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The student newspaper of Washington and Lee University

The Ring-tum Phi

The student newspaper of Washington and Lee University

The Ring-tum Phi

The student newspaper of Washington and Lee University

The Ring-tum Phi

Maya Lora, '20, is one of the news section editors.

Maya Lora, Editor-in-Chief

Maya Lora, ’20, was the co-editor-in-chief during her senior year. She double majored in English and journalism. She is from Miami, Florida. Maya has been writing for the Phi since her freshman year. Besides the Phi, she works with Amnesty International, the Latinx Student Organization, and Residential Life.

All content by Maya Lora
Hannah Denham, '20, (left) and Maya Lora, '20, (right) in the Ring-tum Phi office.

For the last time

Maya Lora and Hannah Denham, the 2019-20 editors-in-chief of the Ring-tum Phi, sign-off
Maya Lora and Hannah Denham
May 18, 2020
Rafay Hassan, ‘22, enjoys iftar with Assistant Professor of Arabic Antoine Edwards (not pictured) on Sunday, May 17. Photo courtesy of Hassan.

Being your own community: Celebrating Ramadan in quarantine

Some students at home and in Lexington struggle to celebrate Islam's holy month while social distancing
Maya Lora
May 18, 2020
Washington Hall, from the steps of Lee Chapel. Photo by Hannah Denham.

Judge requires university to turn over redacted Title IX records in federal lawsuit with former student

Attorneys have requested the trial date for John Doe v. Washington and Lee University be moved to November due to coronavirus
Hannah Denham and Maya Lora
May 18, 2020
Traveller employees before a shift during Mock Convention weekend. Photo courtesy of Lauren Fredericks.

For some students, remote learning means a loss of income

Washington and Lee University is still paying work-study students; other jobs not guaranteed
Maya Lora
May 4, 2020
Students chalk the sidewalk at the Third-Year Village on March 14, 2020. Photo by Emma Coleman.

Sophomore housing selection postponed “until further notice”

Residential Life is looking into campus housing for sophomores unable to live in Woods Creek, especially theme houses with vacancies
Maya Lora
May 4, 2020
Photo by Hannah Denham.

University proposes adjustments to grading and registration for rest of academic year

For winter term, pending approval, students will be able to choose to keep traditional letter grades or transition to credit/no-credit
Maya Lora
March 27, 2020

Book club forms in response to “American Dirt”

The discussion group plans to select a new book by a Latinx author to read together
Maya Lora
February 12, 2020
Participants march with flags during the Lee-Jackson Day parade. Photo by Hannah Denham.

Sons of Confederate Veterans offer a tour of black Confederate sites on Lee-Jackson Day

Black Lexington residents expressed discomfort with the premise of the tour
Maya Lora
January 28, 2020
Photo by Hannah Denham.

Overload requests from seniors nearly tripled in one year

An associate dean said he doesn't know the reason for the jump
Maya Lora
November 18, 2019
Washington Hall. Photo by Hannah Denham.

Washington and Lee denies it acted with anti-male bias in 2017 sexual misconduct case

The former male student is suing the university after he was suspended for non-consensual sexual penetration of a female student, denied readmission
Hannah Denham and Maya Lora
July 18, 2019

Virginia governor facing calls for resignation

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is among the politicians who think the governor should step down
Maya Lora and Sutton Travis
February 4, 2019
Leeann Passaro, ‘20, is the LGBTQ+ editor for Diverge. Above, she hands out Chipotle burritos during one of the club’s fundraising events. Photo by Jordan Diehl, ‘22.

New club sparks campus controversy; rapper pulls out of launch concert

The trio of juniors who founded Diverge said they were aiming to give voice to intersectionality on campus
Maya Lora
February 4, 2019
Mickie Brown, ‘21, said this bed sheet along with several of the posters were taken down on Monday. Photo by Mickie Brown, ‘21.

