| The Columns Weekly - Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 |
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Eric Deggans Authors Book Chapter
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| The Knight Chair in Journalism and Media Ethics discussed his experience as an NPR TV critic in “Reading Media: How to Do Textual Analysis.” |
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| Try This Win/Win to Pay Less Taxes |
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| Preparing your tax return only to find you owe (or aren't getting as large of a tax refund as you would like)? Then it's a good time to think about next year's tax bill. This time of year, employees often change their federal and state tax withholding so that more taxes are withheld. You can certainly do that (see Q&A #14 on this page), but another helpful tip is to contribute more to your retirement plan through TIAA or Fidelity. It can be a win/win for you — you save more for retirement, and in doing so lower your taxable income thus lowering tax liability. The maximum you can contribute to your retirement account in any calendar year is determined by the IRS and is based on your age and length of service at W&L. See Q&A #3 on this page for instructions on changing your retirement contribution in Workday. Contact Kim Austin or Jason Bunn with any questions. |
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| Thanks to each and every employee who helped us exceed our final participation goal. We finished the survey window with a remarkable 63 percent participation rate! Your feedback will help the university celebrate what is going well and identify opportunities to strengthen our community. Thank you for your support! |
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Meet a Colleague: Julie Jackson |
| Julie Jackson serves as director of advancement communications. Learn more about Julie in our "Meet a Colleague" feature series. |
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| Benefits Reminder: Health Advocate |
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| Need help resolving a health or dental insurance claim? Looking for a specialist? Want information on in-home care, adult day care, assisted living or long-term care? Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans have your head spinning? |
| Try using Health Advocate. They can help you and your family navigate healthcare and insurance-related issues. You, your spouse or partner, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law can call as often as necessary, at no cost to you. Health Advocate staff follow careful protocols and comply with all government privacy standards. Your medical and personal information is kept strictly confidential. |
| During your first call, you will be assigned a personal health advocate who will begin helping you right away. Personal health advocates are typically registered nurses, supported by medical directors and benefits and claims specialists. |
| Contact Human Resources with any questions. |
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| Get to Know Your Newest Co-Workers |
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New Employee Q&A |
| Get to know the newest members of the Washington and Lee employee workforce through our new employee feature page! This week, we feature three new employees who have joined the W&L community in recent weeks. |
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| This Week's Scene on Campus |
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Professor of religion Jeff Kosky grades papers in the Ruscio Center for Global Learning.
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Spring sports are well underway and a full slate of home games are on tap for the week ahead!
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| Featured Social Media Site |
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See what's new in the Office of Lifelong Learning by visiting its Instagram page!
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Classes Resume |
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Classes will resume on Monday, March 2 following the Washington Break. |
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University Faculty Meeting
4:10-5:30 p.m. Stackhouse Theater
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The final university faculty meeting of the 2025-26 academic year will be held in Stackhouse Theater on March 2. |
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Basse Salon Presents Kameliya Atanasova
12:30-1:30 p.m. Leyburn 128
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Kameliya Atanasova, assistant professor of religion, will deliver a lecture titled “Writing a Book: All You Need is Time (But Not Too Much of It)” as part of the Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series. The talk is free and open to the public.
More Info
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Beyond the Page: Mikki Brock
5-6:30 p.m.
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Mikki Brock, professor of history at Washington and Lee University, will discuss her book, “Plagues of the Heart: Crisis and covenanting in a seventeenth-century Scottish town,” as part of the Beyond the Page: Milestone Works by Faculty series. The lecture, which is open exclusively to the university community, will be followed by a reception and book exhibit organized by the W&L University Store.
More Info
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University Singers Tour Home Concert
8-10 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall
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Join the renowned University Singers as they return from their 2026 tour with an evening of a capella choral mastery. The recital is free and open to the public.
More Info
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DakhaBrakha Cooking Exhibition
5:30-7:30 p.m. Evans Dining Hall
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Experience Ukrainian culture and hospitality by delving into the flavors and techniques of DakhaBrakha's favorite recipe of borscht. All while enjoying Ukrainian folk songs a capella, as they would have been sung 200 years ago. |
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Science Under Siege
5:30-7 pm. Stackhouse Theater
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W&L will host will host Michael Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, who will discuss themes from his new book, “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World.”
More Info
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Artist Talk and Reception: Emma Steinkraus “PAS DE DEUX”
5:30 p.m. Lenfest Center - Wilson Concert Hall/Lykes Atrium
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Washington and Lee University’s Staniar Gallery is pleased to present “Pas de Deux,” a solo exhibition by artist Emma Steinkraus, assistant professor of art at W&L. The exhibition and reception events are free and open to the public.
More Info
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Pickens World Music Concert: DakhaBrakha
7:30 p.m. Lenfest Center/Keller Theater
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The Department of Music at Washington and Lee University presents the Pickens World Music Concert, featuring Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha. The Pickens World Music series is supported by the Pauline B. and Paul D. Pickens Fund for the Performing Arts, which brings non-Western European performing artists or groups to campus each year. Tickets are required and available online or in person at the Lenfest Center box office.
More Info
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William and Mary Middle Eastern Music Ensemble Concert
7:30 p.m. Lenfest Center/Wilson Concert Hall
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The Middle Eastern Music Ensemble of the College of William & Mary, directed by Anne Rasmussen, professor of music and ethnomusicology and the Bickers Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at William & Mary, will perform in Wilson Concert Hall. No tickets are required.
More Info
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March Women’s Day Tea Ceremony
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Watson Galleries/Senshin’an Tearoom
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There will be three 30-minute sessions: 10:30, 11:15 and 12:00 (limited to 20 participants each session). The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. |
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Piano Program Recital “Magical Mystery Tour”
3-6 p.m. Lenfest Center/ Wilson Concert Hall
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Students in Washington and Lee University’s piano program will perform their annual winter concert, “Magical Mystery Tour.” The recital is free and open to the public and will be followed by a reception in Lykes Atrium. No tickets are required.
More Info
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