Randolph-Macon Woman's College

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Randolph-Macon Woman’s College was founded over 115 years ago in a world largely opposed to the “dangerous” idea of educating women.

William Waugh Smith, then president of the all-male Randolph-Macon College, had the courage to disagree, and set about making plans for a "college where our young women may obtain an education equal to that given in our best colleges for young men and under environments in harmony with the highest ideals of womanhood."

With no backing from his trustees, Smith took his cause to the road, eventually winning support of the Rivermont Land Company, which donated 20 acres of bucolic land in the quiet town of Lynchburg.

Thanks to the generosity of 150 local residents, Smith was able to raise the $100,000 necessary to officially found Randolph-Macon Woman’s College on March 10, 1891. The college welcomed its first class of 36 students and 12 professors in 1893.

From the start, R-MWC was a standout among Woman’s colleges of its day, particularly in the South. Until 1903, R-MWC was the only southern institution of higher learning for women that offered four years of study. And in 1916, it became the first Woman’s college south of Washington, D.C. to be granted a Phi Beta Kappa charter. Though the ethos of R-MWC was ecumenical, the College is proud of its historic and continuing relationship with the United Methodist Church.

R-MWC’s most famous alumna is the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and activist Pearl S. Buck ‘14. Hers and many remarkable generations of women have been drawn to R-MWC’s scenic campus in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains by the promise of the college’s motto: Vita Abundantior, a “Life More Abundant.”

As Buck once wrote of her experience here, "We were very proud of our College. We still exulted when I was there in the knowledge that we were being taught what men were taught. . . . We came out ready to use our heads and accustomed to work. I have always been glad of that."

[edit] Traditions

The Even/Odd Rivalry and Sister Classes. Building class spirit and uniting you with your classmates, the Even/Odd tradition is the stimulus for a variety of lighthearted activities including the Pumpkin Parade, Daisy Chain, Bury the Hatchet, and Even/Odd Day. A class is defined as Even or Odd based on its graduation year - so the Class of 2011 are Odds and the Class of 2012 are Evens. The entering first-year class is matched with its fellow Even/Odd - the junior class - and they are henceforth Sister classes. And just so you know, only Evens use the left steps in Main Hall Lobby, while only Odds use the steps to the right.

Bury the Hatchet. Even the friendliest feuds have to end sometime. Every spring, we "bury the hatchet" on the Odd/Even rivalry.

Daisy Chain. Will you love it or will you not? A graduation tradition since the early 1900s, the Daisy Chain starts with thousands of daisies being woven into a chain. Then sophomores shoulder the chain and carry it across front campus to the steps of the Martin Science Building, where they transfer it from their shoulders to those of their sister class, the graduating seniors.

Declaration Day. After sophomores declare their majors each spring the faculty and sophomores share a ceremony and reception in the Main Hall. Students receive pins and ribbons in traditional departmental colors to reflect their newly declared majors.

Even Day or Odd Day. Surprise. You wake one spring morning to find the entire campus decorated by the first-years according to a theme of their choosing.

Founders’ Day. We celebrate our heritage every March with ceremonies and a special dinner to honor our founder and first president William Waugh Smith.

The Greek Play. Founded in 1909, the biennial performance of a traditional Greek drama in the College's outdoor amphitheatre is a much anticipated event. No other college in the country does this.

Holiday Dinners. Dress for dinner. Before fall semester exams, students celebrate with a holiday feast.

Holiday on Main Street. To celebrate the last day of classes of the fall semester, the college administrative staff decorates their offices and invites everyone in for tasty treats, fun games and giveaways.

The Honor Code : No tradition stands taller than the Honor Code, which requires students to abide by the highest standards of honesty and integrity. The system is so strong that the College grants Randolph students the privilege of scheduling their own unproctored final exams.

International Flags. Randolph recognizes its international students by displaying the flag of each student's home country in the Student Center. Flags are also displayed in the circle in front of Main Hall on special occasions. On Move-In day, new students are greeted with the flag of their country. During Commencement Weekend, the flags of graduating seniors adorn the circle. During Pearl S. Buck Weekend, the flags of all students are displayed.

MacDoodle Day. One day each year the College cancels all classes and instead enjoys a day of fun for the students, faculty and staff. MacDoodle Day is purely about having fun together and building community on campus. The date of MacDoodle Day is a closely guarded secret and students are not aware of the day until it is announced.

Poetry Tree. The tradition of the Poetry Tree originated in the early 1960s, when students began festooning a weeping cherry tree near Thoresen Hall with poems. Now every spring when the tree blooms-and on other special occasions-poems as well as drawings are attached to the tree.

Pumpkin Parade. It’s a jack-o’-lantern delight when sophomores present their senior with lighted pumpkins during Family Weekend. The celebration includes a lively serenade between the sophomores and seniors and a cameo vocal performance from the President of the College.

Ring Night /Ring Week. Getting your treasured class ring is a big deal here. So we build the anticipation with a week full of fun as first-year students shower you with small gifts and decorate your doors. Ring Night includes a special dinner for juniors, a scavenger hunt, and other festivities.

Senior Class Regalia. Randolph Seniors receive their graduation robes the first day of classes in the fall of their Senior year and immediately get to work personalizing their regalia. The Seniors adorn their robes with funny buttons they've collected over their four years, and top their unconventional outfits with funny hats and other creative (and sometimes outrageous) accessories. Seniors wear their embellished regalia with pride for various processions, including Opening Convocation, Pumpkin Parade, Founders' Day, and Daisy Chain. In the residence halls, Seniors display their robes, buttons and hats on hooks outside their doors so that all passers by are aware of their Senior status for the year. Then, on Commencement Day, the embellishments are removed for their graduation ceremony and replaced with a hood and mortarboard.

Senior Dinner Dance. A highlight of your final year, the night includes a candlelight dinner and a formal dance.

Senior Reception. The first week of spring semester, seniors and faculty celebrate "the beginning of the end."

Serenades. Sing out as you and your sister class serenade each other with class songs.

Skeller Sings. I can sing anything better—or louder—than you. Show your class spirit in these lively exchanges of class songs.

Stomps. Wake up. It’s Even/Odd Day. That explains the clomping you hear as the Eta and the Gamma spirit groups demonstrate their enthusiasm with an early-morning stomp.