<p>Stupid freshmen....</p>
<p>I blame the American culture that makes alcohol so taboo that when an 18 year old goes off to college and has all the alcohol s/he wants at his/her disposal, drinking responsibly and knowing limits is not to be expected. You wouldn't see this in Europe.</p>
<p>Lol, wow, I beg to differ-- I think it just happens there when kids are younger. The legal drinking age still coincides with the age when kids typically move out of the house in Europe. I pretty much think that there's always going to be a group of kids who want to feel their oats and push their limits once they move out, no matter where they grow up. There will always be a wild crowd no matter where you go. The thing I noticed about W&L was that the anti-drinking culture was noticeably strong there, as well, simply because kids came there anticipating a huge amount of pressure to drink. My host and many of her friends were non-drinkers, and they put together social events that went on at the same time as the frat parties to give people an alternative. I thought non-drinkers at W&L were quite vocal-- they might be in the minority, but those who don't feel comfortable drinking definitely had options from what I saw.</p>
<p>~*~</p>
<p>... I want to be able to drink, and do lots of stuff that doesn't necessarily involve alcohol as well. For example, I hear they have some fun stuff like standup comedy going on in the commons every weekend... I would like to try my hand at that, and I hope most people feel the same way. I don't want the drinkers and non-drinkers to be totally segregated!</p>
<p>KARAOKE!!!! That was the most memorable part of W&L for me, doing New York, New York and then I Will Survive with Leslie as one of my student interviewers walked by.</p>
<p>Although we did visit a frat party which had alcohol right after.</p>
<p>Actually, during my admissions interviewer the next day: "well I know what Dima was doing last night, singing, how about you two?"</p>
<p>hey everyone, i am one of the few lexingtonians who dared to apply to w&l and get accepted, and on the topic of alcohol....living in lexington i know first-hand that w&l students love to party. i've also heard that the school is trying to crack down on the students' notorious festivities (5th best party school) because of the many alcohol-related deaths. However, after talking with some profs and admissions persons i've learned that the school is actually thinking that the drinking rules will hurt the kids more than help them. if the rules on campus are too strict, they will just go driving out into the county (and there are MANY windy, dangerous roads here) to find a place where they can 'safetly' drink. Most of the deaths have occured from students driving drunk out in the county somewhere. so i wouldn't worry about it too much...if u come to w&l u won't have a problem finding alcohol :)</p>
<p>I don't understand why some schools just get their head handed to them when drinking comes up. I went to Princeton, a school that rarely gets lambasted for this sort of thing, and visited it for a Saturday night. Absolutely insane. Free beer, free wine, free shots, free ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, on dorms, in eating houses. And all you need to get in is a student ID (even though over 50% of the students are under 21). I was lent one, and all people do is just straight up drink. People were drinking so much that they were totally housed at 9:30 PM. And yet, you never hear about this sort of thing at this college. You always hear about it at whatever college seems to have a lot of fraternities. I think that's the problem; people instantly associate fraternities with liquor, liquor, liquor. As in, you go to a fraternity to drink (that is the popular conception). I am sure that this is not the case, however; but as Washington and Lee is THE fraternity school, I would come to expect that they, naturally, would be the first attacked in any anti-drinking crusade.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I'm pretty confident that as long as you don't go to Brigham Young or Pomona, you'll be able to find alcohol without getting arrested.</p>
<p>That's just my opinion, though. I could be horribly wrong.</p>
<p>Yeah, W&L seems to have this huge rep for drinking but I doubt there is any more drinking on this campus than most of the schools in the country. I was reading the Trident online and it seems so many people have an issue with the new drinking policy, and this policy seems kind of dumb, if parties are still going to happen why not let them happen in a place where people don<code>t have to drive home. Oh well, I</code>m sure there will be ways around that issue.</p>
<p>The new policy is simply to enforce campus, local and state laws, nothing more. The school really has no choice or it will get sued. It actually has very liberal alcohol policies, they let it flow at fraternities and leave it up to the fraternity organization things to punish frats for serving to underage students, they don't go after the students themselves as much.</p>
<p>Also, as for driving drunk, W&L students seem to be very aware of that possibility. The Wednesday of the Honors Scholarship Competition, there were two frat parties going on. The first, which was the one I went to, was at a house right next to campus, and the second, sigma alpha epsilon if I remember correctly, was at an off-campus house but they had pledges (including my host) spend the night driving people back and forth, so no one who got drunk drove back.</p>
<p>I wasn't trying to say people were driving drunk, I just thought the new policy was interesting and I didn`t really like the idea of just moving all the parties out into the country, anyways all I know is what I read on the Trident and I have no idea if I am accurately informed or not.</p>
