People who do not attend or have never heard of Washington and Lee may not know about the interesting history regarding this school, but could assume. Because of the school’s obvious affiliation with the Confederates and the fact that slaves built the school, many are against the school’s chapel and various buildings. In the past, the school itself owned and sold slaves. The racism continued and was extremely prominent up to 1961, at which the Board of Trustees rejected the request to allow Martin Luther King Jr. to appear. Even in the past few weeks, with the change of the name of the buildings, funds have disappeared as alumni did not agree with such change. Diversity is an obvious issue that needs to be addressed as the percentage of minorities has historically been about 10%, reaching 13% last year, and finally 14% this year. Reports below have shown that this year has improved. Sally Stone Richmond has stated that the ability to advertise DIVE (Diversity and Inclusion Visit Experience) online and displaying early dates online has allowed for students to secure spots and visit the school.

In asking Sally Richmond whether or not Greek life was an aspect that was considered, she stated that it was not. She seemed to stated the stereotypical admissions answers, stating that it was simply important to the school cares about “proving readiness and rigor eagerness for experience,” [changing] demographics of the US and the world, “[recruiting] a class that meets the objectives of the institution.” Personally, this seems like an issue to me. While the stats have decreased for the percentage of the greek affiliated, it is a result of the increased diversity. In addition, the increased technology has allowed for the issues to be perpetuated in Greek life. Technology has allowed for greek organizations to judge students and pick students based off their social medias. In addition, social media has allowed for contact from greek organizations to students over the summer and start their marketing tactics with this kind of reach. Technology therefore perpetuates biases, rape culture, and cliques from early on, which I think can and should be changed by the new technologies that admissions develops.

Technology is not all doom and gloom within admissions, however. Technology has allowed for Questrbridge students to receive increasing benefits. Questbridge is a program that allows for low income families to create connections with more “elite” schools and match early on. Richmond explained that technology has allowed for communication with Questbridge students in the summer of the junior year and attend events all throughout their senior year. This is important to a school whose demographics are mostly from the top 10% of wealth in the nation.

Technology has not only perpetuated, but also helped many aspects of this school. I think more can and should be done with it. I am hopeful that admissions will take these new technologies to analyze further what should be done and improve the diversity of thought within Washington and Lee.