Southmayd Center for American Ideals is a non-profit organization founded by W&L alumnus Jeff Southmayd. The Southmayd Center for American Ideals works to ensure the accurate preservation of President Lee’s legacy, nurture open debate on campus, and provide service-oriented student groups funds they might not otherwise receive for their activities and events.
A Legacy of Honor and Civility
During his 5-year tenure as University President, Robert E. Lee saved the then Washington College from closure and used the university as a platform to nurture national unity, honor, and civility. In addition to growing the university from 20 students to over 400 at the time of his death, Lee instituted a student-administrated honor code that still exists today. The honor code set forth the expectation that people deal with each other in all honesty and civility.
At the Southmayd Center, we support the continued thriving of Washington & Lee University as a place where honesty, civility, and intellectual diversity can flourish.
Mission and Vision
The mission of the Southmayd Center for American Ideals is to promote free speech, civil dialogue, and intellectual diversity throughout the Washington & Lee University campus. We envision Washington & Lee University as the most exciting university in the country to learn, teach and grow – a place where ideas collide, and diverse viewpoints meet.
Our vision is to create an environment in which college Republican & Democrats build bridges with students, faculty, alumni and the community. Through engaging and valuable programing that improves the conversation we aim to continue President Lee’s legacy to foster a culture of intellectual rigor and freedom.