jefferson Street is transformed into a market, set up with tents showcasing the vendors’ goods. Various farmers and vendors from neighboring areas come to showcase their goods to the community. You can find anything from almond croissants to blueberry wood walking sticks, each tent offering something unique.
I visited the market for the first time earlier this fall. The variety of fresh produce, pastries, and handcrafted pieces have successfully enticed me to come back every Wednesday since then. Little Hat Creek Farm, Blueberry Hill, Sensorium Herbals, Shooting Star Acres, and Twista J Farm are just some of the many farms and vendors showcased at the market.
One of the highlights of my visit was speaking with some of the vendors. I spoke with Ben Stowe who owns Little Hat Creek Farm located in Roseland, VA. The stand displayed a rainbow of fresh produce and shelves of unique croissants and sourdough (the chocolate
on the weekends. He finds that there are more regular customers during the week compared to the weekend. “I love the inconsistency of farmers’ markets, versus the predictability of wholesale,” he said. Community is a big focus for him and his wife and co-owner, Heather Coiner. Ben said they love the atmosphere of the Lexington farmers market as they are able to create connections with the regular customers, seeing them every Wednesday to pick up their groceries. The market began accepting pre-orders for pick-up, however, I recommend making time to explore the market. Just a short walk from campus, it is such an accessible and delicious way to support the Lexington community.
DISPLAYING 75 YEARS OF
MADELYN VENABLE ‘25
Walking down the spiral staircase from the main floor of Leyburn Library to level one, you will find shades of teal and orange adorn the walls of an interactive display outside of Special Collections. Years of literature from books to poems line the walls demonstrating the transition of literature overtime. From historical poems to more contemporary works, all of them have been published over the span of 75 years in Washington and Lee’s Literary Magazine, Shenandoah.
The horse-shoe shaped display invites viewers to meander through the timeline of Shenandoah and celebrate the magazine’s 75 years of publishing. By highlighting significant historical contributions from its establishment in 1950, it walks viewers through to the modern, contemporary version of the magazine today.
Three W&L students, Nora Jacobson ’26, Sloan Criner ’25 and Malachi Zarahn ’28 created the display as summer interns for the magazine working alongside Shenandoah’s Editor Beth Staples to create an interactive, eye-catching and inclusive exhibit. The hope of the display is not only to celebrate the magazine but inform students about its presences on campus.
“Shenandoah is really well known in the literary world and just not well known on campus,” said Staples. “To me it’s like impossible to walk through this exhibit and be like, ‘What! Like we publish Langston Hughes, we published William Faulkner, and this is here.”
Shenandoah started as a student-run literary magazine in 1950 before turning into a professional publication when W&L faculty member, James Boatwright, became editor in 1962. Today, the magazine continues to be led by faculty members within the English department; however, students still work for the magazine and are essential to the process of the magazine’s publication.
Students can be involved in Shenandoah by registering for English 453 – Literary Editing Internship with Shenandoah. The three-credit course, open to students of all majors involves students in the review, evaluation and editing process of literary publishing allowing, them to gain hands-on, professional experience.
“It’s really rare for undergrads to get this kind of editorial opportunity. They’re often housed in an MFA program so it’s graduate students who work on them, so it’s unique. We might be one of the only,” said Staples.
The display introduces the viewer to the magazine by sharing its mission and values and highlights its role in the literary world alongside two original Shenandoah Magazine covers from Special Collection’s archives then leads you to a case highlight significant documents and correspondence.
Jacobson said she spent hours over the Summer in Special collections going through previous correspondents to pull out the most notable editor notes and submissions.
The correspondents and editor notes feature notable literary figures published by the magazine such as American poet and novelists Langston Hughes, American poet Mary Oliver, American Poet and playwright E.E. Cunningham and Lord of the Rings author J
R.R. Tolkien works to highlight the expansiveness of the magazine and its authority within the early literary world.
“We created a flow through of the exhibit. You start with the historical and move to more of the contemporary efforts of Shenandoah and how we’ve changed our mindset and how our priorities have changed over time to include a more diverse perspective and we’re really trying to broaden the scope of the magazine,” said Jacobson.
The next display connects the history of the magazine to the present function by timelining the editors and contributors from the start of the magazine to now. It’s feature piece—an original typewriter from an early editor and founder, Tom Wolfe, which includes his last working document he left in the typewriter when he passed away.
