1980

Beginning at the start of the decade, the 1980 Fancy Dress occurred on the snowy weekend of February 28th. The 1980 Ring-tum Phi article below discusses the details of this year's event. Attendees were dressed in the expected black-tie attire, with women wearing elegant dresses and men in tuxedos. The theme for this year was “Monopoly,” and the decorations in the venue emulated some of the most famous Monopoly spaces with a Washington and Lee twist. One example is that the jail space was decorated as the Executive Committee headquarters, an ode to our university’s honor system. Bob Crosby and his Orchestra performed, and students danced the night away to his traditional jazz music.

The planning and execution of the event was overseen by the Student Activities Board (SAB). At the beginning of the decade, the university had not yet admitted women, so men were fully in charge.

There were no controversies surrounding the event this year. The 1980 Ring-tum Phi article talks about how some students were selling their tickets to their peers at higher prices, attempting to make a profit off of the $15 ticket price. Washington and Lee managed to avoid legal issues despite the fact that the Monopoly board was copyrighted. A legal representative from the university told SAB that it was allowed because Washington and Lee was a non-profit. With no major issues, the event was deemed a success by the student body.