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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

A $200,000 state grant is funding the new detective position.

Lexington Police Department names a detective to handle domestic abuse and sexual assault cases

Project Horizon will work with the detective to provide shelter and support for victims
Alejandra Pacheco
October 21, 2024
Ricardo Vergara will spend six years in prison and five on probation.

Former first-year sentenced to six years in prison

Ricardo Vergara, formerly ’26, was sentenced Monday in Rockbridge Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a rape charge
Jenny Hellwig, Editor-in-chief
April 8, 2024
Former first-year pleads guilty to rape

Former first-year pleads guilty to rape

Ricardo Vergara's sentencing hearing is set for April 8
Jenny Hellwig
January 22, 2024
Ricardo Vergara will spend six years in prison and five on probation.

Grand jury indicts former Washington and Lee first-year on rape charges

Lexington police arrested Ricardo Vergara in February for allegedly sexually assaulting a fellow student a month earlier
Jenny Hellwig, Editor-in-chief
November 7, 2023
A whiteboard with writing on it in red marker that reads: Shauna + Bri were here until 1:24 am #RTPismylife and we did not finish help us

Editorial: W&L needs to reconsider its relationship with the press

Administrators don’t respond. Students only respond after a piece is published. And us? Well, we respond with this.
Bri Hatch and Shauna Muckle
May 8, 2023
A group of people, appearing mostly female, hold lit candles and walk in a loose line on a brick pathway under columned porches. The photo's lighting is dim and indicates twilight.

The other side of sexual misconduct programming

Audrey Blumenstock, '22, says being on the SPEAK executive team made her feel "muzzled" by the administration
Jenny Hellwig, News Editor
March 28, 2023

W&L’s culture of misogyny and assault

Ramsey unleashes a polemic on the school’s response to recent infractions by male students
Blake Ramsey, Staff Writer
March 13, 2023
Vergara direct messaged one of his victims and apologized after he assaulted her Oct. 1. (Screenshots shared by victim)

First-year student arrested on sexual assault charges

One victim said she reported Ricardo Vergara, ’26, to the Title IX office in October for a separate offense of sexual assault—but he faced no disciplinary action
Bri Hatch, Jenny Hellwig, and Shauna Muckle
March 2, 2023

New advocate position addresses sexual misconduct

Janet Boller guides students who file reports through the Title IX process
Archita Aggarwal, Staff Writer
January 23, 2023
SPEAK members read stories submitted by student survivors.

SPEAK event provides forum for W&L students to share their stories

Survivors of sexual assault find support at annual event
Anneliese Schneider, Staff Writer
December 14, 2022
Organizer Mansi Tripathi, ’22, gave opening remarks about the prevalence of sexual assault at Washington and Lee in front of a banner signed by students to show support for survivors. Photo by Shauna Muckle, ’24.

SPEAK hosts sexual assault awareness event

Anonymous stories written by survivors described a culture of self-blame, doubt and social stigma surrounding speaking out about sexual violence
Shauna Muckle
February 1, 2022
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