W&L counselor being sued for negligence, medical malpractice is still seeing students

Former Washington and Lee student Kionte Burnette is suing Rallie Snowden and the school for a total of $24 million.
Maya Lora
January 14, 2019
Captain Scott Kelly captures audience, talks future of missions in galaxy

Captain Scott Kelly captures audience, talks future of missions in galaxy

The seasoned astronaut kicked off a year of speakers for the Contact Committee
Maya Lora
October 1, 2018
Veteran representative voted in to chair the SJC

Veteran representative voted in to chair the SJC

Andrew Agrippina, ‘19, hopes to build on SJC’s improvement of sanctions policy with help from experienced secretary
Maya Lora, News Writer
April 9, 2018
Campuswide election slates EC leaders for upcoming school year

Campuswide election slates EC leaders for upcoming school year

Women swept the officer roles within the elected body that facilitates student self-governance and the honor system; class rep results still to come elections forthcoming
Maya Lora, News Writer
March 26, 2018

For pyschology majors, gender disparity not necessarily a downside

Psychology is just one academic department at W&L that shows a strong gender skew among declared majors
Maya Lora, News Writer
March 19, 2018
Sree Sreenivasan speaks in Stackhouse Theater on March 9. Photo by Maya Lora, ‘20

Digital, social media strategist keynotes Ethics Institute in Media

Sree Sreenivasan shared what he believes are important ethical considerations for both the digital and real worlds
Maya Lora, News Writer
March 12, 2018
Members of Beta pose outside of their Red Square home last week. Residents moved out of the house this past weekend. Photo courtesy of Alpha Rho chapter of Beta Theta Pi

Beta Theta Pi suspended until 2022 for hazing violations

Investigations by the university and national fraternity staff found evidence of hazing, leading the Beta Theta Pi headquarters to immediately suspend the Alpha Rho chapter
Maya Lora, News
March 5, 2018
Confederate flag replicas were removed from the main chamber of Lee Chapel in 2014 following discussions wiuth W&L law students who were concerned by the symbols' impact on students. Now, a different law student coalition recommends that the unviersity move all mandatory student events from Lee Chapel to other venues. Photo courtesy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch

Law student group presses administrators, undergrads for swifter campus change

The Coalition for Campus Change demands modifications to university’s use of Lee monuments, portrayal of slave-holding history
Maya Lora
February 16, 2018
The William School's Huntley Hall

Williams School administrators quell rumors of overcrowding, class caps

Crowding in ‘The C-School’ is no cause for concern, according to department heads and professors, who are in discussions about how to handle the school’s growing pains
Maya Lora
January 30, 2018
Photo courtesy of Washington and Lee

University approaches choice of next “Quality Enhancement Plan”

The Phi spoke with QEP Selection Committee Chairwoman Elizabeth Knapp to learn about the process that most recently inspired the four-week Spring Term
Maya Lora
November 7, 2017

Beyond Charlottesville: W&L begins exploration into own history

President Dudley has convened students, faculty, staff and alumni to examine how the university's history affects its modern community
Maya Lora
October 10, 2017

Public Safety works to address harassment, Charlottesville and more

The Washington and Lee Department of Public Safety isn’t taking a back seat to what’s been happening near campus
Maya Lora
September 22, 2017
T-Pain performed at the sold-out show in the Pavilion. Photo courtesy of GAB.

Sold-out T-Pain concert rocks W&L community

The General Activities Board made some protocol changes at this year’s winter concert featuring well-known rapper T-Pain
Maya Lora
March 27, 2017

Discussing the state of cyber law, warfare in the new Internet age

The Alexander Hamilton Society works to educate the student body on current domestic and international policies and issues
Maya Lora
March 20, 2017
Mark Sanders speaks on Cuba. Photo by Maya Lora, ‘20.

Emory professor discusses racial representation in Cuba

Professor Mark Sanders reflects on black contributions to the freedom of Cuba during the Cuban War of Independence
Maya Lora
March 2, 2017

W&L Student Arts League seeks more active presence on and off campus

Student group engages in various projects on campus to promote collaboration, foster creativity within community
Maya Lora
November 14, 2016

Students and faculty discuss Muslim discrimination, Islamophobia

Amnesty International hosts a panel for faculty members to speak on experiences of discrimination
Maya Lora
November 7, 2016
Diana Henriques. Photo courtesy of W&L.

Renowned journalist, author, tells story behind Wall Street’s most notorious fraudster

Diana Henriques discusses impact and lessons from Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme
Maya Lora
October 31, 2016

Nabors Service League makes impact in local community

Fall service day attracts students and local volunteers
Maya Lora
September 26, 2016
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