196-1073: Washington & Jefferson College is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania , which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area . The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County, Pennsylvania established by three Presbyterian missionaries to the American frontier in the 1780s: John McMillan , Thaddeus Dod , and Joseph Smith . These early schools eventually grew into two competing academies and colleges, with Canonsburg Academy, later Jefferson College, located in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and Washington Academy, later Washington College, in Washington. These two colleges merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College. The campus,
392-562: A liberal arts college , Washington & Jefferson College focuses exclusively on undergraduate education . It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools . The college's teaching environment reflects the liberal arts tradition of small group instruction by maintaining an average class size of 17 and a student/faculty ratio of 12:1. 85% of faculty have terminal degrees and no classes are taught by teaching assistants . The college has
588-406: A physical education requirement, amounting to one full semester class, making W&J one of the few liberal arts colleges without a physical education major to have such a requirement. The college maintains a number of combined degree programs, allowing students to attend graduate or professional school in lieu of senior year. The college follows the 4–1–4 academic calendar , which includes
784-441: A "Pipe of Peace." Another form of physical contest between the freshman and sophomore classes were the annual "color rush," where the teams fought over control over strips of fabric, the "pole rush," where the teams battled to raise a flag up a flagpole, and the " cane rush " where the teams fought over control over a ceremonial cane. These contests generally devolved into outright gang violence. The college cheer, Whichi Coax ,
980-463: A chime to note the hour. The portico was modeled after the portico of Mount Vernon . The chime room, containing the 26-note Stephen Collins Foster Carillon, was given to the college by the Women's Auxiliary of Allegheny County on Founder's Day in 1937. In the 1980s, the chime system was replaced by a cassette system. The north wing of the building contained a college theater. The tower was topped with
1176-482: A common interdisciplinary theme. While W&J has not had a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program since 1991, the college has a relationship with the University of Pittsburgh's Army and Air Force ROTC programs, allowing W&J students to prepare for an active or reserve commission following graduation. In the 2010–2011 school year, 58% of W&J students studied abroad. As of fall 2021,
1372-555: A difficult search for a headmaster, in which the trustees consulted Benjamin Franklin , the trustees unanimously selected Thaddeus Dod , considered to be the best scholar in western Pennsylvania. Amid financial difficulties and unrest from the Whiskey Rebellion , the academy held no classes from 1791 to 1796. In 1792, the academy secured four lots at Wheeling and Lincoln street from William Hoge and began construction on
1568-832: A dispute between chapters. In 1874, a fourth fraternity was founded at W&J, the short-lived Phi Delta Kappa . The new fraternity grew to several chapters before falling apart in 1880. W&J competes in 23 intercollegiate athletics at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III level. As of the 2009–10 academic year, the Presidents have won more than 108 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) championships, 40 students were selected as conference Most Valuable Player , more than 300 athletes were awarded First Team All-Conference recognition, 75 received All-American honors, and 25 achieved Academic All-American status. During
1764-801: A female seminary, was demolished in 2008 and replaced by the Swanson Science Center . The Olin Fine Arts Center is a 488-seat auditorium. Davis Memorial Hall was once a dormitory and private house. The Thistle Physics Building, the Lazear Chemistry Hall, and the Dieter-Porter Life Sciences Building all cater to the scientific curriculum. The Burnett Center and its sister building, the Technology Center , were built in
1960-676: A fireplace, and a walnut-paneled dining room, all used for alumni activities. During the final exam period, student use these facilities as a quiet study area. The President's House is a 17-room Victorian mansion where the College President resides. It was built in 1892 by the Duncan family, of Duncan glass fame. Its design is archetypical Queen Anne Victorian style, with ornate "gingerbread" details, stained and beveled glass, recessed doors and windows, and louvered wooden shutters. In 1944, Walter Hudson Baker, class of 1907, donated
2156-506: A fountain and a grassed bowl area in the lower plaza. The tower element on the left side of the building is intended to match the most prominent building on campus, Old Main . The interior railings include cast iron fleur-de-lis balusters from Hays Hall , the first dormitory on campus, that was demolished in 1994. The large vertical ribbon window assemblies and atrium provide a view of the rest of campus. The architecture and masonry work won several national awards. The Technology Center houses
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#17327988069232352-561: A four-faced clock given in memory of David F. McGill, an 1881 alumnus. The building housed classrooms and faculty offices for the Departments of Philosophy, Sociology, and the Environmental Studies Program, as well as some classrooms for English courses. McIlvaine was demolished in summer 2008 to make room for the new Swanson Science Center . Shortly before its demolition, President Tori Haring-Smith took
2548-618: A four-month fall term, a three-week Intersession term in January, followed by a four-month spring term. During the Intersession term, students have the choice of studying abroad , completing an external internship , or taking a specially-designed Intersession course. These Intersession courses are more focused than regular courses and provide professors with an opportunity to teach non-traditional subjects. Past Intersession courses have included "Emerging Diseases: Global and Local" in
2744-548: A fully equipped machine shop. In early May 2018 the college building was in the demolition process, and as of 2024 the land remains vacant. The Lazear Chemistry Hall was constructed in the Georgian style between 1939 and 1949. It was designed by Frederick Larson and was named after former student Jesse William Lazear , who helped develop the cure for yellow fever . In 2010, the Department of Chemistry moved from Lazear to
2940-459: A fund for library. The building is sandstone, with hand-laid mosaic tile floors and skylights. It was lit by electric lights and heated by steam. In addition to the college's holdings and those of the various literary societies , the library held the Walker Room, a room with fine furnishings, Tiffany lamps , and John Walker's personal library of 5,000 volumes. From its construction until
3136-569: A group of alumni on a tour of the building. The Old Gym is an historic athletic training center and gymnasium, currently housing the Swanson Wellness Center , a modern exercise facility featuring cardiovascular, resistance, and strength training equipment. The building also features a three-lane indoor track suspended above the main floor. Prior to the construction of the Old Gym, students exercised and engaged in athletics under
3332-431: A large party the night before, and that members forced Daniels to drink large amounts of alcohol for initiation. Once he became sick, a few FIJI brothers carried him to a secluded room at the fraternity and left him. Daniels died in the early morning of January 8 from acute alcohol intoxication, and later tests showed that Daniels had a blood-alcohol level of 0.34, more than four times the legal limit. The university suspended
3528-611: A large portion of the college's history, there was no official alma mater , but there were a number of other tradition hymns and songs. The college's coat of arms features a two-part shield based on the coats of arms of the Jefferson and Washington families. The top portion, showing two towers, representing Washington College and Jefferson College, and three stars, representing the McMillan, Dod, and Smith log cabins. The lower portion, showing an interlocked design that in heraldry
3724-421: A late 19th-century Victorian mansion, in 1986. After a total renovation in 2007 and replacing the windows in 2008, it now houses upper-class women. Whitworth House is a mid 19th century Victorian mansion that was acquired by the college 1997. Originally known as Kimm House, it houses roughly 25 upper-class females. Mellon Hall and Upperclass Hall are adjacent freshman dormitories. Mellon Hall, which houses women,
3920-505: A legitimate anonymous source, fraternity members required pledges to stand in buckets of ice and salt, resulting in severe injuries. In 2017, the fraternity at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln was suspended by the university until 2020 for reckless alcohol use, hazing pledges, and inappropriate sexually based behavior, including a pattern of sexually harassing conduct. Police at the University of Missouri - Columbia were alerted to an unresponsive freshman, Daniel Santulli, brought to
4116-476: A local hospital by members after a fraternity party in 2021. Lawsuits are in process, and two of the members have been charged with felonies. One lawsuit states Santulli's "skin was pale and his lips were blue, yet no one called 911." Instead, "the decision was made to drive Santulli to University Hospital in Columbia in one of the brother’s cars." It was also alleged that "this was not just an alcohol overdose, but
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#17327988069234312-519: A mascot named "Fiji Man," a thick-lipped, dark-skinned man in a grass skirt , sometimes holding a spear or with a bone in his nose, in the style of a once-common Pacific Islander stereotype. Fraternity members built large sculptures of this racist caricature as a party decoration. The Phi Gamma Delta national organization has since banned Fiji Man, and now prohibits appearing in blackface at fraternity events. The appearance of "Fiji Man", Phi Gamma Delta's historical racist mascot, caused complaints from
4508-517: A meeting room. It was renovated in 2007 by the Phi Sigma biology honor society, who provided new paint, carpet, and furniture. The second floor contains The Meditation Room, with a small altar and limited seating. It was furnished by funds provided by the Women's Auxiliary and is in memory of Helen Turnbull Waite Coleman, who authored Banners in the Wilderness, a book about the early years of
