Student Organizations & Activities
The Student Events Board (SEB)
Hodson Hall Commons
Bryson Ostrum ‘26, President
As a component of the Office of Student Engagement, the Student Events Board (SEB) is the primary student programming organization on campus responsible for providing events and activities that support and enhance campus social life. The SEB gives students an opportunity to get involved in shaping their social experience while gaining excellent leadership experience. The organization sponsors and promotes events designed to build community and create a fun college environment. Examples include traditions like Welcome Week, Shoremal, Birthday Ball, and Bus Trips to Washington DC and New York City as well as weekend performances, festivals, open mic nights, bingo, and trivia.
The Student Government Association (SGA)
Hodson Hall Commons
Established in 1919, the Student Government Association (SGA) includes all current Washington College students as members. The student-run SGA participates in campus administrative, academic, and social affairs. There are three main branches of the SGA: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch.
The Executive Branch is composed of three elected members (President, Vice President, and Speaker of the Senate) and nine appointed members (Financial Controller, Secretaries of Academics, Social Life, Student Life, Environment, Service and Community Relations, Diversity, and the Director of Communications and Office Management, Parliamentarian, and Honor Board Chair. All members of the Executive Branch, the Speaker of the Senate, the Honor Board Chair, and the Parliamentarian, as well as the SGA faculty and staff advisors, meet regularly in Executive Board meetings. All work to represent students in day-to-day affairs, and each Executive Board member holds regular office hours in the SGA Office.
The Legislative Branch of the College, commonly referred to as the Senate, consists of elected residence hall Senators, Class Presidents, and the Speaker of the Senate. The Senate is the voice of the student body, evident in its control over the SGA Platform and other legislative affairs.
The Honor Board serves as the Judicial Branch. The Honor Board Chair and the student Honor Board members are all chosen by the SGA and work alongside appointed faculty and staff to promote and enforce the Washington College Honor Code.
To promote checks and balances of power and to ensure fair appointment practices, the SGA uses a Review Board. This Board, chaired by the non-voting Parliamentarian, consists of the President, the Financial Controller, the Speaker of the Senate, and the Honor Board Chair. The By-laws and Constitution of the SGA are available online.
The SGA offers the following services:
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Club recognition, funding, requisition processing, and detailed club information (constitutions, histories, officers);
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Posting of student leadership information and opportunities; referrals to Student Affairs and other campus services; referrals to off-campus services;
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Posting and distribution of SGA- and non-SGA-sponsored activities/events;
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Academic resource information/opportunities;
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Copying for recognized student organizations, including the four classes;
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Advocacy for student concerns and issues;
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Student event programming;
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Recognizing distinguished seniors for their efforts to provide a better college community.
The SGA Office also serves as the work area and meeting room of the SGA for use by the SGA Executive Board, Class Officers, Senate Committees, and other organizations and groups as approved by the President of the Student Government Association.
SGA Executive Officers and ADVISORS
President: Zachary Tipton ‘27
Vice President: Molly Pennington ‘27
Financial Controller: Kyle Wyngaard ‘27
Honor Board Chair: Lauren Paules ‘26
Parliamentarian: Martise Whitfield ‘27
Speaker of the Senate: Kelsey Sanderell ‘27
Secretary of Academics: Mary Clymer ‘28
Secretary of Diversity and Inclusion: Jireh Ray ‘27
Secretary of the Environment: Justin Looper ‘26
Secretary of Service and Community Relations: Joseph Atkins ‘28
Secretary of Student Life: Kaialana Follett ‘27
Director of Communications and Marketing: Gracie Heintzelman ‘28
SGA Advisors: Sarah Feyerherm, VP Student Affairs – Cori Lynn Arnold, Faculty
Students serve on the following College committees:
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Academic Resources and Services
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Academic Standing and Advising
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Academic Technology
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Admissions and Financial Aid
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Campus Events and Visitors
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Curriculum
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Diversity
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Honor Board—nine student members
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Off-Campus Study—three students; where possible, seniors personally experienced in off- campus study
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Planning
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Honor Board – nine student members
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Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
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International Education
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Review Board for Research with Human Subjects—one or two senior students, at least one of whom is majoring in the social or natural sciences
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Student Life
Students serve on the following Board of Visitors and Governors committees:
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Buildings and Grounds
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Honors and Awards
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Student Affairs
At the beginning of each semester, the SGA will publish a list of all SGA- recognized clubs on Campus Groups.
Student Publications
The Elm
The Editor-in-Chief can be contacted at elm_editor@washcoll.edu.
The Elm is the official campus newspaper, published weekly.
The Collegian
The Editor-in-Chief can be contacted at collegian_editor@washcoll.edu.
The Collegian is a creative writing magazine that publishes poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art several times each semester.
Washington College Review
The Washington College Review is an online liberal arts journal that publishes undergraduate student writing and graphic art from all disciplines of the College. Click here to find us online.
Pegasus
The Project Manager can be contacted at pegasus_editor@washcoll.edu.
The College yearbook is a digital record of the year’s activities and events. In the autumn, the Board of Publications sends out a call for applications and hires paid student interns to edit the yearbook.
Fraternities and Sororities
Gregory H. Krikorian, Dean of Students, ext. 7752
Fraternities and sororities at Washington College build community through activities centered in scholarship, social life, service, and leadership. Under the guidance of the Director of Student Engagement, the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils are responsible for fraternity and sorority affairs, including the promotion of community relations and the recruitment for all chapters on campus. Washington College recognizes four national fraternities and three national sororities:
Panhellenic Council (Panhel)
Nora Beebe ‘26, President
Sororities
Alpha Omicron Pi, Sigma Tau Chapter
Brooke Thomas ‘ 26, President
Zeta Tau Alpha, Gamma Beta Chapter
Shelby Ferris ‘27, President
Fraternities
Kappa Sigma, Omicron Phi Chapter
Robert King '26, President
Phi Delta Theta, Gamma Chapter
Liam Lesko ‘26, President
Greek Life Eligibility Requirements:
In order to participate in Greek Life, a student must have been a full-time student at Washington College for one semester, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500, and meet the academic standards set forth by the individual fraternity or sorority they wish to join.
The following students are exempt from the "one-semester at WC" rule. Those include:
- Transfer students who have completed at least a full academic year (two semesters) at their previous institution(s) AND have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500.
- Visiting International Exchange students who have completed at least one full academic year at their home institutions. (Note: Matriculating international students who plan to spend their full four years at WC would need to complete one semester before joining a Greek organization.)
- Open bidding is available for both fall and spring for eligible students. Interested students names will be submitted to confirm eligibility.
All members of Greek organizations will be required to complete risk management training annually to include topics focused on hazing, alcohol/substance abuse, mental health, fire safety and Title IX-sexual harassment & discrimination.