By now, you all have a good, if somewhat fuzzy, idea of what Mock Convention is. If you are an incoming freshman, perhaps a tour guide, an alumnus, a host student or a professor at Accepted Students Day voluntarily offered up a good Mock Con story or two. If you’re a senior, perhaps you joined the 95% of the involved student body in 2008 by enlisting in your state’s delegation and riding its float in the parade, only to find a picture of yourself—in all your patriotic glory—plastered throughout the pages of The Washington Post.

Still, we get the question all the time. What exactly is Mock Convention? The definition you will hear and read throughout your years as a proud General is undoubtedly something to the effect of: “a quadrennial tradition in which student delegates attempt to predict the presidential nominee of the political party currently out the of the White House.” Yet, that probably means nothing to you and does little to motivate you to get involved.

Mock Convention is more than a one- or two-day event; as soon as one cycle ends, preparation for the next begins. Although it does have its “off” years, students, professors, and staff members have Mock Con on the brain at all times, and the numbers of those who eat, sleep, and breathe Mock Convention increase as the penultimate weekend approaches; this is necessary and natural, in order that the events will fulfill their oft-chattered about reputation. Mock Convention is more than an academic exercise. Of course, as Generals, we make it a point of learning from every experience, but Mock Convention is about more than learning about or researching politics, even though that is exciting enough, as anyone who has been following Republican Party politics within just the last several months.

Mock Convention is about the students; it is the single exercise that embodies the spirit, the honor, and the uniqueness of Washington and Lee. What distinguishes Mock Convention is the amount of autonomy the University gives its students. Though we have an academic advisor, an Advisory Board, and the aid and support of every faculty and staff member on campus, the exercise is run and researched purely by students. After a solid year of working on the Convention, I can say that I am already amazed and impressed by the ideas, the drive, and the work ethic of the involved students, and I am entirely confident that this Convention will be one unlike any other seen by this community, and yet it will maintain all the tradition upon which it is built. Just ask any current Steering Committee about Mock Convention, and you will see their eyes light up, their gears start to turn, and their mouths run. They just cannot squelch their enthusiasm for the hard work they have and will put in; that is as much a part of Washington and Lee students as their belief in honor.

The excitement for the convention, which takes place over three major weekends and several minor weekends throughout the next two school years, is already building, which is no doubt a testament to the collective faith in and respect for our fellow students in planning and executing such a spectacular event. Everyone only gets one Convention, which does, I think, motivate us all to create something that is without an equal in our college experiences.

As you may know, W&L got it wrong in 2008. For more on the importance of getting it right, read Political Chairman Zach Wilkes’s article on [page]. If you are curious about the social aspects of the convention, refer to Personnel Chairman Tucker Pribor on [page] as he describes why the Convention is more than just another party. If all of this inspires you to get involved, turn to [page], where Executive Secretary Laura Ball explains how. If you read through the rest of the Publication, you will find that the Steering Committee’s energy is palpable and their enthusiasm contagious. I hope to share this with you as you all begin to get involved!

In the name of tradition,
Tricia King