4704-627: A multi-disciplinary lab designed for non-science majors. The marble-lined grand entrance leads to a three-story atrium with marble pillars and Palladian windows facing Route 40 and the common area is designed to attract non-science students. It was designed to satisfy the LEED Silver qualifications for green buildings . The site of the Swanson Science Center is home to a historical marker in honor of Rebecca Harding Davis , an influential journalist and author who had attended
4900-598: A number of awards, both to chapters, and to individual members. The Frank Norris Pig Dinner is an annual graduate dinner held by all Phi Gamma Delta chapters. The dinner is named for author Frank Norris , a member of the Fiji chapter at the University of California, Berkeley where the first Pig Dinner was held in 1893. Pig Dinner is sanctioned by the International Fraternity and it serves to welcome graduate brothers back to their undergraduate chapters. It
5096-476: A result of excessive alcohol consumption. Manslaughter charges were brought against the Phi Gamma Delta organization itself, rather than any individuals. In response, the chapter dissolved and the case was suspended. MIT later settled with Krueger's family for 4.75 million dollars. In 1999, a 19-year-old pledge was tackled and taken to the Phi Gamma Delta house at the University of Nebraska , where he
5292-622: A strong science program, with 35% of students majoring in one of the scientific departments. Within those areas, all 32 professors hold terminal degrees . The most frequent class size is between 10 and 19 students. The college has a focus on preparing students for graduate school and professional programs. Across all disciplines, 85% to 90% of students who apply to such programs receive offers of admission. Among students who apply to medical school or related health graduate programs, 90% of students gain admission. Approximately 11% of all current W&J alumni are physicians and engineers, making
5488-412: A system of rules and restrictions on freshmen. Failure by freshmen to follow these rules would subject them to beatings by upperclassmen or other punishments doled out by the "Freshman Court." During the 1870s and 1880s, the students engaged in organized athletic competitions, pitting the freshman versus sophomore classes in the "Olympic Games" that involved elaborate opening ceremonies and the smoking of
5684-422: A theme community must develop an educational plan centered on the theme. The college does not typically allow students to live in off-campus housing. Students may organize new clubs by presenting a constitution and a list of members to the college administration and the student government for approval. This approval process does not authorize any club to act on behalf of the college, nor does approval indicate any
5880-467: A tower, housed classrooms, the college library, and the refectory . It was built in 1832. The name was suggested by Moses Allen, who was President of the Board and the son-in-law John McMillan , the college's founder. It had three floors plus a basement, but a peak on the roof gave the impression of a fifth floor. From 1832 to 1890 it was a meeting place for Presbyterian Church of Canonsburg. In 1966, it
6076-403: A two-way street. The college was concerned about the increasing frequency of accidents between pedestrians and automobiles on that street, pointing to a recent incident involving an injured maintenance worker and the fact that there had been 6 other similar accidents in the previous 15 years. The new campus center would only increase pedestrian traffic on that street. The proposal was defeated by
List of Washington & Jefferson College buildings - Misplaced Pages Continue
6272-673: A variety of lectures, concerts, plays, and trips to museums or galleries based on a different course theme selected each year. In addition to completing an academic major , students must satisfy the college-wide general education requirements , which include classes in the arts , humanities , natural sciences and mathematics , foreign languages , cultural diversity , and academic skills classes including writing , oral communication , quantitative reasoning . Students may choose to complete an academic minor , participate in interdepartmental concentrations, or to focus on an intra-departmental emphasis. Additionally, all students must complete
6468-450: A very neat appearance when worn as a pin or button." The college seal displays two brick towers, with one labeled "1802," representing Jefferson College, and the other labeled "1806," representing Washington College. The union of the two colleges is represented by a bridge between the two towers, with Roman numerals reading 1865, the year of union. Banners hanging from the towers show the college motto of "Juncta Juvant." The creation of
6664-415: A weekly circulation of 1,250 copies. The student staff handles all aspects of the production, including writing, editing, graphic design, layout, and advertising sales. The Red & Black features local and national news, student opinion, and college athletics coverage. During the 1860s, students published a satirical newspaper called The Bogus Tract. The college radio station, WNJR broadcasts on
6860-403: A wrestling practice room, and a weightroom. The natatorium, a six-lane, 25-yard pool, with depths ranging four to seven feet deep, hosts the men's and women's swimming and diving teams as well as the men's and women's water polo squads. The adjacent Janet L. Swanson Tennis Courts, first built 1955 and renovated in 2001, are home to the tennis teams. The softball team plays at Brooks Park , which
7056-574: Is a fraternity that promotes scholastic achievement amongst its members. Phi Gamma Delta limits the written display of its Greek letters . In accordance with the fraternity's international bylaws, Fiji chapters and members only inscribe their letters in the following seven locations: The fraternity instructs its members to consider the letters sacred and to never display them on an object that can be easily destroyed. Whereas other fraternities often display their letters on clothing or other items, this tradition prevents Fijis from doing so. In place of
7252-516: Is a series of 10 houses on Chestnut Street. The buildings are designed to look more like homes, rather than dorms, with front porches and living rooms. When they were constructed in 2005, all 10 were intended to serve as "theme houses," for groups of like-minded students who share common social or academic interests. By 2008, 8 of the 10 buildings were occupied by Greek organizations . Two years later, all 10 buildings were occupied by Greek organizations. Alexander Hall, named after former president of
7448-830: Is also home to the United States Department of Defense -funded Combat Stress Intervention Program to develop solutions to poor access to health care for soldiers returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan . In 2008, the Biology Department (and the college) was awarded a $ 1 million programmatic grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute , a portion of which will be used to help establish bioinformatics lab space in Dieter-Porter. The building will be renovated as part of
7644-613: Is also home to various theme housing arrangements, including the "Pet House," the Service Leadership House, and the WashPa Radio House . Built in 1968, they were originally called the Residential Center, then The Quads. Fraternities, and then sororities after 1970, were early occupants. In the fall of 2005, these organizations were moved to Chestnut Street housing. In late September 2024, it
7840-423: Is called a fret, is adapted from Jefferson's coat of arms and the colors, red and black, is taken from the Washington coat of arms. The coat of arms may appear with a banner underneath showing the college motto. The design was adopted in 1902 in celebration of Jefferson College's centennial. It was designed by Rev. Harry B. King, class of 1891. Upon its adoption, it was described as "a happy combination, and makes
8036-526: Is classified as "inclusive" by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education . The Princeton Review gave Washington & Jefferson an "Admissions Selectivity Rating" of 85 out of 99. In 2023, the college received 3,218 applications. It extended offers of admission to 2,624 applicants, or 82%. 314 accepted students chose to enroll, a yield rate of 12%. Of the 40% of incoming students in 2023 who submitted SAT scores,
List of Washington & Jefferson College buildings - Misplaced Pages Continue
8232-488: Is composed of two types of chapters. Most chapters serve primarily undergraduate students and are established at a single college or university. There are also chapters to serve members of the fraternity who have graduated and are established to serve a city or larger region. The chapters are governed by the fraternity's international headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. Each year, the Phi Gamma Delta organization gives out
8428-615: Is home to more than 40 academic, administrative, recreational, and residential buildings. The northern edge of campus is bound by East Walnut Street, the western edge by South College Street, the southern edge by East Maiden Street, and the eastern edge by South Wade. Portions of the campus extend into the East Washington Historic District . Four historic gates mark four traditional entrances to campus at East Maiden Street, Wheeling Street, South College Street, and Beau Street. The South College Street gate marks
8624-499: Is home to more than 40 academic, administrative, recreational, and residential buildings. The northern edge of campus is bound by East Walnut Street, the western edge by South College Street, the southern edge by East Maiden Street, and the eastern edge by South Wade. Portions of the campus extend into the East Washington Historic District . Four historic gates mark four traditional entrances to campus at East Maiden Street, Wheeling Street, South College Street, and Beau Street. In 1947,
8820-581: Is home to the College Bookstore, and George & Tom's Place. The Rossin Ballroom is a multi-purpose space that can be used for dances, banquets, performances. The Livingroom is a casual area behind the mail room, containing couches and other seating areas. A chapel had existed on North Lincoln Street. The first athletic facility at Washington & Jefferson was the Old Gym . College Field
9016-526: Is located in the U. Grant Miller Library . With its origins tracing back to a donation from Benjamin Franklin in 1789, the collection currently holds 210,000 volumes. The Archives and Special Collections contain significant holdings of historical papers dating to the college's founding. The Walker Room contains the personal library of prominent industrialist John Walker , complete with all of his library's fixtures and furniture, installed exactly how it had been during Walker's life. The Commons, which contains
9212-399: Is named in memory of James Ross Mellon, an 1865 graduate of Jefferson College; funding for its construction in 1949 was provided by the W.L. and May T. Mellon Foundation. 2008 renovation project expanded and redesigned the bathrooms, upgraded the electrical system, and installed sprinklers. Upperclass Hall, which currently houses men, was also built in 1949. It was renovated in 2008 to improve
