W&L tragedy

Colleges & Universities Washington & Lee University
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<p>[Washington</a> and Lee University student killed in early-morning wreck; driver charged with DUI | Local News - Home](<a href=“http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/washington-and-lee-university-student-killed-in-earlymorning-wreck/-/20128466/23259108/-/11ivebs/-/index.html]Washington”>http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/washington-and-lee-university-student-killed-in-earlymorning-wreck/-/20128466/23259108/-/11ivebs/-/index.html)</p>

<p>When will W&L build more upper class on-campus dorms so students can live on campus, and hopefully avoid this kind of tragedy?</p>

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<p>Off-campus living is part of the fabric of student life at W&L and won’t go away, especially because most off campus living options are cheaper than any on-campus options currently (and probably will be w/ the addition of upper class housing).</p>

<p>Off-campus (and in the country) partying will continue to go on regardless of more available on-campus housing. What happened is a tragedy, but blame it on drunk driving not housing. There is no way you can say that this would not have happened if more students lived on campus.</p>

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<p>Drunk driver, 10 people in a 7-passenger car. You really can’t blame this one on a housing issue.</p>

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<p>Agreed. The kids were actually returning to town from a frat party in the country. Even if they do create more on-campus housing, they will continue to throw parties off campus. The question is how to convince frats to enforce a designated driver system that actually works. They say they do this, but obviously there are big problems with it. I know of one other incident this fall in which students were injured returning home from a country party in an over-crowded car with a supposedly sober driver.</p>

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<p>The university is moving toward requiring students to live on campus for three years and will build a “Junior Village” to provide additional campus housing. </p>

<p>In general, the Traveller sober ride system works, although it can be difficult to get on a crowded bus. The party last night was held well away from the area served by Traveller. The real problem was the combination of a road that is hazardous under the best of conditions, a drunk driver, and passengers sitting unbelted on the laps of other (presumably belted) passengers.</p>

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<p>^^Traveller doesn’t run on Mondays and doesn’t go out to where this party took place. I know Traveller doesn’t run during exam week and organized parties are forbidden during exam week, but not sure about last week of class. I do know that the big Christmas parties were held before Thanksgiving this year.</p>

<p>My D is senior and there was a similar occurrence her freshman year. </p>

<p>I agree that more kids on campus wouldn’t help this (and I’m a big fan of more on-campus housing options). Students would not be allowed to throw large parties on campus and these parties would still be held by older students with off campus houses.</p>

<p>It’s very sad and hard on all the students. There were several students seriously hurt - one that might be paralyzed and one with potential brain damage (early report from what students are hearing). Hopefully these injuries turn out to not be as severe as feared.</p>

<p>I feel for the students and those parents who got those horrible phone calls.</p>

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<p>Small correction. Traveller Dispatch, the van service, does run on Mondays, however you are correct in saying that it wouldn’t have serviced the house the students were returning from. Parties are permitted the last week of class.</p>

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<p>The moral of this for W&L students is, ultimately, don’t trust people who say they’re sober if you’re not 100% sure, even “assigned” frat sober drivers. Stay overnight in the house if you have to. Just don’t get in the car.</p>

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<p>The moral of the story is—the school and all parents need to do more to put a stop to underage drinking and getting drunk even after you are off age. The current policy is too soft. Parents are way to tolerant of drinking. If you don’t drink, then you won’t drive drunk. Period. </p>

<p>Implementation of a one strike rule of some sort would be a great start. Example. Any type of legal infraction related to drugs or alcohol gets automatic suspension for one semester, loss of automobile privileges on campus for remainder of time at W&L, loss of scholarships, permanently kicked off of athletic teams, etc. Make the penalties harsh and it will cause many to reconsider the consequences of drinking and drugs. </p>

<p>The cop out line that it is all a part of the college coming of age is ridiculous. That young girl did not have to die. Drinking is a big, big problem. We need to stop glorifying alcohol and being so tolerant of underage drinking. It is not a right of passage. It is illegal. It is dangerous. It costs far too many lives. </p>

<p>Prayers to the families of the injured kids.</p>

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<p>Sadly, these traffic accident deaths happen at W&L (and MANY other schools) now and then. Some are results of drinking and driving drunk, which simply needs to stop. </p>

<p>Others however, have happened on the surrounding interstates and roads in general student travel. On campus housing will not stop much of anything relating to this I’m afraid. You can’t cocoon kids forever. Road conditions, traffic volume, speed and other factors come into play, including the relative inexperience of 18 - 22 year old drivers I’m afraid. As a parent, you simply hold your breath when sending children off to college and pray for their safety daily. My thoughts are with all these families in this difficult time.</p>

