Samantha, I took a workshop with you at the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference. I am often in Lexington and grateful as an independent scholar to use the W&L Library. I am NOT grateful to hear about what they've done and this text string is deeply upsetting. I'm glad you included it because it confronts us with reality in an incontrovertible way. I stand with you and would love to know as one of your Substack readers how we can help. I have a number of Lexington contacts.
I'm also a fundraiser and an organizer. What I'm clear about is that although people have a right to organize around their beliefs, and that's what these donors did, the institution has failed you, the law, and its students--and the donors who *support* you and this "radical" President have failed to mobilize and create a countervailing force. The law school at W&L should take this up as well! It seems to me there is an organizing opportunity here; has it been taken?
I wrote W&L’s general counsel twice to warn them that the “History and Tradition” page was fomenting massive amounts of anti-LGBTQ sentiment amongst the ranks that it shared with the equally odious Generals Redoubt.
And I'm guessing, as an alumnus, most of those commenting have absolutely no connection to the school at all. We faced the same in our fight to change the name.
Only when the old, rich, white alumni die.
W&L changed my life as a poor kid from Raphine who was able to go there for a lot less than JMU. That's why I'm fighting to change it.
Washington and Lee-History and Tradition are the worst neanderthals out there. But there are other alumni forces that are trying and calling for change, and this will be blasted to them:
I am.....speechless. Sending strength to you.
Sending solidarity, sympathy, and fortitude. So sorry you've had to deal with this.
Samantha, I took a workshop with you at the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference. I am often in Lexington and grateful as an independent scholar to use the W&L Library. I am NOT grateful to hear about what they've done and this text string is deeply upsetting. I'm glad you included it because it confronts us with reality in an incontrovertible way. I stand with you and would love to know as one of your Substack readers how we can help. I have a number of Lexington contacts.
I'm also a fundraiser and an organizer. What I'm clear about is that although people have a right to organize around their beliefs, and that's what these donors did, the institution has failed you, the law, and its students--and the donors who *support* you and this "radical" President have failed to mobilize and create a countervailing force. The law school at W&L should take this up as well! It seems to me there is an organizing opportunity here; has it been taken?
Sending love, this is abominable.
I wrote W&L’s general counsel twice to warn them that the “History and Tradition” page was fomenting massive amounts of anti-LGBTQ sentiment amongst the ranks that it shared with the equally odious Generals Redoubt.
And I'm guessing, as an alumnus, most of those commenting have absolutely no connection to the school at all. We faced the same in our fight to change the name.
Only when the old, rich, white alumni die.
W&L changed my life as a poor kid from Raphine who was able to go there for a lot less than JMU. That's why I'm fighting to change it.
Washington and Lee-History and Tradition are the worst neanderthals out there. But there are other alumni forces that are trying and calling for change, and this will be blasted to them:
https://www.notunmindul.org