Student Organizations With Diverse Missions

Washington and Lee is proud to have so many organizations on campus that support, celebrate and bring awareness to diversity in our community and beyond. These organizations are made up of students passionate about current issues, heritage, culture and individuality.

OIE Council

The OIE Council is made up of representatives from the many student organizations on campus with a focus or interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion, either broadly or focused on a specific identity group. This includes, but is not limited to, the groups listed below as well as our IFC, PHC, and NPHC fraternities and sororities. The OIE Council meetings occur on the first Tuesday of each month (with some exceptions due to University academic schedules). The purpose of these meetings is to facilitate connections and conversations between the organizations present. As the representative for your organization, you should expect to bring information about upcoming organization events (ideally within the next 4-6 weeks to overlap with the next monthly meeting) as well as any initiatives, questions, ideas, and/or other updates or concerns related to DEI topics. Organizations are not expected to have items to share each meeting but should, at minimum, take notes and report any relevant information shared in the meeting to their organization(s). These meetings also provide the space to discuss your organization's long-term plans or get feedback from the larger group, such as plans for what your organization is focusing on for the academic term or wanting input/feedback on a planned/past programming.

Additionally, the OIE Council meetings should allow the various organizations to bounce ideas together and help each group achieve its goals. This also allows groups to collaborate (via funds, people, advertising, etc.) where there might be intersections in their events to make something more significant than either could quickly achieve independently.

We ask that each organization select one or two representatives to join these meetings, preferably someone who holds a leadership position. We also ask that participants in the meeting represent no more than TWO (2) organizations. (So, Persons A & B can represent Organization 1, and Person A can also represent Organization 2. We ask that Person A not represent a third organization, and Organization 1 not have a third representative, just to keep things balanced for all to share and get more information).

Jake Reeves (jreeves@wlu.edu) and Heidi Bustos (hbustos@wlu.edu) are the advisors for the OIE Council and faciliate the meetings. If you have questions about OIE Council meetings, do not see your group listed below, or would like your organization to be invited to the OIE Council meetings, please contact Jake and/or Heidi.

Multicultural Student Organizations

  • African Society: The African Society gathers to support the voices and perspectives of African students on campus and serves as a catalyst for discussion about African affairs.
  • Amnesty International: Amnesty International is a global organization composed of people who are dedicated to promoting human rights and fighting injustices that occur all around the world every day. Amnesty International brings issues to the W&L campus that break students out of the "W&L Bubble" by educating students on their moral obligation to fight the violent atrocities that occur across the globe.
  • Black Male Initiative: The Black Male Initiative program is a learning community that will provide a space for black males that promotes brotherhood and develops leaders though academic success, personal growth, professional development, self-responsibility. This will be achieved through productive content discussions, fellowship and engaging in life skills training. This community is open to members of the W&L undergraduate and Law school as well as VMI, who have experience with or are interested in understanding and combating the challenges facing the Black community in today's society.
  • English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): ESOL is a W&L community-based organization that works to facilitate communication in the Lexington/Rockbridge area. We provide in/after-school tutoring, family tutoring, and a community-based English class, along with translation and interpretation services. In addition, we carry out significant community programming in and with the local Latina/o/x community.
    Contacts: Professor Ellen Mayock and Professor Jayne Reino
  • German Club: The German Club gathers to promote the German language and culture through fun events such as films, food, and Foosball.
  • LIFT (Low-Income, First-Generation Team): The Low-Income, First-Generation Team (LIFT) is led and comprised of W&L students who are passionate about providing resources for first-generation and/or low-income students as well as creating a supportive community on campus.
  • Comunidad Latina Estudiantil (CLE): CLE provides a community for Latino students and those interested in Latino cultures to gather and discuss topics and increase awareness of the many Latino cultures and experiences.
  • Multicultural Student Association: The Multicultural Student Association promotes and encourages diversity through social, recreational, and educational programming that is designed to bridge the gap between diverse groups on campus and foster success and happiness.
  • Pan-Asian Association for Cultural Exchange (PAACE): PAACE provides an environment where students can come together in community to appreciate the different Asian cultures of the world.
  • Perry Minority Athlete Coalition: Perry Minority Athlete Coalition (PMAC) is a student-athlete group that seeks to enhance the sense of community among minority student-athletes. We host monthly check-in meetings for members to openly share common experiences and have sponsored events to promote engagement between minority student-athletes and the W&L community.
  • QuestBridge Scholars Club: The QuestBridge Scholars Club provides mentoring and guidance to incoming QuestBridge Scholars through a support program of upperclassmen and works to inform high school students in the area about access to higher education for students of all backgrounds through the National QuestBridge Organization.
  • South Asian Student Association (SASA):The South Asian Student Association (SASA) is dedicated to promoting and celebrating South Asian culture and heritage within the student community. Our mission is to foster an inclusive environment where individuals from all backgrounds can engage with and appreciate the diverse traditions, languages, and customs of South Asia.
  • Student Association for Black Unity (SABU): SABU seeks to create and maintain Black/African American/Caribbean American consciousness, awareness and identity. Additionally, SABU works to ensure W&L provides an environment that is inclusive of Blacks/African Americans/Caribbean Americans and that Blacks/African Americans/Caribbean Americans are fully and accurately represented on campus.
  • Student Association for International Learning (SAIL): SAIL brings the world to campus by gathering to discuss international issues and promoting exchange between the diverse cultures represented at W&L.

Religious Student Organizations

  • Baptist Campus Ministries
  • Canterbury Club
  • Catholic Campus Ministry
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran College Group
  • Hillel
  • InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
  • Reformed University Fellowship
  • Salam
  • Young Life

LGBTQ Student Organizations

  • Queer Liberation Alliance: Queer Liberation Alliance works to promote equal rights, justice, and opportunity for all members of the Washington and Lee University community regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • Finding Our Truth: A weekly confidential support group held off-campus for those questioning or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Group is held at 4:00 p.m. on Fridays and is for undergraduates and graduate students alike who are searching for a confidential safe space to gain support and insight from peers seeking their own truths.
  • OUTLaw
  • OSTEM

Black Greek Letter Organizations

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: The mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, promote unity and friendship among college women, maintain a progressive interest in college life, solve and alleviate problems as they pertain to women and girls, and to be of service to all mankind.
  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.: The objective of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid downtrodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status.
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.: The purpose of Delta Sigma Theta is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. The major programs of the sorority are based upon the organization's five point thrust: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.
  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.: The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma are the Fraternity's most valuable resource and strength. They are the primary means by which the Phi Beta Sigma objectives will be achieved. In order to accomplish the Fraternity's objectives, it is essential that systems are instituted that effectively embody "Culture For Service and Service For Humanity" and promote brotherhood, scholarship and service.
  • National Pan-Hellenic Council: Washington and Lee's National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) promotes unity amongst the four HBGLOs on our campus. The NPHC encourages good scholarship, participation in fellowship, support for character development, and continued service within the community. Through campus and community partnerships the NPHC and the individual HBGLOs seekto provide awareness and offer educational opportunities that lead to a positive collegiate experience.