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<p>@wlpoppa and others,</p>

<p>As a current W&L student and best friend of some of the people involved, I can say that the entire student body is torn to pieces by yesterday’s events. This is a truly special community, and I think you would struggle to find another student body that is so interconnected and so compassionate about each other. Regardless of our differences, we were all W&L students with Kelsey, and I think every single member of our community is hurting. </p>

<p>Now, to address your concern. We do have a one strike sanction. It’s called the Honor System, and it has been the most integral aspect of Washington & Lee since Robert E. Lee himself instituted it. It is entirely student-run, and there is no “code” of rules. The day we start instituting specific rules and punishments is the day W&L loses every ounce of its uniqueness.</p>

<p>I am passionately against imposing a “one-strike sanction” for drunk driving. Why? Because that’s not what W&L does. I am strongly opposed to driving under the influence, as are most classmates I know. But if our honor system is supposed to work the way it was intended to 150 years ago, we cannot start picking it apart now. I’m sure it goes without saying, but the driver will never step foot in a W&L classroom as a student again. And that will be by the choice of the student-run SJC. </p>

<p>Our system works, and I continue to be frustrated by the negative stereotype W&L gets when it comes to alcohol. If nothing else, this school enrolls brilliant and dedicated students. I have yet to meet a classmate who puts partying before school. You simply cannot do that here. It is a very, very tough university, and it is also very special because it endows students with the utmost of responsibility to make their own choices. </p>

<p>Since I’ve already gone much too far, I’ll just say one last thing. W&L students are independent and intelligent, and we know it. We are probably more self-righteous than the average student body, and this is something we are also well aware of. Childish rules should not be imposed as an attempt to curb events such as Tuesday’s - this is not high school. I am speaking for the entire upperclassmen body when I say I can (and will) live wherever I please. </p>

<p>If the school tries to take that away, they’re shooting themselves in the foot. Anybody who legitimately believes mandatory on-campus housing, or one-strike sanctions, will bring an end to these tragedies is kidding themselves. At the risk of being blunt, you must be some kind of stupid to think any of that would have prevented this event. There are ALWAYS going to be people who break the rules. And FYI - there ARE rules against things like this. It’s not like this was just “ok” and maybe one day a rule is going to change it.</p>

<p>Don’t punish the rest of us because one kid messed up. We’re already being punished enough by the loss of a truly amazing classmate. Take away our rights, and we’ll take away our business.</p>

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<p>I went looking for an account of a UVA party accident and found the following. The account of how an incident in 1982 affected all those involved is poignant:</p>

<p>[COVER-</a> Fatal roll: 1982 fraternity crash still affecting lives | The Hook - Charlottesville’s weekly newspaper, news magazine](<a href=“http://www.readthehook.com/81253/cover-fatal-roll-1982-fraternity-crash-still-affecting-lives]COVER-”>http://www.readthehook.com/81253/cover-fatal-roll-1982-fraternity-crash-still-affecting-lives)</p>

<p>I’m book marking it for my student driver to read.</p>

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<p>generals215</p>

<p>Why would the honor system fail if every student vows not to drink and drive just like every student must not steal, cheat etc under the Honor system? I believe under the Honor code, if someone steals or cheats, they are to pack and leave the school in most cases, so why not those who drink and drive. The effect of drinking and driving is more serious than if a student steals or cheats because things like what happened harm more people in permanent ways.</p>

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<p>This is painfully naive. Luckily Ruscio is a signer on the Amethyst Initiative and alumni would be up in arms about the diminishment of the W&L network when it loses is valuable sociable application base so it will never happen. </p>

<p>Almost everyone that calls for stricter and/or zero tolerance enforcement of underage drinking laws was able to drink when they were 18. It is an unjust, unworkable, and unenforceable law. Colleges and police everywhere know it. Prohibition doesn’t work, and underage drinking laws are prohibition against lawful adults.</p>

<p>What you propose is exactly the opposite of what the school should be doing. When the school is more lenient about drinking in the dorms and more lenient about regulations surrounding fraternity parties on campus it has the added effect of pulling more of the parties and general drinking back under their control. There, security can keep an eye out for dangerous behaviors and students in need of help. </p>

<p>The stricter the school gets the further out into the country it is pushed. No tolerance on MIP arrests? Then we are no longer talking about having a party in town in walking distance from a bus stop, or at Windfall/the Pole Houses because people will be too scared of a cop intervention. Now you’ve pushed it out of the highly centralized student locations where one can walk or ride easily to 95% of student housing and into areas where this house is where the tragedy occurred—outside of police range, but also outside of Traveller range.</p>

<p>The Student Judicial Council DOES, however, have an extremely strict policy regarding DUI’s. Nearly everyone I heard of that got one was suspended for at least one semester. This is where policy needs to be focused: lenient on drinking, heartless on DUI’s. </p>

<p>I do feel like the student body has a short memory when it comes to these crashes and the whole thing is incredibly frustrating. However, knee jerk alcohol policy adjustments are not the right way to go. I think this is the best take on it that I have read:</p>