9408-460: Is one of the most consistently popular activities at Washington & Jefferson College, providing non-varsity and recreational athletic activities for all students, faculty, and staff of the college. Vicki Staton, a former varsity women's basketball and volleyball coach, manages the intramural program. In 2002, 60% of students participated in intramural sports. In 2006, more than 40% of the student body participated in intramural athletics. In 2007,
9604-600: Is part of the student dining area. The W&J Arts Series is an annual collection of musicians, singers, and other artistic performers appearing at the Olin Fine Arts Center. Past shows have included Di Wu , Habib Koité , Chris Potter , The Aquila Theatre Company presenting The Invisible Man , Eroica Trio , Oni Buchanan , Tommy Sands , Cavani String Quartet , Sergio and Odar Assad , and Sandip Burman . In 1999, billionaire W&J alum and well-known opera philanthropist Alberto Vilar sponsored
9800-498: Is similar to Alexander and Marshall, but is built in a "U" shape with two separate wings. During the 2009–2010 academic year, it only housed women. Penn House, situated between Marshall Hall and the Chestnut Street Housing complex, offers double-style living space for 17 individuals. North Hall was a freshman men's dormitory, but is currently unused. It was originally the chapter house of Phi Gamma Delta , before
9996-458: Is so pervasive in college history and culture that in addition to being shouted during academic ceremonies and football games, it is also used as a salutation in correspondence between alumni. The college's fight song , " Good Ole W&J " is sung to the tune of " 99 Bottles of Beer " and makes fun of a number of rival colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh , but was modified sometime before 1958 to laud Washington Female Seminary . For
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#173279880692310192-403: Is the Olin Fine Arts Center, with an art gallery and a 486-seat auditorium. On the academic side, the Department of Art offers majors in studio art and art education , as well as a concentration in graphic design . The Department of Music offers majors and minors in music. The Department of Theatre and Communications offers a major and minor in theatre. Current musical organizations include
10388-620: Is the oldest active, chapter-based, annual graduate event in the world of fraternities and sororities . The International Fraternity stores a list of annual Pig Dinners. Affectionately built upon the "Fiji" nickname, many chapters hold an annual "Fiji Islander" party. These are typically large, tropical-themed festivities, often using banana and palm trees as decoration, although they can vary widely from chapter to chapter. Some are large parties where alcohol, sand, and tropical foliage are present. Others may be alcohol-free, and some are charity projects, rather than parties. The fraternity once used
10584-498: Is used commonly by the fraternity due to Phi Gamma Delta bylaws limiting the use of the Greek letters. The organization was founded on April 22, 1848, at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania . Six college students gathered in a dormitory room (known by the students as "Fort Armstrong") to establish a secret society. The society they formed was initially called "The Delta Association". The founders, referred to by members as
10780-611: Is used for basketball, wrestling, swimming, and volleyball. Other athletic facilities include Brooks Park , Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium , and the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Courts. The modern campus of Washington & Jefferson College is located in the City of Washington and the East Washington Borough , small-town communities about 30 miles (48 km) south of Pittsburgh . The 60-acre (0.24 km) campus
10976-509: The 2017 Women's March . Chants of "no means yes, yes means anal" were allegedly aimed at thousands of women, children, and men walking past the fraternity house on the University of Nebraska campus. Fraternity members were accused on social media of waving Donald Trump signs, screaming "grab them by the pussy," and then announcing which marchers they would and would not want to "grab by the pussy". Multiple protesters have said that they heard
11172-576: The Allegheny Mountains , which was considered part of the American frontier during the Colonial period . It is situated on the corner of South Lincoln Street and East Wheeling Street in Washington, Pennsylvania . It has undergone significant changes and expansions since its construction, with the addition of two large wings and a front portico. Throughout its history, McMillan Hall has housed classrooms, student housing, dining facilities,
11368-453: The Board of Trustees , who donated $ 10 million towards its construction. This facility, containing 47,500 square feet (4,410 m) of space, houses classrooms for Chemistry, Physics, Biophysics and Biochemistry and was designed to match its neighboring historic campus architecture. Its learning facilities include wet and dry teaching laboratories, faculty and student research laboratories, and
11564-506: The Civil War , both colleges were short on students and on funds, causing them to join as Washington & Jefferson College in 1865. The charter provided for the college to operate at both Canonsburg and Washington, a position that caused significant difficulty for the administration trying to rescue the college amid ill feelings over the unification. Jonathan Edwards , a pastor from Baltimore who had been president of Hanover College ,
11760-552: The FM broadcast band . Assisted by a faculty advisor from the Department of Theater and Communication, the student-run studio broadcasts in a freeform format with both nationally syndicated programs and Pittsburgh-based independent programs. Student on-air personalities produce radio programs including music, news , talk , and sports . It serves the Pittsburgh Designated Market Area , reaching north to
11956-575: The Lazear Chemistry Hall and purchasing McIlvane Hall . When World War II broke out, the campus was opened to the Army Administration School, where hundreds of soldiers received their "training in classifications." Hutchison resigned in 1945 to take the presidency of his alma mater, Lafayette College . James Herbert Case, Jr. , who was president from 1946 to 1950, constructed several new dormitories to handle
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#173279880692312152-497: The Old Gym . It contains a variety of strength and cardiovascular training equipment, including treadmills, exercise bikes, elliptical running machines, free weight machines, a weight rack, squat racks, and a three-lane indoor track suspended above the main floor. The hockey team plays at the IceoPlex at Southpointe . The original college building, John McMillan's Log School was built in 1780 near Chartiers . The original cabin
12348-507: The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the college. The oldest surviving building is McMillan Hall , which dates to 1793 and is the oldest college building west of the Allegheny Mountains . The main academic building is Old Main , which is topped with two prominent towers. The Old Gym houses a modern exercise facility. McIlvaine Hall, which
12544-558: The Pennsylvania State University ; he is the namesake of Beaver Stadium . Blake Ragsdale Van Leer , was the fifth president of Georgia Tech and first president to allow women to enroll there. He also had a prominent military career. William Holmes McGuffey authored the McGuffey Readers , which are among the most popular and influential books in history. Thaddeus Dod's student, Jacob Lindley ,
12740-477: The Science Initiative, which has already constructed the Swanson Science Center . The planned renovations will construct new common areas and a new entrance, install a new HVAC system, and improve the animal laboratory. Particularly troubling was the poor drainage, which led to flooding and mold accumulation, threatening the sterility of the laboratories. In 2011, it was announced that $ 1 million of
12936-568: The Swanson Wellness Center . Marking the southern border of campus, Davis Memorial Hall abuts U.S. Route 40 . The white-painted brick structure was constructed in the American colonial architecture style in 1847 by Alexander Reed, a college trustee, who used it as his residence. It was once a stop on the Underground Railroad . In the early 1930s, it was photographed by Charles M. Stotz in preparation for writing his book, Early Architecture of Western Pennsylvania. In 1939, it
13132-594: The U.S. News & World Report rankings system, noting that the "financial resources" portion of the rankings formula favors colleges that have higher tuition, even without providing any educational benefits, saying that this has harmed the college's ranking because it charged $ 5,000 to $ 7,000 less in tuition that its peer institutions. She also questioned the "peer assessment" portion of the rankings and suggested that college presidents are rarely aware of educational improvements in their peer institutions; she noted that Washington & Jefferson College's ranking has remained
13328-558: The United States Supreme Court upheld the consolidation, allowing the newly configured college to proceed. George P. Hays , who had assumed the presidency amid the court battle and the unification controversy, led the newly unified college until 1881. His successor, James D. Moffat , led the college through a period of growth where the college constructed the Old Gym , Hays Hall , Thompson Memorial Library , and Thistle Physics Building , as well as purchasing
13524-756: The United Way . Many religious faiths are represented, including the Hillel Society , Newman Club , and the Student Christian Association, as well as an Interfaith Leadership Club which organizes interfaith events. Many other clubs encourage interests in various academic and non-academic activities, including the Green Club (the college's environmental club), the Outdoors Club, and others which are mainly inactive like
13720-595: The University of Texas in Austin handed out t-shirts with a racist Little Black Sambo drawing during a basketball tournament. 500 students protested outside the fraternity house after the incident. A federal lawsuit filed by a Butler University student in 2019 describes being raped by a Wabash College Phi Gamma Delta member while she was black-out drunk during a Phi Gamma Delta party. She told her attacker to stop and attempted to escape while blacking out repeatedly. Other Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members tried to prevent
13916-523: The Washington Female Seminary , which had been on that site. The effort to place the marker there was led by Washington & Jefferson College English professor, and Harding descendant, Dr. Jennifer Harding. The first residence hall at Washington & Jefferson College was Hays Hall. The architectural work on that building was performed by Frederick J. Osterling and it was named after President George P. Hays . Construction
