About Us
A Tradition of Honor and Academic Achievement
Among Sewanee’s many customs, none perhaps is more distinctive than the wearing of the gown by students and faculty. Gowns were originally authorized to be worn by all students in 1871, and the Order of the Gown (OG) was established in 1873 at the instigation of Chaplain William Porcher DuBose. The students who are members of the OG have worn the gown as a badge of academic distinction ever since. The OG was the original and only form of the student government until the 1960s.
Today, the Order works parallel with the Student Government to voice student opinion. It is also uniquely charged with the maintenance and promotion of the spirit, traditions, and ideals of the University. In addition, the OG runs the Election Committee, which is composed of all Proctors and is chaired by the President of the Order.
Undergraduates earn membership in the OG as seniors (students with 96 or more hours) if their academic average for the previous two semesters at Sewanee is 3.00; as juniors (students with 64-95 hours) if their academic average for the previous two semesters is 3.20; as sophomores (students with 32-63 hours) if their academic average for the previous two semesters is 3.40.
In accordance with faculty legislation, students must be inducted into the Order to be considered a member; students who cannot be present for the induction ceremony because they are abroad are inducted in absentia. Students who have not earned the GPA to be a member of the Order, but who have passed their comprehensive examination, are automatically inducted into the Order as de facto members once they have passed their comprehensive examinations.
In accordance with the provisions of the Student Government Constitution, the OG serves as a force for channeling student opinion to promote positive change. Besides the OG’s substantial legislative authority through its appointment power to student and faculty committees, the OG’s Executive Committee and task forces are unique methods for investigating the problems and concerns of the University Community. The degree to which the OG is involved in University life is determined by the President and body itself. The OG adopted its own constitution in 2007, which gives further structure to its organization and responsibilities.
Our Current Purpose and Mission
The OG serves as a force for channeling student opinion to promote positive change in order to solidify and uphold our values. We believe that every student deserves to benefit from and participate in an academic experience of Honor, Community, Respect, and Equality. We promote conversations and events to clarify these values, and address aspects of Sewanee that do not align with our standards as it relates to the Academic experiences of students and faculty at Sewanee, in and out of the classroom. Besides the OG’s substantial legislative authority through its appointment power to student and faculty committees, the OG’s Executive Committee and task forces are unique methods for investigating the problems and concerns of the University Community. The degree to which the OG is involved in University life is determined by the President and body itself.
Order of the Gown Student Representatives
Alexis Miniat
Senior, Order of the Gown President
As President of the Order of the Gown, my main priorities are to act as a liaison between the Council of the Order of the Gown, administrators, faculty, and students. Serving previously as the Educational Resources Chair and a Sophomore Representative before that, I am so proud to see all that this council continues to do to support the student body and the community of Sewanee.
William Pugh
Senior, EQB Chair
As EQB chair for the Order of the Gown, my main goal for this year is to develop a service component to the requirements for eligibility. I’ve been working with our president, Alexis and the OCE to create a program that will help to break down the town and gown divide by allowing students to both learn and engage with the surrounding communities of Sewanee!
Taylor Tunstall
Senior, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chair
Ashton Butler
Senior, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chair
As Co-DEI Chair, I am excited to continue building spaces for important discussions, reflections, and creative explorations on campus. This year I will be organizing for a second time S.P.A.R.C.: Student Projects in Activism, Research, and Creativity which will be held in Spring 2025. It’s a project that means a lot to me as it showcases the various amazing ways students use their voices and talents to drive meaningful changes in Sewanee and beyond. I look forward to seeing this year’s projects unfold.
Rhett Edens
Senior, Faculty Engagement Chair
As Faculty Engagement Chair for the Order of the Gown, I’m focused strengthening the relationship between faculty and the Order of the Gown while celebrating Sewanee’s unique history and traditions. My goal is to keep our academic heritage alive and meaningful and to create spaces where faculty and students connect over what makes Sewanee special.
Cory Gurman
Senior, Secretary
As the Secretary of the OG, I am looking forward to empowering students to be leaders and outspoken about what they believe would lead to the best Sewanee experience for them. I am working on creating a safer senior comp. celebration tradition and also on developing programs that will both align with the new strategic plan and have the most benefit for students. As someone who is intensely passionate about the environment, I seek to ensure that students can access the benefits that the Domain provides and that we as a community are aware of how best to interact with it.
Kelly Jette
Senior, Social Media Chair
As social media chair for the Order of the Gown, my main goal for this year is to actively keep everyone updated on the progress we each make on our individual projects through our social media. I have been working to update our website and Instagram. I am excited to also work on a new project which gives students the ability to show off the pins on their Gowns!
Lily Mobley
Junior, Education Resource Chair
I am the Education Resources Chair for OG this year. Although I am studying abroad for half of the year, I am excited to serve in this position. My goal in this role is to ensure equal access to educational resources for all students, faculty, and staff. In conjunction with the Open Education Resources Task Force, I want to work to make sure Sewanee is meeting goals relating to textbook affordability and overall recourse access. Furthermore, I hope to implement more cooperation through Community Engaged Learning within departments.
Elizabeth Baker
Sophomore Representative
As a Sophomore representative for the Order of the Gown, I hope to contribute to the culture of service on campus and create a space for reflection and creative collaboration as we build the future of Sewanee together. I believe sustained relationships with community-oriented organizations off campus in Grundy and Franklin county should be essential to the identity of the University, especially its effort to prepare students to go out into the world as ethical leaders and good stewards of their environments. A holistic liberal arts education should include forging connections with individuals from vastly different backgrounds and perspectives – it is only then, when we challenge ourselves to draw the circle of our community wider, that we can truly build the skills we need to be the best possible ambassadors for Sewanee. Though we all spend only a few years on campus, our experiences and our impact here will shape the rest of our lives. I'm excited to spend my time on the Order of the Gown seeking out ways to build intentional, flexible, joyful community on and beyond campus.
Rowland Fournier
Sophomore Representative
In aiding other members of the Order of the Gown and working individually with university administration, I'll pursue transparency of official university proceedings with students, faculty, and community members, as transparency is key in fostering an inclusive and progressive community. As the University goes through a transition period and implements a new Strategic Plan, student and faculty input, as well as their active involvement in University processes, should be integral to planning, and I hope to maintain open, transparent communication.
Hayden Hedges
Sophomore Representative
Sreoshi Hossain
Sophomore Representative
Harris Fox
Sophomore Representative
As a sophomore representative for Order of the Gown, my main goal uphold the traditions and spirits that have lived through Sewanee since 1857, and to maintain high academic excellence as well as the virtues that are in place. Also I will aim to provide a voice and be an actor for those on campus including the students, alumni, faculty, and the surrounding community on the mountain. My service is to provide assistance to the current chairs on OG, but I am excited to potentially work on preserving the history and learning more about this unique place most of us get to call a second home. Additionally, I am excited to get the chance to work with faculty and alumni to learn more about how Sewanee changes, but as well as remained the special place it is over time.