Washington and Lee University Family Connections Newsletter, February 2021

To:

Woodson, Mary

Family Connection: February 2021 Last month, Washington and Lee University introduced this new publication

designed to communicate the latest news for W&L parents and families. W&L Family Connection will be distributed each month and will complement other university

channels to help keep parents and families informed about life on campus. Please send your suggestions for future issues to families@wlu.edu.

Communicating with Students – and You By Sidney Evans, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students I'm pleased we have launched this new publication for parents and families of our undergraduate students. It provides a

unique overview of the many different activities taking place on campus. Some parents have asked me why so much of

the university's communication occurs directly with students.

Primarily, it's for educational and developmental reasons. We

want students to become responsible for managing their email, reading information

carefully, making note of deadlines, communicating directly with people they may not know, learning to ask questions, and other related behaviors. These are crucial skills to apply both inside and outside the classroom, and we know they're important to

employers. We understand your desire for information and certainty during uncertain Page 1 of 8 times, and we encourage parents to ask their children about what information they're

receiving from the university. That, too, can be an integral part of a student's learning experience as those conversations unfold and as parents understand how their child is processing and managing these messages. We appreciate your partnership in

helping our students grow into their responsibilities and become more self-reliant.

Ashley Shugart '22, Ana Estrada '22 and Lane Johansen '22 have a snowball ﬁght on the Front Lawn.

Scene on Campus: 02.04.2021 Every week during the academic year, university photographers Kevin Remington

and Shelby Mack capture the scene on campus through their lenses. In this recent edition: a robust return to class and snow on campus! View SOC

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Feature Stories International Students Bond Over Unusual Term

At the start of the academic year, 17 ﬁrst-year international students began their W&L experience in Scotland. Today, they are taking courses in Lexington as a unique group of friends.

A Taste of China

When her Critical Language Scholarship to China went virtual because of COVID, Maria Kisker '21 got a six-week sampler of the country and its language through her computer screen.

W&L Introduces Minor in Religion

The new religion minor requires completion of six courses and complements any major.

‘Abundantly Thankful’ in Austria

Despite COVID-19, Jared Nickodem '20 was able to make it to Austria, where he is teaching English to students as part of the U.S. Teaching Assistant Program.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program Celebrates 20 Years

The WGSS Program is celebrating the milestone with a series of events that include a ﬁlm screening, art exhibits and panel discussions.

A Center for Positive Change

W&L’s Ofﬁce of Inclusion and Engagement is expanding, reaching an unprecedented number of people with its programming.

Featured Events Page 3 of 8

Featured Events W&L Hosts First-Year Activity Day

The all-day event was facilitated by upper-division student volunteers.

Celebrating Black History Month

W&L presents a monthlong schedule of events celebrating Black History Month.

Contact Committee Hosts Molly Bloom for Virtual Event

The Feb. 11 conversation with Bloom was open to the W&L community.

W&L Hosts Interview with Ty Seidule ’84

Seidule discussed his new book, "Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause.”

Sociology and Anthropology Department Presents Lecture Series

The department is collaborating with the Environmental Studies Program to present a new social justice series titled “White Supremacy and Society.”

Additional Events - registration details communicated to students Campﬁre with President Dudley Pavilion, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Want to sit around a nice ﬁre and have a down-to-Earth conversation with President Dudley? This is your chance! Bring a Crazy Creek/camp chair, mask up, and meet at the back campus pavilion.

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The department is collaborating with the Environmental Studies Program to present a new social justice series titled “White Supremacy and Society.”

Additional Events - registration details communicated to students Campﬁre with President Dudley Pavilion, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Want to sit around a nice ﬁre and have a down-to-Earth conversation with President Dudley? This is your chance! Bring a Crazy Creek/camp chair, mask up, and meet at the back campus pavilion.

Ebony Stewart - Spoken Word Artist Virtual Event, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Ebony Stewart is an international touring poet and performance artist.

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Queer Theology: A Discussion on LGBTQ+ Experiences with Religion. Virtual Event, 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Read more on The Columns

Foundations of Career Development Series: Networking and LinkedIn Virtual Event, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Join Kelley Melvin ‘08, Career Advisor in Career and Professional Development, for a program about best practices for networking and utilizing tools such as LinkedIn.

Artist's Lecture: William Ransom: Solastalgia: "On Hold" Virtual Event, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Read more on The Columns

A Discussion with Reporter David Fahrenthold Virtual Event, 5:30 p.m. Read more on The Columns

Events and Happenings

Program Spotlight: The Office of Inclusion and Engagement The Ofﬁce of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE) supports

Events and Happenings

Program Spotlight: The Office of Inclusion and Engagement The Ofﬁce of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE) supports

Washington and Lee University's mission by striving to foster a culture in which all community members feel entirely

welcome and able to participate in everything the university has to offer. The primary goals of OIE are creating and

maintaining a safe and supportive atmosphere for students as

they integrate into the university's educational, cultural and social environment. Toward this end, OIE develops programs that explore, promote and celebrate the increasingly diverse backgrounds of our students, faculty and staff.

At W&L, Tamara Futrell, dean for diversity, inclusion and student engagement, and the OIE staff seek to foster harmonious relationships by providing opportunities for

the campus community to enhance its knowledge about diversity and social justice issues.