14112-542: The YES Prep Public Schools . The college offers "Theme Community Living," where students with common interests live in a single living unit. Past themes have included the "Intensive Study," the "Service Leadership Community," the "International House," "Music House," the "WashPA Radio Theme Community" for students who participate in the WNJR college radio station, and the "Pet House". Students proposing
14308-499: The interquartile range was 1030–1250; of the 10% of incoming students in 2023 who submitted ACT scores, the average composite score was 26. Of all matriculating students, the average high school GPA was 3.5. In 2009, the college developed an SAT-optional admissions program. In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report college rankings, Washington & Jefferson is ranked 90th (tied) of 211 liberal arts colleges nationwide. In Forbes ' List of America's Best Colleges for 2010,
14504-537: The northern Pittsburgh suburbs , east to Monessen , south to Waynesburg and west to the West Virginia Panhandle . The Wooden Tooth Review is a student-edited literary journal , featuring short fiction and poetry submitted by members of the student body. The editorial board is organized as a recognized student club, with a faculty advisor. The journal was founded in 1999, with V. Penelope Pelizzon , Coordinator of Creative Writing, serving as
14700-519: The trustees selecting the victor. Because the two colleges never met each other in athletic contests, these literary competitions were the main outlet for their rivalry. In the years after the union of the two colleges, these four literary societies merged with the Franklin Literary Society, which survives today. Washington & Jefferson College is home to a vibrant student art and musical scene. The artistic center of campus
14896-460: The " Presidents Letter ," a nationwide movement asking fellow college presidents to decline participation in the U.S. News & World Report reputation survey, a subjective evaluation where college administrators score their competition. The curriculum is centered on the traditional liberal arts education and pre-professional classes . All first-semester freshmen must complete the "First Year Seminar" class, which introduces new students to
15092-467: The "Canonsburg Academy." At a subsequent unknown date, McMillan transferred his students from the log cabin to Canonsburg Academy. Canonsburg Academy was chartered by the General Assembly on March 11, 1794, thus placing it firmly ahead of its sister school, Washington Academy, which was without a faculty, students, or facilities. On January 15, 1802, with McMillan as president of the board,
15288-469: The "Immortal Six", were John Templeton McCarty, Samuel Beatty Wilson, James Elliott Jr., Ellis Bailey Gregg, Daniel Webster Crofts, and Naaman Fletcher. The first regular meeting of Phi Gamma Delta and the adoption of the Fraternity's Constitution took place on May 1, 1848. Consequently, May 1 was chosen to be "Founder's Day" at the 43rd Convention held in 1891 and has traditionally been celebrated as
15484-458: The "Pastor's Study," is on the ground floor and was used as a main setting for the 1993 George A. Romero film, The Dark Half . Room E contains one of the college's computer labs. The campus' Office of Protection Services is headquartered in Old Main. The building later known as McIlvaine Hall was home to the Washington Female Seminary prior to its acquisition by the college in 1940, when
15680-626: The $ 9 million renovation cost would be funded through a Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program state grant. The Olin Fine Arts Center houses a 488-seat auditorium and the Olin Art Gallery. It also houses classrooms and the Department of Art, Theatre, and Communication, and the Department of Music. Funding for its construction in 1982 was provided by the F. W. Olin Foundation , as well as the Eden Hall Foundation. It
15876-561: The 1780s: John McMillan , Thaddeus Dod , and Joseph Smith . The three men, all graduates from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University ), came to present-day Washington County to found churches and spread Presbyterianism to what was then the American frontier beyond the Appalachian Mountains . John McMillan, the most prominent of the three founders because of his strong personality and longevity, came to
16072-478: The 1970s to 1990s. A Fiji Man snow sculpture at Colgate University in 1979 and a t-shirt depicting Fiji man at the University of Texas in 1989 both caused campus-wide apprehension about racism. A "slave auction" with Fiji Man decorations at the University of Southern California in 1989 resulted in mandatory diversity training for the fraternity members. The women who conducted the training characterized it as not one of her more successful efforts. In 1987,
16268-466: The 1970s, its steps and green space held the commencement exercises. The building is sandstone, with hand-laid mosaic tile floors and skylights. In 1965, this room was transferred to the U. Grant Miller Library . In 2004, the building was remodeled into administrative facilities. As a center of student activity on campus, The Hub has offices for student clubs, student government, and other various administrative offices. Before being renovated in 2007, it
16464-641: The 2005–2006 season, 34 percent of the student body played varsity-level athletics. The football team has been very successful, winning 18 out of the last 21 PAC Championships and advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs 17 times. W&J played to a 0–0 tie in the 1922 Rose Bowl against the California Golden Bears and were named to a share of the national championship by the Boand System . The men's ice hockey team won
16660-510: The 2008 College Hockey Mid America Conference championship, a Division I regional league of the American Collegiate Hockey Association . W&J also fields teams in field hockey, wrestling, baseball, softball, and volleyball, as well as men's and women's cross country running, soccer, tennis, water polo, basketball, swimming and diving, golf, lacrosse, and track & field. The intramural sports program
16856-714: The Admissions House, the Alumni House, and the President's House, which are all modified Victorian homes. The U. Grant Miller Library is the modern library; its predecessor, Thompson Hall, is now used for administrative purposes. The Hub, The Commons, and the Rossin Campus Center provide recreational and dining facilities for students. The athletic and intramural teams utilize Cameron Stadium for football and track. The Henry Memorial Center
17052-880: The Black Student Union and the Asian Culture Association. Both major American political parties have chapters at the college, in the form of the "W&J College Democrats " and the Young Republicans . Some clubs take the form of non-varsity athletic teams, including the Men's Rugby Club, the Women's Rugby Club, the Equestrian Club, Men's Volleyball Club and the Ultimate Frisbee Club. Several clubs create volunteer opportunities though Big Brothers/Big Sisters and
17248-593: The Bottega Art Club, the Franklin Literary Society, and the Chess Club. Student media offerings at Washington & Jefferson College include a college newspaper , a college radio station, a yearbook , and a student-edited literary journal . All students, regardless of academic major, are eligible to contribute to these media organizations. Founded in 1909, the Red & Black student newspaper has
17444-710: The City Council 5–0. The architecture work was performed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, who won the Citation of Merit Pittsburgh Chapter American Institute of Architects award for Building Excellence and the Educational Design Excellence from the American School & University magazine. The building, which is connected to The Commons via a bridge, contains rooms designed for meetings, events, seminars, and conferences. It also
17640-430: The Department of English. A duplicate of the original cast-iron fence currently surrounds the building. The Thistle Physics building was built in 1912 and was named after Dr. Joseph Long Thistle, who donated the funds for its construction. It was home to the Department of Physics until moving to the Swanson Science Center in 2010. The building contained four teaching laboratories, three research labs, lecture rooms, and
17836-500: The General Assembly finally granted a charter for "a college at Canonsburgh." In 1802, Canonsburg Academy was reconstituted as Jefferson College, with John McMillan serving as the first President of the board of trustees. In 1806, Matthew Brown petitioned the Pennsylvania General Assembly to grant Washington Academy a charter, allowing it to be re-christened as Washington College. At various times over
18032-625: The Information Technology Leadership program. All told, it houses over 200 instructional computers for use by the Information Technology Leadership and related classes. A statue of a coal miner , representing the work ethic and spirit of Western Pennsylvania , sits in the green space in front of the building. The building was formerly known as the Vilar Technology Center, in honor of alumnus Alberto Vilar , who had pledged $ 18.1 million to construct
18228-623: The NFL since 2006. Phi Gamma Delta Phi Gamma Delta ( ΦΓΔ ), commonly known as Fiji , is a social fraternity with 139 active chapters and 13 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College , Pennsylvania, in 1848. Along with Phi Kappa Psi , Phi Gamma Delta forms a half of the Jefferson Duo . Since its founding, the fraternity has initiated more than 211,000 brothers. The nickname FIJI
18424-513: The Phi Gamma Delta chapter at University of Wisconsin–Madison was suspended twice for racism. In May, it was closed because of a Fiji Island party featuring a large caricature of a Pacific Islander with a bone through his nose. Eight days after it was reinstated, the chapter was closed again because Phi Gamma Delta members entered Zeta Beta Tau , a majority-Jewish fraternity, where they began shoving and punching people. Two Fiji members were charged with battery . In 1990, Phi Gamma Delta members at
18620-569: The Rossin Campus Center by a bridge. The Rossin Campus Center is a student activity center and administrative building in the center of campus. It is named after former trustee Pete C. Rossin and was built in 1994. During the planning stages in 1991, the college asked the City of Washington to close South Lincoln Street between East Maiden and East Chestnut Street and reroute the traffic through College Street, which would have been made into
18816-404: The Rossin Campus Center provide recreational and dining facilities for students. The athletic and intramural teams utilize Cameron Stadium for football and track. The Henry Memorial Center is used for basketball, wrestling, swimming, and volleyball. Other athletic facilities include Brooks Park , Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium , and the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Courts. As