<p>i agree that there isnt much to worry about. atleast, i hope not. haha. someone earlier in the forum mentioned that w&l could be trying to faze out the greek system. that can't be true! the sorority houses are only like 5 or 6 years old. and isnt like atleast 60% involved in it? i would think that w&l would take pride in their frat boys. i would bet a hundred dollars that all the students who win all the awards and leadership roles are involved in a sorority or frat. they also host a halloween carnival fo the local kids. ya they drink. so what? im sure the students are just **<strong><em>ing through the paper. my high school enforced new rules too involving alcohol and the entire first issue of our paper was dedicated to the new drinking laws and the new headmaster's view on it, blah blah blah. in my opinion, the drinking age is retarded. i can understand not wanting kids to drink in high school, but when they are out on there own... idk, its just retarded. my friend almost wrote her thesis on it. anway, just *</em></strong>*ing</p>
<p>hahaha that is so funny they * my language... sorry about that</p>
<p>Thank MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), they got the drinking age raised from 18 to 21. We could havea a whole debate about the issue but that's not the point here.</p>
<p>Anyway, W&L IS very proud of it's Greek system and gives them a lot of independence and lets them enforce their own rules. In that way it is a truly Southern school. </p>
<p>"So, what has and has not changed?</p>
<p>First, the University continues to support a strong, responsible, and vibrant Greek system. It is an integral part of the university and there is absolutely no intent, by me or by the Board to eliminate its important role in student life. I am on record in numerous speeches, publications, and conversations with that position.</p>
<p>Second, there are no new rules governing alcohol (and drug) use on campus. "</p>
<p>(Letter from President Thomas G. Burish)</p>
<p>"i would think that w&l would take pride in their frat boys. i would bet a hundred dollars that all the students who win all the awards and leadership roles are involved in a sorority or frat."</p>
<p>Gamma Delta Iota forever :D
You'd lose that money. I know some amazing indies...there are more of us this year than usual. For one thing, at least a few of the freshman guys that have taken active leadership roles are indies...</p>
<p>Sorry, had to plug for my GDIs. :D</p>
<p>W&L loves having students run their own affairs - from the Honour System to the frat houses, and the Powell Lecture Series. Very little oversight from the administration.</p>
<p>Designated drivers - I think alot of the frats and others as well do use a DD - heck - when I was there for Fancy Dress - I was even the designated driver so sonny boy could party with his PKA pals - had a van - just loaded it up and the taxie made the rounds - I really had a great time - was even treated to dinner by the bros - so was all worth it lol.</p>
<p>Hey everyone.</p>
<p>As a freshman at W&L, member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, and member of the Freshman Leadership Council, I'll provide some clarification on some issues. </p>
<p>The threads that "Rakem" has provided are fairly accurate, but really are limited to the point of view of a non-drinker (although there is nothing wrong with not drinking). His points and bias towards GDI's are a little off...something the end of this reply will address.</p>
<p>I never drank until college, but since entering W&L have joined a fraternity and experienced many crazy nights. I personally have seen a change in the party atmosphere at W&L, but it has not been as drastic as many say. The wristband policy is strictly enforced on some nights, but other nights it's as if no fuss about alcohol had ever occurred.</p>
<p>"Rakem" mentioned that the frat scene and party atmophere were "tired" (this is from an early post). I must say that while there are times you wish the party scene wasn't so dominant, you will truly appreciate the fact that W&L is such a social place--whether you choose to drink, or not.</p>
<p>However, I will provide a small warning. The average freshman fall term gpa is about a 2.8/2.9. I fell prey to "overpartying" and wound up with a 2.83 in the fall. The frat system is not all that bad, though. Pledgeship brought me up to a 3.5 gpa (dean's list). I'm just trying to suggest that all of you incoming freshmen have a blast at this awesome school...but keep in mind that getting drunk the night before a test isn't always the best idea--something I found out the hard way. At the same time...I'm definitely not promoting all-out sobriety (let's all get drunk and have some fun, kids!).</p>
<p>Ok, so take that last comment for what it's worth. To all accepted students: have fun in the fall, but study hard when you aren't. The frat system is not dying--far from it (in response to something I saw in an earlier post). Good luck to all, and have an awesome summer break. (Oh...Pi Kappa Alpha throws a sick party...by the way...)</p>
<p>(By the way Rakem...I'd say the balance between Greek and non-greeks in leadership roles would go to the Greeks...ESPECIALLY for women. GDI's probably have a tenth of a point edge as far as GPA goes, but I'm pretty impartial and have many GDI friends at W&L...so this is not meant to incite any sort of Greek/non-greek animosity. Do we know each other...btw?)</p>
<p>whoa...jeepmom...your son is a Pika??? I didn't catch that above post until now. Who would he be?</p>
<p>Hi Persona - yuppers - my son is a PIKA!! Guess that makes me a PKA MOM lol..... anyways - his first name is Jesup - but he graduated in 2000 from W&L - lived in the house his sophmore and senior years - He ALWAYS goes back for alum weekend - won't miss it. At the time it had quite a few swimmers in the house - a fantastic group of guys there - we will be seeing a bunch of them in a couple of months here as he is getting married and his best PKA buds will be here. Is Jesse still the cook??? and who is the house mom these days - the one there then was a real hoot!!! to say the least!! And yes I agree with your post about the 1st semester and pledging/partying and GPA - your story is a familiar one - the same happened to him also - once pledged tho - it was a different story - and he was off and running. AND yes PKA does know how to party!!! Our family had a great experience with the PKA house at W&L - always a great crew around and lots of fun - yes - we got to party with them too lol. We have great memories of PKA and W&L.</p>
<p>Lots and lots of sober drivers - Traveller is the safe ride van and most parties have sober drivers (who, by the way, get paid... not a bad way to pick up some money here and there).</p>
<p>Wow, JeepMOM, congratulations on your son's engagement.</p>