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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Sofie Behr
Senior, Order of the Gown President
Taylor Tunstall
Junior, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair
I am working with Career Readiness and the Alumni Office to coordinate a networking event for students and alumni in the Spring called S.P.A.R.C. Sewanee (Student Projects in Activism, Research and Creativity). The event's goal is to create a relaxed forum for students to present and/or share what projects they’ve worked on recently that they are proud of. These projects are not limited to academics, so students with extracurricular pursuits are strongly welcome to participate in the event. Alumni will be there to share their professional experiences and insights. I plan to advertise this event with student spotlights via social media or newsletter with brief descriptions of their projects.
Carrie Schupack
Senior, Secretary
Noah Shively
Senior, EQB Chair
As EQB chair for Order of the Gown, my main goal is to uphold and manage how Sewanee academics and university life live into our EQB values as a University and advocate for revisions when necessary. Aside from this work, in my time as EQB chair I have also focused on civic service initiatives that tie into academic life. One example of this is the English Department hosting a Books Behind Bars drive alongside the OG for the Grundy County Jail. This semester I have been working on setting up a committee in honor Dr. Berebitsky, designed to support a selected Sewanee student in funding their proposed gender-based initiative on campus. The intent is for this to be funded through the financial aid of OG and The Bairnwick Women’s Center, and decided by a council of designated representatives from these groups, as well as faculty.
Alexis Miniat
Junior, Educational Resources Chair
The Open Educational Resource (OER) efforts aim to identify and address the financial burdens of academics on campus. This work is done within the OER Task Force, a body of representatives from different backgrounds around the University who collaborate to ensure that we tackle the problems presented in a holistic way. The educational resources chair also maintains relations with professors and the Center for Teaching in order to examine studies at Sewanee, specifically through the facilitated course reflections program done by the Center for Teaching, in order to better understand if students academic needs are being met within the classroom. As the educational resources chair, it is my goal to bridge academic gaps, and to host dialogues that analyze the liberal arts education.
Rhett Edens
Junior, Parlementarian
Jackson Deneka
Senior, Parlementarian
​My initiative pertains to increasing bystander awareness training when it comes to responding to an emergency. I have been organizing First Aid/CPR/AED classes that I will teach in the Easter semester to organizations ranging from Greek Life to the McClurg dining staff. Also, I have been working with multiple on-campus dining areas to display informational posters regarding how to assist someone who’s choking. This project seeks to provide life-saving skills without any added financial stress to members of our community, and such educational training will ensure those living on the mountain are protected. If the moment were to strike, any person could become a first responder, and it is my desire to ensure this community is educated and prepared to save a life.