Throughout the display you will find broad sides of poems published in Shenandoah throughout the years with chosen pieces of accompanying art to represent Shenandoah’s expansion into the arts with publications of comics and original, art pieces published as the magazine’s cover.
This exhibit then moves to the contributor bookshelf featuring more notable modern contributors to the magazine including W&L alum, Rebecca Makkai ’99, who was a former intern and now a published author reviewed by Publishers Weekly and Vogue.
The most interactive feature of the exhibit is the wall of fame noting 20 of Shenandoah’s most prolific contributors. Zarahn, who lead the creation of the interactive wall, said wall of fame is an interactive element that makes the display more inclusive for all-ages with the lower Q&A panels set at height for children interaction. The interactive wooden question and answer panels were created through collaboration with the IQ center.
Finally, the exhibit brings you to the most current version of the magazine as it exists now. Spotlighting current master heads and showing how the magazine has expanded to include a comic and translation section as well as a yearly editorial fellowship.
“I’ve been choosing stuff for literary magazines for over 20 years, so to turn that over to someone else and let them share in that excitement has been very gratifying to me professionally,” said Staples when asked about the Editorial Fellowship.
Staples, Jacobson and Criner all said that the creation of the exhibit has been a very collaborative process across locations and communication mediums. They said that without the support of Special Collections, the IQ Center, W&L Museum, Reeves Center and so many more communities of the W&L community that the exhibit would not have been possible.
Staples looks to have the official launch of the exhibit in the winter of 2025 as a celebration of the internship. Staples said the students enrolled in the class will plan the celebration with emphasizes on thanking the students’ role in the magazine’s publication process.
A New Home For
Season's Yield
CLAIRE DICHIARO ‘26
We all know and love Season’s Yield. Soon there will be even more to love with its newest location on Main Street in downtown Lexington. The coffee and pastry shop has enjoyed a partnership with Haywood’s since 2022, but now plans to occupy 116 N. Main St., just across the street from W&L and near Pure Eats and Rockbridge Music. The building will be shared with local gym Rockbridge Barbell, with a soundproof wall separating the two businesses. Renovations are already underway at the new location, with plans to open in early 2025 according to the Rockbridge Report. As a self-proclaimed Season’s Yield connoisseur, I am excited about this relocation for several reasons.
Now that they aren’t using the same space as Haywood’s, the new location will allow Season’s Yield the possibility of expanding their hours past 2pm. As a fan of afternoon coffee breaks between classes, this is an exciting prospect. One of my friends loves to do work for hours at a time at Season’s Yield, calling them her “office hours.” I hope that the new location creates more opportunities for office hours.
I’ll admit, a workout space and a coffee shop aren’t a combination that most people would think to split a building. However, I would venture to say that getting coffee and going to the gym are the two most common activities of W&L students. Therefore, both of these businesses are perfectly tailored to our busy days and schedules.
Situated on the corner of N. Main St. and N. Jefferson St., the new location is also just across the street from campus. Imagine getting out of class and strolling across the Colonnade on a crisp autumn afternoon to grab a lavender vanilla latte at Season’s Yield. It doesn’t get much better than that. It is also closer to Diamond Hill and North Randolph Street, which are popular neighborhoods for W&L seniors renting houses. Additionally, the building is immediately visible when driving into downtown Lexington, meaning there are opportunities to create an eye-catching exterior. I’m personally hoping for a small flower garden.
No matter what surprises the new location has in store, I am sure Season’s Yield will retain the same irresistible charm that drew us all in, and I am so excited for it!
BEHIND THE MIC
A LOOK AT WLUR & STUDENT RADIO
EMORY ECLEBERRY ‘27
Located in Elrod Commons, 91.5 WLUR-FM has been Washington and Lee’s very own broadcast radio station since 1967. Although the station has changed and expanded over the years, the mission is still the same. WLUR is an opportunity for students to get involved with audio production in a creative, self-expressive way.
Steve Cross, WLUR’s station manager, explained it best. He says WLUR is a rare opportunity for students interested in audio production to test the waters, without having to be a positioned employee like you would outside of college. Over 100 students this semester are signed up for air shifts, where they take over WLUR for an hour and use their time in any way they choose whether they play music or talk the whole time.
