If W&L has a “designated driver scholarship”, then there may be an opening for OP’s son. Otherwise, if not interested in Greek organizations & drinking, look elsewhere.
If interested in a college where drinking isn’t widespread, well there’s nowhere.
@coreyfromchelsea it is a charming and lovely school–I think like everywhere else there are a majority of welcoming people, and a small contingent who are narrow-minded. I believe the school newspaper is called the Ring-Tum Phi–you will find that to be a great resource to see what the kids are writing–and I believe in the spring they have “Sex Week” which is hosted by a student group which is inclusive towards EVERYONE and their individuality.
The Spectator is a conservative publication for sure. The Ring Tum Phi is the student newspaper which may appear more balanced and representative.
That’s a good point. I suppose it depends on how they are counting Greek participation: does 75% represent the number who do participate at some point while at the school, or is it a snapshot of any given time? If it’s a snapshot, and it’s during the fall (when freshmen would have no official involvement, I think…), that would basically mean that 100% of sophs through seniors would be Greek. That can’t be right, can it?
Maybe the snapshot is during the spring, and maybe frosh can rush in the spring. (?)
Anybody find another college where greek life participation exceeds W&L’s yet? 
Only DePauw University & Sewanee–University of the South come close.
Wow thank you all, yes we have some strong opinions here but also lots of good insights. I appreciate the other recommendation of schools that are “less Greek” and those are already on our list, thank you. I think it would be useful here to perhaps separate the issues of “Greek” and “drinking.” (Assuming that that would be a a valuable exercise and that the two are not inseparable). As a non drinker, junior in HS my son I believe just has an image that “fraternity=heavy partying.” Reflecting further, I do not believe he is anti-Greek, at all. If there are places within the Greek system at W&L where nondrinkers can fit in, that’s good to hear, and I believe I read several examples in this thread. Is it true to say that schools with these high Greek percentages have more variations (when it comes to partying, drinking, types of fraternities) than perhaps other schools where Greek=drinking and that’s that? (and by the way I don’t his stance on drinking changing majorly as it’s not like he isn’t around drinkers now in HS, but yes it could change. But he’s not a sheltered kid who will be experiencing drinking/partying for the first time when he goes to college. He is actively choosing not to do it and socializing with like minded friends.
Thanks all!
“But he’s not a sheltered kid who will be experiencing drinking/partying for the first time when he goes to college. He is actively choosing not to do it and socializing with like minded friends.” @TS0104
I did occasionally drink in college, and I had MANY friends exactly like your son. I do think that the University has taken steps to help reduce drinking culture on campus, and I do believe that there is a place for students who believe similarly to your son.
My own D has had a pretty sheltered life by choice so far. She attends a school where her mom teaches, and dances full time at a pre-professional dance studio where unhealthy choices would be VERY frowned upon. She has indicated that she will not choose a substance free dorm or hall, and I trust her to exercise the same kind of diligence and discretion that she has always shown.
As a teacher, I know a lot about what my former students do at university, and I don’t think that W&L has the market cornered on drinking or frat culture by any stretch. At all.
Of the fraternities at W&L (https://www.wlu.edu/student-life/student-activities/greek-life/greek-organizations/fraternities), at least one (Phi Delta Theta) has a national alcohol-free policy: https://www.phideltatheta.org/about/policies/