1983

The 1983 Fancy Dress was scheduled for the weekend of March 3rd. The theme for this year’s event was “Waiting For The Robert E. Lee, An Evening Along the Mississippi." The poster for the event shows a dressed-up rabbit and a mouse on a large property, though there is no evidence on the meaning of these animals. Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians performed for the students, and students are pictured dancing to their jazz-style music. Interestingly, there is not a lot of information about this year’s event in the Calyx or the Ring Tum Phi, and evidence of decorations and dress can only be gathered by the pictures of the event. Students seem to have worn the traditional Fancy Dress attire.

Like the past three years, the planning and execution of the event was overseen by the SAB. The members of the board from Washington and Lee were male students, though this year included two women from Sweet Briar College as well. 

In a short review of the event printed in the Ring-tum Phi, as seen to the left, the theme was deemed a success. Very surprisingly, no one touched on this seemingly controversial theme. Today, it is clear that a theme related to Robert E. Lee, despite his contributions to our university, could be seen as insensitive and offensive to some groups on campus. It was fascinating that no student stood up against this theme during the planning process or after the event happened.