All Washington and Lee students are involved in some kind of physical activity during their time on campus. Although varsity athletes make up a large portion of the student body — including about 26% of the current freshman class, according to the university website — there are a myriad of other opportunities to stay physically active on campus, like exercising at the gym or taking physical education classes. 

“We’re one of the most active campuses in the country,” said George Libecco, ’29, a member of the men’s swim team. “The requirement of P.E. forces everyone to be active in some way or another.”

In order to graduate from Washington and Lee, students must complete four physical activity courses. From aerobic running to rock climbing to mindfulness and meditation, there is something for everyone to try. The physical education requirement is intended to develop basic motor skills, promote physical fitness, encourage social efficiency, and help students acquire a respect for good health and well-being. Physical education classes, which count as one credit, typically meet a few times a week and fit into the regular daily academic schedule. Varsity student athletes are only required to take two P.E. courses, according to a previous Phi article.

While some people dislike the P.E. requirement, I think it is  a beneficial component of the Washington and Lee experience. Staying active is not only a physical benefit, but I truly believe that even just an hour of physical activity a day can be a great time to destress and reset the mind, especially at such an academically rigorous institution. Therefore, the requirement truly strives to, and succeeds at, keeping our campus healthy.

While I acknowledge the P.E. requirement is beneficial, some people, like me, prefer to exercise on their own time, especially as an opportunity to take a break and reset from the mental drain of schoolwork. Connecting my AirPods and getting on the treadmill or going through a yoga workout in the gym always helps to reset my mind and keep me healthy.

The Washington and Lee fitness center, located in the Richard L. Duchossois Center for Athletics and Recreation, gives students a place to exercise independently. The center features space for free weights and strength and cardio equipment, as well as a separate section for varsity athletes’ team lifts. Early morning and late night hours allow community members a wide range to find time to exercise, and I think a lot of people do! Go before dinner? There’ll be a line for the treadmills. This is how I know our campus is fully engaged with prioritizing physical health.

There’s also CampusRec, a student engagement and leadership organization that encourages all Washington and Lee students to stay physically active. The organization meets the needs of all. CampusRec hosts intramural activities like spikeball and pickleball. It organizes club sports, such as cheerleading or soccer, that compete against other schools. And it runs group exercise classes, like yoga or spin, and provides the opportunity to check out equipment, like basketballs. 

So many people across campus are involved with intramural activities and club sports. These community activities are truly beneficial for encouraging social efficiency and staying in shape. And they’re super well-attended and fun.

Something so special about Washington and Lee is the Generals’ varsity sports teams. Throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons, Washington and Lee has 24 Division III Varsity sports teams: 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams. All of the teams are members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and compete against teams in and out of conference. 

The athletics department strives to uphold principles of leadership, sportsmanship, integrity and responsibility amongst its sports teams. 

“I think with athletics, coaches recognize it is a Division III school, so they always put academics first. But they simultaneously encourage us to do our best and push us to our limits, and on the P.E. side of things, there is constant guidance and support in the small class sizes,” Libecco said. 

The department also endorses the motto of mens sana in corpore sano — a healthy mind in a healthy body. In line with its liberal arts mission, the university seeks to embrace academic and athletic excellence alongside physical and mental wellness. 

There are several wellness-related resources across campus, especially through the new Lindley Center for Student Wellness, which offers consultations and counseling in managing well-being. 

As a student-athlete myself, I know that being a member of an athletic team here is such an honor and an amazing privilege. So many people desire to play sports at the next level, but only a small percentage of athletes are able to do so. 

The athletics community at Washington and Lee is intense, well-spirited and extremely tight-knit. My teammates and coaches are consistently pushing for improvement and promoting a positive environment where I feel eager to grow as both an athlete and an individual. 

But not everyone has to be a member of a varsity team to be considered physically healthy.

“I think that doing at least an hour of physical activity a day represents a healthy campus,” Libecco said. 

And physical health isn’t all that being active improves, he said. 

“For me, physical activity has given me routine and improved my mental health,” Libecco said. “Having swimming allows me to have a solid foundation on which to base the rest of my schedule. It’s something that always remains the same, so it gives me a sense of stability. Besides that, physical activity helps me to relieve my stress.”