Student Organization Spotlight: The Executive Committee Washington and Lee's Executive Committee remains committed to upholding the university's rich tradition of student self-governance.

By Kelsey Goodwin
December 11, 2024

“Washington and Lee has changed significantly over time, but our sense of honor has not.”

~ Robert Mish ’25

Washington and Lee prides itself on its Honor System, a cornerstone of the university’s life and campus culture. The secret behind how the Honor System has remained a vital part of campus life at Washington and Lee for over a century can be found on the third floor of Elrod Commons any Monday night during the academic year.

The Executive Committee (EC) of the Student Body, tasked with adjudicating the Honor System, funding student organizations and addressing student concerns, meets weekly and invites students to attend the open portion of its meetings to bring comments and concerns to the group for discussion. Current EC President Harris Stripling ’25, a business administration and politics double major from Charleston, South Carolina, said that the Honor System and Speaking Tradition played a large role in his decision to apply to W&L. Once he arrived on campus, he quickly felt compelled to get involved with the inner workings of these interwoven and valuable campus traditions.

“When I arrived on campus, I knew of W&L students’ commitment to the Honor System, but I didn’t realize just how seriously we took this tradition,” Stripling said. “This was certainly a pleasant surprise for me because it just reaffirmed my belief I had made the right choice by attending W&L. From the moment I listened to then-EC President James Torbert ’23 give his speech in the chapel, I felt a calling to not only buy into the system but also discover ways in which I can give back to it.”

“Upholding our community’s trust is a tall task, and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes,” said Robert Mish ’25, an economics and history double major from Richmond, Virginia, who serves as a representative for the Class of 2025. “I have learned how to work on an intellectually diverse and talented team of individuals through my time on the Executive Committee. We constantly engage in thoughtful disagreements, and I have improved my ability to listen to an opposing argument critically, often changing my mind as a result.”

The roots of student self-governance at Washington and Lee can be traced back to the early 19th century. However, the formal establishment of the EC in 1905 institutionalized this tradition, giving students direct responsibility for upholding community standards and values, and the EC remains a powerful symbol of the trust placed in W&L students and their ability to govern themselves responsibly (the EC is made up of a president, vice president and secretary of the student body; a law school representative from each class year; two senior, junior and sophomore academic representatives; and one first-year academic representative). The EC’s primary function is to oversee the Honor System, which is built on the principle that students are trustworthy and responsible and allows for a high degree of academic freedom, with unproctored exams and a culture of integrity that extends beyond the classroom.

“Washington and Lee has changed significantly over time,” Mish noted, “but our sense of honor has not.”

In its legislative capacity, the EC also addresses issues affecting student life, often serving as a liaison between students, faculty and administrators to find solutions. It also allocates funds to the student organizations that comprise the vibrant fabric of W&L’s campus community. Approximately 70 to 80% of the EC’s annual budget is allocated to student organizations through an application and interview process coordinated by the EC vice president, and the EC typically interviews student organization leaders about their budget needs for the upcoming academic year in the spring. The remaining portion of the funding is reserved for fall emergency budget allocations. The process is thorough, with all members of the EC spending long hours reviewing each funding request, considering each organization’s needs and contributions to the wider campus culture. EC Vice President Walt Phillips ’25, an accounting and politics double major from Birmingham, Alabama, said he was inspired to get more involved with student self-governance after serving as treasurer of GAB, a university organization dedicated to producing campus-wide concerts and events for students, and working closely with the EC during the budget allocation process. As vice president, he works closely with the EC treasurer and student organization liaison — a relatively new position that facilitates communication between student organization leaders and the EC.

“I have learned that leadership is hard, yet deeply fulfilling,” Phillips said. “I believe that student self-governance helps create strong leaders who are well-versed in leadership, responsibility and creativity.”

Zane Openshaw, a representative for first-year law students, came to W&L from a much larger undergraduate institution and said part of the EC’s success is built on W&L’s unique culture of trust cultivated through its close-knit community and Speaking Tradition.

“I love the smallness of our campus, which not only naturally helps build trust, but it affects how we’re able to administer the Honor System because you know that trust will build over time,” Openshaw said.

“Washington and Lee is unique because students take on a burden of responsibility unlike anywhere else,” said Mish. “Our Honor System has absolutely no faculty supervision in any part of the process, and it teaches us the importance of participating in the system. Every student at Washington and Lee learns how to be well-rounded through our liberal arts curriculum. The Honor System takes that mission a step further as we learn how important it is to uphold a community of trust.”

Stripling said the university’s commitment to the EC’s autonomy is a thriving tradition that has deeply impacted his experience on campus.

“Washington and Lee remains one of the few universities that supports and retains student self-governance,” said Stripling. “Student self-governance fosters a close-knit community by allowing members of the EC to engage with peers on a more personal basis, which would not be possible if non-students handled these processes. When I think of receiving a liberal arts education, I do not solely think of academia. The university understands that to be a successful student of a liberal arts institution, one must grow in areas pertaining not only to academics. Becoming involved in one’s community and having the privilege to grow in character makes the Washington and Lee experience stand out. Getting involved in my community has transformed me into who I am today.”