<p>[The</a> Southard Diaries - Dear W&L Students…](<a href=“http://thesoutharddiaries.■■■■■■■■■■/post/68901600163/dear-w-l-students]The”>http://thesoutharddiaries.■■■■■■■■■■/post/68901600163/dear-w-l-students)</p>

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<p>As we are going through college evaluations with my S, it was absolutely devastating to read about this tragedy. </p>

<p>@general - thank you for your post as we try to get a firmer understanding of the Honor Code. So the student who was driving under the influence will not be allowed to continue as a student? ok
What about any of the other students who were drinking under 21? Isn’t illegal drinking bound by the code? What are the usual consequences for that even when there isn’t driving going on?
I am truly trying to get a grip on this Honor Code system in relation to breaking the law with drinking. Thanks in advance for any clarification.</p>

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<p>Let me see if I’ve got it straight from the youngsters on this thread. </p>

<p>The honor code is almighty and all encompassing at W&L.</p>

<p>Underage drinking is against the law ( we are not talking about a speeding ticket here) and can result in serious injury or death. </p>

<p>Cheating won’t result in death or injury and it is not against the law. </p>

<p>The honor council looks upon cheating in a worse light than underage drinking. </p>

<p>And that should make sense to anyone or they are stupid?</p>

<p>Hmmmm–guess logic classes are not in high demand at W&L.</p>

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<p>@wlpoppa - that’s exactly what I was trying to clarify in my post. Is this really true? This is seriously affecting our impressions about a future school for our S. We realize there is drinking everywhere but a misdirected honor code is bad when the honor code is a core part of the school. Darn it because I just want to love the school but…???</p>

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<p>wlpoppa presents a good argument, and the same thought has occurred to me. I listened to President Ruscio’s speech during Parents’ Weekend, including the portions that addressed upperclass on-campus housing. I understand that traditions are respected at W&L, and that the college years are a time for growth, learning, and socializing. As a college student, I enjoyed living in a sorority and I definitely enjoyed the social atmosphere. But, I attended a campus were everyone lived in big sorority and fraternity houses until graduation, and we walked to and from the parties, which were always held at the fraternity houses. It was a lot of fun, but no one drove. I personally support any move to sanction parties held in fraternity houses. I am the faculty advisor for a chapter of my sorority on another campus, and I’m not buying the argument that an off-campus party culture is necessary to have a great time and network. </p>

<p>The reality is, parents want their college students to be safe, and young adults don’t always make good decisions. This was a tragedy that will have long-standing effects. A precious life was lost, and other lives will be affected for years to come. Criminal charges have been filed and there will be lawsuits…even it it’s just insurance companies suing each other and anyone else they can try to hold responsible to recoup costs. Potential parents will be concerned about sending their children to an environment that they may feel is unsafe after hours. We have found W&L to be wonderfully supportive, rigorous, and fun, all at the same time. But there need to be changes, even though many will find the prospect of change difficult.</p>

<p>My thoughts and prayers are with the W&L community, and the families and friends of the students involved.</p>

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<p>Pray, please pray. My daughter is a Senior at W&L. She is Kelsey’s pledge sister; her parents spent time with us at Windfall every Parents Weekend, as her mother is from Alabama, though they live in Connecticut. Please pray for them. Pray for Kelsey’s brother and all of her family. My daughter drove herself to the party at Hooterville that night and was driven back to Kappa Hill around 1:30 by a sober driver. It could have been her, or any of her friends. Pray for the two girls in the UVA Hospital with fractured spines. Please pray. Pray for the student who pulled the girls from the wreck. Pray for the student who came upon the accident scene just after it occurred and took Kelsey to the hospital in his car. Please pray for them. Pray for the sorority sister that rushed to the Stonewall Jackson Hospital when she heard there had been a bad accident. The ER nurses took her into a side room and asked her to identify someone from the wreck. She assumed it would be someone on a stretcher with perhaps a broken arm or leg. They showed her a picture of Kelsey. Pray, just pray for all of them. Pray for Marybeth, another pledge sister, who showed great strength reciting a loving poem for Kelsey at the Lee Chapel candlelight in front of the entire W&L community. There is an incredible, penetrating raw pain that these students and family members are feeling right now. Please, just pray.</p>

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<p>In this open letter to WLU students, this alumna makes a powerful case for instituting a sober-driving pledge as powerful at WLU as the honor code:</p>

<p>[The</a> Southard Diaries - Dear W&L Students…](<a href=“http://thesoutharddiaries.■■■■■■■■■■/post/68901600163/dear-w-l-students]The”>http://thesoutharddiaries.■■■■■■■■■■/post/68901600163/dear-w-l-students)</p>

<p>I’m all for it.</p>