19012-546: The Seminary closed permanently. It was built in 1897 by Pittsburgh -based female architect Elise Mercur Wagner who supervised every facet of its construction. After the college purchased the brick building with a limestone foundation, it was renamed after Judge John Addison McIlvaine, an 1865 graduate of Jefferson College. The John L. Stewart Clock Tower on the northwest corner of the building, named in honor of John L. Stewart , who published of two local newspapers, contained
19208-605: The Treasury Benjamin Bristow and United States Attorney General Henry Stanbery , who successfully defended Andrew Johnson during his impeachment trial . As a U.S. Congressman, Clarence Long was a key figure in directing funds to Operation Cyclone , the CIA's effort to arm the mujahideen in the Soviet–Afghan War . James A. Beaver served as Governor of Pennsylvania and as acting president of
19404-400: The United States. As of 2022, there were four fraternities and four sororities. All Greek organizations occupy college-owned houses on Chestnut Street. Two national fraternities were founded at Jefferson College, Phi Gamma Delta in 1848 and Phi Kappa Psi in 1852. A third fraternity was founded at Jefferson College, Kappa Phi Lambda , but it dissolved after a decade of existence amid
19600-541: The University Police led to an investigation from the Dean of Students Office, which included several counts of hazing, including kicking new members in the stomach, new members cleaning the house before and after parties, and performing personal acts of servitude to members. In 2015, five members of the fraternity at the University of Alabama were arrested after an investigation into hazing of their pledges. Per
19796-829: The Vilar Distinguished Artist Series. During its run, the series hosted, among others, Lorin Maazel conducting the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , Valery Gergiev conducting the Kirov Orchestra , Camerata Salzburg with Murray Periaha, St. Petersburg Classic Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet , Susan Graham , Jennifer Larmore , Samuel Ramey , Barbara Bonney , Katia and Marielle Labèque , Angelika Kirchschlager , Simon Keenlyside , Gil Shaham , and Jessye Norman . In 2003, amid Vilar's falling fortunes,
19992-599: The W&;J Student Theater Company. In addition to student-produced art and music, the college provides a number of opportunities to view art and music from the larger art community. The college holds a collection of paintings by distinguished regional artist Malcolm Parcell , which are displayed in several locations on campus. The most prominent location is the Malcolm Parcell Room in The Commons, which
20188-749: The W&J Wind Ensemble, the W&J Jazz Ensemble, the W&J Choir and the Camerata Singers. Former musical organizations include the Banjo, Mandolin & Guitar Club and the College Band. Every year since 2003, the Theatre and Communication Department has produced the Winter Tales series, an annual production of one-act plays written by members of the W&J community, students, alumni, faculty, administration, and staff, and produced by
20384-698: The Washington Literary Society in 1814. Typical early activities include the presentation of dialogues , translations of passages from Greek or Latin classics, and extemporaneous speaking. Later, the literary societies began to present declamations . Each society maintained independent libraries for the use of their members, each of which rivaled the holdings of their respective colleges. These four college literary societies had intense rivalries with each other, competing in "contests", which pitted select society members against another in "compositions, speaking select orations and debating", with
20580-472: The actual Greek letters, "Fiji," "Phi Gam," or the English spelling "Phi Gamma Delta" is used in their place. The Fiji nickname started at New York University as a suggested name for the Fraternity magazine (Fee Gee). It was officially adopted by the national fraternity at the 1894 convention in the belief that the term would be distinctive and appeal to the imagination. Prior to its formal appropriation by
20776-577: The area in 1775 and built his log cabin college in 1780 near his church in Chartiers . Thaddeus Dod, known as a keen scholar, built his log cabin college in Lower Ten Mile in 1781. Joseph Smith taught classical studies in his college, called "The Study," at Buffalo. Washington Academy was chartered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on September 24, 1787. The first members of the board of trustees included Reverends Dod and Smith. After
20972-524: The bathrooms, upgrade the electrical system, and to install sprinklers. Presidents' Row is a cluster of ten buildings in the center of campus, with each named after a former President of the United States : Adams , Buchanan , Cleveland , Fillmore , Grant , Harrison , Jefferson , Lincoln , Monroe , and Washington . Each unit contains a lounge, meeting rooms, and living areas for up to 35 students. Some rooms are air-conditioned. In addition to standard co-educational living arrangements, Presidents' Row
21168-506: The biology department, "Corporate Failures, Frauds, and Scandals" in the business department, and "Vampires and Other Bloodsuckers" in the English department, "Holocaust Survivor Narratives" in the German department, and "Alternative Radio" in the communications department. At various times, the faculty organizes an "Integrated Semester," where professors organize regular departmental courses, specialized projects, and public events dealing with
21364-490: The board of trustees Park J. Alexander, was constructed in 1968 and is laid out with a suite-style floor plan. In the 2009–2010 academic year, it housed co-ed upperclass students. Marshall Hall was built in 1969 and is named after Elder W. Marshall, former president of the board of trustees. It is a co-ed facility with a suite-style floor plan. During the 2009–2010 academic year, it housed 128 both first year and upper-class coeducational students. Cooper Hall, formerly Beau Hall,
21560-504: The builder's own esoteric way." The National Register described its historical importance as a "unique variation of a Western Pennsylvania stone building," calling it "irreplaceable on a regional or national level." The Admissions House is a Victorian mansion built in 1894 as the residence of Andrew Happer, who had been a student at Washington College before quitting to fight in the American Civil War . Before being acquired by
21756-473: The building was unable to host any intercollegiate athletic events, and during World War II , it was used as the Army Administration School. After the construction of the Henry Memorial Center , the building no longer housed any athletic events. Instead, the Old Gym was used for student activities and maintenance. In 2002, the basketball court area of the Old Gym was renovated and turned into
21952-606: The building. After he reneged on that pledge in 2003, the building was renamed the Technology Center and plans for its completion were scaled back. It is the sister building to The Burnett Center , sharing the same architect and general contractor. The newest building on campus is the John A. Swanson Science Center, which was completed in February 2010. It was named after John A. Swanson , an engineer and businessman on
22148-467: The campus on Washington Academy. Originally a two-story structure with architecture matching the colonial facade of McMillan Hall , it has since doubled in height, received two towers, and expanded through multiple wing additions. The building currently houses the academic departments of mathematics, history, religious studies, and political science. The office of the College Chaplain, called
22344-455: The chapter for 5 years; as of 2019, they are still inactive. On September 17, 2010, a prospective member (pledge), Matt Fritzie, was partially paralyzed after diving into a shallow pool during a Fiji Islander party in Lawrence, Kansas. In response to the incident, the University of Kansas placed the chapter on a two-year probation for hazing. Fritzie has since sued both the chapter and
22540-465: The college bookstore, and administrative offices. McMillan Hall is named after college founder and Presbyterian missionary John McMillan . It has also been known as the "Old College," the "Academy Building," and the "Administration Building." It is currently home to administrative offices, including the Office of Communications, and the Office of the President. The college's ceremonial mace is carved from
22736-427: The college experienced a growth in construction and an effort to improve relations with the neighboring communities. In 2004, Tori Haring-Smith became the first woman to serve as president of Washington & Jefferson, undertaking an effort to improve the science curriculum and to construct the Swanson Science Center . After 13 years of service, Haring-Smith retired from her position on June 30, 2017. John C. Knapp
22932-512: The college from demolishing certain buildings that were listed on the East Washington Historic District . Local preservationists also unsuccessfully tried to block the demolition of Hays Hall , which had been condemned. In the 1990s, the city of Washington made several unsuccessful attempts to challenge the college's tax-exempt status. In 1993, Washington appealed the Washington County Board of Assessment's determination that
23128-539: The college in 1984, it was the Piatt Funeral Home. The Alumni House on Wheeling Street is the headquarters for the Alumni Relations office. It was obtained by the college from local attorney William S. Parker in 1989. Before being used as the Alumni House beginning in 2005, it was called Wheeling House and was used as an upper-class dormitory. It contains a mahogany-paneled study, a parlor with
23324-408: The college purchased the church's building, including the rectory and parish house, for $ 1.55 million. The congregation of 200 voted to accept the offer in order to build a larger church south of the town. Following the sale, the pastor expressed hope that the college would keep the building as a chapel. The church had been constructed in 1863. The Chestnut Street Housing student housing development
23520-488: The college students, which was ruled to be illegal and was struck down. In the late 1990s, the college and town created the Blueprint for Collaboration , a plan with detailed goals and benchmarks for the future to help the college and the city work together on economic development, environmental protection, and historic preservation. As of 2009, Washington & Jefferson College had about 12,000 living alumni . Before
23716-443: The college third in the nation per capita for producing doctors and scientific researchers. Among students who apply to law school, approximately 90% of students gain admission. The college recently added The English Language Institute which is a pre-academic program designed to equip multi-lingual learners with the English and academic skills to be prepared for undergraduate study. Admission to Washington & Jefferson College
23912-481: The college was exempt from the city's property tax . That case went to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court , which ruled in favor of the college. In response, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a new law clarifying that colleges were exempt from taxation, including from local property taxes. Separately, the city of Washington passed an ordinance that levied a municipal "service fee" against
