W&L Slavic Society Builds Community, Raises Questions
W&L Slavic Society Builds Community, Raises Questions
The newly-founded student group aims to “celebrate Slavic heritage.”
(Members of the Slavic Society posing for a picture, from left to right: Tara Trinley ‘25, Yuliia Kopalivska ‘28, Dziyana Paulouskaya ‘28, Paige Gray ‘26. | SOURCE: WLU Slavic Society)
Early 2025 saw an addition to Washington and Lee’s bustling social scene: the creation of the Slavic Society on campus. Dziyana Paulouskaya, ‘28, and Pola Kowalska, ‘28, from Belarus and Poland, respectively, founded the club to “celebrate Slavic heritage, foster cultural exchange, provide academic opportunities, and create a supportive community for those interested in the Slavic world.”
The group quickly started hosting events, including organizing a Maslenitsa celebration branded as “Blini Evening.” The event, an Eastern Slavic folk holiday celebrated before the Great Lent, featured students making blini, a Slavic crêpe-like dessert, with some Slavic soft drinks on the side. Roughly 15 students of varied backgrounds attended the event, their second and main event of the 2024-25 school year, including international students with both Slavic and non-Slavic roots, as well as Americans.
“I first joined the Slavic Society to connect with my Polish heritage, practice the language, and learn more about Eastern European cultures,” domestic student Paige Gray, ‘26, commented. “I felt very welcomed and had fun meeting other members at our blini-making workshop.”
Hanna Nguyen, ‘28, from Vietnam, had a similarly good time. “For the first time, I got to try blini with dulce de leche, and it was delicious. I think the club’s done a great job in bringing students interested in Slavic culture together. I hope to attend similar events in the future!”
Armenian-American Alexander Bousman, ‘28, considered the Society a “great outlet for Slavic and Eastern European internationals and domestic students alike to connect.” The only aspect he wished to see more of from the club was advertising and a “big event” that would capture the attention of the campus community, similar to the “Baile” event hosted by the Comunidad Latina Estudiantil (CLE).
On the other hand, some students, who wished to remain anonymous, wondered why the group is called “Slavic,” and not “Eastern European.” Slavic cultures are often considered synonymous with Eastern Europe; however, the region is home to numerous other countries that do not identify as Slavic. “Slavic Society just sounds better than Eastern European Society, but of course, everyone is welcome to found their own club,” responded Paulouskaya.
Yuliia Kopalivska, ‘28, of Ukraine, expressed her disappointment at not being able to see the promised community egg-painting, an Easter tradition throughout Eastern Europe, which the club had planned to host but eventually had to cancel. Nonetheless, she still considers the organization a great addition to the campus.
“Unfortunately, we were not able to organize the Easter events this year due to the timing of Easter and it colliding with the spring break, which caused many people to leave campus,” explained Kowalska. “We also weren’t able to receive EC [Executive Committee] funding at this point, making us pay for the necessary supplies. We are very sorry, and we will definitely make up with our events next year,” Paulouskaya added.
The Society has big aspirations. “We have plans starting from September, including a leaves bouquet workshop, culinary events such as preparing traditional foods, dance lessons, and movie screenings,” Paulouskaya continued. “We have a detailed plan and are only waiting for the EC’s reply. We are sure that next year, the Slavic Society will grow and expand,” Kowalska emphasized. The leaders also await new suggestions. “We will be tabling during the activities fair, so anyone is welcome to stop by and chat about the Society’s future.”