In addition to the WLUR air shifts, the radio station has podcasting studios and a solo isolation booth, where you can filter out surrounding noise and create high-quality audio recordings. Cameras have also been recently added to branch over into visual media production as well. All this equipment is accessible to students for the creation of any project a student wants to work on. Tune into these student shows this semester!
Tech Tuesdays w/ Tim Johns & Elias Dakhoul (Tue. 9PM - 10PM)
Dedicated to covering current events and concepts within the tech industry and field of computing. Each week has a specific topic and looks at news stories to educate listeners about the tech industry and help them comprehend concepts within the current state of the industry. “WLUR provides a flexible environment for us to discuss whatever we like with a real audience on public radio.” - Tim Johns
Jazz 101 w/ Nolan Rickett (Wed, 8PM - 9PM)
Covers all forms of jazz, beginning with new age jazz fusion, then old age jazz and early jazz fusion, and finally 70s and 80s Japanese jazz fusion. “The diversity in everyone’s music taste and how we are able to express it on the radio.”
-Nolan Rickett
Jams with Cam w/ Camille Gillum (Thur. 11AM - 12PM)
New theme each week (genre, artist spotlight, album deep dive, moods, etc.) Discusses the lyrics, artist, and their music. Favorite genres: indie folk, folk rock, americana, singer-songwriter. “It gives me the opportunity to explore, research music and share my music taste with Lexington. It’s also a fun mental break during the week!”
DJ MK’s Hits of the Golden Age w/ McKenzie Kane (Fri. 7 PM - 8 PM)
60s, 70s, and 80s music with a general theme each show. Some past themes include stadium anthems, rock & roll power hour, and the best of the ‘bad’ songs (songs with bad in the title). Goal for the show is to showcase hits college students missed out on growing up.
LEXINGTON RUNNING
This trail is shady, peaceful, and relatively flat. If you run the trail end to end, it’s about two miles, so it’s perfect for shorter runs. Woods Creek Trail is also a great way to reach neighborhoods or the Chessie Trail, especially for students living on campus without cars.
Seriously. Do not overlook the trails right in our backyard! Back campus trails are beautiful and vast; you can make up a decent amount of mileage exploring these trails, as long as you’re up for some rolling hills. You can access back campus trails in several spots, like behind the Outing Club Pavilion or behind the ruins on East Denny Circle. Look at a map of the trails on the Outing Club’s website, or just lace up your shoes, take random turns, and explore.
Enjoy Lexington’s cute homes by running through the neighborhoods surrounding downtown. This can be a very short run or a longer run. Access the neighborhoods via Woods Creek Trail or by simply running through downtown. No exact route is best- just see where the streets take you!
WOODS CREEK TRAIL (1-4 miles)
BACK CAMPUS TRAILS (1-5 miles)
LEXINGTON NEIGHBORHOODS (1-6 miles)
ANNIE WHITMAN ‘27
RUNNING ROUTES
Fall weather and running were made for each other. Lexington is a runner’s wonderland with its calm neighborhoods, shady trails, and picturesque streets which reach peak delightfulness in the autumn. If you’re directionally challenged like me, figuring out where to run can be a pain. Whether you’re tired of your daily loop or don’t even know where to start, Lexington has a route for you.
PAST POLE HOUSES (4-9 miles)
This is a peaceful, windy, relatively flat run. Either run to Furrs Mill Road from campus (just like you would to get to the Chessie) or park in the Chessie’s parking lot and run back to Furrs Mill Road from there. Then just keep running down Furrs Mill Road as far as your heart desires, enjoying the river and mountain views.
Of course. The Chessie Trail is perfect for long runs, spanning 7 miles from Lexington to Buena Vista. The Chessie runs along the Maury River, cow pastures, and flower fields. It’s also perfectly flat. There are multiple parking lots along the trail to access it, or you can run there from campus via Woods Creek Trail, then run across Route 11’s sidewalk bridge, turn left and immediately access the trail from there.
WEST NELSON STREET TO ROUTE US-60 (4+ miles)
This route is for folks who like running on the road; it can be as long or as short as you want. Run up West Nelson Street and keep running: eventually it turns into West Midland Trail (Route US-60) past third year parking, and this road goes on forever. It’s a beautiful run with gentle rolling hills. It’s not incredibly busy, but the road is not wide so be careful of cars!
THE CHESSIE TRAIL (4-15 miles)
John