24108-453: The college was ranked #100 out of the nation's institutions of higher education . The Washington Monthly ranked the college #132 among all American liberal arts colleges in terms of social mobility , research, and community service . The rankings listed the college as #30 in the nation in terms of Federal Work-Study Program money spent of community service. As president of the college, Tori Haring-Smith has specifically criticized
24304-543: The college's agreement with the club's purpose. The college recognizes over 70 student clubs on campus. A number of student clubs are dedicated to encouraging interest in a specific academic discipline, including the "W&J Denominators" mathematics club, the Society of Physics Students , and the Pre-Health Professions Society. Others are organized along ethnic and cultural lines, including
24500-428: The college, with one showing John McMillan and his log college, and the other showing Thaddeus Dod and the founding of Washington Academy. In 1947, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission installed a historical marker noting the historic importance of the college. The main academic building on campus is Old Main. It is the predominant building on campus. Its two identical towers, added in 1875, symbolize
24696-410: The college. The third floor contains a 700 square feet (65 m) greenhouse, with a potting room, wooden benches, and skylights. During the winter, the plants are illuminated by timed electric lights. The greenhouse is used for the cultivation of plant specimens, especially tropical, that are used for classroom experiments and demonstrations. Space is also reserved for student projects. The building
24892-473: The construction of Bica-Ross Hall provided by Violet Ross in honor of her husband, L. Clayton Ross, who was a 1930 graduate. Constructed in 2004, living units in Bica Ross Hall have four single rooms with a common area. Bica Ross was constructed on the site of the former Trinity Episcopal Church, which had been surrounded on 3 sides by college property, making it a virtual part of the campus. In 1998,
25088-408: The currently unused North Hall. The college administration utilizes several buildings, including the Admissions House, the Alumni House, and the President's House, which are all modified Victorian homes. The Clark Family Library , formerly known as the U. Grant Miller Library, is the modern library; its predecessor, Thompson Hall, is now used for administrative purposes. The Hub, The Commons, and
25284-434: The each freshman class returns to the college for their sophomore year. The overall graduation rate is 70% About 25 to 30% of each incoming class is the first in their family to attend college. The male to female ratio is 54% to 46%. Like the population of Pennsylvania and the United States as a whole, the largest ethnic group at the college is White American , making up about 82% of the student population. Roughly 10% of
25480-435: The entire name of the college, the shortened form of "W&J", or without any text. Prior to the adoption of this logo, the college's graphic identity consisted of a variety of conflicting logos and type styles . Relations between the city of Washington, Pennsylvania and Washington & Jefferson College span over two centuries, dating to the founding of both the city and the college in the 1780s. The relationship between
25676-491: The fall 2021 semester. Fijis at the Lambda chapter at Indiana Asbury University (now known as DePauw University ) played an important role in the founding of Kappa Alpha Theta women's fraternity. Bettie Locke, the sister of George W. Locke (DePauw, 1871), was one of the first women enrolled at DePauw. Bettie had many Fiji friends and one of them asked her to wear his badge. She contended that she would do so only if she knew
25872-562: The first faculty advisor. The college's yearbook , Pandora , is produced annually by a student staff. The history of literary societies at Washington & Jefferson College dates back to the 1797, when the Franklin Literary Society and the Philo Literary Society were founded at Canonsburg Academy. Two other literary societies were founded at Washington College, the Union Literary Society in 1809 and
26068-455: The founding date of the Fraternity. Contrary to popular belief, the Immortal six were not Freemasons when they entered Jefferson College. Phi Gamma Delta has chosen not to use the term alumni for members who have graduated; post-collegiate members are referred to as Graduate Brothers, to imply that membership extends past the undergraduate experience. Similarly, one of the mottoes used by
26264-448: The fraternity at Bowling Green State University was suspended after an investigation by the university revealed hazing and underage drinking by the group. In 2022, the chapter at University of Kansas was suspended for several years due to extreme verbal, emotional, and physical abuse of pledges. One pledge reported to authorities his entire pledge class was "under the control and authority of members every waking minute each day" during
26460-466: The fraternity members chanting, which a spokesperson for the fraternity has denied. One week later, a protest was held outside the fraternity's chapter house. The protest was attended by about 50 people, including an antifa group which flung tampons dipped in red paint at the building. The fraternity was suspended from UNL from March 2017 to May 2020 because of "a pattern of sexually harassing conduct" and other patterns of misconduct. The UNL chapter
26656-415: The fraternity moved to their new residence on Chestnut Street. It was renovated in the summer of 2006. The oldest building on campus is McMillan Hall, which was built in 1793 and served as the only building for the old Washington Academy. It is the eighth-oldest academic building in the United States that is still in use for its original academic purpose, and is the oldest surviving college building west of
26852-479: The grandstands at College Field . The exterior is Cleveland sandstone. In the early years, the interior space was used for basketball and as an auditorium. The basement once held a bowling alley and a swimming pool. Following renovations in 1927, where the interior was re-faced with brick and the swimming pool was expanded, the building was supposed to have been turned into a memorial hall for President James D. Moffat , but those plans never materialized. By 1938,
27048-400: The historic entrances of which are marked by brick gates, has over 40 buildings. The oldest surviving building is McMillan Hall , which dates to 1793 and is the oldest college building west of the Allegheny Mountains . The main academic building is Old Main , which is topped with two prominent towers. The Old Gym houses a modern exercise facility. McIlvaine Hall, which was originally home to
27244-460: The house and shared a video via the internet of them laughing at the protestors out the window. The next day, chancellor Ronnie Green announced that the university would be closing the fraternity house and suspending the chapter while the allegation of sexual assault was investigated. Campus protests against Phi Gamma Delta continued through the next week. State senator Megan Hunt spoke at one, confirming that, although she did not attend UNL, she
27440-612: The house to the college in memory of his wife, Amy Duncan Baker; it has been used as the President's House since. It was profiled in a book of regional architecture by the Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation. The college's first unified library was in Thompson Hall, which was constructed in 1905. Funds for its construction were provided by William R. Thompson of Pittsburgh's in honor of his mother. His wife, Mary Thaw Thompson, later established
27636-618: The influx of veterans under the G.I. Bill . In 1950, Boyd Crumrine Patterson assumed the presidency and oversaw curriculum revisions and the construction of a number of buildings, including the Henry Memorial Center , 10 Greek housing units in the center of campus, the U. Grant Miller Library , the Student Center, the Commons, and two new dormitories. His fundraising abilities grew the college's endowment expanded from $ 2.3 million to nearly $ 11 million. Patterson retired in 1970,
27832-401: The intramural activities included 3-on-3 basketball, billiards, bowling, flag football, kickball, tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, wallyball , ping pong , and Texas hold 'em . Intramural champions win a T-shirt celebrating their victory. While the varsity athletics program was struggling during the 1930s, intramural participation topped 84% of the student population. During that time,
28028-483: The land known as the "old fair ground," now used for Cameron Stadium . Towards the end of his term, Moffat personally paid for the 1912 renovations of McMillan Hall . In 1914, Frederick W. Hinitt was elected president. His tenure was dominated by the United States' entry into World War I, with an enrollment drop of 50%. William E. Slemmons , a college trustee and adjunct professor, succeeded Hinitt and served as interim president from May 1918 to June 1919. After
28224-731: The late 1990s and early 2000s. The first dormitory on campus was Hays Hall . Wade House, Carriage House, and Whitworth House are Victorian homes housing older students. The recently constructed Chestnut Street Housing complex provides housing for the college's Greek organizations . The Presidents' Row is a cluster of ten buildings in the center of campus, several of which are dedicated to theme housing. Two sister dormitories, New Residence Hall and Bica-Ross Hall, feature suite-style living arrangements. Mellon Hall and Upperclass Hall house male freshmen. Other dormitories include Alexander Hall, Beau Hall, Marshall Hall, North Hall, and Penn House. The college administration utilizes several buildings, including
28420-499: The leadership of Matthew Brown, Jefferson College was in a stronger position to weather the financial storm for a longer period. Desperate for funds, Washington College accepted an offer from the Synod of Wheeling to take control of the college, a move that was supposed to stabilize the finances for a period of time. However, Washington College then undertook another series of risky financial moves that crippled its finances. Following
28616-413: The main dining facility on campus, also contains the Malcolm Parcell Room, which contains a number of works by noted local artist Malcolm Parcell . The Commons houses the main offices for the college radio station WNJR , the college newspaper Red & Black , and the yearbook. Additionally, The Ski Lodge, located in the ground floor, has a fireplace and gathering areas. The building is connected to
28812-410: The management of intramural activities was transferred to the athletic department, allowing the intramural program to use the college's varsity facilities. In the 1930s and 1940s, groups of students competed for the "Big Cup," a trophy given to the most outstanding team, as judged by a cross-sport point system. One of the oldest traditions at Washington & Jefferson College was the "Freshman Rules,"
