As a first-year student attending orientation, Marielle Hinrichs-Morrow stepped into Edison Theatre not knowing the performance she was about to see would leave a lasting mark on her WashU journey.
Written, performed and directed by WashU students, The Date is a theatrical performance presented by the Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Center that addresses the complexities of college relationships, including topics like consent and sexual assault.
But for Hinrichs-Morrow, The Date isn’t just a play. It’s been a springboard for her personal leadership journey.
“The Date really resonates with first-year students because it’s storytelling and not another presentation where we’re clicking through statistics,” she said.
The performance blends humor with uncomfortable truths about relationships and consent, and according to Hinrichs-Morrow, it’s impossible not to be affected by the performance in some way.
By her sophomore year, Hinrichs-Morrow had joined the cast. But performing in The Date meant more than memorizing lines. Through rehearsal and performance, she learned to rely on others, navigate sensitive material with empathy, and step into the responsibility of shaping how first-year students would experience the story.
“It’s not an easy play to perform,” she said. “You have to trust each other and create a safe space.”
Then, her junior year, Hinrichs-Morrow stepped into the role of director—a leap that tested her leadership in new ways. Instead of standing on stage, she was now guiding others through a fast-paced rehearsal process, balancing logistical details with the emotional weight of the subject matter.
“Directing The Date meant that I focused on how to portray the overall message of the production, rather than focusing on just a specific role” she said. “As a director, I was responsible for weaving each vignette together into a larger, impactful message.”
As a senior, Hinrichs-Morrow embraced her final role with The Date as a facilitator. After each performance, she led small-group discussions with first-year students, helping them unpack what they had just seen.
“I loved working with the first-year students directly…and letting them know that all of the student leaders involved in the program care for them and want them to help promote a safer community,” she said.
Across her four years, her journey reflects the essence of student leadership—moving from participation to ownership, from learning to guiding.
“Participating in The Date as a leader feels powerful because it means that, in one way or another, my leadership efforts reach incoming students, strengthening their understanding of consent dynamics and improving WashU’s campus community for everyone,” she said.
Leadership is one of the Division of Student Affairs’ five anchors that deliver a transformative student experience. Student Affairs helps students at WashU discover their leadership potential and shape a future grounded in purpose and impact.