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The social life at W&L revolves around fraternities and sororities. The
large majority of students pledge (something like 80%). Sororities
exist for the bonding, and sometimes to arrange date functions, while
the main work of propelling recreation falls to the fraternities, who
host bands, parties, semi-formal and formal events and cook-outs
throughout the year, both in the official fraternity houses and in off-
campus fraternity-affiliated houses. Students drink a lot, but illegal
drugs, while definitely around, aren't a huge scene at W&L. The biggest
social event of the year is Fancy Dress, a weekend long formal
celebration involving an often famous band on Friday night (previous
acts have included the Black Crowes, Widespread Panic, and Run DMC) and
a ball on Saturday night.
Students don't "date" much - they go from "hooking-up" to being in
relationships. Actual traditional dates are very rare. Date functions
hosted by soroties and fraternities, in addition to the large-scale
Fancy Dress Ball and the semi-formal Homecoming celebrations, are mostly
attended in pairs. Couples in relationships go together, while
unattached students ask crushes, friends or sometimes attractive
strangers. However, at such a small school, no one is a stranger for
long, so this phenomenon mainly occurs early in freshman year.
The restaurants in Lexington, while limited in scope, are some of my
favorite ever. Salerno's provides amazing pizza and subs, City Subs &
Steaks serves cheesesteaks of many varieties (and both serve giant mugs
of very cheap draft beer), Woods Creek grocery has reasonably priced and
inventive home-cooked meals, and Sheradon Livery, the Wilson-Walker
House, and the Inn at Union Run (slightly further afield) are great
places for upscale dining.
There is only one bar in Lexington frequented by students with any
regularity, and as such you can expect to find your entire class there
on any given night. This is The Palms. The Palms checks IDs
rigorously, so underage students are confined to drinking at fraternity
parties, which are abundant in any case. The Palms has free popcorn,
cheap drafts, and a terrible yet wonderful Long Island Iced Tea.
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