29008-452: The national organization. In 2012, West Virginia University banned the fraternity in response to alcohol-related hazing. The fraternity reinstated the chapter in 2014. On April 4, 2014, Michael Evan Anderson, member of the University of Arizona chapter of FIJI, died after an unsanctioned FIJI event, when he fell 20 feet (6 m) from the top of an air conditioning unit onto the roof of his dormitory. The investigation of his death by
29204-620: The new Swanson Science Center . With 50 rooms, including a nationally recognized polymer lab, a darkroom, a 100-seat lecture hall, and a main supply room with an acid room and hazardous chemical vault. The campus chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society produces an annual "Fear at Lazear" haunted house . The door to the Troutman Library on the first floor of Lazear holds
29400-463: The next 60 years, the various parties within the two colleges pursued unification with each other, but the question of where the unified college would be located thwarted those efforts. In 1817, a disagreement over a perceived agreement for unification erupted into "The College War" and threatened the existence of both colleges. In the ensuing years, both colleges began to undertake risky financial moves, especially over-selling scholarships. Thanks to
29596-543: The northeastern border of campus. It houses the Departments of Economics and Business, Modern Languages, and Education, as well as the Yost Auditorium, an 84-seat lecture hall. The four seminar rooms, located in the tower structure of the left side of the building, feature 16-seat octagonal tables. The building was completed in 2001 at a cost of $ 12.8 million. It is named after Howard J. Burnett , who served as president from 1970 to 1998. The entrance plaza includes
29792-439: The oldest dating to 1793. The college has a strong history of competing literary societies, dating back before the union of Jefferson and Washington Colleges. The athletic program competes in NCAA Division III . Nearly all students live on campus and roughly one-third are members of fraternities or sororities. Washington & Jefferson College traces its origin to three log cabin colleges established by three frontier clergymen in
29988-571: The organization at large, nicknames for members of the fraternity varied greatly; ranging from "Phi Gamm" and "Delta" by brothers across the nation, "Fee Gee" in New York, and "Gammas" in the South. Today, "Fiji" and "Phi Gam" are considered by the fraternity to be the only appropriate nicknames for Phi Gamma Delta members on the international scale, though local nicknames related to a chapter's Greek name or other colloquialisms do exist. The fraternity
30184-440: The organization is, "Not for College Days Alone". Phi Gamma Delta's mission statement lists five core values for its members: friendship, knowledge, service, morality, and excellence. In addition, members are encouraged to live by three priorities in this respective order: scholarship, fraternity, and self. This ordering is because members attend university with the foremost goal of receiving an education, and that Phi Gamma Delta
30380-546: The original doorknob from Tara , the main plantation house from the 1939 movie Gone with the Wind . It was donated to the college in May 1940 by the film's producer and Pittsburgh native David O. Selznick , who had family in the Washington area. A faulty heating system and general disrepair spurred the construction of the Swanson Science Center , where the chemistry department moved in 2010. The Dieter-Porter Life Science Building,
30576-467: The original wooden pillars. In 1977, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The National Register described the building's architecture as achieving a "unique quality and charm from the fact that vernacular builders selectively borrowed Georgian , Roman Classical , Adamesque, and other European Renaissance architectural forms, elements, and details and combined them in
30772-414: The perceived ill-will towards students was unintentional and a misunderstanding. Nonetheless, the student body held a strike and general walkout in 1931, prompting Baker to resign. Baker's successor, Ralph Cooper Hutchison , was much more popular with the student body. In an effort to strengthen the college's science department, Hutchison extended and expanded the southern portion of the campus, adding
30968-473: The point where it was no longer able to house students, but the bookstore remained. In 1982, the building was declared a fire hazard and closed for all uses. While various efforts sought to renovate or restore Hays Hall, including a push to have it named a historical landmark, Hays Hall was demolished in 1994. The college owns three Victorian houses on the periphery of campus that are used as alternative living spaces for students. The college acquired Wade House,
31164-557: The recent protests or ongoing sexual assault investigation. A member at the University of Tennessee was accused of drugging and raping two women during a party in 2019. The accused apologized to one of the women in a text message, which was later used as evidence of his guilt. The fraternity house was sanctioned. In 1997, as part of an allegedly mandatory hazing event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology chapter, 18-year-old freshman Scott Krueger died as
31360-403: The same for a number of years, even while the college made significant improvements in terms of its acceptance rates and overall selectivity, the addition of academic programs, and the construction of additional buildings. Haring-Smith's criticism of the rankings spurred Bob Morse, the founder of the U.S. College Rankings system to respond to the criticisms directly in an article. She has signed
31556-815: The same year that the trustees authorized the admission of women as undergraduate students. Howard J. Burnett took office as president that year and hired the college's first female faculty members and the first female dean. The college also adopted a new academic calendar to include intersession and expanded its academic programs to include the Entrepreneurial Studies Program, the Freshman Forum, and several cooperative international education programs. Student enrollment grew from 830 in 1970 to 1,100 in 1998. Burnett retired as president in 1998. Under Burnett's successor, Brian C. Mitchell , who served as president from 1998 to 2004,
31752-427: The seal is unknown, with the first known use occurring during the 1902 centennial celebration of Jefferson College's founding. The seal is used in official documents, including diplomas and certificates. The college's current logo features a stylized version of the two towers of Old Main , symbolizing the 1865 unification of Washington College and Jefferson College. The logo may be displayed in several versions: with
31948-414: The series went on a hiatus, and Vilar's 2005 indictment for financial fraud ended the series. In Fall 2003, the W&J Arts Series, the college's other art series, was expanded to partially compensate. 43% of women and 40% of men of the student body participating in Greek life. The Princeton Review named Washington & Jefferson College 12th on their 2010 list of "Major Frat and Sorority Scene" in
32144-399: The stone Academy Building . During the Whiskey Rebellion , portions of David Bradford's militia camped on a hillside that would later become home to the unified Washington & Jefferson College. In October 1792, after a year's delay from its official incorporation resulting from "trouble with Indians," McMillan was chosen as the headmaster and Canonsburg was chosen as the location for
32340-439: The student body totaled 1,156 undergraduate students. The student body is highly residential, with 98% of students residing in campus housing. The number of transfer students joining the student body each year is relatively low, compared to other institutions. Approximately 18% of the student body receives federal Pell Grants . Prior to entering college, 82% of the student body attended public high schools . Roughly 86% of
32536-445: The student body's culture of fitness and behavior. In 2009, the college was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll , in recognition of the student body's commitment to community service. The college's spends 22% of its Federal Work-Study Program funds on community service projects. The college has joined the YES Prep School IMPACT Partnership Program to provide support to low-income students from
32732-419: The student population does not specify their ethnicity. Other ethnicities, including African American, Asian American , Native American, and Hispanic Americans collectively comprise about 6% of the student body. International students make up 2.05% of the student body. In 2006, Men's Fitness named W&J the "14th Fittest College in America," a ranking that weighed the college's fitness offerings and
32928-502: The town and college was strong enough that the citizens of Washington offered a $ 50,000 donation in 1869 to the college in a successful attempt to lure the trustees to select Washington over nearby Canonsburg as the consolidated location of the college. The relationship encountered challenges the 20th century, with disagreements arising between the college and residential neighborhoods as the college pursued an expansion plan. Preservationists unsuccessfully attempted to pass laws prohibiting
33124-417: The union of Washington College and Jefferson College to form Washington & Jefferson College . The towers appear on the college seal, in a stylized version. The college fundraising operation founded "The Old Main Society" in 1996 to recognize individuals who utilize planned giving . The building's configuration has changed considerably since its construction in 1850, when it became the second building on
33320-433: The union of the two colleges, Washington College graduated 872 men and Jefferson College graduated 1,936 men. These alumni include James G. Blaine , who served in Congress as Speaker of the House , U.S. Senator from Maine , two-time United States Secretary of State and the Republican nominee for the 1884 presidential election . Other graduates have held high federal positions, including United States Secretary of
33516-415: The university should have taken more steps to protect the student, as the university was aware of a pattern of hazing, sexual assault, and other problems at the Phi Gamma Delta house. In 2006, 19-year-old Danny Daniels was found dead in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house at Fresno State University , prompting an investigation and immediate suspension of the chapter. It was found that the fraternity hosted
33712-446: The war ended in 1919, Samuel Charles Black took over and helped to stabilize the enrollment. While on a honeymoon tour of national parks , Black became ill and died. His successor, Simon Strousse Baker , was well liked by the college's trustees and by "many a townsman", but the student body felt that Baker was "autocratic" and held an "unfriendly attitude toward the student body as individuals." Baker defended himself, saying that
