President Patrick White sees nothing but greatness at Wabash. To him, that is the most surprising aspect of the College.
“I’m surprised that I continue to be surprised by this place,” White said. “Events like Monon Bell, conversations with students, faculty, and administration show how much people are aware of the special nature of the College.”
White’s first few months have been exciting, both for him and students. Students are looking to see how he does, and he is looking to find his way in his first year as head administrator. He has yet to be officially inaugurated, but has a presence that has been felt on campus.
He has rung in the freshman class, participated in Chapel Sing (sort of), been through a Bell Game victory, and acted on serious matters, such as last week’s fraternity incident. White’s presidency may have just begun, but he is learning to be a Wabash man and work towards a bright future for the College.
“There are some issues and problems,” White said. “But hardly a day goes by that I’m not learning something. It’s a special combination of pride, respect, tradition, and maturity that makes us distinctly Wabash and I’m always learning about this.”
White sees his job largely as a “boaster” for the College. He tells fellow college presidents, friends, and family how Wabash is such an open and welcoming place.
“[My wife] Chris and I always feel welcome,” White said. “At some places, a president walking down to the student section at a football game would never happen. There would be a cynical response. But here, they welcomed us and we led the students in a cheer.”
The president has been surprised the students care about what he says and does. He noted that at other colleges some students never meet the president or have no desire to have any connection. That is not the case at Wabash.
White, in his time as president, has already formulated a view of Wabash and its inhabitants.
“This is not a solemn place,” White said. “People make jokes, write stuff like in the Debauch and other stuff like that, but they also take things very seriously. I’ve been to fraternity dinners where the conversation is fun and relaxed, but it’s also serious.”
White has taken up where former president Andy Ford left off, with a focus on the students. He describes the students as self-aware and passionate for the College, but also he described a scene of campus guard on Thursday evening.
“I was out around 12:30 last Thursday,” White said. “I was going around to a few guys, and they’re having fun and messing around with a barrel of fire to keep warm. There’s this profound sense of play at Wabash and this play bonds the students together and helps them feel distinctive.”
White expressed general approval of the College, not only the students, but also the faculty, staff, and administration. He noted the amount of time, effort and passion they put forth into the process of making the College a successful place, but he also realized the amount of time they spend outside of class and work. They go to faculty dinners, watch sporting events, and find a sense of ownership within the College.
“Some faculty would take this as just a job,” White said. “At Wabash, they think of it differently. That ownership and responsibility is locked up in the fullest, richest notion of the Gentleman’s Rule.”
President White continued to look back at the sense of ownership and pride displayed by those on campus. A story of a student needing to welcome him as president showed that this is a college of Wabash men, and Wabash men feel responsibility and ownership.
“It’s not a stupid waste of time,” White said. “It’s how we express our identity and our care for on another. There are probably students who don’t like Wabash, but there isn’t one who doesn’t take it seriously.”