33908-405: The western entrance to campus, and was built in 1948 by members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the fraternity's founding at Jefferson College in 1848. That brick gate opens to a stone path leading to Old Main . The fraternity refurbished the gate in 1998. The reliefs on the southern gate at East Maiden Street, called the Algeo Gateway, show the roots of
34104-449: The woman's friends from finding her as she was being raped, according to the lawsuit. She says that Crawfordsville, Indiana police told her that Wabash College has no formal code of conduct and that the student who assaulted her would face few consequences, so encouraged her not to pursue the complaint. On August 30, 2021, an online petition alleged a sexual assault at the University of Iowa Phi Gamma Delta chapter, said to have occurred
34300-442: The year prior. The allegation appeared a few days after a reported assault at the Nebraska chapter, where students protested in front of the Phi Gamma Delta house. In September 2012, University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) campus police fielded a report of a rape at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house. On January 21, 2017, Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members at UNL were claimed to have screamed pro-rape slurs at participants of
34496-437: The youthful orchestra from a deft performance." Mark Kanny, classical music critic for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review , said, while reviewing a 2001 performance of Valery Gergiev conducting the Kirov Orchestra , that "the [small] size of Olin actually added to the effectiveness of the concert. The music was heard in a more intimate environment and had more impact." A granite and limestone building, The Burnett Center anchors
34692-646: Was Hays Hall . Wade House, Carriage House, and Whitworth House are Victorian homes housing older students. The recently constructed Chestnut Street Housing complex provides housing for the college's Greek organizations . The Presidents' Row is a cluster of ten buildings in the center of campus, several of which are dedicated to theme housing. Two sister dormitories, New Residence Hall and Bica-Ross Hall, feature suite-style living arrangements. Mellon Hall houses female freshman, and Upperclass Hall houses male freshmen. Other dormitories include Alexander Hall, Cooper Hall (formerly Beau Hall), Marshall Hall, Penn House, and
34888-410: Was handcuffed and forced to drink 15 shots of brandy and whisky and three to six cans of beer over two and a half hours. He broke loose from the handcuffs and attempted to escape by sliding down a drainpipe from a third story window. He fell and suffered head injuries. The incident led to the Nebraska Legislature making hazing a crime. In a resulting lawsuit, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that
35084-444: Was accused of sexual misconduct in October 2019, while it was still suspended because of the events of 2017. A sexual assault was reported to University of Nebraska police on August 24, 2021, as having been committed by a Phi Gamma Delta member. Hundreds of protesters converged on the fraternity house that night, calling for an end to rape on campus and for the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity to be shut down. Fraternity members stayed inside
35280-407: Was acquired by the college and used as a dormitory for 33 students. In the 1940s, it was converted to the Electrical Engineering Building. In 1947, the building was renamed from the Reed Dormitory to Davis Memorial Hall in honor of Harry Hamilton and Tillie Wilkinson Davis, who provided the funds for a major remodeling project. Following that renovation, the building housed offices and classrooms for
35476-424: Was announced that Harrison Hall would be renamed to Riesenman Hall. New Residence Hall and Bica-Ross Hall are sister dormitories, featuring suite-style living arrangements. New Residence Hall provides 24 living units, each with a common area, two single rooms, and a double room. It was constructed in 2002, with the 4th floor completed in 2004. In 2009–10, it housed 108 co-educational upperclass students. Funds for
35672-409: Was aware of the "open secret" of frequent sexual assault at Phi Gamma Delta and certain other UNL fraternities. During the week of protests, university police received an influx of reports of rape; many were previously unreported events from years ago. In October 2021, the UNL chapter of Phi Gamma Delta was suspended until 2026. The suspension was because of alcohol use, and not officially connected to
35868-400: Was built in 1981 and totals 50,000 square feet (4,600 m) in size. It contains classrooms, laboratories, and an auditorium. The building was named after two longtime Professors who were largely responsible for establishing the college's scientific reputation, Dr. Clarence D. Dieter and Dr. Homer C. Porter. The building also contains a library, which contains a study lounge, work space, and
36064-436: Was completed in 1903 and the new "fireproof" building was opened to Washington & Jefferson Academy students. Rooms were arranged in a suite style, with communal bathrooms on each floor, and shower baths on the 5th floor. In 1912, the academy closed and Hays Hall was used by Washington & Jefferson College students. At various times, Hays Hall housed the bookstore and a dining hall. By 1968, Hays Hall had deteriorated to
36260-460: Was declared a failure and all operations were consolidated in Washington. Before the merger could be completed, Canonsburg residents and Jefferson College partisans filed a lawsuit, known as the Pennsylvania College Cases , sought to overturn the consolidation plan. Leadership of the college during this time fell to Samuel J. Wilson , a local pastor, and James I. Brownson , who had earlier been interim president of Washington College. By 1871,
36456-408: Was destroyed by fire, but rebuilt by McMillan in the late 1780s. This log school has been preserved and is located beside the middle school in Canonsburg . The first Jefferson College building in Canonsburg was the Stone College Building, which was constructed on land donated Colonel John Canon . It was demolished in 1843 to make room for a new town hall. Providence Hall, a red brick building with
36652-410: Was elected the first president of the unified Washington & Jefferson College on April 4, 1866. Edwards immediately encountered significant challenges, including the difficulties of administering a college across two campuses, as well as old prejudices and hard feelings among those still loyal to either Jefferson College or Washington College. Edwards resigned in 1869, as the two-campus arrangement
36848-439: Was extensively renovated in 2004. The Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium is a combined multi-purpose outdoor athletic facility for the baseball and soccer teams. At 233,000 square feet (21,600 m) of FieldTurf playing surface, the facility was the home of the largest continuous artificial playing surface in the world at its completion in 2004. The Swanson Wellness Center is a modern exercise facility located within
37044-439: Was hazing on a pledge during their 'dad reveal'." The university announced it would no longer recognize Phi Gamma Delta as a student organization because of multiple violations of its standard of conduct. In 2021, the fraternity at the University of Missouri had their recognition as an officially registered student organization on campus withdrawn due to multiple violations of the university's standard of conduct. In 2022,
37240-445: Was home to the Vilar Distinguished Artist Series from 1999 to 2003. Andrew Druckenbrod, classical music critic for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , said, while reviewing a 2003 performance of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , that the "downside is that multipurpose Olin is not nearly equipped to handle such a group, either in stage size or acoustics. But cramped environs, blinking lighting and inadequate reverberation didn't deter
37436-470: Was known as the ITS Building. Its original purpose was to serve as a student center. It currently provides meeting and recreational areas for students, complete with an outdoor patio, lounge areas, multimedia entertainment centers with various gaming consoles, table tennis tables, foosball , and a pool table . The ground floor is used for "Monticello's Coffee House," which offers free drinks and food on weekends. The college's academic library collection
37632-510: Was named Haring-Smith's successor on April 21, 2017, and became the college's 13th president on August 1, 2017. On February 27, 2024, the college announced the selection of Elizabeth MacLeod Walls as the 14th president. MacLeod Walls and began her tenure on June 30, 2024. The campus of Washington & Jefferson College is located in the city of Washington and the East Washington Borough , small-town communities about 30 miles (48 km) south of Pittsburgh . The 60-acre (24 ha) campus
37828-437: Was originally home to a female seminary, was demolished in 2008 and replaced by the Swanson Science Center . Davis Memorial Hall was once a dormitory and private house. The Lazear Chemistry Hall, and the Dieter-Porter Life Sciences Building all cater to the scientific curriculum. The Burnett Center and its sister building, the Technology Center , were built in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The first dormitory on campus
38024-521: Was purchased in 1885. Originally a fairground, it was developed into a proper athletic field after the discovery of oil on the grounds. It was renovated in 1999 and rechristened Cameron Stadium after the addition of an all-weather track, the installation of a FieldTurf football field, and renovated grandstands and media facilities. In 1970, the Henry Memorial Center was built. It houses a main gymnasium for basketball, wrestling, and volleyball, as well as an auxiliary basketball court, two handball courts,
38220-655: Was razed to build a junior high school . Washington %26 Jefferson College Washington & Jefferson College ( W&J College or W&J ) is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania , United States. The college traces its origin to three Presbyterian missionaries in the 1780s: John McMillan , Thaddeus Dod , and Joseph Smith . Early schools grew into two competing academies, with Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania , and Washington College in Washington. The two colleges merged in 1865 to form Washington & Jefferson College. The 60-acre (24 ha) campus has more than 40 buildings, with
38416-412: Was the first president of Ohio University . Astronaut and test pilot Joseph A. Walker became the first person to enter space twice. Other graduates have gone on to success in professional athletics, including Buddy Jeannette , a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame , and Pete Henry , a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame . Roger Goodell has served as the Commissioner of
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